TGS 4x4 guide



TGS 4x4 guide

The chance to take your Toyota 4x4 off tarmac and explore its capabilities in the rough stuff is one of the most enjoyable things you can do on four wheels. But whether you intend to cross a muddy field or join a major expedition, here are some important ways to prepare yourself and your vehicle.

Get to know your vehicle
What to pack
Driving techniques
General tips
Water crossing
Tight spots
Climbing hills
Descending hills on failed climbs
Descending hills driving forward
Mud, snow and ice
Rocks, logs and obstacles
Convoys
Back on-road



Get to know your vehicle	Return to the top of the page



Before you even think about going off-road, you must get to know your vehicle. Learn how your Toyota 4x4 system works, how to use the controls, where the spare tyre and jack are located and how to use them. You can find much of this information – and maybe even some off-road driving tips – in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Get used to driving your 4x4. You need to get a feel for its size and driving characteristics. Know where all four corners are and how tall the vehicle is. Practise using the low ratio gearbox, and if your vehicle is equipped with manual locking hubs, try those out too. Learn what you and your vehicle can do – but leave your ego at home. Every vehicle (and driver, for that matter) has its limitations. Backing off early and accepting that a manoeuvre is impossible or choosing another approach may prevent vehicle damage and, more important, personal injury. Never try a manoeuvre that you are uncomfortable with. Before leaving civilization, thoroughly check the condition of your vehicle or you could be looking at a long walk back. Keep track of maintenance on filters, belts and hoses and keep all fluids topped up. Make sure your tyres, including the spare, are in good condition and inflated properly. Look under your vehicle. Are there any leaks or mechanical problems? All repairs should be carried out before leaving home. Ensure you check both the steering and brake condition. Once you return home, service your 4x4. Fluids and filters need to be changed more often when you drive on rough terrain. Transmissions, transfer gearboxes, differentials, hubs and brakes can be contaminated with mud and water. These parts need to be cleaned and serviced when used under such conditions.


What to pack	Return to the top of the page



Be prepared. Sooner or later, your vehicle may get stuck or have a mechanical failure. If you pack the basic tools and supplies, you should be able to get under way again. You’ll need a good hydraulic jack, a 60cm square section of 2cm thick plywood for a jack base, a long-handled shovel, an axe, two D-ring shackles, a recovery strap, tow hooks properly mounted to your 4x4, gloves and possibly tyre chains. To make field repairs, you will need a tool kit and some supplies and spares. Besides the obvious hand tools, pack a torch, a spark-plug socket, jump leads, tyre pressure gauge, an air supply (compressor, aerosol "fix-flat" or foot pump) and a box or canvas bag in which to store everything. Also bring duct tape and some key spare parts. Once all these items are assembled, think about on-board stowage. Be sure to tie down and secure the items in the vehicle. Loose tools and spare parts can quickly become potentially dangerous projectiles if the vehicle stops suddenly or encounters large bumps along the track.


Driving techniques	Return to the top of the page



The most experienced 4x4 drivers are extremely smooth. They are as interested in leaving minimum impact on the terrain as they are in getting through it. Off-road driving is a game of finesse. An experienced driver treats loose or wet surfaces as if they were ice. Everything is done gently. The throttle is applied smoothly and released slowly. This keeps the tyres from spinning on acceleration and from lock on deceleration. Steering is very precise, and the brakes are used as little as possible. The driver always controls the vehicle; the vehicle should never control the driver. Several techniques will help you stay in control and conquer terrain with finesse and safety. Each obstacle along the route should be attempted as slowly as possible but as fast as necessary. Here are driving tips and techniques to help make your off-road driving fun, safe and rewarding.


General tips	Return to the top of the page



Travel with at least one other vehicle and stay on established routes. If one 4x4 gets stuck or disabled, the other can assist. If you go on your own, take a mobile phone (but remember that mobiles have limited coverage). And tell someone where you are going and what route you plan to follow. Keep your thumbs on the steering wheel and out of the spokes. Steering wheel kickback on rough roads can cause injuries. Be prepared by putting your 4x4 into diff lock or four wheel-drive (if part-time) before you enter a track where you would not drive an ordinary car. Know your vehicle’s dimensions – height, width, length, approach angle, departure angle and ramp angle – so that you can pass through tight areas without damage. In tight quarters, the driver should keep his/her side of the vehicle close to obstacles to judge distances more accurately. However, do not lean out of your vehicle to continuously watch your side and forget about the rest of the vehicle. Be aware of the surrounding terrain and changing conditions. Look in all directions and well in front of the vehicle, so that you know what lies ahead.


Water crossing	Return to the top of the page



Check water, snow, high grass and mud crossings for hidden obstacles, such as logs, rocks and hole. Use a stick to check depth and bottom conditions of water crossings. Most 4x4s can be driven in water that is axle deep without taking special precautions. When the water is deeper, you must know where the engine’s air intake and engine computer are located and not allow water to enter. Cross streams only at legitimate fords. Drive slowly and steadily, creating a small bow wave in front of the bumper that will reduce the height of the water behind the bumper and keep the water away from the air intake and electronics. Cross fast-flowing streams at an angle, driving slightly upstream. This presents a smaller surface area and lessens the force of the stream on the vehicle. Apply your brakes several times after a water or deep mud cross to dry them out, and be aware that mud and water will affect their operation. Do not cross fast-flowing deep streams. Your vehicle can be swept away.


Tight spots	Return to the top of the page



Whenever you encounter a difficult situation, get out of your vehicle and assess the terrain. Pick a route or line that will allow the vehicle to pass with the least difficulty. Use someone outside the vehicle to help negotiate difficult sections. The driver cannot see under or on the passenger side of the vehicle. Use your common sense and do not drive in conditions that you are uncomfortable with.

