hill decent

[shoggyv6]

mine doesn't go down hills like that when its in low and 4llc

[TinyTim]

Have to wonder if it was in gear ?   

[shoggyv6]

yeh probably drive.

[Steve Ray]

Air con increases tickover speed when the compressor cuts in - goes up to about 900 rpm which means another 3 or mph downhill.

Also overdrive lets the box freewheel rather than use engine braking to slow.

Could be right about not being used to it but go through this list before the edge of every descent to avoid unpleasant surprises ...
 
* 4LLc on transfer selector (make sure its all the way forwards)

* L on main selector (make sure its all the way back)

* Aircon off

* O/D off

* Wheels straight

Spot on advice there Tim!

On very "extreme" descents, you may find that you need to "feather" the brakes gently on / off / on / off but not for routine descents.

The aircon is an obvious one for many new to off road. (I'm a Landy bloke) as I'll take your word for it about the gearbox settings on a Mitsi.

One other tip I've found useful when driving an auto vehicle off road, gently brake as you go over the crest of the hill, as the weight transfers and gravity starts to take over. This helps in the first few feet and stops the vehicle gaining too much momentum before the engine braking kicks in.

You also make a cracking point about ensuring that your wheels are in the straight ahead position. I've seen a vehicle roll going down a steep and rutted slope becasue the driver was trying to "steer"  suddenly the wheels found grip and over he went! Always worthwhile to pop your head out of the window and just double check that your wheels are straight!

Probably not an issue on Japenese engined motors, but on old Landys, the gearbox (when worn) can have a tendancy to 'jump out' of gear whilst tackling descents (that's probably why you see a lot of LAndy drivers with their hand resting on the gear stick)! .......I'll wait for the green oval p1$$ taking now 

[TinyTim]

All good stuff Steve

I did the old rally trick of white tape at the central point of the steering wheel to make that easier but still stuck me head out the window to check for big hills.

One other point worth mentioning ...

Be particulalrly wary of hills with holes or bumps near top or bottom

You are quite likely to lose traction there and unbalance the car

Same goes for descents too - if the nose digs into a bump on a steep one you run the risk of end over end 

[lefty guns]

Auto petrol 4x4's can be a pain in the ass eh? FFS though, don't try any more steep descents in drive! 

I always found the best bet in my jeep was to hold the truck on the brakes right at the top of the descent and release them gradually as you start to roll, allowing the engine braking to builkd gradually.

[kida4ever]

thx for all the advise guys,at kirton i tried a step acent and didnt make it and it roll back down backwards ,when i was at the bottom i then saw i was still in drive i thourt i had killed it but it still drove .so i tried it again back in low to a point where at 1500 rpm would hold it on the slope and lifted the gas pedal slowly and it went backwards then put it on again and it slowed ,so i found i could control the backward decent in low with the gas ,i then drove round to the top of the hill edged over the top and then put it in reverse and tried it that way it came down very slow and i was cacking myself ,i dont think ill do it very often  ,it still did the rest of the day ok and the 100 or so miles since

[Chastiser]

i totally agree with steve and tims comments. the trust bit is to let it go. i found that the speed was little different to that achieved by my old vitara when in low and 2nd on a decent, with all feet off the pedals. quite controllable and safe.

i know its labouring a point, but keep the thumbs out of the steering wheel too, its the place you are most likely to hit bumps etc on the decent, and you will risk damaging ya thumb unless its out of the way. dont want any surprises while you are concentrating on a safe decent eh?

Mike

[pjs paj]

Desents are the scariest thing i've ever done. Those few seconds while the engine braking builds up fells like a few hours, but trust your truck, feet off, wheels straight and smile at the bottom

Then turn round and go back up   thats another story.....................

[shoggyv6]

its all good fun.

[dragon]

unless you do wot i did when i heard shoggy,s motor crunch at the bottom that i just started following him down and the drop was over rock at the end so i floored it at the last bit and was airbourne lol talk about crap my pants but i can fly 

[dragon]

still smacked the steering guard in but not as bad as shoggys