Auto 4WDing on non bitumen roads

**gavinwibrow** · 11th March 2018, 08:31 AM

The following comment was included in a Kimberley info sheet, not by the author, but by someone who wanted to make a point. I'm happy to provide the link to maintain and recognise copyright, remembering that the author does not necessarily agree/disagree with the comments below.

March 09, 2018 -- Kimberley and NT News: Wet season update, free video documentary, and a mixed bag of news and reader

Having now driven auto 4WDs for some time, I'd be interested in the comments and experience of others. I suspect that those of us with auto constant 4WD are a little better off, and especially if we have CDL (working).

QUOTE

My concern is about hire 4wd. The concern is about the choice between automatic and manual.

My strongest possible recommendation for tourists who HAVE NOT driven IN SIMILAR RUGGED CONDITIONS as you may find in the Kimberley is that they only be supplied with manual cars.

I have noticed on my many journeys throughout the Kimberley that the vast majority of roll-overs and crashes are in automatics. There is only one way to slow down in an auto... the brake. Applied badly (on a curving, rocky, gravelly Gibb River Road) and you have a disaster.

A manual car gives an additional control over speed and slowing down is by gear first, then by brake. Automatics are like guided missiles. You don't have to actually DRIVE them. Too many first timers learn the very hard way that driving is not just sitting in the drivers seat.

END QUOTE

Cheers

**weeds** · 11th March 2018, 08:40 AM

Er.....auto have gears as well, it’s just 90% stick it in D for dumb.

I my auto hilux I use the gears very regularly whether it be holding cruise control speed on a decline, coming down the ranges to the west of Brisbane or hooking along dirt roads between sites.

**weeds** · 11th March 2018, 08:40 AM

Oh and autos probably outsell manuals 10-1

**rick130** · 11th March 2018, 08:46 AM

And most people don't gear down in a manual either, they just swap cogs in the corner.

**bee utey** · 11th March 2018, 08:47 AM

Reminds me of the girl at high school who was trained by her Ma to change gears EXACTLY like THIS: 1-2-3-4 and wondered why her car had so much trouble getting up hills. Boy was it hard to get her to use 2 or 3 as appropriate. Auto drivers can be trained to use other stick positions too.

**trout1105** · 11th March 2018, 08:48 AM

I think that Old Mate that wrote that article is talking through his bum.
The vast majority of drivers do NOT use the gears to slow down and in an emergency braking situation there is absolutely NO difference between the two types of vehicles braking performance.
If the brakes are applied badly in ANY type of vehicle things can end up "Badly"
Actually in many off road situations an auto 4WD tends to have less wheel slip so it has more control in sandy and loose gravel and more control on steep ascents and descents when driven correctly as well.

**strangy** · 11th March 2018, 08:52 AM

I read the whole news letter. It’s quite interesting.
I think the topic is neatly packaged by saying tourists are regularly irresponsible drivers and hired 4WD’s are a statistical fact.
Auto or manual has no bearing.

**gavinwibrow** · 11th March 2018, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by trout1105

I think that Old Mate that wrote that article is talking through his bum.
The vast majority of drivers do NOT use the gears to slow down and in an emergency braking situation there is absolutely NO difference between the two types of vehicles braking performance.
If the brakes are applied badly in ANY type of vehicle things can end up "Badly"
Actually in many off road situations an auto 4WD tends to have less wheel slip so it has more control in sandy and loose gravel and more control on steep ascents and descents when driven correctly as well.

For what its worth, I completely concur. I'm actually surprised that the comment was included without getting any other advice or comment prior to publishing. Having said that, she does a marvellous job.
Cheers

**trout1105** · 11th March 2018, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by gavinwibrow

For what its worth, I completely concur. I'm actually surprised that the comment was included without getting any other advice or comment prior to publishing. Having said that, she does a marvellous job.
Cheers

I enjoyed the article as whole myself and I will be having a look at the 9x video's a bit later.
The part about the inconsiderate drivers on dirt roads doesn't only apply to the top end, These tossers can be found Australia wide.

**jon3950** · 11th March 2018, 09:17 AM

Bollocks. You can brake badly in a manual just as easily as in an automatic.

Its all about weight transfer, which is caused by acceleration (or deceleration if you prefer) not what causes the acceleration. If a situation arises where you need to brake hard enough to unbalance the vehicle that much you’ll be doing it with the brakes not the gears anyway. If you dropped down the gears enough to slow down that quickly you’ll probably cause compression lock-up which means you’ll lose traction anyway.

It’s all about people being inexperienced on dirt roads and driving too fast for the conditions. That is applicable no matter what the vehicle is. Besides, most of their market these days probably don’t even have a manual license.

Cheers,
Jon

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