low range 2nd vs high range 1st

[lambsy]

i have a querie as to what is better for your gear box, if 2nd gear low 4wd is relatively equivelant in speed & revs as 1st gear high 4wd what is beter for stress/ strain on gear box taking into consideration actual gear sizes & gear box bearing load, as the transfer case obviously reduces load on the gear box but does the mechanical advantage of 1st high outweigh the extra load that 2nd gear low places on bearings in the gearbox?

does this make sense.

i do a bit of dry sand driving and could be in either first high or second low.

[Troopy93]

Personally I'd go for low 2nd, they put a low range in a 4by for a reason . Use it, the same reason they put reduction gears in em , the mechanical advantage is much greater in low range...

[nischev]

I would agree stick with low range as there is less stress on gearbox and engine.

[guzzi]

Its your vechicle, you know it best,listen to it.

Each make of vechicle differs with their gearing, I always thought 3rd low was roughly equivelant to 1st high.
I think youll find the loading will be lower in low range, as an example, lifting things with a rope without a pully block , very hard work, add a couple of pullys (gears) and although you dont move as far per pull of the rope for the same effort you can lift much heavier items. Gear boxs achieve the same effect.

Soft sand driveing is a bit of a bugger, you tend to find yourself reving the tits out of the engine in one gear only to find its labouring badly in the next higher gear.
The trick is to pick a gear that seems the easiest on it and just trundle along, you may or may not be doing the speed you want, but the main thing in soft sand is youll still be moveing, not digging.

[slowlux]

i'd stick with the low 2nd. Just so your car isnt constantly labouring. but it depends on the circumstances i guess...

[Humpy]

If you arent running out of higher gears, I would stick with low range

Get some big tyres and you will be able to drive around in 2WD High

[plado1]

i find with the 4L in the plado, that low range is overkill and shocks the transmission too much when the gearbox kicks up and down quite savagely (usually when climbing) it also adds to wheel spin
now i stay in high range in sand dunes and mud. it's much smoother and have never lugged down but it is an auto though. (no more ram-changes for me!!)

[Nig]

I always go for low range if I am getting down to first gear - at least in low second or third you can go down another gear quickly if you need to - going from high to low you need to stop, which is not always pratical - the other alternative of course is to abuse your clutch trying to keep it going in high first. I guess you could say low range works out cheaper.

I always go for low range if I am getting down to first gear - at least in low second or third you can go down another gear quickly if you need to - going from high to low you need to stop, which is not always pratical - the other alternative of course is to abuse your clutch trying to keep it going in high first. I guess you could say low range works out cheaper.


you are right mate...... 3rd low is about the same as 1st high in a Deo..... maybe a tiny bit higher. As for changing from high to low and back..... you can do it on the fly in a Deo ;D well i can in mine!! no matter the speed...... although since i changed the oil and put slightly heavier oil in the transfer case..... you can feel it a little bit when changing..... as the oil thins a little it will come good :)

i find with the 4L in the plado, that low range is overkill and shocks the transmission too much when the gearbox kicks up and down quite savagely (usually when climbing) it also adds to wheel spin
now i stay in high range in sand dunes and mud. it's much smoother and have never lugged down but it is an auto though. (no more ram-changes for me!!)


I have a 3.4ltr prado thats auto aswell and i agree with you.. i do alot of sand driving and find low range way too slow and it seems to just dig a hole for itself. I have never had a problem using high range usually 2nd gear unless its a really long dune etc then i jus pull it back into 1st when its ready. gotta love an auto ;D

[crankycruiser]

I like 2nd low, compered to 1st high...
Personal prefrance tho