Towing up steep gravel hill

[EV4D]

So I live in a rural area and my driveway is about 400' of steep gravel driveway. I have a x213 that I figure is close to 6,000lbs loaded and towing with a 2013 Expedition with the heavy tow package.

My question is this: To get up the hill, do I use 4x4 High and a little speed or 4x4 low and crawl up the hill? Never used 4x4 Low for anything before but wanted to ask the experts here. And yes I read the manual and no it doesn't make any suggestions on what I should be doing in this situation

Thanks for your advice!

[Force]

4x4 High + momentum is where I would start

I have only used Low one time so far (last weekend in fact) and that was only to move my camper up onto some boards for leveling (I started in High gear but didn't like how many rev's I needed to get things moving). Probably worth noting I have a gas truck so may not have had to do that were it a diesel.

In a non-camping scenario, I've only ever used Low for stuff like rock crawling or yanking someone out when they are stuck

[spoon059]

What have you tried and did it work? If it worked, keep doing that. If it didn't try something else.

[EV4D]

Haven't pulled it up the hill yet. This will be the first time

[RSerendipity]

Personally I would use 4 Low. There are times for speed and times for Low End Torque. If it is that steep, Slow & Steady will be best

[Screwby]

If your worried about losing traction you don't want to do that at high speed. Not being there and not seeing situation we can only guess the physics involved. 4 low will allow you to get the RPMs high for power while keeping the gearing low for torque. It doesn't allow the wheel speed to become dangerous/spinning out.
When off-roading we always use 4 low for long steep climbs where wheel speed could lead to loss off traction and control, leading to disaster. The old run and gun at high speed in 4 high is fun in a buggy, can't imagine so much fun hauling a trailer.

[homer1959]

4x4 low and slow is the way to go !!! oh oh oh .....

[Bookemdanno]

^^^+1...what he said!

[Rustysocket]

Personally, I'd use 4-low and take it easy. Taking runs at things in a heavy combo can might get you there... and it might not. You also have to come back down.

You can always try it the other way if low and slow doesn't work. If it works for BBQ it's gotta work for towing right?

[Hohenwald48]

I'd use 4 low. Using momentum to go bouncing up a gravel road on a steep hill sounds like a good way to ruin your day.

[Force]

I'd like to clarify what I meant by momentum. My point was just to not stop moving once you start, not to actually run the hill "hammer down!" Lol

Stopping and restarting, depending on available traction or just how slow you want to go, may have better luck in low gear.

That said, I have never had to run in low anytime I've pulled campers and other trailers, and I've driven up and over many miles of steep dirt roads, in dry, wet, and snowy conditions, and I can't think of a time low was necessary.

Your mileage may vary, as they say. 😃

[Screwby]

Originally Posted by Force

I'd like to clarify what I meant by momentum. My point was just to not stop moving once you start, not to actually run the hill "hammer down!" Lol

Stopping and restarting, depending on available traction or just how slow you want to go, may have better luck in low gear.

That said, I have never had to run in low anytime I've pulled campers and other trailers, and I've driven up and over many miles of steep dirt roads, in dry, wet, and snowy conditions, and I can't think of a time low was necessary.

Your mileage may vary, as they say. 😃

Oh cmon' now, we all know you meant the proverbial "Hey ya'll, watch this!!"

[Jagiven]

Your version and my version of steep my be different.

I have a different approach than the others. Your not driving in mud or snow, your at home, assuming on a well maintained gravel driveway.

If your TV has an awd option I would try that first. But if you do not then, I would try 2 wheel drive, and proceed cautiously, your not at the races, if you start to slip, flip over to 4 high. You will make it no problems. But if you do slip, and cant get traction, flip to 4 low. I would practice using it. I use 4 low often, it is great on wet grass, and gravel.

I have been told I have a steep driveway and no one wants to try backing into my driveway even without a trailer. I backup over a 100 feet on concrete, with bad visibility, basically none, I have to trust my spotter's voice commands over the speaker phone. I start out in 2 wheel drive. Once I straighten out I flip over to 4 low, and the truck just walks up the driveway, my foot is on the brake.

If you have never used 4 low, get your manual out. You may have special procedures to follow to flip in and out of 4 low. For example on my tv's the transmission must be in neutral to change in and out of 4 low. Also, you can bind up the differentials so you might have a hard time getting out of 4 low, your manual should tell you how to deal with that senerio too. And the steering feels different if your turning, as you may bounce, due to all the wheels being locked up and rotating at the same rate. The power you have in 4 low is incredible.

[SilverEscape]

I hope you're closer to 5500# than 6000# once loaded as the trailer GVWR is 5500#.

[Murff]

I would use 4 LOW. The TV will crawl up the hill and if you use a light foot on the gas, you should barely spin a tire!

Murff

[TWP723]

4WD low. Granny it up that hill.

[abart]

To me 4 Low is overkill. Like was said before, everybody's definition of "steep" can be different but I would think that Expedition would make it just fine up a steep gravel driveway in 4 high. My vote is 4 high and low gear and adjust from there if necessary to make you feel more comfortable.

[Kim Gass]

We had that exact situation in the Ozarks on the Buffalo River. Coming up a 14 percent grade( in 500 fit long pitches, not steady for three miles thankfully) out of the Ozark campground. It was our fifth day with the TT and I was petrified anyway so we went slow and low and never lost traction.
No guiderails were a motivator too!

There was a ten percent grade going down to the intersection of a busy highway at a stop sign. Stopping also was mandatory. Slow was again good.

[Jbrusie]

Low and Slow!

[Rootus]

Without knowing what kind of hill we're talking about, it's super hard to make a realistic recommendation. Personally I'd start in 2WD and take it slow and steady, and see where that got me. With an extra thousand pounds of weight on the rear tires, I haven't yet found traction to be a problem unless I'm operating the gas pedal in a binary fashion.