The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club

London luke · ** Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 61 Location: LOndon !

bearing in mind the auto box and auto locking hubs etc but no diff locks. using good tyres etc. Just how good is it off road?? I might be Mountainbiking in the alps etc and want to drive up all the tracks etc (used by other 4x4's etc).

to what extent are they limited? and what is the best type of off road that these are suited for?

cheers

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Tonka · Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 0:19 Post subject:

sorry cant help Luke
but hope somebody can, as this would be of great interest to me also
everyone keeps sneering when i tell them it's an auto Sad

come on guys , anybody know?

ek 8)
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London luke · ** Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 61 Location: LOndon !

Auto's must be good. I llived in iceland for 7 months and most of the serious off roaders where autos. Also in dubai et cthey tend to only use autos.

Like someone said.. you dont want to dump the clutch or be messing with gears when your 5 inches from a drop !!

warthog · *** Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 146 Location: lancashire

Ref your present question, see my previous suggestions on using the 4- wheel and hub locks in both high and low boxes (with later addenda on the system by others). I used to be a Landrover fan, but since I discovered the ecstasy of the Landcruiser family, I could never consider going back! I've taken both my Prados (a K reg 2.4 LJ78 and an N reg 3 litre KZJ 78) in places (and out of them!) where my Landy would probably have failed or I would not have considered taking it. I use the 2.4 particularly for heavy, dirty work, carrying loads of bags of grain, deer carcases, gash hands and four labradors,too. The 3 litre is a bit cleaner - it belongs to the madam, but for posh days on the moor, it gets used.
Just go and try it, don' be afraid. it's a very rugged and efficient off-roader!
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Grimbo · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 0:00 Post subject:

Lots of 4x4 competition vehicles are autos, only real downside can be a lack of engine brakeing on descents, but from what you describe that won't be a problem. Make sure the hubs are locked BEFORE you need them, and just drive with a big grin on your face, you can go anywhere a shogun/ discovery etc will go, and a LOT further than a BMW X5, Merc ML, RR Sport will go.
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London luke · ** Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 61 Location: LOndon !

cheers

what worries me is all this talk of NEVER ever using Hi 4 on the road?? I cant get over this. What about towing etc

is this correct

Grimbo · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:01 Post subject:

Never say never, Confused

, because you have whats termed a part time 4x4 system you don't have a center diff, what this means is on hard dry tarmac you can get a situation where the front wheels are fighting against the rear wheels ( transmision wind up). If you are driving on loose gravel, sand , mud, etc then it is ok to use Hi 4, just don't use it on tarmac etc unless its very very slippery, eg, lots of snow, mud.
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London luke · ** Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 61 Location: LOndon !

so ... no centre diff means I am ok to use Hi4 etc for towing or very bad rain etc ? The diff wind up issue doesnt aplply on my prado?

cheers

Grimbo · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 23:35 Post subject:

No, don't use H4 for towing on wet roads, the fact you don't have a centre diff means trans wind up will affect your car, a centre diff stops wind up thats why only permanant four wheel drives have a centre diff, the centre diff lock basicaly makes a permanant 4x4 the same as your car when in H4 or L4, so that they will also suffer wind-up if used on hard surfaces, Eg tarmac/ concrete. Clear as mud now??, sorry wish I was better at explaining things. normaly when towing on the road even when very wet 2wd is fine. Try putting your car into H4 and drive slowly round a car park, don't do any full lock turns , but even so you will feel the strange way the car feels, and realise that at higher speed this may not be the best of things.
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London luke · ** Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 61 Location: LOndon !

Got it !! (at last !)

so with good tyres etc I can be safe in 2 wheel drive.

What about hard mud etc but real steep etc . Or off road driving where the terrain is hard but 4x4 is required. I drove in Morocco years ago and the dry clay/mud was rock hard but the tracks etc required 4x4??

cheers