MOST people don't know these tricks to conquer gnarly 4x4 hills!!! Do you?

[@MadMatt4WD]

I’m passionate about helping the 4wd community and I'm developing an online course so i can help as many people as I can to get out there and wheel well on their 4x4 adventures. To register your interest and for free and exclusive training videos visit madmatt4wd.com.au/register

[@mathewcampbell8479]

Awesome lesson Matt. Too often we see the "send it" brigade "conquering" hills and destroying the track and their vehicles in the process.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yep and in reality not demonstrating any skill

[@4wdtennessee459]

Something that I’ve learned over the years never having lockers on hills is to take the line that doesn’t flex you to much. When all four tires are sitting as flat as can be and not talking about airing down it will give you the best chance at climbing the hill. That’s with unlocked 4x4.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Bang in point

[@sandralutz-rodriguez2864]

Unlocking the hill makes so much sense! What a great video!

[@MadMatt4WD]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MrRanma3030]

Thanks Matt! As a new 4x4 driver, these are thr types of videos that i find helpful. Teaching about how to read the terrain while having mechanical sympathy and respect for the track and the bush. Thanks again!

[@MadMatt4WD]

Fantastic. People in your situation are what I create this content for. I mean even the most experienced amongst us can learn and I learned something from a commenter on the Facebook version of this video. But I do make these videos for those who want to learn the skills.

[@chris808te70]

good to see videos of the crawly style of driving, especially with you showing you not getting things right first time, explaining your thought process and trying different options to get up instead of a ton of right boot. Completely agree on the don't follow the other tracks, I'm often spotting people on undriven lines because they make more sense to me as well. Good to see I'm not the only one who walks tracks with their arms out to see where wheels are going to sit, I usually get laughed at doing that.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Lol we look like a crab walking up the hill. It helps people visualise where they will drive. Of course once we get experience we can do all this on the fly as we drive the hill.

[@chris808te70]

It's funny I'll do the crab walk on an unknown climb so I have an idea on how to spot someone, but if its just me I end up walking normally or do it on the fly while driving

[@Trish.Norman]

A good trick if you’re following someone else’s track is to walk the line and their tracks. If there’s no dug outs or spin it’s good. If not plot another line. To me plotting the line is the best part. It’s like putting a puzzle together.

[@MadMatt4WD]

While I agree to a point the wheelbase and flex of a vehicle can play a significant part in traveling a line. So if they’re is a vastly different vehicle to you their line may not work for you. That’s why I say forget the other tyre tracks and make your own line.

[@Trish.Norman]

@@MadMatt4WD Good point. Following the east line of a rock buggy would be a bad idea. :-)

[@MadMatt4WD]

@@Trish.Norman lol yeah that’s a good example.

[@cyclemoto8744]

Nice demo MM. Thanks for your time. Cheers

[@MadMatt4WD]

My pleasure mate.

[@jackfourbee3609]

Technique is key. You see a lot of inexperienced drivers just point and floor it. Buggers the track and there car. Very informative Matt. Well done. Keep up the great work. Happy Mothers Day Mrs Matt. 👏👏👏

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks Jack. I always appreciate your comments.

[@bquade70]

Great advice! Still watching ya... 👍👍 Lake Havasu 🌞 Az USA

[@MadMatt4WD]

You’ve been here a long time ay. I’ve been going ten years now. Thanks for the support.

[@bquade70]

@@MadMatt4WD from the beginning! Keep up the great work..

[@NasTimeAdventures]

Well done Matt. Very well said and done. Big focus on getting familiar with your own rig. We really should know it like the back of our hands. 🙏👏

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks mate

[@lowellcrabb151]

Your model Toyota isn't available in the US so I drive a 4Runner. It has an E locker in the rear diff and A-track in the front. I like to run the A-track most of the time when negotiating hills and then use the E lock when needed. I agree that the track everyone else took may not be the track I take.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yeah this is the 105 series landcruiser. Arguably the best landcruiser made. It’s the son of the 80 series. We have a fair few of them over here. The 4Runner is a great 4wd too. Do you have the IFS front? My nephew has one that’s been SASed.

[@lowellcrabb151]

@@MadMatt4WD Yes IFS.

[@r1chardarcher]

Thanks Matt. That was a pretty bouncy ride on the way up. Good challenging hill. Reading the above comment about the rear locker not working makes some sense as you seemed to lose traction too easily. I love my manual 1FZ 105 going downhill. It is so controlled.

