4 Wheel drive off road, have I been doing it wrong ?
Discussion
I've been driving off road for over 40 years, tractors, motorbikes, landrovers, quads, dumptrucks etc. and thought I had a reasonable level of skill, however my daughter has just been on an off road driving course and apparently what I've taught her and what I've been doing all these years is wrong. Maybe someone on here could give me some advice.
Many of the vehicles I have driven including three which I currently use (series 2 Landrover , Ford Ranger pickup, and Polaris atv) have selectable 4 wheel drive and lockable diffs.
I was always of the school that you should proceed as far as possible in 2 wheel drive/unlocked diff until you get to the point that you need to engage them, that way if you do get stuck, you've always got something in reserve to get you out of trouble. Obviously I would engage them in advance for something that I'd almost certainly need them and where it wouldn't be practical to stop mid manouvre such as a 45 degree descent or mud or river crossing, but for general driving across fields/hillsides, I'd run in 2wd as much as possible.
My daughter's employer has brought in a specialist trainer to their estate to train all staff who use quads, tractors landrovers etc (for insurance purposes) in the art of off road driving. While he was complementary about my daughter's general skill levels (she went round the full course first time without stopping, something which he failed to do), he was critical of her not being in 4wd for the whole course. He told them all that they should engage 4wd and lock diffs as soon as they left 'normal' roads as being in 4wd 'just in case' is the safer thing to do.
Any comments/advice?
Many of the vehicles I have driven including three which I currently use (series 2 Landrover , Ford Ranger pickup, and Polaris atv) have selectable 4 wheel drive and lockable diffs.
I was always of the school that you should proceed as far as possible in 2 wheel drive/unlocked diff until you get to the point that you need to engage them, that way if you do get stuck, you've always got something in reserve to get you out of trouble. Obviously I would engage them in advance for something that I'd almost certainly need them and where it wouldn't be practical to stop mid manouvre such as a 45 degree descent or mud or river crossing, but for general driving across fields/hillsides, I'd run in 2wd as much as possible.
My daughter's employer has brought in a specialist trainer to their estate to train all staff who use quads, tractors landrovers etc (for insurance purposes) in the art of off road driving. While he was complementary about my daughter's general skill levels (she went round the full course first time without stopping, something which he failed to do), he was critical of her not being in 4wd for the whole course. He told them all that they should engage 4wd and lock diffs as soon as they left 'normal' roads as being in 4wd 'just in case' is the safer thing to do.
Any comments/advice?
thecook101 said:
I agree you shouldn't just reach for 4x4 any time you leave the road, but you also need to be sensitive to the damage that leaving your vehicle in two wheel drive can do to the trail. Engaging four wheel drive BEFORE it is needed avoids tearing up the ground unnecessarily - not great for the trail and not great for the people who follow behind you.
I don't 'trail' , I'm mostly off road on my own land or if on others' land it's because I'm working there. Yes, I've no wish to tear up my own or employers land so along with the need to keep a little something in reserve, and also minimise wear on the vehicle, avoiding damage to the ground is part of the reason I avoid permanent 4wd. thecook101 said:
I don't get why having a vehicle in 4x4 off road will damage the ground - happy to be informed though.
Sorry, I'm not trying to be contrary, it's not so much being in 4wd, but having the diffs locked that tear up the ground if you're turning tightly, I suppose it depends a lot on the type of ground too.As others have said, it's all about reading the situation.
I don't think I disagree with anything anyone has said on here, my original post was questioning the trainer's blanket 'engage 4wd as soon as you leave the road' statement which I don't think any of the replies on here have fully endorsed.
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