learning to 4wheel drive

**Tusker** · 24th January 2008, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by shift

hi,
please help

just learning 4wheel driving and have questions. what gear and range would i use to go through 50m of knee high mud? i have a 85 range rover with 33inch maxis.

There's an old saying to the effect that if you can't walk it, you can't drive it.. pretty well true for mud sand, creek crossings etc.

So, have you walked it to check it out. Rule 2. Poke a stick in to find the bottom. If it just sinks, forget it.

Rule 1 is do you need to go that way. Take Baz's chicken track if you can.

Set up recovery gear, Rule 3. Talk to your mates beforehand about how they're going to pull you out. There is more than one vehicle, isn't there.

I find the best technique is a lowish gear, high revs, but little throttle. Momentum will then get you a fair way without wheelspin. If it bogs you can then give it a bit. If the mud has a firm bottom underneath you should be ok.

You don't say whether it's a swamp you're trying to cross, or a track with wheel ruts. You'll probably fall into the ruts so you might as well start in them. If they're too deep, see Rules 1 & 2.

There was an earlier post about 15 psi. A lot of people do this. I don't anymore, had too many tyre problems where idiots have previuosly thrown rocks & logs in the ruts which you can't see. Ripped sidewalls, punctures, rolling beads off. My suggestion is stick to road pressures in mud.

Regards
Max P

**hiline** · 24th January 2008, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by RonMcGr

His profile says Kin Kin, which is SE of Gympie, QLD.
A tiny town in QLD

yes but the trick was when he posted his first question he had no location

but at least i know its a tiny town in QLD now

**WhiteD3** · 24th January 2008, 11:25 AM

I bought my 1st 4WD in March 2007. I considered myself a good driver generally but hadn't driven offroad for 20 years.

I joined the GCLRO club and started tagging along on their day trips and those unofficial drives posted on the forum.

I've learned heaps doing this. Using the sage advice I remembered from when I was a 1st year apprentice, being don't be afraid to ask questions, no matter how stupid, and keep asking until you understand the answer.

I go on these trips and ask advice of the other drivers on how to attack the terrain, how to drive my car, and most importantly, why I got stuck whenever I did. I also watch what others do right and wrong.

Everyone I've come across on these trips has been very supportive, welcoming and fantastic with their advice.

**sclarke** · 24th January 2008, 04:47 PM

I read posts like this from a person with a Beasty 4wd and all i think of.....

BAIT......

Its common for toyo and nissan guys to bait the jeep guys and see what replys will come out of a simple, "How do i drive this" or "What do you recommend"

Hence why i never give advice to possible Baiters.....
I could be wrong, and i am commonly wrong..... But that is my veiw

**shift** · 24th January 2008, 06:51 PM

hi all,
thanks for all your tips. i learnt heaps just from one post yeha. my rangie is still in repair, when it is up and running i know what to do at the spot i was talking about and beyond . i was 4wding with a friend when we came across this mud pit. we didn't go through because of lack of all that was needed. i do feel alot more confident now because of what i have now learnt from you all. looking for a club that would be near here. this 4wding life is fun. thanks again much appreciated. not to confuse any one i am a woman.

**Blknight.aus** · 24th January 2008, 08:49 PM

After a bit of a mishap with a guy trying to get onto the ramps today I broke out an old chestnut...

empty coke cans...... (or bottle or whatever else youve got)

Lay some out in an open area and try to crush them with the wheels of the car.

drivers fronts the easy one, then passanger front, dirver rear and finally passanger rear....

drive along, throw them out at random then try to get em...

having the "feel" for where your vehicles wheels are in relation to where you want them to get to makes a fair whack of difference...

aother good one is when you drive down off of a kerb see if you can get the front left wheel and rear right wheel to come down and touch at the same time....

**shift** · 24th January 2008, 09:34 PM

thanks mate great tips. curious to see how the wheels on curb comes off.
rangie is out of action for now, will be up and running by march if not before. can,t wait to try both approaches out. let you know how i go when time arrives.pearla ideas

**Xtreme** · 24th January 2008, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

Nice place Kin Kin

Stick around Shift, we could do with some more women here...we are greatly outnumbered

Your numbers are increasing though - check out (Mrs) 'Harrier' - introductory post earlier today.

**VladTepes** · 24th January 2008, 10:48 PM

This may be of interest - not sure how long it takes to drive from Kin Kin to Nambour but they might do trips up your way I reckon.

Sunshine Coast Landrover Owners Club Inc (SCLOC)
PO Box 247 Nambour Qld 4560
Old School House (next to Caretakers residence)Nambour Showgrounds Nambour
To bring together people interested in responsible use of Landrovers and other makes of 4WD vehicles through touring of areas inaccessible to conventional vehicles. Activities include camping weekends, day trips, social events, community assistance.
Club first aid kit, recovery equipment, club BBQ.

(07) 5443 2545
(07) 5446 7827

**Blknight.aus** · 24th January 2008, 10:58 PM

what'd you do to it.............?

instead of paying a motza at the greasers if you have problems with it ask about in the tech section Id say the diagnostics for rovers from here hits about the 90% mark within the first 10 replies to any "help its doing this" type post and usually once the culprit is identified there'll be a dozen or so "well now we know what it is heres how we go about sorting that out." posts to follow that up and the inevitable couple from Ron to fix the spelling mistakes along with a couple of helpful hints.. If you havent heard from ron and need to as you think he'll have the answer (or know who will know) just post sumfink wid a couple of spelling misteaks in it and he will pop up like magic.

next thing you know you'll be down at the local tool mart buying up a tool set to keep the old girl in mech A1 and will have a garage that most lesser 4x4 owners (and some mechanics) will look at and start paying you to do their work....

Thread: learning to 4wheel drive

Thread Tools

grateful

curious

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions