4X4 BASICS: When to engage 4WD (and when not to engage 4WD) | Auto Expert John Cadogan

[@AutoExpertJC]

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[@travisj2370]

hey im on the disabillity pension and im after a new motorcycle but dont know who to go through for a loan or whatever because most places dont see the disabillity support pension as income even tho it legally is classified as income same as a job i ride bikes because cars throw me left and right and steering destroys my shoulders where as a bike pretty much drives its self once over 20kmph just have to twist the throttle and go only forces from the road is up and down wich is split between the front and rear wheel so it kind of see saws under the rider abit to make even speed bumps nearly not exist so yea im not too sure what to do youd think harley davidson and indian would have aged and disabillity pension deals since alot of their riders are around 70 but i cant seem to find anything

[@Matty-ccpp]

When is bin cam coming john.... We are all waiting :)

[@BlitzcastFishingNewCaledonia]

Needed to mention mitsu's superselect which enables you to drive in 4H on sealed surfaces. A,great system that is the exception to the rule and allows for great driving...

[@Wdeane1957]

Same with quite a few Toyota's with full time 4wd (Prado & Landcruiser) as they have a centre diff too that can be locked to have front and rear drive shafts synchronised.

[@OnCountryWithMick]

No one ever seems to mention the Super Select II system. I always engage 4H on EVERY dirt road as it is effectively All Wheel Drive and does not cause bind up. It is also good when on wet slippery roads especially if towing.

[@toddavis8151]

I was just reading through the comments to see if anyone had mentioned that. I’m surprised that John didn’t mention it since he drives a Triton

[@seanhamilton4175]

He's probably trying to keep it simple

[@StaitlyNatters]

Here’s some advice, especially for those with electronic 4wd actuators. Use them regularly. If you don’t they can and do seize, and it’s always at the worst possible time you find out. I drove an ‘01 jackaroo, and would every few weeks, take a backroad, stop and use 4wd for a k or 2. This ensures everything’s working. Another point here is to ensure your mechanics are checking the transfer and diff for oil on a service. Especially after any water crossings that occur when you’ve been driving for a while, the breathers in some vehicles are marginally above the diff or transfer case allowing for water ingress as they suddenly cool.

[@jeffk464]

Yeah, I've always wondered about that when you see the guys with snorkels driving with water up to the hood.

[@johnbambo9036]

Great advice, had a 2014 Cherokke Tailhawk that did the electronics in the Low Range 4WD system (Rear diff Lock) cause we only used off road 2 or 3 times a year. The Jeep US forum advises putting into Low range at least once a month for a 100 meters back and forth to ensure switching is all ok.

[@michaelseymour5370]

I was driving home the backway after the Sydney Mardi gras and definitely needed to engage 4wd to get traction in the mud.

[@watchyatalkinabout4494]

Make sure you clean your undercarriage after taking back roads home.

[@michaelseymour5370]

@watchyatalkinabout4494 yes most definitely , and I've been down more dirt tracks than Colin mcrae in my ranger.

[@petesmitt]

@@michaelseymour5370 are we still talking about the same back way dirt track?

[@michaelseymour5370]

@petesmitt not sure but I've just been out in the ranger feeding the chooks and loading up the rear with eggplants and peaches in fact I had a bumper crop and had to push a good load in the back-door.

[@watchyatalkinabout4494]

@@michaelseymour5370 Be careful with that Ranger, you can unwittingly blow a box in those things!

[@Daniel-vl8mx]

The Mitsubishi Super Select system is an exception to all of this. It has a centre diff, and you can choose whether to run in 2H or 4H on any surface. I find that very useful. On a good high traction surface I'll run in 2H, because it uses measurably less fuel. However, if it starts to rain, or I am on a dirt road, I can slip into 4H on the fly. The extra traction noticeably improves the composure and sure-footedness of the vehicle under such conditions, but because the centre diff is operating I am not risking damage to anything. If things get a bit loose I can lock the centre diff, effectively meaning it is like one of those old-fashioned 4x4s that don't have a centre diff, and there's 4 low and a rear diff lock as things get really challenging. I've used all of them when the time came for them. Of course there are also 4x4s with centre diffs that run in 4x4 full-time, and these have the traction advantage over old-fashioned 4x4s that can only actually run in 4wd when on loose surfaces, but you don't have the Mitsubishi's advantage of being able to select 2H and save some fuel when on a dry, sealed road. Still, I'd choose one of these over one of the old skool 4x4s as described in this video.

[@wyattfamily8997]

Don't forget the speed limitation when changing "on the fly".

[@Daniel-vl8mx]

@@wyattfamily8997 The change from 2H to 4H or vice versa with the Mitsubishi is electronically controlled, and it simply doesn't occur at over 100 km/h, even if you do move the selector. You need to ease off to under 100 (even if only briefly) for the change to be effected at the transfer case.

[@DaveLoy-mj7pg]

This is a question I've asked myself many times, so thanks for your thoughts. The instruction I received during a recent 4WD course (I'm required to do a bit of remote travel as part of my employment, including a range of off-road driving scenarios), was to 'engage 4H when on dirt and slow down' (I'm paraphrasing a bit there but that was clearly the message). Your suggestion that driving conservatively on dirt in 2H until you observe the road conditions changing stands to reason, although I'd suggest that you might not see that change in condition until it's too late, even travelling at slower speeds, especially since it can take a few moments for the vehicle to actually engage 4H after you switch it 'on the fly'. It's a workplace policy to drive on dirt as instructed (for me), but I might reconsider my approach when using my own 4WD on dirt roads.

[@b0wen11]

This is exactly right, if off-road(dirt), use the 4H, much safer and better control.

[@jarrodhilton4860]

I live in rural Victoria and have the sandy carvel dirt roads around with some corrugated spots. Was fun in the old commo when I was young sliding all over the places, but with the family I click to 4wd and the Ute straightens up

[@BernieCookPilot]

Everyone should read the owners manuals of their particular vehicle first before taking and engaging in the advise of others.

[@Shirocco7]

What a novel idea

[@RUHappyATM]

@@Shirocco7 LOL, how many read novels nowadays.

[@tomnewham1269]

I couldn’t agree more. It amazes me on forums people ask about their cars where the answer is right there in the owners manual.

[@johncunningham4820]

WHAT ! Read the instructions ? Pfffftt ! Preposterous . 🤣

[@Inisfad]

Another important thing is to make sure you have the same size tires on all wheels, when you are in 4wd, as the tire size changes the gearing. So, if you do not have a full size spare, and have the donut on the car, traveling in 4wd will also damage the transfer case.

[@bena1440]

I love the thumbnail is a Pajero Sport because they have a bit of a different 4WD system again. 4H is more like an AWD system where the transfer case acts as a centre diff. Then there is 4HLc which is like normal 4H with the transfer case splitting power evenly between front and rear and the it has 4LLc like 4L

[@pamnuman1619]

Thats why I bought one. Pajero Sport and Super Select is awesome and still outdone other 4x4s in our little group. Yes it out does Oh What a Feeling

[@andoletube]

He does know that, since he owns a Triton with the same drivetrain.

[@davidnobular9220]

@@pamnuman1619 As a brand new member of the TFB (Toyota Fan Boiz) I resent that remark (see my comment above) 😁

[@brianventura4519]

@@pamnuman1619 and oh what a feeling still outsells almost everything else combined.

[@sjion]

Mitsubishi's Super-Select is awesome!

[@Erik_Swiger]

We get some nasty snow storms here in Cheyenne. During the worst of it, I have the transmission of my truck in low, the 4WD engaged, and the tow/haul engaged (defeating the OD I guess). The wipers are going and the heater is on full-blast, too. All this keeps the engine speed up for more power, more heat, and more electricity generation. I call it "snowmobile mode."

[@BradGryphonn]

00:20 Many moons ago I bought a 2nd hand 60 series LC wagon. The previous owner had fitted an unmatched ratio front diff. The ONLY time it was relatively safe to engage 4WD was in soft sand, very loose, deep gravel, and very slippery mud. Having written that, the ONLY reason to engage 4WD is when you know you will need it. EDIT: before the 'experts' comment, when I put it through for a roadworthy, the front drive shaft was about buggered. It was, for want of a better description, floppy at the centre point (they have a split front shaft). When I sourced a front shaft from the local 4WD wreckers, the shaft would not fit the front diff (different spline count). So the good blokes at the Rockhampton 4WD wreckers I bought it from, found a front half that fitted to allow me to use it. EDIT 2: It was a free-wheeling hub setup as you would know. But yeah, hubs are unlocked and in RWD when you don't absolutely need 4WD. And yeah, fudd me! Why would you engage 4WD on a regular dirt road? EDIT 3: We lived (when I had the fourbie at one point) on a beach where 4WD was absolutely essential to get access to. The ONLY time I engaged 4WD was for the kilometre or so where I had to negotiate some very sandy (sand dune) country to get to our camp on the beach. As soon as we got off the really soft stuff, I'd disengage 4WD and the hubs.

[@bobkats]

Thank F@#K ny Prado is full time, and then there is the centre lock, oh be still my quivering loins,,,,,......

[@Equiluxe1]

I have a four wheel drive and never take it out of four wheel drive, but then I have a Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian which in Australia is called a Triton these are fitted with a center diff which can be locked and as it makes no difference to fuel consumption but improves handling I leave four wheel engaged at all times, I used to have a land rover and very rarely needed four wheel drive even in deep mud.

[@M8YM8]

Great video John and great advice. I do appreciate the irony that the thumbnail is a Pajero Sport which has 4WD auto.

[@kendallshore5733]

I do a bit of off road work in heavy vehicles (rural fire trucks) and often low range is needed just to get the weight of the machine and water up hills on dirt roads. Also, when paddock bashing something that's heavy it's better to be in 4x4 already before you hit that unexpected soft bit. However, on good dirt roads you never need 4x4.

[@McCritRaid]

It's good to see if can do in 2WD under all conditions (tire choice also helps!) and play around with vehicle to feels limits. One red faced moment was when I was climbing wet dirt road hill (in the wet) and went over a dirt 45 deg. (to road) 'speed bump' type obstacle (designed to divert rain water over the Mountain), and my back end slide out, pointing over the road mountain edge 😰. May have been a result of 2WD and going slow, but was a good lesson learned. That type of cliff edge drive is good to engage 4WD, but you can also feel if vehicle is unhappy if winding happens. Again try out different situations where you have a good run off, if things go wrong and off-road training never hurts... you can even make a 'date' of it ;) tnx JC for the vid!

[@apistosig4173]

Fabulous John - me once had a 1943 GPW - drove it everywhere and never needed 4WD even when me' Toyota mates needed it ;-)

[@jessie2550]

I drive a Delica with Super Select and suffer none of the problems ... drive on bitumen and engage 4x4 at speeds up to 100ks per hour and the car is very stable. Awesome system

[@garrystlawrence2157]

Yep, that's another with the Mitsubishi Super Select system....I can't fault it, had two Pajeros now covering nearly 20 years without any problems, and I tended to use 4Wd on the bitumen when towing the van. The son-in-law had a Delica with the system, and misses it sorely now that his current vehicle is more 'normal'.

[@adrianlivingstone8520]

Hey John, there is another type of locker, a mechanical locker that automatically engages once one wheel loses traction, often known as a lunchbox locker, which can be purchased for just over $600 AU from Lokka Australia. This was an affordable alternative for me.

[@TheMoeller09]

😎👍🏽 great video, very conscious and professional advice as always.

[@akaroamale475]

One of the reasons corrugations form is because people are in 2wd and this gets worse on hills when the vehicles in 2WD dig holes that are slightly out of sink between left and right. I accept that road conditions are different across the ditch but here in New Zealand I engage 4WD as soon as I hit shingle and low range all the time I am on a 4WD track. Never had any problem with transmission wear in any vehicle in 45 years. My present Hilux has hit 360000 and is still going strong I spend 80% of my work day on shingle and dirt roads. On a 4WD course with the head engineer from Toyota New Zealand, we were shown the negative impacts, no pun intended, of not engaging 4WD, the vehicle went into a hydro slide down the hill, It is next to impossible to always see an area of low traction. In 4WD you stop quicker, have better control and are less likely to lose control on the slippery stuff. You touched on the real answer to this question John, engage your brain so that you will know when to engage 4WD. I have seen a tour operator out of Noosa who spends 20% of their day on hard road the rest on sand, this person gets out to piss around with the freewheel hubs as he enters or leaves the beach. He had no idea how shitty and cheap these things are and how the sand would be in there and he may not be in 4WD at all or is always in 4WD. The wear on a diff would not eventuate in his lifetime. I have never seen or heard of a diff wearing out under these circumstances.

[@aaronsmith4746]

Someone I know was advised by a police officer friend to engage 4wd on rough or washboard dirt roads. The reason was so that the front wheels pull themselves over bumps instead of slamming into them, thus reducing tire stress. That sounds optimized for getting somewhere quickly without destroying tires (and the resulting delay) when long-term vehicle reliability is not the primary concern.

[@trevorpom]

Driving too slow on corrugated roads just rattles your teeth out and vibrates your car to death. Too fast and you're going on an unplanned offroad adventure. There is a happy medium where things smooth out a little, no need for 4wd.

[@karltattersall5508]

Letting the air out of the tires makes a huge difference to the comfort of the ride and wear and tear.

