Low to High on the move

Hey guys, I have another question for you. I remember when I had my last Defender I was just starting to figure out how to change from low to high range on the move. It was probably simple but I can't remember the procedure as I didn't actually do it before I got rid of it! How do you do it?

I've tried to search the forum but can't get on with the search tool

its in the handbook, and not a great idea for autos-like mine. But is just like changing gear.

i thort you had to double-de-clutch and be going really slowly. It only advises strongly against changing the state of the transfer box if there is a loss of traction actually going on. There is a section in the off road driving manual, for if you want to tow a really heavy trailer and need to move off in low and move to high on the move.

I seem to remember you could go all the way through the box in low, then go from 5th low to 3rd high and carry on as normal? I've seen it done by people who were well into their landys at the time, but I've lost contact with them since then. Now I'm thinking about it I think it was up through the gears in low, into neutral on the main box and transfer, clutch up and back down then move the transfer lever to high and select a gear again? Bloody long winded, but quite quick when you've done it a few times. I just want to make sure I get it right.

I'd get the speed right up in low 3rd, then change from low to high with double de-clutching, leaving the main box in 3rd.

clutch in, let the revs drop off, T/F box to N, clutch out, blip the throttle, let the revs drop off, clutch in, T/F box to H, clutch out. do it on the flat or downhill, so that you don't lose too much speed whilst changing.
can be done very quickly with practice.

I do it all the time where I have to pull away up hill with a heavy trailer. Stay in low until you're on level ground. Pop the main box into neutral, change from low to high, then select a gear suitable for the speed you're doing, which won't be much usually 2nd or 3rd, and away you go. You can get a fairly hefty clunk as you change from low to high but after a bit of practice it's easy.

The way I was advised by a Land Rover Experience instructor was:
Accelerate to 15-20 mph in 4 or 5th gear.
Clutch down, pull transfer lever back into N (be careful not to pull it too far back and all the way into H)
Clutch up
Pause (do not rev the engine)
Clutch down and pull the lever back into H (this should be virtually simultaneously, do not give the gear box time to slow down)
Select 2 or 3rd in the main gearbox.
Clutch up and accelerate away.
With practise you can get a very smooth change.

and if you get it wrong the heavy cluck turns into a grinding crash then a loss of gears !
:hysterically_laughi

vivnap said:

and if you get it wrong the heavy cluck turns into a grinding crash then a loss of gears !
:hysterically_laughi

Click to expand...

I guess that's a chance you have to take sometimes. At least R380s and LT230s are fairly common on ebay!

I guess you could just leave it in low really. My 300tdi pulled up to around 35mph in low 5th I think, which is as quick as it will get with a heavy trailer on a hill anyway!

I'm really looking forward to getting another Defender. I do remember saying once that "I'll never buy a F***ing Land Rover ever again!", but for the last couple of years my L200s have been costing me just as much if not more in repair bills. I guess all 4x4s are expensive as they have more expensive bits to break, but at least a landy is simple to fix. The L200 is much nicer to drive on a long trip, but it lacks the character of the Defender. I miss hosing out the footwells when they got muddy, and the water coming in under the doors every time I drove through a puddle. Only a landy fan will ever understand what I mean :love:

vivnap said:

and if you get it wrong the heavy cluck turns into a grinding crash then a loss of gears !
:hysterically_laughi

Click to expand...

Not true, it's just a very loud clunk.

I rarely remember to double declutch to change L-H and it works fine.

Although, I'll probably be saving up for a new transfer box soon...

vivnap said:

and if you get it wrong the heavy cluck turns into a grinding crash then a loss of gears !
:hysterically_laughi

Click to expand...

Landy gearboxes are well tough enough. I haven't broken one yet.