Ok I got a question about using brakes in 4wl would it be better to hit the brakes and slide or just let off the gas and let the gears slow you down.

I ask because we went wheeling yesterday in some hills and the Jeep kept wanting to keep sliding. I stayed in the trail but looking for a little advise for next time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdxq6tXwKGg

Sorry this video is the only one I have from the outside their were other spots that I just couldnt stop but no video of that

 

You must attempt to prevent your wheels from locking/sliding at all costs. When the truck is sliding all control is also lost and the truck will go where it wants to go and at a speed that it wants to travel at. This is how you trash your truck.

You may want to dab the break slightly but never hard enough to stop a wheel from turning especially downhill or in some circumstances up hill. If the trail goes off camber the truck will slide to the lowest point and won’t stop until something gets in the way (tree, rock, cliff face or the bottom of a ravine).

Before decent: choose your lowest gear (4Lo 1st) with the break applied, slowly ease out the clutch at the same time as slowly easing out off the break (DO NOT touch the skinny pedal) the clutch should be fully out before your foot is fully off the brake; just short of stalling the engine. This will start the truck moving forward at the lowest possible RPM and slowest speed (only dab the break if you hear the engine starting to run> keep the truck headed as straight down as you can (not at an angle to the hill [off camber; may induce rollover], until you are back on level ground).

Hope this helps ....

 

i always use the gears when going down hill so that i can maintain control and steering when you start sliding all that is out the window.

 

Cool Deal next trip we go on I will see if i can force the habit of using the brake pedal to slow down but I get a little edgy when the vehicle in front is close. The trails we went on seemed like it was a traffic jam when someone got stuck ahead of us. And the brakes were pretty frequent.

 

Low Gearing is your friend.
Until I re-gear however I have to use my brakes a lot when in 4-Hi. 4-Lo I get plenty of engine breaking...

 

I have an Auto Trans would it be wise to put it D1 on descents. And just let D1 wined out?

I had a couple of close calls sliding down hill and dropping into bigger ruts close to the drop off. I could feel the Jeeps articulation teeter tottering.

 

very wise

 

Listen to all these guys when they say engine braking is the way to go.

Years ago, there was a famous video of an SUV crash descending Lion's Back.

That was all brake pedal and no engine gearing. Good way to get killed.

 

Good information. Thanks

 

Good advice above, low gear and no brakes. If you start to slide sideways going downhill in low gear push your clutch in for second, this should allow you to recover from sliding sideways. If all else fails make damn sure you keep your arms and legs in the jeep unless you want to lose them.