Off Roading with an automatic

[Rafs]

I've never been off road in anything as heavy as my 2 door 4wd Yukon. I'm going to an off road park and as my vehicle is stock I won't be a hero. I'm betting with the G80 diff I'll be able to do most of it in 2wd. Should I lock it in 1 or 2 instead of using Drive? Mine has the push button 2 wheel high, 4 wheel high, or 4 wheel low. Thanks!

 

[Mudsport96]

I would start out with 4 wheel high and put it in drive. If you find that it doesn't leave 1st gear because you are going slow, manually select 1st to avoid up and down shifting when you let off the gas. If you find that something is too steep or you need to go very slow, then use 4 low.

 

[strutaeng]

Probably depends on the terrain and how fast you'll be going. 4HI is also what I where I would start. 4LO if you need extra traction or torque, but vehicle speed would be reduced significantly.

On the transmission, probably leave it on Drive. These transmission are programmed such that even selecting 1 or 2 manually, they'll shift if you go fast enough. I don't remember the speeds, but they'll upshift on their own. Maybe 25 mph on 1st gear? At least in 2LO they do that. But keeping it in 1 or 2 would still keep it from shifting on the lower RPM range so that may be helpful.

 

[Doubeleive]

totally depends on what you are doing
2wd is perfectly fine until it's not and that's just how it is, I can take a 2wd car in places that people think 4wd is needed.
you just kinda gotta use logic, fresh mud for instance is probably best approached with 4w hi, a very very steep slope maybe 4 lo
if your going balls out crazy pull the airbag fuse and pull the abs fuse, all you have to do is put them back when your done, no harm no foul.
the last thing you want to do is hit a rock in just the right spot and blow a airbag.....

 

[Fless]

Using TowHaul would extend the shift points.

 

[Alex_M]

If you're in 4wd use 4lo regardless of terrain, but if you're in 2wd just use what gear feels comfortable. I would lock it into a gear to save on your transmission either way.

 

[Doubeleive]

If you're in 4wd use 4lo regardless of terrain, but if you're in 2wd just use what gear feels comfortable. I would lock it into a gear to save on your transmission either way.

you don't need 4lo on "any" terrain and 4lo has a speed limit of like 35 max or somewhere around there, it's only to used as necessary
read the manual. it's just like I already mentioned above only when required

4Lo is meant to be used only on very rough terrain, such as thick mud, heavy snow, or fording a river. If you are wondering whether to use 4H or 4L for snow, you should use 4Lo in deep snow. When in 4Lo, you should never go above 40 mph. This setting will help you to get unstuck or climb a steep grade at low speed.

 

[Alex_M]

you don't need 4lo on "any" terrain and 4lo has a speed limit of like 35 max or somewhere around there, it's only to used as necessary
read the manual. it's just like I already mentioned above only when required

4Lo is meant to be used only on very rough terrain, such as thick mud, heavy snow, or fording a river. If you are wondering whether to use 4H or 4L for snow, you should use 4Lo in deep snow. When in 4Lo, you should never go above 40 mph. This setting will help you to get unstuck or climb a steep grade at low speed.

You don't necessarily need it, but it is much easier on your transmission. If you are offroading and in a situation where you need 4wd (which is when i specified to use 4lo - "read my post") you are not going to get anywhere near 40mph. You likely won't see 10mph in that situation.

I have years of heavy off roading experience. I'm not just pulling this out of nowhere.

Man, I do not understand where the mentality of "I've read the manual and have the ultimate knowledge - get it right, loser!" comes from. I could understand saying "hey, not sure if you have a reason for recommending something different but so you know the manual says don't use 4lo over 35mph. Would be interested to hear your reasoning.", but "Read the manual."... Come on man, have a discussion. We're all here because none of us are the foremost authority and there's always someone with greater experience. Let's talk like adults and learn from one another.

 

[strutaeng]

The 4LO has like a lower gear reduction iirc (at least most of the 2 speed transfer cases GM was using in this generation).

Looks like for the NP246 2.72:1 for LO gear, but can't find anything for HI gear (is it just 1:1 maybe?)

So 1st gear with a 4L60E and 3.73 will give the final overall ratios, as an example:

4HI: 3.06 x 3.73 x 1.0 = 11.41
4LO: 3.06 x 3.73 x 2.72 = 31.0

So that will obviously make for more torque to the wheels and why the speed is drastically reduced. I would also say that helps the transmission drivetrain in low speed use.
I think the manual warms about trying to get out if your wheels don't spin and are stuck. I remember reading about that on the owner's manual. Transmission damage may occur?

 

[Doubeleive]

You don't necessarily need it, but it is much easier on your transmission. If you are offroading and in a situation where you need 4wd (which is when i specified to use 4lo - "read my post") you are not going to get anywhere near 40mph. You likely won't see 10mph in that situation.

I have years of heavy off roading experience. I'm not just pulling this out of nowhere.

Man, I do not understand where the mentality of "I've read the manual and have the ultimate knowledge - get it right, loser!" comes from. I could understand saying "hey, not sure if you have a reason for recommending something different but so you know the manual says don't use 4lo over 35mph. Would be interested to hear your reasoning.", but "Read the manual."... Come on man, have a discussion. We're all here because none of us are the foremost authority and there's always someone with greater experience. Let's talk like adults and learn from one another.

your statement of leaving it in 4lo comes off as sounding like someone that has "maybe" been off road, barely. not someone with years of "heavy" off roading, you should know well it completely depends on the terrain and circumstance. Besides I don't think there going to be attempting to crawl rocks on there first trip to a off road park with a stock rig, it will most likely be a learning experience which will be where you get to "find out" if you should use 2wd/4wd/4lo given the particular circumstance.
I would never tell someone ya just use 4lo all the time off road, no.......... because it completely depends on if it is wet, dry, ice, snow, rocks, sand, mud, small hill, big hill, giant hill, downhill etc.

 

[Alex_M]

your statement of leaving it in 4lo comes off as sounding like someone that has "maybe" been off road, barely. not someone with years of "heavy" off roading, you should know well it completely depends on the terrain and circumstance. Besides I don't think there going to be attempting to crawl rocks on there first trip to a off road park with a stock rig, it will most likely be a learning experience which will be where you get to "find out" if you should use 2wd/4wd/4lo given the particular circumstance.
I would never tell someone ya just use 4lo all the time off road, no.......... because it completely depends on if it is wet, dry, ice, snow, rocks, sand, mud, small hill, big hill, giant hill, downhill etc.

You're welcome to think what you like. Your continual insistence that I told him to use 4lo all the time comes off as sounding like someone with poor reading comprehension skills. As I stated and reiterated, "where you need 4wd".

Of the terrains you listed, the only one I'd choose 4hi would be ice and sometimes snow because it will make the truck less responsive to throttle input in slick conditions. All the rest, if 4wd is necessary because I am not making it in we, then I'd take 4lo because of the torque multiplication and saving wear and keeping heat out of the transmission. If you need more wheel speed then you can shift to 2nd, but the extra torque is going to help you from a stop and prevent you from getting bogged down in all other terrains.

Again, I don't see the point in this chest beating. You're sharing your perspective, I'm sharing my perspective. I'd be happy to learn whatever knowledge you might have that I lack based on experience, but otherwise - why not live and let live?

I'm not going to continue this discussion following this because you seem more interested in being right than in having a genuinely constructive cost/benefit discussion.

 

[Doubeleive]

You're welcome to think what you like. Your continual insistence that I told him to use 4lo all the time comes off as sounding like someone with poor reading comprehension skills. As I stated and reiterated, "where you need 4wd".

Of the terrains you listed, the only one I'd choose 4hi would be ice and sometimes snow because it will make the truck less responsive to throttle input in slick conditions. All the rest, if 4wd is necessary because I am not making it in we, then I'd take 4lo because of the torque multiplication and saving wear and keeping heat out of the transmission. If you need more wheel speed then you can shift to 2nd, but the extra torque is going to help you from a stop and prevent you from getting bogged down in all other terrains.

Again, I don't see the point in this chest beating. You're sharing your perspective, I'm sharing my perspective. I'd be happy to learn whatever knowledge you might have that I lack based on experience, but otherwise - why not live and let live?

I'm not going to continue this discussion following this because you seem more interested in being right than in having a genuinely constructive cost/benefit discussion.

no chest beating or my answer is the only answer or anything like that at all do as you like....., some of us like to have fun. I myself recomend not using 4lo unless it's called for as in stuck or about to get stuck, highly questionable terrain. Otherwise you don't need to use it
JUST MY OPINION, don't take it personal. I apologize if it came out that way.

 

[Mudsport96]

You don't necessarily need it, but it is much easier on your transmission. If you are offroading and in a situation where you need 4wd (which is when i specified to use 4lo - "read my post") you are not going to get anywhere near 40mph. You likely won't see 10mph in that situation.

I will agree that Low Range will ease stress on The transmission. And agree that 95 percent of the time you won't get to 40 mph. But, just because you are off road and may need four wheel drive doesn't mean you need Low. Such as a beginner.

I have years of heavy off roading experience. I'm not just pulling this out of nowhere.