[@chriswalker499]

Most Four Wheel Drive vehicles have easily visible instructions from the drivers seat on how to operate the Four Wheel Drive system. This can be found on either on the drivers door, on the sun visor or other easily visible panel from the seat. It is good to make your self well acquainted with the operational instructions on these information panels as some Four Wheel Drive systems may require you to stop the vehicle to engage or disengage four wheel drive.

[@sebastianmessina31]

John it is a good idea to go to 4wd high on corrugated road so that the rear wheels are not slamming the front wheels over those mongrel corrugations. A bit of synchronicity goes a long way.

[@hectorshouse7348]

I let the Sheila’s reach for the knob💪

[@davidholmes4088]

Drive conservatively when the conditions are poor. Is the best advice. 4wd or not

[@hilliard665]

I've only owned 1 car with 4x4 and was an early liberty wagon with low range 4x4. I only used it once, was to get thru a muddy bog in driveway after floods.

[@davidashton6567]

AWD was actually first introduced in the Jensen FF [late 60's\

[@jeffk464]

Ford is advertising that their new 4X4's in the US have an optional AWD system. This option is available on the Bronco and will probably be available on the 2024 Ranger. I'm assuming they added a limited slip or clutch front to rear differential. Pretty cool deal if you live in snow country, also you can drive like a rally car driver on dirt roads, at least until you flip it. The Ranger we are getting in the US is a little different than the one in Australia, different engine options and other smaller differences.

[@JAMESWUERTELE]

The problem with the new Bronco (specifically) is drivers leaving it in 4H auto, and parking, along comes the tow truck and they drag them, and the clutch in the transfer case makes noise, and will fail to engage. Ford Boss Me (channel KZbin) has been replacing transfer cases in Broncos. 4H auto has been binding up in the dry parking lots while turning. He’s been telling owners not to use 4H auto in the dry. Just another failure for out of warranty.

[@Dark_Dial_Watches]

oh, oh look at that, the shirts back. G.I. John and a combat casio

[@jamesmcmillan2656]

I’ve been doing it wrong, thanks John.

[@johnbambo9036]

And after the Front and Rear Diff Locks are fitted, then fit 35 inch tyres and big Bull bar and hook up the Caravan and do the lap around Australia

[@trevorpom]

Diff locks, used to gain extra traction when in trouble...so you can get further into trouble. :)

[@rb4593]

The best thing I've learned is sometimes 4L isn't the best option in some cases. Yep you've done the right thing and let the tyres down in your stock standard modern 4wd and think all this torque will get you out of trouble, but it can just bog you down even more. I've found 4H can do a better job in soft sand for example with some common sense throttle control.

[@trevorpom]

Soft sand is better handled in 4H and even better with an auto gbox as you need to create a bow wave in the sand to keep moving. As soon as you back off/change gears you can lose the bow wave and bog down...that's when the recovery boards and shovels are broken out. In the worst of cases you end up burying your spare and connecting the winch to it to drag you out. It's a good idea to engage the front diff lock too.

[@ChrisCebelenski]

I'll add one comment to fording water - if you wouldn't want to walk it ahead, generally you wouldn't want to drive into it either. Absent of special equipment, such as a snorkel, engines don't really react well to water. And if the water is fast or deep enough to make you think you might get washed away, then you don't want your 4x4 out there either. The repair bill for fixing a hydrolocked engine is no joke.

[@TaylerMade]

i had a friend who was a fencer in nz in the 70's. he had an old landrover which he took in places where i would swear you cannot go. having sat with him going down a really steep hill, bouncing from sheep track to sheep track, with the stain in my pants getting bigger and bigger.

[@sgtkabukiman9411]

I believe it was a Mitsubishi ad, they turned off a bitumen road onto a well made, dry dirt road and reached down and selected 4wd mode. This is where people get the idea that anytime they're not on bitumen, they must engage 4wd.

[@stusue9733]

Mitsubishi can drive on bitumen in 4WD I'm surprised JC didnt mention the whole "centre diff" thing. (maybe he did and I've forgotten already lol)

[@toddavis8151]

@@stusue9733 he didn’t mention it which is strange since he drives a Triton

[@brenton2561]

My 07 Triton (manual4x4) You don't need four wheel drive, until you do. It all started on a wet winters day, 4wd wouldn't engage and I got the most embarrassingly kind of bogged out back of old mates farm. What a tosser. I was spewin. So I've learned a few things. When ya shift the transfer case gear shift it has sensors in the gearbox that switch between two vacuum actuators (vacuum supplied from intake manifold), that then push or pull a linkage,that mechanically engage or disengage the front diff from the front driveshaft. It is beneficial to regularly select 4wd to switch between actuators and for the health of the sensors. The front diff linkage is protected by a rubber bushing and is sprung so that engaged is it's neutral position without vacuum (eg when engine switches off it drops in, or you can crimp a vacuum line to get 4x4 in a pinch.) A bit of grease on the shaft doesn't hurt every so often. Going on... I tow a lot of different crap around and sometimes low gear 2wd is handy so... I'm considering installing a switch in the dash so I can select low range without the front diff engaging, essentially like leaving the front hubs unlocked.