Climbing hills	Return to the top of the page



When climbing steep hills, use caution. Know what is on the other side of a steep climb. Get out of the vehicle and scout the area. If you must park on a hill, remember to turn off the engine, leave it in gear with a manual transmission or in park with an automatic and apply the hand brake. You might additionally wish to place chocks, rocks or logs under the wheels to provide additional braking assistance. When climbing a hill, use as high a gear as the vehicle will "pull" comfortably. If the gear selected is too low, you will spin the tyres and, if it is too high, you will not have enough power to climb the hill. (The general rule of thumb is 3rd gear up and 1st gear down with an automatic, 2nd gear up and 1st gear down with a manual, all in low range. If this doesn’t work, try high range.) Line up your vehicle so it has a straight approach at the hill. If possible, keep the vehicle parallel with the slope of the hill. This equally distributes the vehicle’s weight, providing equal traction to all four wheels. Climb straight up the hill, apply power at the bottom and ease off the throttle when you go over the top to keep the vehicle under control. Be prepared for a failed climb. Work out an escape route and know where all of the obstacles are.


Descending hills on failed climbs	Return to the top of the page



On manual transmission vehicles, if the vehicle stalls going up-hill, apply the brake pedal, engage reverse gear, remove feet from clutch and brake pedal and turn the key to restart the engine. Then allow the vehicle to descend back down the hill using only the engine to keep the descent slow. Visibility is limited when breaking downhill and remember that steering is much quicker and steering kickback is more violent when reversing. Avoid a side-hill situation. Do not attempt to turn around on a steep hill. The vehicle may roll.


Descending hills driving forward	Return to the top of the page



Before descending a hill, get out of the vehicle and look over the edge. Avoid surprises and mentally work out a route. Avoid any hill that you do not feel comfortable with. Make sure your front wheels are centered (pointing straight ahead) before descending. If they are turned to the right or left you could roll the vehicle. Descent straight down a steep hill. Use the brakes sparingly, and instead use engine braking to slow down. Descend all hills in first gear and in low range, and make sure the wheels do not slide. Keep the engine running. Never roll down a hill with the transmission in neutral or the clutch depressed. Keep your foot away from the clutch pedal to avoid depressing it accidentally. If the wheels start to skid while engine braking down a steep hill, apply some throttle and steer in the direction the rear of the vehicle is skidding. Do it smoothly.


Mud, snow and ice	Return to the top of the page



When crossing sand, deep hard-packed snow and marshy terrain, deflate the tyres slightly to increase a tyre’s footprint and provide better traction. Deflated tyres, however, will decrease your ground clearance, and they are more vulnerable to sidewall damage. Remember to reinflate the tyres before going on-road again. Snow and ice may require properly fitted snow chains on all four tyres. Remember that hard snow crossed in the early morning can be impassable when soft in the afternoon. Use steady momentum to carry you through deep sand, snow and mud. Do not use a gear that is too low – it will spin tyres more easily than a high one. When wheels start to spin, ease off the throttle just a bit and allow the tyres to slow down and regain traction. If traction is lost and the vehicle is barely moving, turn the steering wheel quickly from side to side in short strokes (only 1/8th turn) to allow the front tyre walls to find extra grip. If muddy conditions force you to drive in the ruts, know where your front wheels are pointed at all times. The vehicle will follow the ruts, even with the wheels turned to the right or left. If you encounter a dry spot with the wheels turned, the front wheels can regain traction and suddenly throw the vehicle out of the ruts, with resultant loss of control and possible damage.


Rocks, logs and obstacles	Return to the top of the page



In rough, rocky terrain, drive slowly and traverse obstacles with care. Approach a log, rocky step or ditch at an angle. This will allow three tyres to push the vehicle past the obstacle, while one tyre is passing over or through it. Straddle deep ruts with your vehicle. This will keep the vehicle level and avoid getting stuck in the rut. Drive over large rocks with the tyres. This will keep the rocks from damaging the vehicle. Remember, the area between the vehicle’s wheels can ground if the rock has a steep approach and departure. Build a ramp in front of and behind such a rock to avoid this problem.


Convoys	Return to the top of the page



When travelling in a convoy, keep the vehicle behind you in sight and wait at intersections. If anyone has a problem, you will know about it right away. You are responsible for the vehicle behind you. Never follow another vehicle too closely. A vehicle stops very quickly when it gets stuck, flying rocks can damage vehicles following too closely, and you cannot see obstacles or stopped vehicles in dusty conditions. In dusty conditions, keep windows closed and use the air conditioner (if fitted) or ventilation system. This will pressurize the vehicle’s interior and keep out dust. Never follow a vehicle up or down a hill until the leading vehicle is off the hill. There is always the possibility that the vehicle in the lead will lose control and roll backwards into you (or you could roll onto it!). Never park at the bottom of a hill behind a climbing vehicle or in front of a descending vehicle. Never stop on a corner. The vehicles approaching from the rear will not be able to see you. Never leave anyone alone along the route.


Back on-road	Return to the top of the page



When returning to the road, first disengage the diff lock if applied. Then stop and take time to check your vehicle for any minor damage. Check for cuts to the tyres, bent steering rods and debris that might have become lodged in the underside of the vehicle. Check for body damage that will rub against tyres or be a hazard to others, and remove mud stuck to wheels (which can cause tyre imbalance). Repair damaged parts before driving at speed and once you return home, remember to service your vehicle. Of course, no matter how well you pay attention to all these tips and techniques, sooner or later you may get stuck. To find out how to get unstuck, see the next chapter on Vehicle Recovery Off-Road.