Selecting low range for parking and auto locking hubs
ian72 said
03:47 PM Jun 26, 2018
Hi, I am planning to get back into vanning after a layoff & revisiting a few things. We have yet to put our rig together but I notice that most 4wds have auto locking hubs these days and am wondering about using low range when backing the van onto a site. Won't the transmission lock up?
Radar said
05:17 PM Jun 26, 2018
ian72 wrote:
Hi, I am planning to get back into vanning after a layoff & revisiting a few things. We have yet to put our rig together but I notice that most 4wds have auto locking hubs these days and am wondering about using low range when backing the van onto a site. Won't the transmission lock up?
Yes there is lock up, I try to only use our low range 4wd while going in a reasonable straight line causing no bind up.
outlaw40 said
05:19 PM Jun 26, 2018
hi ian72
using low range is not a good idea in the modern 4x4 on solid ground like bitumen road etc as the front diff will wind up and at the least you will have trouble disengaging 4x4 or you could do seriously damage the drive train.
Bill B said
05:23 PM Jun 26, 2018
outlaw40 wrote:
hi ian72
using low range is not a good idea in the modern 4x4 on solid ground like bitumen road etc as the front diff will wind up and at the least you will have trouble disengaging 4x4 or you could do seriously damage the drive train.
Depends on the vehicle.
It is ok to use low range on a 200 Landcruiser so long as you don't activate the Centre Diff Lock.
rockylizard said
08:29 PM Jun 26, 2018
Bill B wrote:
Depends on the vehicle.
It is ok to use low range on a 200 Landcruiser so long as you don't activate the Centre Diff Lock.
Gday...
Correct answer Bill. It is completely dependent on the particular make and model and year ... many that are 'constant 4x4' these days are able to use low-range on bitumen - with some speed restrictions - and can be used when reversing a van onto a site.
As always ... it is wise to check the owner's manual of the vehicle - there will be advice on how to use the vehicle in 4x4.
cheers - John
STRETCH ARMSTRONG said
09:08 PM Jun 26, 2018
Hey ian72 it is easy as buying a set of free wheeling hubs for your vehicle. Its on my list of mods for D-maxine. Use of 4x4 low is then not a problem.
GB said
07:35 AM Jun 27, 2018
Hi,
I fitted free wheeling hubs to my D Max back in 2013 and drive with them unlocked, stops the front cv's and diff turning in normal driving and is great for backing my van up hill and in tight spaces as I can use low range. Have to remember to lock the hubs before going off road though.
Cheers
GB
rgren2 said
07:44 AM Jun 27, 2018
Some auto hubs can be converted to manual. I did it to my Patrol.
ian72 said
08:52 AM Jun 27, 2018
Thanks for these comments. I will possibly seek more details once the tug is selected.
Cupie said
11:14 AM Jun 27, 2018
Perhaps an advantage of my old banger, a GQ Patrol with auto locking hubs.
For 20 years I have been using 4L to reverse along the roadway, over the gutter & up the front lawn to park my 2.4T van into its place along the side of the house. I decided to do so after almost burning out a clutch by slipping it as I did a long reversal around trees & other obstacles into a difficult spot beside a relative's house in Castlemaine.
Never had transmission lock up.
BTW perhaps its the only time my 4WD function is used in earnest. But I do occasionally use it in a grassy paddock just to make sure it works, because many years ago a mechanic suggested that I do so.
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 27th of June 2018 11:16:30 AM
Plain Truth said
06:13 PM Jun 28, 2018
How your diffs work.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TotrUUuYOM4
Cupie said
11:11 AM Jul 4, 2018
Here's a vid on Transmission wind up ...
Perhaps why I have no probs REVERSING up to my home parking spot.
Ian,
For a short distance you are using it for, you will not lock the transmission with auto or manual hubs. In fact with my old GQ & manual hubs, I often left the hubs in 2WD & used the Low 4WD position to do what Cupie did. It was certainly better than burning a clutch out! Anyone who knows how heavy a Patrol transmission is would do the same.
To drive for any length of distance on firm surfaces will certainly risk locking the transmission unless like the Toyota, it has a centre diff.
In my earlier days as a trainee-technician with the PMG's Dept, I was a passenger in an older (1968) Landcruiser wagon - we had driven to the ABC TV transmitter at Mt Lofty & someone put the car in 4WD. Not knowing we had to reverse to get it out of 4WD & not being able to restore the "stick", we made it back to the depot in Edwardstown (perhaps 40 odd miles) without any issues.
Cassie63 said
08:08 PM Jan 13, 2022
Sorry to hijack this one, I've ordered a VDJ78 which comes with the auto hubs.
My old HDJ 105 has the manual hubs so when I tow my van an get stuck on an incline I stick it in low range to get me going without locking the hubs.
Can I do this with the VDJ78?
thanks in advance
Mike196 said
09:19 PM Jan 13, 2022
Same as GB above I fitted free wheeling hubs to the Colorado for the reasons mentioned. A bonus was an improvement of 1L/100Km consumption.