[@graemeandrews5535]

Not like you to miss an opportunity JC. Maybe a bit on constant 4wd and centre diff locks would have been helpful as noted in the comments. Nice though. Regards GA. To I,constant 4wd with centre diff lock = 4WD. No centre diff locked all wheel drive.

[@Bazilhatz3773]

Hey John I drive a MR Triton and use 4wd any time I like, 😁

[@toddavis8151]

Strangely so does he

[@LordZiomalus]

Positive benefit... John, Johnny, Johnno. 😉

[@ianmac2963]

Thanks JC. Useful.

[@bruceparr1678]

Just got to get all 4 corners spinning when in 4wd and both diffs locked if you want to turn.

[@1969cmp]

I drove to Gonlom in Kakadu in my Kia Optima, and later we chatted to a park ranger and he said 'you drove to Gonlom in that'. When I pulled up in the car park me and another bloke who drove a Mazda 3 had a yarn about our little adventure 😁 A little bit more ground clearance would have been nice but a 4 x 4 wasn't needed.

[@Robcomesana]

Good piece of advice. I'm not sure about how to use this info on my piece of sh...t Nissan Leaf, but I appreciate the knowledge.

[@davidnobular9220]

But...but.....YOU'RE SAVING THE PLANET !!!!!

[@alanhilder1883]

The fun when 4X4ing is when you have to set up the winch. Otherwise it is just trying to break something on your vehicle. ( showing my age. The Leyland brothers broke at least one axle on every episode of their show )

[@marcusfenske421]

Mate, I am obsessed with finding Dingo Piss Creek, when are you going to have a show and tell and give us the coordinates……want to engage 4 wheel drive and take my little shitwa all the way there 😂

[@operation4wheelz]

Generally. You can engage 4wd on any loose traction surface. Dirt, snow, gravel corrugations. But not wet sealed bitumen… there’s not an experienced instructor out there that will say differently and this is also inline with the vehicle handbook guidelines (generally) There are some high traction dirt roads out there that it’s probably not a good idea. But usually because the top layer has been eroded away and poorly maintained.

[@OntarioBearHunter]

The moment my wheels are about to leave pavement the 4x4 comes on, same as snow like we have today.However in snow, I am having to shift in and out depending on what roads are plowed and salted.

[@jeffk464]

@@OntarioBearHunter I personally love my VW GTI in the snow. Low CG so if I slide off the road it probably wont flip and a really good stability control system. The differential front braking controlled by stability control computer designed for the race track seems to also work spectacularly in the snow. Its unbelievably sure footed, plus John is always such a huge fan of VW. I'm either getting the new Tacoma or Ranger for going to moose piss creek, but will be keeping my GTI as a snow car.

[@TerryClarkAccordioncrazy]

Please more educational content on the subject of dingos.

[@AJ_moja_kvaka]

Sorry to hit you here with an off topic, but since you have started with tools topics here's one that bothers me. I'm just a DIY average men, reading a book about welding. Last night I was reading about safety and the author stated that welding machine should be grounded. At first glance I was like - OK I tested the plug in my garage with my cheap tester and it stated everything was fine with it, so it should have ground. But then as I continued reading, I figured the author was writing that welding machine should have an additional ground that should be connected to a proper ground or water pipe (with taking other precautions as he stated). He also stated old welding machines didn't have that, and my machine is brand new Hugong Extremig 200 LCD and there's nothing in the box or instructions that I could use to ground the machine other than to the piece I'm welding. So if you know something about this topic, please share. I'm currently assuming author of the book was writing about some industrial equipment for REL/MIG/MAG/FCAW/TIG welding at the time. All the best from Serbia!

[@davidnobular9220]

I'm so so sorry about an off topic comment. I finally test drove a Pajero Sport ......and the phrase "Could't pull the skin off a rice pudding" comes to mind. And I'm a big low end torque fan. Had an RM (Real Man's) Pajero in Tassie for a few weeks and that had some great low end. So, it looks like I'm going to have to join the TFB (Toyota Fan Boi ) ranks.....Can anyone lend me an extra $60k ??? Sure am gonna miss that SuperSelect....

