When getting started with what will become a life-long obsession with off road driving, it’s easy to be confused about which low range gear to choose when the tracks get a bit challenging. So we are going break down the basics to help you choose the correct gear for the situation you are in!

It is also worth noting that any time you have your low range engaged, you are more than likely going to require more grip and better traction, so deflating your tyres with a purpose made tool like the Kwiky Tyre Deflator, will give you double the footprint giving you excellent grip and will also protect your tyres from punctures and tears when off road!

First things first when your transfer gearbox has low range engaged, you will now be travelling at approximately 1/3 of your regular high range driving speed with the same amount of additional torque being able to be applied. There are a handful of situations where low range is required, such as getting free from soft sand, ascending or descending steep terrain, water crossings and climbing through rock steps. Low range can also be used to control your speed for example big down hills where a higher gear could ‘run away’ and travel much faster than anticipated, or where using excessive braking could impact your disc temperatures and cause brake fade, and potential lockups which can effectively speed up your rate of descent on slippery surfaces resulting in no control. The use of low range also minimizes clutch usage, which can overheat and cause your clutch to burn out or glaze over causing unnecessary clutch slippage.

STARTING OFF

When taking off from a stop 2nd gear low range can be used as a starting gear just like 1^st gear high range when on normal roads. Second gear low is torquey enough but still slow enough for offroad driving, whilst leaving the ultra-slow 1^st gear low range available for additional torque during hill starts, downhill engine braking or where you need extra control and grip when things get tough.

TOP SPEED

Many 4WD transfer gear boxes are designed with low range to be able to drive slowly and in control, if you are driving at speeds below 40-50km/h you shouldn’t need to change back into High range, however, travelling much faster and you’ll both be wasting fuel by keeping RPMs higher, and you will also be putting a lot of unnecessary strain on your drivetrain.

5^TH GEAR IS A BIG NO NO!

5^th gear is essentially overdrive, and because of the intense loads and stresses on a 4WD drivetrain whilst offroad, there is never a situation where you need to use 5^th whilst offroad, and certainly not whilst in low range. Leave this handy fuel saver for the highway and keep 4^th for the tracks!

ROCK CLIMBING!

The additional torque and grip whilst in 1st gear low is ideal for climbing and crawling on rocks it offers much more control than the faster gears and because of the slower pace, means you are less likely to bounce and hop which can do damage to your vehicle. The Additional torque offered by the low range 1^st gear means you also have less chance of slipping tyres and losing control whilst you are attempting to get your 4WD through slow sections of track.

HILL CLIMBING

The point of your low range gears is slower controlled driving, so when attacking a steep hill climb it is best to attempt the climb in 1^st or 2^nd gear low range, anything higher will result in your vehicle bouncing around, and kicking you out of the ruts you chose, this can result in less traction and could end up putting you on a different line which can be dangerous and unpredictable.

STEEP DESCENTS

When descending down a hill or embankment it is best to maintain control by engaging 1^st or 2^nd gear low range, this will make sure your brakes don’t lock on loose surfaces resulting in out of control sliding. It is also best to avoid using your clutch and avoid changing gear as this will leave you out of control and put you and your vehicle in potential danger quicker than you could realilse.

SAND DRIVING

When driving in the dunes, the goals are a little bit different as momentum is a massive factor in sand driving. 2^nd or 3^rd gear low range will allow more pace and momentum for the climb, but 4^th gear may even be necessary to maintain a higher speed for the run up.  But the conditions and your vehicle may vary, so start slow and work your way up, there is no point in hitting a dune too fast, you risk getting airborne and setting off airbags, breaking suspension components or having a collision with unsuspecting victims on the other side of the crest.
Going down sand dunes is also a very different to a normal hill descent, sand is almost like a fluid, so by selecting 2nd gear your pace will remain higher and enable your 4WD to maintain pace with the flow of sand, creating almost a bow wave in front of your vehicle, this will act as a cushion that will help keep your vehicle in control.

When sand driving it is wise to use common sense and good judgement!

TAKING THE RIG FOR A SWIM

It is best to avoid gear changes in the water, as this can allow water to get in between your friction plates and flywheel resulting in your vehicle becoming dead in the water, literally!

River crossings can be difficult are best tackled with the rig set to 2nd gear low range as you still have room to accelerate, whilst maintaining grip and traction on the riverbed. This will allow you to maintain a healthy bow wave without drowning your 4WD.
SELF RECOVERY

There are many situations where using low range can allow your vehicle to simply drive out of trouble, the decreased speed and increased torque means you don’t just spin tyres on the soft stuff.

By trying 1st gear with low RPM’s and turning your steering wheel left and right, you can often bite in and crawl out of soft sand, mud and greasy clay.

But if self-recovery fails  you can also use low range 1^st or 2^nd gear you will also have a better chance of successful Maxtrax recoveries by not spinning tyres, you are less likely to do damage to the knobbly bits on both your tyres and the MAXTRAX recovery device allowing traction to simply pull you out of the bog.

As a last resort by engaging 1^st or 2^nd gear low range you make a recovery using a Hercules Snatch Strap Kit much easier, it gives you maximum pulling power and with the tow vehicle also in low-range, the risk of breaking attachment points or damaging your vehicle is dramatically reduced.