Mountain Switchback operations question.

[Drakon21]

Hi everyone. I am looking for input on how you would have handled your rig in a situation I was in yesterday.

I found an off roading trail that was a well maintained and graded dirt road, that climbed a mountain using switchbacks. Going up was very easy. 2wd. On the way back, I stuck it in 4 low and manually set the gears to do engine braking so as to not burn up the brakes due to the rapid 1500 feet in elevation loss. I drive a 2024 2 dr wrangler sport btw. Anyways, I know it’s not ideal to be in 4 while doing these sharp turns at the switchbacks, but it’s a pain to switch from 4 low to 2 every time I took a switchback. I could few the wheel resisting a little, but there was no bad grinding sounds or anything, and since it’s dirt and I was aired up I was assuming that the wheels would be able to break free and skid as need.

I tried to engine brake in 4 high so that I could easily shift to 2 when at the switchback, but even in 1st my speed went to 15 mph before any meaningful engine braking, which was too fast for the terrain.

Should I have just kept it in 2 while downhill and used the brakes? Or was my use of 4low the right idea? Just wondering how you all would have tackled this.

Thanks for your inputs!

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[andy29847]

4 low is right. FWIW, when I am wheeling in dirt, I always use 4wd. 4wd is a big help on road with stutter bumps. I also like the felling of 4wd in the faster turns. Most of us go wheeling so infrequently that exercising the 4wd is a good idea when you get the chance.

 

[Joe's_Roxy]

As long as you are not on pavement, 4-Low works just fine. It also gives you the best gearing for handling that downhill situation.

 

[jhackathorne]

I'd have left it in 4LO. Just on your turns make a multi-point maneuver to turn the corner so nothing binds up if needed.

 

[Old Jeeper]

Hi everyone. I am looking for input on how you would have handled your rig in a situation I was in yesterday.

I found an off roading trail that was a well maintained and graded dirt road, that climbed a mountain using switchbacks. Going up was very easy. 2wd. On the way back, I stuck it in 4 low and manually set the gears to do engine braking so as to not burn up the brakes due to the rapid 1500 feet in elevation loss. I drive a 2024 2 dr wrangler sport btw. Anyways, I know it’s not ideal to be in 4 while doing these sharp turns at the switchbacks, but it’s a pain to switch from 4 low to 2 every time I took a switchback. I could few the wheel resisting a little, but there was no bad grinding sounds or anything, and since it’s dirt and I was aired up I was assuming that the wheels would be able to break free and skid as need.

I tried to engine brake in 4 high so that I could easily shift to 2 when at the switchback, but even in 1st my speed went to 15 mph before any meaningful engine braking, which was too fast for the terrain.

Should I have just kept it in 2 while downhill and used the brakes? Or was my use of 4low the right idea? Just wondering how you all would have tackled this.

Thanks for your inputs!

Way back when an old timer told me this: 4 Low and Slow. I have followed it ever since and it a PROVEN!

Brakes: Just say NO! Been driving since '63 and have had many cars with over 100k miles and one car with 169k miles and I have NEVER done a brake job in my life...I do install new pads and my new cars, like my 2023/24, and my TJ/JK, the purpose of this is to get BETTER brakes than OEM, which is why I use EBC brakes, in fact, my 24 JLR-X with 2k miles is waiting on the EBC brakes...soon as the rain stops it's going to get them.

NOTE I only change the FRONT pads and do not change rotors. Rear brakes only provide 20-30% of the stopping power and as long as your rotors are newish, and are ventilated no need to replace them.

I drive 'forward' always looking down the road, anticipating what can go wrong or right. I slow by letting my foot off the go-pedal and using the transmission to slow my vehicle, the brake at the very end.

Braking takes away control of your vehicle because it slows the wheels, let off and drive those wheels, don't let the brakes drive your vehicle!!!! Ask anyone who has ever raced or gone to a racing school.

 

[GATORB8]

The most important thing is you felt comfortable and in control. Sounds like you approached it exactly how you should have.

Getting used to engine braking in 4 low is an important off road skill. Beyond roasting the brakes, it is easy to lock the brakes up in low speed where you're fighting 4 low torque. That lock causing skidding can be a very dangerous thing in certain situations.

 

[AZ Hella]

I agree with all the "slow & steady" opinions. if I'm on a trail, 90% of the time it's in 4L and I use the transmission gears. I don't exceed 25 mph on the trail so low range and use all 6 gears (MT).

 

[keeperman13]

I do love 4-low for exactly the situation you just mentioned and I think you nailed it.

 

[Ratbert]

Your instincts were dead on.

Sometimes even manually in 1st in 4LO isn't enough to slow you down if your gears aren't low enough. We had a JK Sport that was in 1st 4LO coming down the back of Red Cone that burned out her brakes due to too high gearing. It happens.

 

[TrentYoung]

Well there is another reason why I love my Rubicon X 4Xe. When it is "regen" mode, it is like a huge engine brake that will let you go down long hills, grades, or in the case switchbacks without ever having to touch the brakes.

 

[Trigger-Rubi]

Based on your description of the road either choice was fine. Likely many passenger cars run the same road. See many an inexperienced driver that would be safer running 2wd and letting abs/traction/stability control do it job.

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