would you select 4wd in these situations

[Maddog007]

trying to get an idea of what determines a loose surface

[europa88]

trying to get an idea of what determines a loose surface

Are we talking flat surfaces as any gradient would make a difference!

[Maddog007]

For this poll i Think i would say flat to gentle gradients.

[Koi]

For this poll i Think i would say flat to gentle gradients.

I just drive in 2wd until the wheels spin up and I don't move. Then I select 4wd. Did 85% of langdale quest in 2wd. So just because its wet or slippery don't mean I would automatically use 4wd, if it still moves in 2wd then thats where it stays.

[europa88]

I just drive in 2wd until the wheels spin up and I don't move. Then I select 4wd. Did 85% of langdale quest in 2wd. So just because its wet or slippery don't mean I would automatically use 4wd, if it still moves in 2wd then thats where it stays.

I agree, I did about 3 1/2 miles of the ridgeway in 2wd and only about 1 1/2
In 4wd.

it was a dry day though!

[Grimreeper]

Safe or sorry

Curious to see that most people so far in the poll, when it comes to gravel, (wet or dry) wouldnt pick 4wd. From experience down under loose gravel can be very unpredictable. Easy to side slide the back end in 2wd with a heavy right foot, even fun, but what about when the +2000kg of toyota weight and momentum decides the way it wants to go and not the way you want it to. Is it not better to stay safe and to stay in control than think its ok now so why change. Would you rather be in control or let the +2000kg of steel decide 4 you.

[Woodie]

Seems to me that most of the peeps here are very experienced drivers and only select 4wd when they really need to. Thats ok then, glad I didnt hook up with a bunch of wimps

[surffreak]

i would only select 4wd if i was loosing traction

[crusty]

i would only select 4wd if i was loosing traction

Sometimes...........that's too late.

When beach driving it's 2wd on the hard stuff, when I leave(or enter) the beach through soft deep sand, or have to drive on it at high tide, I select 4wd.

If driving muddy or loose gravel trails with a cliff edge or gulleys to slide in/over, I select 4wd. If there is an option for me to run off the trail without killing myself or the surf, I'll do it in 2wd.

Any sort of rockcrawling I will always select low4.

The worse stuff I drive in is wet clay. We have a few quarries where I live(also a lot of open cut mines which are lots of fun at night) and when the tread blocks fill with sodden clay, gravity takes over and you slide to the lowest point. Hopefully there is something soft there......trees and rocks are not soft. Always always use 4wd in wet clay.

[robnw67]

Grip

Hi

........but surely it's grip that counts(?). If your tyre treads are full of wet clay, then no matter how many driven wheels you have, you aren't going to go where you want to if the tyres can't grip.

Rob

[Darren]

I would also consider what tracks I'm going to leave, often on wet grass I would use 4x4 just to reduce the risk of trashing it, obviously depending on where you are, for example campsites.

[Smeg]

That was exactly my thinking as well - especially when pulling away on wet grass, I'd hope there was less chance of spinning and trashing someones nice grass! But then again, if turning on the grass then wheels will have to slip if you're in 4WD won't they? So maybe thinking more about it, if the grass was really wet I'd pull off in L4 and once moving switch to H2.

Still trying to work out why I decided I'd go 2WD for dry gravel and 4WD for wet gravel..... err....

Smeg.

[Morr]

.....I'd pull off in L4 and once moving switch to H2....
Smeg.

surely you wouldn't change from L to H whilst on the move ???

[Morr]

I'd use 4wd in any situation where there is a possible loss of traction, having a centre diff (3rd Gen) means I could run full time 4wd if desired, so for me its simple case of hit the button anytime I think it might be advantageous. If I still had my 2nd Gen, my choices would be a little different.

[Smeg]

surely you wouldn't change from L to H whilst on the move ???

Never caused me a problem so far. Can't say I'm that experienced a 4WD'er to know any better though - to date I've largely gone by recommendations on:
http://www.showmesome.info/hilux/

to quote from the very useful FAQ:
To shift from H2 to H4, reduce your speed to less than 80kmh/50mph and (for UK models) move the front drive control lever or (for other models) press the 4WD button. No need to depress the clutch. If you have trouble shifting in cold weather, reduce your speed or stop the vehicle and reshift. The 4WD indicator light may not come on even if you shift into H4 if the vehicle is stopped, when you start to move the vehicle will turn it on.

To shift from H4 to H2, simply (for UK models) move the front drive contol lever or (for other models) press the 4WD button. The vehicle may be moving at any speed. No need to depress the clutch.

To shift from H4 to L4, stop the vehicle or reduce speed to less than 8kmh/5mph. With your foot off the accelorator pedal, depress the clutch pedal and move the front drive control lever.

To shift from L4 to H4, depress the clutch pedal and move the front drive control lever. The vehicle may be moving at any speed.