[@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi]

I always do it this way, -Drive it in your mind, look for the easiest path. -I look for traction, not slipery tracks. -if its super bad, il hop out have a look or even walk up it and look at it. -Dont drive in water, mud or into bloody holes if you can, ie if theres an option go around. yeah maybe you dont get your jollys on as much, but you wont likely damage your vehicle. Il never forget on a day out with all these supposed experts (i was new to it all at the time) they all said the only way through is to cross a fairly decent flowing creek, big rocky steep embankments either side. I had the feeling like uh no. so i stopped and i remember looking on the sat nav before i left and said guys theres a ford like 100m up that way. they didnt believe me, i turned around and went back and crossed. Im glad i did as two people lost their vehicles. so much for experts.

[@Malc664]

Great to watch you at work Matt. More please 👍🏼👍🏼😊😊

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks mate I’m glad it helped

[@jessegillan7013]

Love the new form of videos, getting out on the tracks again!

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks

[@overlandready]

Totally agree here! Nice to see some proper track lessons on where to place wheels not jsut hit the locker switch! 😀

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks. As you saw I still needed my lockers for this hill and then the rear locker gave out on me mid shoot. Needs a set of seals in the arb locker.

[@omegabulldog5001]

Just a note about going down hill;- The way I do it in my Hilux is "bip" the brakes ever so often if I feel the car is getting away from me, I don't jam on the brakes but just tap and release. Usually it's when I am with a heavy load that I need to do that. When I am empty and depending on the steepness and conditions of the hill, I let my low gear do the job.

[@MadMatt4WD]

That’s perfect. I call it squeezing the brakes like squeezing a ball.

[@anguscooper]

Every technique is different and works The beauty of 4wding is you tackle the track the way you want it If you get bogged you get bogged It's part of the fun nd journey

[@MadMatt4WD]

I can’t agree with your first comment. Many techniques don’t work.

[@Dav-S5658]

Very solid advice. If you are in a group, don't follow the vehicle in front of you either! He is likely just following the guy ahead of him. No matter how many times you drive a bad line, it's still a bad line. Doing a heel/toe on the brake and accelerator is an advanced technique that is not even possible in some vehicles. The height and position of the pedals must be designed correctly to do this. I had to install an accelerator spacer in my Tacoma . I also had to modify the clutch pedal. Most vehicles are not designed for any type of advanced driving, and most people don't realize just how clumsy these vehicles are. Almost every aspect of my Tacoma had to the modified: The shifter, the seat position, all three pedals, and even the dead pedal! It's funny, but the mark of a master is no drama. With KZbin now, everyone is trying to create drama, with sometimes disastrous results.

[@ALL_4_WHEELS]

Great vid Matt!! 👌🏼👌🏼very knowledgeable 🤘

[@stuartkcalvin]

Thanks Matt.

[@kevinsummersford4112]

Good video mate definitely worth noting i enjoy these videos

[@fastst1]

I don't need to worry about hole #2, I'm gonna get stuck at 1, get my dozer, call my gravel company, a good afternoon and presto, nice smooth compressed surface :) Matt making it look easy!

[@MadMatt4WD]

Lol. If you weren’t towing ya dozer and 5 ton of dirt to fill the hole you’d not get stuck. 😂😂😂

[@fastst1]

@@MadMatt4WD ROTFL. you may be onto something there!!

[@atlasoverlandrecovery]

Hey Matt, helpful content as always. It be gerat if you can also do that advance technique you mentioned about safely reversing on a steep hill incase of ascend failure.

[@MadMatt4WD]

We’re planning to film that soon.

[@tonesbones502]

Another excellent video matt, thanks mate

[@destnations5588]

Thanks for insightful video Matt, I love how you basically voiced your thought processes on each obstacle as you encountered them walking the track up the hill. I also like you didn't edit out when you couldn't quite get that left wheel over the bump at the bottom. I know a lot of people would have let one through to the keeper, but cut the others out. I use the " walking and talking the track " often when I'm scoping out a new climb or challenging section, and by voicing even if you are solo and alone, when it comes time to drive it, it's almost like your brain has signposted different spots as you encounter them behind the wheel. I would love for you to critique one of my drives at some time in the future, either here on the channel, or privately, as although I think my mate and I both did well getting up a very steep and slippery section, we are all learning whenever we head offroad, and I try to soak up as much information I can to make me a better and safer offroader on technical sections. Thankyou for all the great content up until now, and I look forward to more of this in the future. ( Let me know if you can be bothered with the critique, and if so I can send a link of it to you ).

