Offroad-Express

hey fellas
noob question here

i almost always shite myself when coming down devils gate from the other side back to welly . i tend to keep it in low 1st while riding the clutch and using the brake to get over the rough bit then roll the rest of the way using the engine to brake .
i know you shouldnt use the brakes or probably touch the clutch when descending hills but i just always seem to bottle it .
what is the best/safest method when tackling that bit in particular when returning....getting over is a piece of piss

you've answered your own question dude

slow and steady is the way

I tend to drive up to the top in 2nd low and either use the brake going over or change down to first low and let engine do the rest

or you could do it the way I saw the police rodeo last month, which is to take a run up form the bottom and get at least 1 metre of air under the front wheels as you crest the top

yeah just stick as far to the seaward side as you can

expect a tiny bit on scraping on the back left corner on rear bumper when coming back if your car is factory height

With any obstacle you should walk it first, even if you have been there before, shit changes. A slow steady pace up the incline, allowing maxium traction and mininium wheel spin is the go, usually second gear, as you come over the top you should change back down at least one gear to what you came up in to let the engine do the work of slowing you down. get your feet well away from clutch and brake. Unless in a petrol vehicle the engine should do the work for you, otherwise you will have to learn how to feather the brake to slow down without loosing traction.
I have been over that area before. But principle is the same.
Al

Yea well said Al, clutch is for starting and stopping. You can put quite alot of pressure on the brake while keeping your foot clear of the clutch, the vehicle just idles through the brakes.

The townie experts say never use your brakes but reality is you often use your brakes!

thanks for the advice guys , i need to learn to keep my left foot away from the clutch ...i came back from a dive yesterday and found myself doing it again but quickly pulled away and descended on low first.

and yes al its its a petrol 2ltr surf ,so i'll just have to put it to practice .i guess i'm just afraid the vehicle will cut out leaving me in a compromising positition

thanks again lads

NJV6 wrote:Yea well said Al, clutch is for starting and stopping. You can put quite alot of pressure on the brake while keeping your foot clear of the clutch, the vehicle just idles through the brakes.

The townie experts say never use your brakes but reality is you often use your brakes!

Couldnt of said it better, and Al, summed it up perfectly. At the end of the day, devils gate is pretty simple, and practice makes perfect. Keep away from the clutch, use the brakes if absolutely necessary. The good thing about devils gate, and most of the south coast, is theres always a decent run off, in case things go pear shaped.

Cheers Daniel

There will be another Welly 4wd Training day soon

Join a club mate, I know the Landrover club down here does a bit of training and puts you through a short test when you join, learnt a few good points just from that hlaf hour test.

Practice makes perfect, next time you go do it a few times until you get the desired result. Ive got a 3ltr desl hilux, go up in 2nd and dwn in 1st.

i'll be over that way a lot this summer so getting enough practice wont be an issue.
i'd be keen to get out with some experienced guys for a trip or two or come out on a beginners day. i'll keep an eye on the trips thread and hopefully tag along somewhere .thanks again guys