Simple towing question

When I used to tow I had a Pajero & could choose to have 2 or 4 wheel drive & also low or high ratio gears & Dif lock. The usual setting was 2 wheel drive & that was what I used for the majority of time when towing. The only time I put it into 4 wheel frive really was when in fields at shows etc when I was on wet slippery grass.
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
When I used to tow I had a Pajero & could choose to have 2 or 4 wheel drive & also low or high ratio gears & Dif lock. The usual setting was 2 wheel drive & that was what I used for the majority of time when towing. The only time I put it into 4 wheel frive really was when in fields at shows etc when I was on wet slippery grass.
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Yep same (only different vehicle :))
 
Just leave my Landy in high box without the diff lock for normal road towing.

Only time I would use low box on the road is if I ever came to a hill too steep for 1st. Never found one yet :D

The diff lock and low box will get you out of just about anywhere, I usually only have to use them for very deep mud.
 
Clippy it really depends on which 4X4 you are planning to tow with.
In general two wheel drive will be sufficient and necessary for towing on all surfaces up or down hill. 4 wheel drive should be selected if you are loosing traction ie slippery fields, snow or deep mud.

However you must read your handbook as engaging the four wheel drive system on some vehicles when there is no slip (ie on tarmac) can cause terrible and expensive damage to the drive train.

Other vehicles are 4 wheel drive all the time, some switch themselves from 2 to 4 when they think they need it, some need to be stationary when you select the 4 wheel drive, others can be driven while being switched between the two.
 
I have towed with a Pajero and at present tow with a Ford Ranger and have never had the need to come out of two wheel drive. Using four wheel drive when it isn,t needed can do a lot of damage to the car x
 
You would only ever put it in low box on a paved road on a steep hill if you wanted to increase engine braking. You should not be in 4wd on a paved road generally speaking. 4 wd is for grip in snow, mud, sand, slippery and usually off road conditions. If you are going off road put it in 4wd just before you go off road.

Your handbook will accurately expand on this for your vehicle.
 
Eh? I thought Landrovers were permanently in four wheel drive? It is diff lock you shouldn't be in on a paved road as it locks the wheels so they all rotate at the same speed which is bad when turning corners and can wind up the transmission (whatever that means)! When turning, the outside wheels have further to travel than the inside wheels but that is normally automatically adjusted for, except when in diff lock. All far too complicated for me at 4.30am. (Can't sleep).

So, yes, if using a LR, always tow in 4 wheel drive as I don't think there is any alternative without disconnecting one of the prop shafts!
 
Thanks for all the replies. I have a Shogun and it tows fine but I often have to travel 2 horses and was pondering if it would be a good idea (especially with the very wets roads at the moment) if 4WD would be better and safer.

I'll have a look at the manual, though I think people on here are better than manuals as they have practical experience and explain in laymans terms!
 
Dry Rot said:
Eh? I thought Landrovers were permanently in four wheel drive? It is diff lock you shouldn't be in on a paved road as it locks the wheels so they all rotate at the same speed which is bad when turning corners and can wind up the transmission (whatever that means)! When turning, the outside wheels have further to travel than the inside wheels but that is normally automatically adjusted for, except when in diff lock. All far too complicated for me at 4.30am. (Can't sleep).

So, yes, if using a LR, always tow in 4 wheel drive as I don't think there is any alternative without disconnecting one of the prop shafts!
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Defenders are fairly unusual and as you say permanent 4wd, but that's not exclusively for towing and you cannot change that. You don't vehicles in 4wd on a paved road when there is an option for 2 wd.

Op 4wd does not make anything safer, a 4wd vehicle will still go off the road in icey conditions, all 4wd does is give extra traction at slow speeds really. As I already mentioned low box is useful to hold it back on a steep hill, if you imagine in low box 3rd gear is like 1st gear in high box so you have two extra lower gears (I am talking about low box in landrovers and most pick ups, I haven't driven a shogun I don't know if it's the same).
 
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