4hi or 4lo

We are camping this weekend and I have to pull our 4500 lbs camper up a fairly steep gravel road. Should I use 4hi or 4lo?

 

If you are going slow I would use 4Lo. I've found when crawling in 4HI our transmissions get really got.

 

Do you have a way to monitor your trans temp?

 

Yes I am using the torque app.

 

And I will definitely be going slow. No good way to pick up any speed before heading up the hill.

 

I wouldn’t hesitate to use 4lo.

 

If going slow is not an issue I would use 4 lo. If you do not use 4 low often I would cycle it a few times before your trip so you don’t end up finding out you have an issue with it engaging.

 

Ok great will be going with the 4lo. Thanks for the advice everyone. Will let you know how it goes when I get home Sunday.

 

You were right huntertn. Tried to engage the 4lo and no go. I push the 4lo button and it flashes and beeps a couple times and then goes back to 4hi. So it looks like I will have to drag it it hill in 4hi.

 

Sometimes my 02 will do that if I havent engaged 4 wheel drive in while. I just move forward and backwards a little bit until it locks into 4 lo. Also make sure your completely stopped when engaging 4 lo

 

Need to be stopped and in neutral to engage 4low

 

Ok I did not know you had to be stopped to engage it. Will try that. Thanks

 

Unless it's 20 miles long and a 75 degree angle....you'll be fine in 4HI Tow Haul (if your gen has it).

I've only used 4LO once, in deep snow in my driveway after it sat a weekend.

 

Use 4Lo for low speed slogs up steep hills...

 

I think I’ve used 4wd low only twice in 20 years. If I had a manual, I’d use it a lot more.

 

Awesome thanks for the help everyone. We are heading home tomorrow. Will chime back in and let you know how it went.

 

Use lo going downhill to use engine braking.

 

X2 ^^^ This is how I normally do it, I make sure that the 4H light is solid if not usually put it on reverse then it clicks, put it back to park push and turn the knob to 4L lights flashing then put it to neutral then the 4L light becomes solid.

 

And just in case no one noticed, you can't go from 2hi directly to 4lo by design. 4hi must be fully engaged before the computer will allow the transition to 4lo.

 

Sounds like you got it figured out. Let us know how it went?

 

Just want to check back in and say thanks to everyone for your advise. Thanks to you I was able to get into 4lo and she pulled the camper up that hill like a champ
Thanks again to all!!!

 

Awesome that is good news.