[@HypocriticYT]

I engaged when my trucks rear brakes wouldn’t release 😊 it finally pooped out the adjuster screw thing and all was well 😊. I did replace the park brake shoes but if they screw up again I’ll delete them 😊

[@dougstubbs9637]

Dingo Piss Creek via Dead Dingoes Donger Gorge will require a 4wd. If the intention is to do the Taipan Ridge track as well, you need low range, and winch with snatch blocks. Also best to take a stick welder, in case you need to apply some CIG locker action. Toorak Tractors need not apply. Thank you. Make Australia More Bitumen.

[@stevenhobbs709]

What happened to viscous coupling 4wd, always seemed the best system from Jensen to my ZG jeep.

[@petermills1402]

4WD high on pretty well any dirt or gravel road is the consensus for many 4WD trainers. Never in 55 years of 4WD use in every kind of terrain has a driveline buggered to my knowledge due to 4WD high range use, hundreds of trips with convoys of travellers seeking DP Ck . There is however an elephant in the 'works' here since the wide adoption of ABS brakes, traction controls and electronic wizardry. As Im sure you are aware there is a 'thing' such as braking on dirt roads and the evils of ABS brake systems ensuring when you 'really' want to stop as the 30cm deep hidden washout appeared out of nowhere (roadworkers camouflage techniques absolutely) or that beast, hopping at light speed, emerging from the scrub with intent to test the integrity of ones windscreen or that lovely smooth dirt road just tossed you an ever tightening curve with piles of loose gravel over half the surface. ABS brakes can be fkucin evil in these situations ensuring the 3 tonne 4WD just keeps on keepin on....down the road to washout oblivion. However my 4WD training activities tell me with that 4WD High lever or button engaged 'things' (read ABS brakes/some traction controls) switch off or 'dumbed down' and when you hit those brakes the car actually stops....3 inches from the washout usually. My advice, use that 4WD on any unsealed road, braking and handling will be improved in all the ever changing conditions that 'any' dirt/gravel road can toss your way. Also I would like a dollar for every time a newby to 4WD thinks 2WD is fine and the 10m sand patch 'gets them' because it 'looked fine'......Take the risk out of the situation and hit that 4WD button.

[@bobdadruma]

I once spent about half an hour trying to explain to a customer why she should leave her 4x4 in 2WD mode when she didn't need the extra traction. She never did get what I was telling her. Every time I saw the vehicle it was in Auto 4WD. Even during dry summer months.

[@petesmitt]

You tried talking sense to a woman? I gave that up many moons ago..

[@paulwalker9014]

Haha. .my Pajero has been in 4H for 13 years now.

[@keith1585]

Yes but what vehicle was it? As already mentioned, Pajero can be left in 4WD (non locked centre) 100% of the time.

[@bobdadruma]

@@keith1585 it was a Nissan Pathfinder from the early 2000’s as I recall. Auto transmission with electric shift transfer case.

[@oldbloke204]

If you're going to spend big money on a 4wd, and actually use it, then spend a few hundred bucks and go and do an course over a couple of days. Ours was a session in the classroom and then a day out on a course with an instructor that covered all of the basics and how to do stuff safely. I believe that some 4wd clubs do this stuff as well. Mind you when you see some of the videos where people basically drive them into lakes/rivers that inundate them without thinking then maybe there's no point. If you can't even figure out it isn't a boat then..................

[@benchapman5247]

I tend to only engage it when 2wd stops going forward. My vehicle will not be named on this channel, John's opinion on the brand is legendary (it's not a Stellantis or a Ford either) but it still impresses me just how capable it is in 2WD anyway (when I put the off road tyres on I keep just for this occasion). That said, I have been known to engage 4wd on wet bitumen just to launch in a dead straight line at the lights when some bogan in a commodore ute tries to take the "bag lane" but it gets disengaged pretty quickly and doesnt wind things up as the wheels are all moving at the same speed.

[@stusue9733]

You bought a Jeep?

[@MattBlack6]

Volkswagen hey.

[@benchapman5247]

Not a Jeep or a Volkswagen...

[@jeffk464]

@@benchapman5247 Uh oh, that kind leaves Land Rover.

[@benchapman5247]

@@jeffk464 Nope I am not that crazy....

[@whyalwaysme2522]

G'day mate

[@abstragic4216]

No mention of selectable traction control? Very common on new 4WDs, and important to know when not to use it and how it may interract with diff lock.

