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Car Forum / Australian Car Forums / 4x4 Cars (Australian group) / August 2004Getting the most out of your 2WD
Hi, For those who don't have 4x4 UVs and have to do with 2WDs, any pointers or tips on taking on off-road adventures like slippery climbs, mud/slush, river beds etc? Thanks, Siddhartha > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Siddhartha Take plenty of mates !! -- Regards ........... Rheilly Phoull I had two guys hire some recovery gear from me for a 2wd expedition up to Cape York. The car fell to bits just outside Cooktown. It wasn't a new car and they'd had a few bush trips in it so they weren't new chums. Very disappointing for them, as they'd spent ages on planning and preparation. Why didn't they buy/hire a 4wd ? Because they liked the challenge. *smiles and shakes head* Good luck :)) Cheers Jim > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Siddhartha >For those who don't have 4x4 UVs and have to do with 2WDs, any >pointers or tips on taking on off-road adventures like slippery >climbs, mud/slush, river beds etc? You can do quite a bit in a 2WD. The biggest problem is usually ground clearance so maybe larger (off road tread?) tyres and/or a body lift may help. Front and rear overhang on some cars would be a real issue. Ensure you carry recovery gear, winch, mats, air jack, bottle jack, tow rope, spade etc. I doubt many 2WDs would be able to support the stresses involved in snatching - so maybe leave the Snatchum out. I would be _very_ cautious of doing a river crossing in the average family saloon. Get out of the vehicle and do a _close_ inspection of every obstacle before you tackle it - I usually do this from my 4WD which is probably why I rarely get stuck. Takes time, but so does digging the vehicle out and that's _much_ less fun :) Mike Harding Get some good tyres. If you have a 2WD version of a 4WD, get mud tyres, if it is a car, get some rally tyres. Upgrade the suspension and lift it if possible and fit some sort of heavy duty shocks and springs. Get a LSD or better still a locker for the diff. Strengthen the body, suspension mounts, etc if possible. Put in under body protection to any vuneralbe parts, eg sump, gearbox, fuel tank, etc. Walk any tricky bits first and determine the line that you will be taking, then go like hell through anything that looks tricky and you don't think that you will make it. Take a good set of recoverty gear incl a winch. My old 2WD Rally car would get a long way on 4WD only roads, tracks, etc but it coped a lot of underbody damage and the standard suspension did not last long. Better still, get a 4WD - it is easier. SteveS > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Siddhartha >Get some good tyres. If you have a 2WD version of a 4WD, get mud tyres, if >it is a car, get some rally tyres. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > >SteveS Here it is, the only common sense reply. Take note all the above in that order. I agree....would do all as listed below too...following are two experiences with cars I owned and purchased from new...not sure if I would take a new model 2WD sedan/wagon now though - plastic cars, maybe a ute. Also ask locals or drivers you see on the road for road conditions ahead. Drove a manual 72 HQ wagon with country pack fitted to Darwin, Ayers Rock, around the Olgas and later to Lake Eyre via SA with no problems. Drove a standard automatic 76 HX wagon (apart from heavier duty springs) to Cooktown and Cape Tribulation in 1981. Went thru heaps of Creek crossings...walked them all first to find shallowest line...only vehicles stuck in Creeks were 4WD's....got abused from 4wd drivers for being on the road. If I had done as below then the car may have been fine...however on return from Cooktown, had broken rear suspension mount on diff housing, radiator was only holding by one bolt, water in diff...kept the car til 2002. Only had one tyre problem in 30 years of driving....always carried two spares, radiator hoses and cap, heater hoses, engine mounts, spare fuses and globes, copper and fencing wire, spark plugs, distributer parts and leads, hydraulic jack, engine and brake fluid oil and good toolkit. current car a VT commodore and Kangaroo Island has been its biggest adventure.....no spares or toolkit except tyre. will get a 4wd next time....turbo diesel :-) Trevor >>Get some good tyres. If you have a 2WD version of a 4WD, get mud tyres, if >>it is a car, get some rally tyres. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > Here it is, the only common sense reply. Take note all the above in > that order. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Siddhartha Ok, Its not a sedan. Its a jeep replica (heavily upgraded over the years by the manufacturer). Take a look: http://mahindra.com/mahindras/automotive/BOLEROs.htm I have the diesel version with 2WD. Ground clearance is 200mm and it rides on 215/75 R15 tyres. The engine (Peugot XD-3PF IDI) has a torque of about 15.5 kgm @ 2000 rpm. Althought the front has IFS, the rear has semi-elliptical leaf type, so its pretty sturdy. I am looking more for driving tips and techniques to make up for the absence of 4WD. Btw, I am using the new Google Groups Beta to post this. Its cool :) Thanks, Siddhartha Driving tips and techniques, walk the difficult bits first, then if you think it is do-able, go like hell and let the momentum get you through. We have 2 4WD's, the Landcruiser likes the gently gently approach and does the job, the Landrover likes to go like hell to get through. In my rally car it was always flat out. You just have to try it and see what works best for you. SteveS > > Hi, > > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Siddhartha |
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