Cassie63 said
10:21 AM Jan 14, 2022
Is using the diff locks an option?
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:52 AM Jan 14, 2022
Cassie63 wrote:
Is using the diff locks an option?
Installing diff locks requires careful consideration and even more careful use. Their inappropriate use can also break things because all the power can be delivered through one axle.
I have a very effective limited slip diff at the rear and a diff lock at the front. It is rarely used.
Cheers,
Peter
Keith P said
12:18 PM Jan 14, 2022
I used low range in My Patrol (with hubs unlocked ) pretty much all the time where slow and technical backing was required. Upshot of all this was clutch was still in really good nick at 300,000 plus K,s.
In the Pajero...still use low range to park van....as it is usually for a short distance and with care. I just remember to let everything neutralise in neutral before switching back to high 4...as Paj locks centre diff in low range 4WD.
Hi, I am planning to get back into vanning after a layoff & revisiting a few things. We have yet to put our rig together but I notice that most 4wds have auto locking hubs these days and am wondering about using low range when backing the van onto a site. Won't the transmission lock up?
Yes there is lock up, I try to only use our low range 4wd while going in a reasonable straight line causing no bind up.
using low range is not a good idea in the modern 4x4 on solid ground like bitumen road etc as the front diff will wind up and at the least you will have trouble disengaging 4x4 or you could do seriously damage the drive train.
Depends on the vehicle.
It is ok to use low range on a 200 Landcruiser so long as you don't activate the Centre Diff Lock.
Gday...
Correct answer Bill. It is completely dependent on the particular make and model and year ... many that are 'constant 4x4' these days are able to use low-range on bitumen - with some speed restrictions - and can be used when reversing a van onto a site.
As always ... it is wise to check the owner's manual of the vehicle - there will be advice on how to use the vehicle in 4x4.
cheers - John
Hi,
I fitted free wheeling hubs to my D Max back in 2013 and drive with them unlocked, stops the front cv's and diff turning in normal driving and is great for backing my van up hill and in tight spaces as I can use low range. Have to remember to lock the hubs before going off road though.
Cheers
GB
Some auto hubs can be converted to manual. I did it to my Patrol.
Perhaps an advantage of my old banger, a GQ Patrol with auto locking hubs.
For 20 years I have been using 4L to reverse along the roadway, over the gutter & up the front lawn to park my 2.4T van into its place along the side of the house. I decided to do so after almost burning out a clutch by slipping it as I did a long reversal around trees & other obstacles into a difficult spot beside a relative's house in Castlemaine.
Never had transmission lock up.
BTW perhaps its the only time my 4WD function is used in earnest. But I do occasionally use it in a grassy paddock just to make sure it works, because many years ago a mechanic suggested that I do so.
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 27th of June 2018 11:16:30 AM
How your diffs work.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TotrUUuYOM4
Here's a vid on Transmission wind up ...
Perhaps why I have no probs REVERSING up to my home parking spot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulh0NyCof5g&list=PL1IUIvaMcdspJ0HRPmjKQYk6ENxspYzoW&index=14
For a short distance you are using it for, you will not lock the transmission with auto or manual hubs. In fact with my old GQ & manual hubs, I often left the hubs in 2WD & used the Low 4WD position to do what Cupie did. It was certainly better than burning a clutch out! Anyone who knows how heavy a Patrol transmission is would do the same.
To drive for any length of distance on firm surfaces will certainly risk locking the transmission unless like the Toyota, it has a centre diff.
In my earlier days as a trainee-technician with the PMG's Dept, I was a passenger in an older (1968) Landcruiser wagon - we had driven to the ABC TV transmitter at Mt Lofty & someone put the car in 4WD. Not knowing we had to reverse to get it out of 4WD & not being able to restore the "stick", we made it back to the depot in Edwardstown (perhaps 40 odd miles) without any issues.
My old HDJ 105 has the manual hubs so when I tow my van an get stuck on an incline I stick it in low range to get me going without locking the hubs.
Can I do this with the VDJ78?
thanks in advance
Same as GB above I fitted free wheeling hubs to the Colorado for the reasons mentioned. A bonus was an improvement of 1L/100Km consumption.
Installing diff locks requires careful consideration and even more careful use. Their inappropriate use can also break things because all the power can be delivered through one axle.
I have a very effective limited slip diff at the rear and a diff lock at the front. It is rarely used.
Cheers,
Peter
I used low range in My Patrol (with hubs unlocked ) pretty much all the time where slow and technical backing was required. Upshot of all this was clutch was still in really good nick at 300,000 plus K,s.
In the Pajero...still use low range to park van....as it is usually for a short distance and with care. I just remember to let everything neutralise in neutral before switching back to high 4...as Paj locks centre diff in low range 4WD.
Cheers Keith
Cheers Keith