Downshifting in 4Lo (MT)

I've searched some forums on here and I couldn't find much. If someone can answer or leave a thread link, I'd appreciate.

So I went to CO to hit some trails with my 55k mile TRD Sport manual transmission. Using 4Lo, I noticed I would grind gears almost everytime I would try to downshift. Should I just try to avoid downshifting in 4Lo because of the incredibly high torque or is there something I'm missing? Anyone downshift just fine in 4Lo?

 

I cant imagine being in 4 lo and shifting out of 1st.

 

Kinda need to double clutch. I use 2nd more than 1st with 4lo, but for the most part I've stopped if I'm going back into 1st.

 

Trail riding mainly, I was all the way in 6th in some parts

 

If you're in 6 th in 4lo you should probably be in 4hi.

 

Holy shit. Im no expert but no way i would be doing that. 4 lo to me is for slow, technical stuff maybe 5mph.

 

Sounds normal. I would try and keep it as smooth as possible though. With an MT I find it easier to be in 4lo on almost any trail no matter how difficult, less feathering of the clutch needed when climbing or navigating ruts with the low torque. Unless I want to cruise over ~30mph then I'll go into 4hi instead.

If downshifting into 1st you wanna be close to stopped or that's not going to feel good. Just don't force it into gear if it's not going right away.

 

???
The 3.5 has such poor low-end torque that I use 4-Low on all steep dirt roads. Granted, I live at 8,500 feet, and go up from there to access trailheads, so maybe that makes a difference. If I stay in High Range, I'm winding it out in 1st gear. The second I shift into second gear I'm lugging the engine. I can take the same roads in my 1997 Tacoma in High Range and second gear all day long. The 3rd Gen Tacoma is not adept at climbing steep inclines (at altitude) in 2-High or 4-High. Off-road, I live in 4-Low, and am typically in second or third gear.

 

I guess i need to try it lol.

 

Sounds normal. I think 4lo messes up your routine for downshifting and how you usually make it smooth. Nothing to worry about.

 

Should been in 4hi if you go to 6th in 4lo. That's like going 70 mph in 4hi. Then you should be in 2wd.

 

Its a whole new truck. Much better. If you are used to the very low gearing of low range in something like a Jeep Rubicon, this takes a little mental adjustment. I was like you before I owned a 3rd Gen; low range was just for super-slow crawling. For a truck like ours, low range at slightly higher speeds is a total game changer. Even crazier: with the new 8 and 10 speed auto transmissions other brands are touting low range for a much wider range of uses. Ram brags that you can hit 50 miles per hour in low range in the Power Wagon! See the main Power Wagon dude from Ram describe it in the video below. Start at 13:45 of the video for the bit about 50 mph in 4-low:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFX36j_5Bg8

 

Subbed for info. I’ve never needed anything other than first in Low. 4hi for all else.

 

No need to downshift too often but you have to be careful.

Even in my manual wrangler with more aggressive gearing I would still be in 4 low less clutch work etc.

 

And that's where I was.. 10,000 ft up and in 2wd I was in 4th gear trying to go 55mph

 

That's what I ended up doing, trying to downshift less than normal. Just around turns and and hard obstacles, I HAD to downshift and hated the grinding

 

Oh yeah it's insane. Coming from a 1st gen Tacoma to a 3rd gen, these things glide over trails where 4Lo is necessary. I also don't think people understand that 6th gear in 4lo at 3,000 RPMs is still only 30mph.
For anyone that hasn't used 4lo for gears higher than 2, it's a must to try it. You get the grip you need wherever but with the speed

 

I agree completely, I never went into 1st unless stopped. It was more from like 3rd to 2nd. I'll try to feather it less and double clutch, see if that makes it smoother

 

Naw. 4lo gives you more options in the speed range you are going to see off road. I use 4lo all the time.

Also in the manual it will save a clutch off road, and in the auto it will keep trans temps down. 4lo is VERY useful.

 

The fact that that message got like 6 likes tells me not enough people truly wheel with their 3rd gens gotta keep up with jeeps somehow