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks so much for the support. I’d love to check out your videos. Check out my latest reacts videos to see how I do them. Email a link to [e-mail]

[@grahameroberts8109]

What about vehicles with descent control?

[@MadMatt4WD]

Use it if it helps you be controlled.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Nice technical driving there matt

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks mate

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

@@MadMatt4WD anytime Mate

[@BorisEkner]

Good video as always. Thanks.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@eds4wdcamping]

Great video Matt, usually if I am with a group. I tell people don't follow my line because it is for my 4wd, medium wheelbase, not theirs. They soon work it out.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yeah that’s it ay. Never follow me when I’m in the Bundera. It’ll defiantly be an odd drive for a long wheel base vehicle. 😂

[@user-nk4gm7bi2v]

Reading the terrain is everything, only comes with experience, going down steep hills with auto box you must keep revs up enough to keep the torque converter engaged or it will free roll

[@MadMatt4WD]

I don’t find that in my autos. They hold fairly well.

[@user-nk4gm7bi2v]

@@MadMatt4WD Yeah, but only if you keep the torque converter locked in.

[@MadMatt4WD]

@@user-nk4gm7bi2v in my 4wds I don’t have that option and it works fine.

[@stevegoodwin5841]

Good work Matt

[@katreniaclark]

Really good beginner driving ideas.

[@2pacorwhat]

To what psi should you air down for stuff like this? Very informative video.

[@MadMatt4WD]

A very rough rule of thumb is drop a third of your road pressure when you start Offroad. But every tyre and every driver on every track needs a slightly different pressure so it’s hard to give accurate info. But play with the pressures when your Offroad and see what works. Below 15 needs careful consideration for a beginner.

[@2pacorwhat]

@@MadMatt4WD thank you for the response!

[@ROVER4X4.]

Hey @MadMatt4WD in an unlocked vehicle traversing a hill like this where axle twisters occur at maximum suspension travel should you utilise second for first gear low range?

[@MadMatt4WD]

I’d generally be in first gear and go as slow as possible and as fast as necessary. Unlock the hill like I show in the video.

[@madcratebuilder]

Great video with great info.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks mate

[@ausguy4385]

Down hill Auto.... 1st low range. Left foot braking, Right foot planted to the side to hold 1000 to 1500 revs. Speed is how much break you release.

[@henzmatto4982]

Hi matt, unrelated to this video but have a question regarding recovery point. My truck(GQ Patrol) doesn't have a hitch receiver on the rear, just a tow bar with ball. If I were to remove the towball and put a Bowshackle in place of the ball would this work? . I know a proper hitch receiver is ideal but would need to source a whole new "towbar". For light recoverys would that method be suitable? Thanks

[@MadMatt4WD]

For tow recovery’s. So no Run up that would be acceptable but not for kinetic recovery.

[@steveformosa5191]

Hi Matt how easy was that the no how

[@kradikt666]

Walk drive it have a go sometimes ya get stuck change tactics my usual approach. If I get stuck twice get a mate to see what you cant

[@TheHolan]

when theory meets reality

[@rockcrawler31]

I tend to think the "stay off the brakes down hill and let the gears do the work" thing doesn't really do your video justice. I understand wanting to avoid lockup on greasy surfaces but in a vehicle without lockers both ends, the vehicle will have a habit of running away as traction disappears when wheels unload or lift in wombat holes. You then went and said you modulated the brake a minute later which is probably closer to what I'd suggest from the get-go. After saying all that, you pointed out something i never realised i probably did even after wheeling for nearly thirty years. The thing about following wheel tracks of others. I realised I probably unconciously do that without knowing it. Seems you can never be too old or experienced or humble to learn something new.

[@MadMatt4WD]

You make some good points too. The great frustration of these videos is they always uncover the next element for the next video. It’s endless.

[@robertWohlers]

Good tips Matt, expressed by a seasoned off-roader. Just an additional comment that is an opinion on my part... When I'm on a short section of challenging terrain (like your hill), I ask passengers to walk the section, rather than having them ride along in my vehicle. (Especially if they are youthful and can easily walk a hill or small challenging section.) I do this because I know (and I know YOU know) that accidents off-road can happen in the "twinkling of an eye." Now, the qualifiers to my comments are: 1) I wasn't with you so I really don't know how challenging the hill was. 2) Perhaps you have much better driving skills than me, so no worries about your passenger(s). Cheers.

[@MadMatt4WD]

That’s a good tip Bob. On this section only though steep etc I wouldn’t bother but yes when things get real nasty like the video I put up yesterday for sure it’s a good idea. Thanks for adding your expertise to the channel.

