Driving around the trails in 4 Low. How long is too long?

televisionary · 02-25-2007, 08:11 PM

I tend to keep it in 4 low as soon as my tires get off pavement. I hit long stretches of dirt roads in between climbs/creek crossings and the like. I just hate having to stop before the hairy stuff to put it in 4 low. Will I cause any damage doing this for up to 3 hours a trip?

**paulp575** · 02-25-2007, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by televisionary

I tend to keep it in 4 low as soon as my tires get off pavement. I hit long stretches of dirt roads in between climbs/creek crossings and the like. I just hate having to stop before the hairy stuff to put it in 4 low. Will I cause any damage doing this for up to 3 hours a trip?

My experience has been that as long as your tires have some slippage, it should not matter.

I have had previous 4x4s in 4Hi for long periods of time as long as the surface I was driving on was not solid enought to eliminate any slippage.
I personally would not keep it in 4Hi any longer than necessary, just to be safe!

AZG23 · 02-25-2007, 09:10 PM

its sucks alot more gas than if you just use 2wd for the easy stuff..

SecondTJ · 02-25-2007, 10:05 PM

with that 4:1 low range, i'd put it back into 4H for the easy stuff.

but no, its not going to hurt anything, you''ll just have sky high rpms

**JeeperDon** · 02-26-2007, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by televisionary

Will I cause any damage doing this for up to 3 hours a trip?

It's just gears. Your question is not really different that "Is it bad to stay in 2nd gear a long time?" I've been in 4lo for a whole day of off-roading, even leaving it there in 4lo and 5th at 3500 rpm on more open stretches, with no problems.

**newracer** · 02-26-2007, 11:09 AM

Time itself is not a factor but you do not want to run high RPMs or higher gears (3rd or higher) for extended periods of time.

BradG · 02-26-2007, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newracer

Time itself is not a factor but you do not want to run high RPMs or higher gears (3rd or higher) for extended periods of time.

What's wrong with using a higher gear while in 4LO? Too much torque for the tranny?

**paulp575** · 02-26-2007, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradG

What's wrong with using a higher gear while in 4LO? Too much torque for the tranny?

You got it

AZG23 · 02-26-2007, 06:35 PM

seems lazy to me to not wanna shift outta 4 lo...while it can be beneficial to run 3rd gear lo...its not meant to be used for cruising..thats what 2wd or if needed 4 hi is for

peteyg · 02-26-2007, 07:19 PM

My Jeep has spent whole weeks in 4-lo. Doesn't hurt anything. If you have the Tera-Low 4:1 kit, then you cannot run above 2500 RPM in 3rd, and you can't use 4th or 5th at all. The planetaries in the 4:1 kit can't take it.

ASUsax · 02-26-2007, 09:00 PM

You can, I just don't like running my RPM's up that high. It just doesn't feel right.

AZG23 · 02-26-2007, 09:28 PM

and sux down MORE gas....Id rather conserve what I can when out in the middle of nowhere.

**JeeperDon** · 02-26-2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradG

What's wrong with using a higher gear while in 4LO? Too much torque for the tranny?

paul's wrong. The trans has no clue what happens to the torque after it exist it's output shaft (t-case input).

**BeachinXJ** · 02-26-2007, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeeperDon

paul's wrong. The trans has no clue what happens to the torque after it exist it's output shaft (t-case input).

Uh yeah it does, why do you think your engine RPMs increase on acceleration. Think about what you said and post again.

**JeeperDon** · 02-27-2007, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeachinXJ

Uh yeah it does, why do you think your engine RPMs increase on acceleration. Think about what you said and post again.

Ok, this is the post again. The RPMs increase because you push the right pedal. If you really mean, "Why do they increase so fast?", it's because in a low gear setup, including the t-case in Lo, the motor does not have to move the 3-4k mass of truck as far. The motor has a torque curve spec that is unchanged by what is behind it (max MOTOR torque will not change with gear selection). The torque value does indeed get multiplied by any gear change device further downstream of the motor, but each of those only deals with the torque it is handed from 'above'. I stand by my assessment. If you still stand by yours, thats fine too. I think the others reading all this have enough of our respective points to decide for themselves.

02-25-2007, 09:10 PM	#3
AZG23 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Surprise,AZ Posts: 667 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	its sucks alot more gas than if you just use 2wd for the easy stuff.. __________________ Brad B. "If you cant understand that, your face needs to be set ablaze with kerosene and promptly put out with a wet brick."

02-26-2007, 06:35 PM	#9
AZG23 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Surprise,AZ Posts: 667 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	seems lazy to me to not wanna shift outta 4 lo...while it can be beneficial to run 3rd gear lo...its not meant to be used for cruising..thats what 2wd or if needed 4 hi is for __________________ Brad B. "If you cant understand that, your face needs to be set ablaze with kerosene and promptly put out with a wet brick."

02-26-2007, 09:28 PM	#12
AZG23 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Surprise,AZ Posts: 667 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	and sux down MORE gas....Id rather conserve what I can when out in the middle of nowhere. __________________ Brad B. "If you cant understand that, your face needs to be set ablaze with kerosene and promptly put out with a wet brick."

02-26-2007, 07:19 PM	#10
peteyg Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 76 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	My Jeep has spent whole weeks in 4-lo. Doesn't hurt anything. If you have the Tera-Low 4:1 kit, then you cannot run above 2500 RPM in 3rd, and you can't use 4th or 5th at all. The planetaries in the 4:1 kit can't take it.