Same here. I've logged close to 35,000 miles offroading, have multiple mud bog and mud drag trophies. And i never tell a newbie to start out in low.
Most of the time for things I do Low is my go to. But for a beginner that might only need a tiny bit of extra grip and not gear reduction...High is perfectly fine, if not preferred. Because why? Low may make the vehicle jump/respond to throttle faster than expected. Apply more torque to the wheels and what does more torque do? Break parts if not careful. And who is not expecting it to react that way or know how much throttle to give? Newbies.
This is why the 03 and up SUVs have a throttle offset in the OS to prevent more than 45 percent throttle no matter how much you mash the pedal when it is in low range. To prevent driver mishaps.
So as the OP stated he has never done this before in a vehicle like this, I couldn't in good conscience tell him to go right to Low, without knowing the terrain he will be navigating.

 

[Alex_M]

I will agree that Low Range will ease stress on The transmission. And agree that 95 percent of the time you won't get to 40 mph. But, just because you are off road and may need four wheel drive doesn't mean you need Low. Such as a beginner.

Same here. I've logged close to 35,000 miles offroading, have multiple mud bog and mud drag trophies. And i never tell a newbie to start out in low.
Most of the time for things I do Low is my go to. But for a beginner that might only need a tiny bit of extra grip and not gear reduction...High is perfectly fine, if not preferred. Because why? Low may make the vehicle jump/respond to throttle faster than expected. Apply more torque to the wheels and what does more torque do? Break parts if not careful. And who is not expecting it to react that way or know how much throttle to give? Newbies.
This is why the 03 and up SUVs have a throttle offset in the OS to prevent more than 45 percent throttle no matter how much you mash the pedal when it is in low range. To prevent driver mishaps.
So as the OP stated he has never done this before in a vehicle like this, I couldn't in good conscience tell him to go right to Low, without knowing the terrain he will be navigating.

That's a lot of miles; certainly more than I have.

I can see your logic about breaking parts. It's not how I personally handle training beginners, but I can appreciate it. I prefer to start folks out doing what I would do instead of retraining later and throw a warning to be easy on the throttle if it's someone I think needs the warning. Something I didn't mention in my first post but certainly should have given my lack of knowledge of OP's experience and driving style.

You're a grown person and don't need me to tell you your input is valuable and that is not what i mean by this. We're just two blokes on the Internet, but I personally value it and appreciate that it comes from experience and that you explained your reasoning, even though your methodology does not match mine. Thank you for having the discussion.

 

[strutaeng]

Hey, where did OP go?

We need some 'splainin @Rafs ...

 

[Mudsport96]

That's a lot of miles; certainly more than I have.

I can see your logic about breaking parts. It's not how I personally handle training beginners, but I can appreciate it. I prefer to start folks out doing what I would do instead of retraining later and throw a warning to be easy on the throttle if it's someone I think needs the warning. Something I didn't mention in my first post but certainly should have given my lack of knowledge of OP's experience and driving style.

You're a grown person and don't need me to tell you your input is valuable and that is not what i mean by this. We're just two blokes on the Internet, but I personally value it and appreciate that it comes from experience and that you explained your reasoning, even though your methodology does not match mine. Thank you for having the discussion.

Quite a good discussion. But here is where I put the big idea out. He needs a trustworthy friend to be his co-pilot. Someone who has a little experience offroading riding with to talk him through it. Someone to hop out and spot him until he gets a good feel for his rig and the terrain.
You and I like you said, " just two guys on the internet ". We aren't going to be there with him, so either of our styles really won't help him if anything hits the fan. It doesn't matter really whose way one does it, as long as you are reasonably safe and have fun.
That is the best part of wheeling. The friendships and memories made are the best part of all of it. Old disposable cameras were the best 10 bucks i ever spent. Man I have photo albums from decades ago of my buds and I wheeling and digging to unbury one truck or another. Good times that sadly a few of us won't have again.

 

[Alex_M]

Quite a good discussion. But here is where I put the big idea out. He needs a trustworthy friend to be his co-pilot. Someone who has a little experience offroading riding with to talk him through it. Someone to hop out and spot him until he gets a good feel for his rig and the terrain.
You and I like you said, " just two guys on the internet ". We aren't going to be there with him, so either of our styles really won't help him if anything hits the fan. It doesn't matter really whose way one does it, as long as you are reasonably safe and have fun.
That is the best part of wheeling. The friendships and memories made are the best part of all of it. Old disposable cameras were the best 10 bucks i ever spent. Man I have photo albums from decades ago of my buds and I wheeling and digging to unbury one truck or another. Good times that sadly a few of us won't have again.

Agree completely, best advice in the whole thread. Find a buddy and make some memories together.