[@xr8rick]

The other problem with engaging 4L (and lowering tyre pressure) too soon is, if you make it a long way on a boggy track or beach and you start getting stuck, you’re already in low range and you’ve really got no further escape options.

[@Agent.K.]

That doesn’t make sense lol! You wouldn’t get bogged to begin with soo…

[@beauclose2235]

That's some seriously flawed logic there mate

[@axios76]

Ммммм, what? 🤣🤣 If you had already been in 4L, you may not have gotten stuck at all. If you are getting stuck in 4L, you are stuck in 4L no matter how early or how late you had engaged it. And you would need further help by either snatch/tow, winching or diff. lock to proceed further. Your logic is wrong.

[@davidcollins2258]

By that rationale, never use 4wd mode at all!

[@landcruisertroopytouringan2166]

4wd as soon as I hit the dirt. Gear type transfer cases are so much more durable than the chain driven ons found in all ifs Utes. The advantage of 4wd vastly outweighs the wear argument. Much safer and easier to steer.

[@RealLifeLifeHacks]

pls talk about the mitsubishi 4wd system.. it is different from the others

[@rfmonkey4942]

We need a video on how nuffys should engage manners & a brain when driving And to put down the ice pipe

[@gregspencer7111]

Bin Cam John!!!

[@Itsme-zq3et]

What about just locking the centre differential on dirt?

[@stusue9733]

I'm confused, wouldn't you already be in 4WD? Why would you lock the centre diff and be like all those people that don't have a centre diff??

[@Itsme-zq3et]

ASPW seems to sum it up beautifully m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3PQqGmNpcuYbK8

[@basilsmith2337]

Prado and higher end Utes also have a central diff which mean you can drive on sealed roads if require as long as the central diff lock is open

[@MikeJohnson-xo2fi]

Great advice. My 2021 Ford Everest has "Full Time 4WD" can you please explain how this works without transmission wind up. Also what role does traction control play when 4WDing. Cheers Jonno

[@davidcollins2258]

Full time 4wd is the same as all wheel drive. It has a centre diff. When you go I to proper 4wd mode, the centre diff is locked. Traction control uses automatic braking to stop the spinning wheel and force drive to the other wheel on the axle. Can be very a effective diff lock substitute but needs wheels to slipped before transferring drive whereas a diff lock doesn't need this.

[@gazzas123]

My brother in law regularly drives in 4wd when it rains and lets it warm up for up to half an hour. I told him he will damage the drive train and he is just wasting fuel.

[@jeffk464]

Engage 4wd 30 seconds before you get stuck

[@ScottMurrayBestFamilyCars]

Let the record show: 18:08

[@robashcroft4580]

If I had a dollar for everytime I've seen the answer "Naaaaahhh, 4H all day mate" to this question on social media forums...

[@dingopisscreek]

never having driven a 4-wheel vehicle myself.....does the vehicle need to be stationary when engaging 4-wheel drive or can it be done whilst moving? if moving is the speed critical or not?

[@rangerover06sc]

Every 4WD vehicle I've driven let's you switch into 4 auto or 4 high while moving. Some let you shift into 4L while moving as long as your in netrual most don't though. It's all recommended that you are going straight

[@ralfnjan]

Gravel? Where the surface stones move about, not a true dirt road. OK for 4wd if there's a lot of dry surface slippage?

[@brucegibbins3792]

Over the previous decades there has never been an occasion when I've been disadvantaged from not driving a 4WD vehicle along any of the roads, tracks, trails and laid flat bitumen state highway system. I guess I could have, like just for the fun of it, to see what would happen, but always aware then of a road police Ford V8 Coupe` poised to give chase from the shadows cast by a big green Makarakapa tree..

[@chrishewitt4220]

Join John for the next episode where he waxes lyrical about the joys of Mitsubishi GSR Super Select and how it's the bee's knees when 4WDing...

[@glenwillson5073]

But is he right? That's the question.

[@chrishewitt4220]

@@glenwillson5073 😁

[@glenwillson5073]

@@chrishewitt4220 Very articulate Chris.

[@glenwillson5073]

Does anyone have any comments if the idea, that if everyone used 4WD on dirt roads it would help mitigate against corrugations forming, is correct?

[@BlackhawkPilot]

Unless you have a locker there is no 4WD. Even the normal off road capable vehicle is only 1WD and 2WD when shifted to 4WD. The differential makes it so you don’t destroy the derive line. The locker turns the vehicle into more wheel drive depending which ones are engaged. Old Jeeps think WWII to the 70s had different axel ratios front and rear and absolutely should not be driven in 4WD on any hard surface unless there was a reason, e.g. snow, ice, mud, fording, etc. For most folks a AWD with a low range is more than adequate.