[@mrfordfairmont]

i know that hill... been up it a lot

[@TOYOTA.Overland]

Be careful, one foot on the gas and the other on the brake. If you have a pre-facelift car with an old front differential, you will easily destroy it. Big problem with an otherwise great 100 series. After the facelift, the pear touches the crown wheel in two places and problem does not threaten.

[@MadMatt4WD]

I’ll disagree with you there. This is a technique I’ve been using for years with great effect. The only times I see diffs blow is though miss use. Of course if your full feeding the power and hard on the brake then you can brake stuff but you’d also not be using this technique.

[@dannyrexknight]

Why is your compressor running the whole time?

[@MadMatt4WD]

Um well um urr. The rear locker seals failed after the first drive filming this. I drove it about 4 times to get the footage. They’d been getting weak and I’ve not had a chance to fix it.

[@geoffgeoff143]

Not everyone has diff locks. A modern trend. People still managed with out them.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Absolutely but when a vehicle with difflock travels the terrain it does less damage to the trails as well as goes further

[@midas8729]

We are missing Bundera

[@MadMatt4WD]

I know right. I fear it might be a while

[@bvward]

Matt, nice bit of instruction! I got tired watching you climb that hill☺

[@MadMatt4WD]

Lol

[@adelarsen9776]

Are you a proponent of nationally accredited 4wd training such as the Offroad 4wd Operators Skillset - FWPSS00052 ?

[@MadMatt4WD]

100% supporter of accredited training. I’m personally fully trained as of a few years ago. I redid the training even though I’d previously taught it. That was so that I was current in my thinking. I’d love to see everyone get face to face training.

[@adelarsen9776]

@@MadMatt4WD Great to learn that you have all 5 units of competency in the 4wd skillset. Training and education is vital when it comes to safety and insurance. It adds to credibility too. Thanks for answering :-)

[@squatch2461]

🍻

[@user-nk4gm7bi2v]

OK

[@trickster8635]

You nearly got 100 out of 100 for that tuition. But not quite. From the get go, your plan should have taken into account - the escape plan if the climb fails! Things like keeping square on to the grade and reversing down and have a re-assessment. The reverse down should have involved a reverse stall-start and NOT relying entirely on your foot brakes to work for you. What would you have done if the brake pedal went to the floor, because a stick had ripped off a brake line, that you had not picked up on? You fail on this point, because it is at this point, that things could go pear shaped. Correct to "unpack" the trouble spots and break them down into sections to deal with them one at a time. Did you inspect possible winch anchors if it did go pear shape? Now for the decent - you quite correctly pointed out that it is a steep grade, wet and slippery and you want to go as slow as possible - first gear, low range. On the money. But what about the magic button, the rear diff-lock to prevent wheel lock-up under brakes when articulation is insufficient to allow wheels to stay on the ground? You paid for the device, use it to make yourself safer. You know better than anyone, that a skidding wheel has no traction. You need traction on this hill, you need to have control over all of your wheels, you need to keep your wheels rotating to allow that to happen. 90 out of 100 is all I am prepared to mark for this effort! Keep learning.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Goodness me, I didn't know I was getting marked as though I was at school.

[@trickster8635]

@@MadMatt4WD Not knowing is no excuse for dropping the ball when it comes to steep gradients and teaching technique. 9 out of 10 for attitude!

[@MadMatt4WD]

@@trickster8635 Who made you the teacher?

[@Andrew-hu1bx]

The best trick to conquering a hill like this is simply buying a twin locked Nissan patrol because it will go way further than any Landcruiser ever could 😂

[@MadMatt4WD]

Lol there’s a rock to your left that you should crawl back under. 😂😂😂😂 now you do realise my rear locker isn’t working in this video. 😂😂😂

[@SHOCKcustoms]

Should follow the tracks left by other vehicles😅

[@MadMatt4WD]

Lol yeah right into trouble half the time.

[@TheSuperRep]

And the attitude for the bush shown by the individuals in the video is the problem with society, you find this sort of behaviour on represented in most groups . Dirtbike community has them , boating community has them, all groups do. They will be the loudest when the areas they have thrashed are locked up for good

[@falkfluegel5557]

Not sure exactly what worked for you after getting stuck multiple times at the same location.

[@MadMatt4WD]

I lost the rear locker at that point so I had to increase my momentum that little bit.

[@geoffgeoff143]

A horse would have got up there in one go.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yeah but!!

[@mrriesen9004]

Should have bought a Tundra.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Why? What would it do better than this does for me?