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Hello all. I have done some offroading with the Surf and before that a Landrover Discovery, so I have a general idea, BUT, today I had a mishap which I know some of you experienced members can shine a light on. Firstly, the 4WD system has and I suspect is still working OK. I think? .. More >> I was attempting to drive up a snowy hillside farm track. I considered that the surf should be able to do it no problem. There was one bit that was a steeper and the snow as we found out was compacted like ice. First try we got half way up and then found the Surf starting to slip back with all four wheels still spinning (I presume). 2nd try with a run up, we got 2/3rds of the way up in low range this time and then we lost momentum again. This time the truck slipped back & sideways and blocked the track for the next half hour until a farmer in his Hilux gave a little tug backwards to clear the road edge/bank we were into.
Now, one of my passengers reported that both wheels on one side were spinning, whilst the 2 on the other were stationary!! Is this usual for 4WD? I am sure my old landie would have gone up no problem and indeed other guys landies & other type vehicles did.. Even the farmer had no problem in his Hilux pickup.. So why did the surf struggle so much?
There is 1 more point to note. During the Farmer tug session, The farmer asked me to knock the drive system back into 2wd to allow slippage whilst pulling the back end round. Then changed his mind again but it was too late and I had already put it to 2wd. Then I straight away selected back to 4wd. But I suspect it was now out of 4wd and without being able to drive forwards or back was not able to re-engage - which may explain part of the struggle. Anyway, once back on the more level parts of the track it now seemed the 4wd system was not working at all and I could not even set off up a slight gradient and just one wheel would spin. :-( I eventually managed to back & slide it with cadance braking a few hundred yards back to the better parts of the track. I was very unsettled about maybe not having 4wd on the way home, but it seemed to be working on a snowy part again approaching my home.. Very confusing.. Any advice would be most welcome. Ta, G.
Now, one of my passengers reported that both wheels on one side were spinning, whilst the 2 on the other were stationary!! Is this usual for 4WD? I am sure my old landie would have gone up no problem and indeed other guys landies & other type vehicles did.. Even the farmer had no problem in his Hilux pickup.. So why did the surf struggle so much?
There is 1 more point to note. During the Farmer tug session, The farmer asked me to knock the drive system back into 2wd to allow slippage whilst pulling the back end round. Then changed his mind again but it was too late and I had already put it to 2wd. Then I straight away selected back to 4wd. But I suspect it was now out of 4wd and without being able to drive forwards or back was not able to re-engage - which may explain part of the struggle. Anyway, once back on the more level parts of the track it now seemed the 4wd system was not working at all and I could not even set off up a slight gradient and just one wheel would spin. :-( I eventually managed to back & slide it with cadance braking a few hundred yards back to the better parts of the track. I was very unsettled about maybe not having 4wd on the way home, but it seemed to be working on a snowy part again approaching my home.. Very confusing.. Any advice would be most welcome. Ta, G.
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