[@eaudedogue]

I have a physics question relating to all things off-road John. Somebody once explained to me that regardless of a stationary vehicles given angle/position/divorce inducing predicament, it's entire mass will always be evenly distributed amongst whichever tyres remain in contact with the planet. i.e. a (stationary) car of 1000kg perched upon rocks, on a steep incline and with one tyre compromised doing a Joe Biden handshake with the air, will have exactly 333.3kg of downward force on each of the three tyres still on the ground. This seemed illogical to me though I didn't argue much as physics has proved me wrong on occasions prior.

[@mickmckpng3153]

Any time sitting at the traffic lights in the Western suburbs....safety first.....

[@brianwilliams3345]

Eh M8 how's Albo going you know the better alternative to ScoMo, list the differences that benefit aussies as a whole.

[@tomedgar4375]

4wd gets you stuck harder, engaging later keeps away a false sense of security for the newbie’s

[@dondon9829]

And here's me putting my pajero into 4wd everytime i tow my shittwaaa to dingo piss crk🥴. Or when I'm driving in the rain, geeze didn't realise i was stuffing up my transmission 😫

[@Wdeane1957]

I'm pretty sure your Pajero had the Super Select transmission with both 4H and 4Hlc. 4H is essentially an All Wheel Drive with front and rear drive shafts driven through a differential allowing drive on hard surfaces. 4HLc locks the front and rear drive shafts.

[@grantlouw3182]

Spot on advice, get some training from a professional and drive conservatively.

[@timlarcombe6831]

The more wheels driving simply compounds how bogged you can really get, I remember the company I was GM of mananged to get an 8x8 MAN truck with a 30 tonne drill rig on its back, bless the Driller's little heart, they called up on the HF and asked if they could get pulled out with D10, the answer they got was started digging with long handled shovel as I had no interest of seeing our lovely new rig and truck combo coming in at a lazy $3.5m in 1999 dollars, bent out shape by warp factor 9 tractive effort from some knuckle head operator in the 700hp 100 tonne tractor laughing as he turns the pride of our fleet into a pretzel.

[@brettleonard8602]

Needed more wheels to spread the weight not less.. more weight more surface area needed to carry that weight..

[@timlarcombe6831]

@@brettleonard8602 8 at the back and 4 at the front and all locked and driving 550 hp this was a big jigger, its not a hilux, we also had 8x8 ex US military Oshkosh patriot missile carriers from the 2nd gulf war, awesome machines, nothing said no to them, 8x8 fully locked pull you know who of the cross

[@MattBlack6]

@@timlarcombe6831 off mate, off. Jesus

[@timlarcombe6831]

@@MattBlack6 Sorry mate, no glasses I am nearly a senior

[@markskeels1952]

Trying to put a stop to some of the Inskip Point videos...how dare you...

[@jackwood8307]

❤

[@alexwood5425]

4wd, diff lock; this means you can get further into trouble!!!!

[@mcmoose64]

I would have called him Corn Flakes.

[@renebechandreasen5642]

Even a 4 wheel diff lock can get stuck. 😂

[@ghs7714]

Nice gay t-shirt John!!! From Russia or Belarus?

[@1verstapp]

don't you hate it when someone wears a nice gay t-shirt but only lets you see the top 2'' of writing... let us see the rest of it, John!

[@jeffk464]

Seems more of a redneck shirt.

[@sodbury6426]

Gosh guys - are you all too scared or lacking in knowledge to mention Land Rover's system starting from the early 1970s - constant 4H or 4L and, with a simple flick of a lever, Centre Diff lock? Range Rovers, Discoveries and Defenders - all had the same system. I had always wondered why others had to stop and fiddle with something just to get their trucks into full-time 'real' 4WD for slippery mud/gravel/dirt roads, and then stop again to change when we hit the bitumen ;)

[@chrisz8532]

Damn, same t shirt! 😬

[@bobdobalina798]

My xd falcon sedan out 4wd'ed my mates Subaru brumby 😆

[@peterkouvelis7457]

John, since when is a flaming Aussie Bloke a ‘Dude’ mate?! Surely not when he’s heading off to Dingo Piss Creek. More likely to find a Dude is in his truck in Merica... 😂 Also could you please explain to our confused latte sipping SNAGs driving Triton Utes and Landcruisers that they are NOT trucks! 😂

[@swedishbob_7315]

I hate coffee

[@johncitizen5377]

If you can smell burning, it's time to turn off 4WD.

[@brenthoran1472]

Jesus Christ people need to be told everything these days 🤣