good motoring
The pleasure of 4-wheel drive
H.Kishie Singh

In a 4-wheel drive vehicle, all four wheels provide the driving force

It is a wonderful way to start the New Year. The city has a 4x4 club, and people who have vehicles with four-wheel drive can look forward to exciting Sundays.

First of all, lets figure out what 4-wheel drive is. In a normal car, the driving force is provided by only two wheels. The other two wheels provide stability and braking to the vehicle.

In a 4-wheel drive vehicle, all four wheels provide the driving force to the wheels. In addition, there will be a second gear-box with a lower gear ratio. This gives your car the push required to get it out of mud, slush, snow or sand.

The 4-wheel drive gives your vehicle the capability to go anywhere, and it is this power which makes it so attractive to adventurers.

In the case of a 4-wheel drive, Gypsy has five forward-speed plus one reverse gear-box. In a 4- wheel drive high, the Gypsy is driven by two wheels. Flip a lever and you are in high gear but in 4-wheel drive. With this configuration you have had 10 drive ratio options at your disposal.

Flip the lever into low and you have another five gear ratios plus a 4-wheel drive. Amazing. You have 15 driving options. It is this ability that gives a special charm to off-roading vehicles. They can conquer almost all driving conditions.

Off-roading, however, requires different driving skills and only practice will make you an accomplished off-roader. For this there are many requirements and demands. Discipline is the first and foremost.

Of course, your SUV/jeep must be in A-1 road condition. You must have the best tyres on the vehicle. In slushy conditions mother earth will clutch you to her bosom. Only a good set of tyres will help you get away. Tyres with 50 per cent wear may be good for tarmac and gravel but will provide you no traction in mud, slush, snow or sand.

Very important, never venture out alone for an off-roading adventure. This is where the 4x4 Off- Roaders Club is a welcome move. There are always about a dozen vehicles, and they render assistance to each other. Safety in numbers.

An exciting and essential part of off-roading is a winch, and it should be an electric winch. It consists of about 30 metres of steel cable wrapped on a drum. You undo the cable and attach it to an anchor or another vehicle. Press a button and the cable will rewind itself onto the drum. It will pull the stuck vehicle out. Winching is great fun but requires expertise. It can be dangerous.

While operating a winch, heavy-duty gloves are recommended. A snatch block is a big help. A snatch block is a pulley you can attach to the stuck vehicle or anchor. Pass the cable through it and bring it back to hook on to the winching vehicle. It doubles the pulling power of the winch.

A high-lift jack and sand channels are also of great help. The high-lift jack can lift the vehicle about half a metre off the ground, getting the wheel unstuck. At this stage you can slide the sand channels under the wheel and drive out. Sand channels are steel plates which provide traction to your wheels and won’t allow the vehicle to sink into the mud.

So far we have discussed how to get a vehicle unstuck. But why do vehicles get stuck? Simple. The ground which is muddy, slushy or sandy cannot support the weight of the vehicle. The vehicle may sink up to its axle or even chassis. Do not rev up the engine. The spinning wheels will only dig you in deeper. Try to reverse out, or rock yourself out— first gear to reverse, and then to first gear again. This rocking motion builds up momentum and that may rock you out.

Happy motoring.