tips for off road

battenberg said:

No, you engage reverse with the engine off, then take your feet off and start the motor. Declutching could put you into an uncontrolable slide 'cos you'd need to compensate with the brakes, not what you want to do!
experience will tell you when you really need this technique, however if you always do it ... you'll always be safer.

only last month I had two teenage girls bruised, bleeding, tearfull and in shock, wrapped in blankets shaking in the back of my landy after the young p*nis lad who was driving them rolled his SJ and the roof caved in on them all!

Accelerating, sliding, totally out of control backwards downhill with no servo brakes cost him his car and it could have cost him their lives! One panic twitch of the steering wheel was all it took.

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Hrrmm, good tip I think!

To be honest I have never stalled it (yet) on a steep hill climb. But if I did I would have probly started it before selecting reverse lifting off the peddles and decending.

Will try your advised technique if (when) it happens!

HuN73R said:

Hrrmm, good tip I think!

To be honest I have never stalled it (yet) on a steep hill climb. But if I did I would have probly started it before selecting reverse lifting off the peddles and decending.

Will try your advised technique if (when) it happens!

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the engine will be under rotational load from the transmission, but due to the high gearing involved in this situation would probably not turn on it's own, unless as ratty suggested you dip the clutch and bump it.
Only the tinyest blip of starter should be enough to fire it up

battenberg said:

Only the tinyest blip of starter should be enough to fire it up

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Unless we were talking about my old N/A. Which probly still wouldnt have started by the time I was at the bottom!!!

HuN73R said:

Unless we were talking about my old N/A. Which probly still wouldnt have started by the time I was at the bottom!!!

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and that's why we love em!!

what not to do when reversing !!!!!!!!!


YouTube - BAD SUV ACCIDENT

battenberg said:

No, you engage reverse with the engine off, then take your feet off and start the motor. Declutching could put you into an uncontrolable slide 'cos you'd need to compensate with the brakes, not what you want to do!
experience will tell you when you really need this technique, however if you always do it ... you'll always be safer.

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Absolutely right. Assuming it's a manual and hasn't got HDC, the last thing you want on a slope is the clutch. Better to stall the engine and stay in control than to dip the clutch and turn into a four-wheel sledge. Same's true on snow and ice. If you're stuck on a steep slope with a stalled engine just a light blip on the clutch will be enough to get two tons of metal moving and start the engine in low first or reverse. Reversing down a slope you failed to get up is probably the most dangrous and nervewracking thing you can do.

If you have cash to spare, go on a Landrover Experience day (Defender, not Disco 3) and they'll teach you all sorts of stuff (and probably frighten you rigid). LR gave me one for free (some sort of mistake I assume) and it was good.

If you have a Rover or other off-road club nearby, join and take your car on a "RTV" or "non-damaging" event. They'll give you lots of advice and if you do cock it up they're there to help you out.