Towing up steep driveway

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flat6symphony
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Towing up steep driveway

Postby flat6symphony » Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:47 am

I'm towing a heavy U haul trailer to a mountain house tomorrow. The driveway is quite steep and about 50 yards. There is no room for error so any slipping and backward momentum could be disastrous. Would it be safe for me to put it in 4hi in 1st or 2nd gear? Maybe 4lo? Or am I over thinking it and 2wd will be just fine?


skinny2
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Postby skinny2 » Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:32 am

4lo would help if you think the load is too heavy to pull up that hill in 4hi. You have the 4wd and 4lo, might as well use it. Beyond it being a slow climb, there's no real disadvantage to locking it in.

Kestral
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Postby Kestral » Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:57 am

Just don't try any tight turns in 4x4 low on dry pavement.

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flat6symphony
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Postby flat6symphony » Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:26 am

How tight is too tight? 90 degree turn safe?

skinny2
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Postby skinny2 » Tue Jul 28, 2015 11:23 am

flat6symphony wrote:How tight is too tight? 90 degree turn safe?
It's not ideal on a concrete surface that's for sure. If you could make it a 3-4 point turn it would be better. Once isn't likely to cause a ton of damage though (famous last words). :lol:

docwatson
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Postby docwatson » Tue Jul 28, 2015 5:08 pm

Just leave it in 2wd and build up a ton of speed before the hill.

High speed, heavy trailer, 90 degree turn... make sure you film it.

In all seriousness, unless the pavement/concrete is covered in gravel etc, I highly doubt you will need 4lo. If do use 4lo, you will know when the vehicle doesn't want to turn like you want it to.

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flat6symphony
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Postby flat6symphony » Thu Jul 30, 2015 1:53 pm

Thanks for the help, all. Turns out I was over thinking things. It was very easy to slowly pull it up the hill in 2wd 1st gear. It was nice to know that I had a plan B though.


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