I took the liberty of copying/pasting the Toyota 4x4 driving tips

Toyota 4x4 driving tips

This is one of the most comprehensive site on off roading.  Everything you want to know on offroading.  Just click the pages button and you will be led to many sites with pictures and tips

	4x4 Guide Off-road Driving Tips 4x4 Glossary Vehicle Recovery You are here- TGS Today/ 4x4 driving tips
About Us TGS Today Products Conversions Logistics Contact	TGS driving tips Tips when driving off-road Driving down steep slopes Driving up steep hills Should you stall whilst travelling upwards Side slopes Rough terrain / track driving Crossing streams and river beds Driving in soft mud or sand Driving in water Winching tips and techniques Tips when driving off-road When travelling long distances always try to travel in pairs. Always wear safety belts. Driving with the thumbs outside the steering wheel will avoid broken thumbs when the steering wheel is violently shaken when hitting an obstacle in the road. If the terrain ahead looks dangerous always stop and take a look ahead before proceeding. Always engage the front hubs before entering an obstacle. Return to the top of the page Driving down steep slopes Select low range and first gear. Lock differentials (if fitted). Take the straightest line. Feet off all pedals. Return to the top of the page Driving up steep hills Lock front hubs Select low range, 2nd or 3rd gear. Lock differentials (if fitted). Proceed straight up at right angles to the gradient. Return to the top of the page Should you stall whilst travelling upwards Depress clutch and brake pedals to avoid the vehicle running backwards. Do not apply handbrake. Put vehicle in low range. Lock differentials (if fitted). Reverse down the slope and try again. Return to the top of the page Side slopes It is best to avoid driving across side slopes as terrain can give away quickly and an alternate route should be looked for. If no other route is available proceed as below: Remove heavy loads from top of vehicle. Select low range and 2nd or 3rd gear. Lock differentials (if fitted). Keep speed low. Take as straight a route as possible. Return to the top of the page Rough terrain / track driving Select low range and 1st or 2nd gear. Check ground clearance. Drive over rocks and boulders to avoid damaging the sidewalls of the tyres. Keep speeds down. Return to the top of the page Crossing streams and river beds If a passenger is present they should walk ahead and direct the vehicle through the obstacle. Select low range and 1st gear. Keep steering straight. Return to the top of the page Driving in soft mud or sand First check the depth and any gradient. Reduce tyre pressures to 10 p.s.i. Lock the differential locks (if fitted). Try and keep in as high a gear as possible to avoid spinning the wheels which will lose traction. If wheels slip try turning the steering slightly to gain grip. If you get stuck engage reverse and pull out of the obstacle then try a different route. Do not go back in the same holes. When back on harder ground re-inflate tyres. Return to the top of the page Driving in water Check for depth of water and find the best route. Inspect the opposite bank for a good exit route. Make sure all windows and doors are closed. Select low drive and first gear and proceed slowly through the water without stopping creating a bow wave effect. Once clear of the water check for water entry into the vehicle and drive slowly with the foot lightly on the brakes to dry out. Return to the top of the page Winching tips and techniques A vehicle recovery winch is a powerful unit which must be operated with care and respect at all times. With the correct equipment and following a few simple safety procedures, recovering a vehicle can be carried out with confidence and safety before you begin winching. Study the winch owner’s manual to familiarise yourself with its features and operating procedures. Do not use winches or hoists to transport people, unless endorsed by the manufacturer and approved by government legislations. Inspect wire ropes and equipment regularly and replace at the first sign of deterioration. All winch rated capacities are based on one layer of rope on the drum. With a drum full of rope the capacity will decrease by up to 35%. Use protective gloves when handling wire ropes. Always use a tree trunk protector when anchoring to a tree. Use "rated" D or bow shackles for all rope and strap connections. Leave pins for "D" or bow shackles half a turn loose, this will prevent over tightening under load. Set up "D" or bow shackles with the body on the anchor side. Never hook the winch rope back onto itself. This will cause distortion of the rope leading to possible rope failure. Ensure appropriate winching points are used. Use a snatch block for all heavy recovery situations. This doubles the winch capacity but halve the winching speed. Ensure that there are at least five coils of rope on the winch drum before winching operation is attempted. The rope fastener to the drum is not designed to hold the vehicle load. Use approved winching straps for all extensions required. A cable damper should always be used on the winch cable to prevent damage by the cable if it fails. A heavy blanket or recovery bag draped over the cable acts as an effective air brake. Now that you are winching One person should be responsible for winch control and protection. Keep winching area clear of observers (1.5 times the length of the cable is the recommended clear distance). Keep hands clear of the wire ropes and the fairlead during any spooling operation. Do not step over taught winch ropes. Maintain constant loads on the winch rope during vehicle recovery. Assisting the winch by driving the vehicle can cause "Shock Loads" which can overload the rope winch, leading to failures. Ensure rope is evenly spooled onto winch drum. Electric winches must be used intermittently when the going gets tough. This is to allow for winch motor cooling and vehicle battery recovery. When winching with electric winches, it is recommended that the engine is run at 2,000rpm. Do not maintain power to the winch if the winch motor is stalled. After a successful recovery Ensure that the vehicle is in a safe and secure position. Inspect equipment for any signs of wear or damage. Neatly re-pack all equipment used. Store your equipment in the recovery bag. Return to the top of the page
	Copyright © 1996-2013 Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings Ltd.
	Privacy Policy, Conditions of Website use, Copyright & Disclaimer.