Grounded knowledge for better 4x4 ride

As appeared in Motoring
The Brunei Times – April 2, 2008

A TWENTY per cent increase when it comes to a paycheck would be welcomed by anyone. But why do people ignore a 20% increase in performance when it comes to a four-wheel-drive vehicle?

Many Bruneian drivers who buy 4x4 vehicles, specifically those with offroad capabilities, do not know how to extract that extra percentage of usefulness, says NBT General Sales Manager Hj Shahrum Hj Kadir. Especially when, he says, such 4x4 knowledge is essential not only in offroad situations but also when facing rough conditions on your everyday drive.

"Even if you think you'll never experience rough terrain, knowledge about how to utilise your vehicle in challenging circumstances means you'll be better off than people in other cars," Hj Shahrum says. And does challenging circumstances mean only those things you hear about -- deep in the jungle rivers to ford, rutted tracks on which only bullocks feel comfortable and mud holes deep enough to sink a battleship?

On the contrary, road conditions which seem mildly "interesting" to normal cars, such as puddles, uneven surfaces and slick stretches, present a greater risk to 4x4 vehicles because of their weight, higher centre of gravity and reduced manoeuvrability. And lack of knowledge about how to use the 4x4 features to overcome these weaknesses may contribute to accidents involving these big offroaders.

"That's why NBT offers Toyota customers the chance to take a free course in 4x4 driving, which we hold twice a year," Hj Shahrum says. The course, managed by the Tutong-based Gemilang Association, teaches drivers the basic applications of their 4x4 offroaders.

Why bother? I took my driving test, I know how to change gears and go up hills. It's not that simple, explains Gemilang 4x4 chairman Abd Ahsunah DLR Hj Md Jair. Look at the gear element of a modern manual 4x4 vehicle and you'll see, aside from the five gears, the option of H2, H4 and L4 settings. That gives you a total of 15 gear ratios to play with.

Um, and why do I need all these gears? Abd Ahsunah says the settings are geared to different road conditions, the speed at which the vehicle is travelling and the number of wheels under the driver's control. The H setting is for high speeds, with 2- or 4-wheel options while the L setting is for low speeds and all four wheels under power.

The Muara-Tutong Highway, eastbound between Tutong and Jerudong, is one example of normal roads that are treacherous when wet, Abd Ahsunah says. "The guardrails on the left are dented where cars skid off because of puddles," he says of rear-wheel-drive vehicles, especially. "When the car hits standing water on the left, the front left tyre aquaplanes while the car is still being propelled forward, and the vehicles veers to the left. To avoid this, you engage the H4, thus giving traction to all four wheels."

And the lower gear ratio, L4, is good for descending hills to reduce wear and tear on brakes, which face greater pressure because of the weight of offroad vehicles. "You will often see, or smell, burnt brakes in vehicles descending steep gradients because they apply their brakes all the time. Putting the car in a low gear setting with four wheels maintaining traction is the best bet to avoid accidents going downhill."

Knowing which gears to set to ascend hills is also beneficial when you're driving a manual as opposed to an automatic car. "An automatic car maintains traction at all times," Abd Ahsunah says, even when you don't realise it.

"In manual cars, there is that instant -- a long one for those without experience -- when you press the clutch to change gears, that everything is disengaged. No traction, no torque, and your car may start sliding out of control. Knowing which gear to use for certain gradients means a smooth uphill drive."

The course also includes conducting pre-departure checks, vehicle recovery, travelling in convoy, making minor repairs and changing tyres, the last sounding easy peasy but may be a concern as a tyre on an offroader is huge and heavy. "There is a method to changing a 4x4 tyre that makes it easy. Even a petite woman can change a tyre on an offroader this way," Abd Ahsunah says.

And has the instruction been beneficial? Yes, say 4x4 drivers who participated in last month's 2008 Gemilang Sabah Expedition which took in some hinterland roads that were logging tracks cut into hillsides.

Driver Ahmad Salleh Mohd, who bought a Toyota Hilux two years ago to carry his paramotor equipment, says he used to drive his pickup truck like a normal saloon car. "I didn't dare touch any of the gear settings, I went down hills using brakes all the way, and just splashed through puddles without a thought."

He says going through the 4x4 course in February was an eye-opener. The result, Ahmad Salleh says, is increased confidence on the road, especially since the four-day Sabah expedition to Sandakan, Kudat and Kota Kinabalu threw at the drivers unexpected road surfaces rutted tracks, mud and loose rocks and hills with the added challenge of slippery surfaces, especially around misty and rainy Kundasang.

"We utilised our newly gained knowledge to manage the rough terrain, traverse the mountainous roads with regard for our brakes and travel safely, especially observing the rules of convoy, for example in maintaining a safe distance between cars."

The other advantage of such courses, he says, is that "we are now more aware of dangers on the road, in relation to our cars, specifically, and how to utilise the capability of the car to overcome these obstacles".

This article was in conjunction with Gemilang's 4x4 adventure from Brunei to Sabah, on which they took along the Little Devil.