MiddleAgeSubie
Forum Member
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2013
- Messages
- 990
- Location
- AZ
- Car Year
- 2018 / 2008
- Car Model
- 4Runner / Tribeca
- Transmission
- 5EAT
So, what is the tip for reversing?
In 2,500 off-pavement miles in the B9 and the OB, I had not had to reverse due to need until today. Today, the kids and I took what was not expected to be the brutal trail it was.
Speaking of good judgment, we turned around 1.5 mi from summit (Harquahala Peak, I had seen a youtube video, but it showed it smoother than it was today) at a small ledge. I could have negotiated it with desire and patience but had run out of both. Neither of the Z71 Silverados that we saw there were able to get over it at first try. That made me a bit sad about having parked since I thought I could go up with less drama. However, going up is fine, but I did not want to deal with it going down and I knew the tougher part, the descent, was ahead of us. With no spotter and only the kids as a company, I think this was good judgment (we hiked another half a mile but the 4 year old is too much to carry up under the already blazing AZ sun and the road is too slippery for him to walk. I had proper hiking shoes, but the 8-year old is constantly outgrowing his shoes and was slipping all the time in his running ones, LOL, the Subaru on AT tires is WAY better).
So, going down I managed not to hear the skid plates once even though the first 3 miles downhill took me 45 minutes clean driving time. The low oil pressure light came first (and went off), later the low oil light came on--the second time this has happened when descending slowly enough over steep enough terrain (oil was fine).
EXCEPT there was one spot where, when going up, I had gone over the bigger rock (approach angle and clearance up front are maximized) but going down I tried to go over the smaller rock (should have cleaned it out) and got hung on it on the front skid plate (front clearance is minimized downhill, main reason I do not like the descents much). So, I was able to reverse just enough to free the car, position the wheels sideways, get out, remove the rock, and move on.
BUT, I was NOT able to reverse altogether out of the steep spot. True, I did not turn traction control off, but this had never been necessary when climbing (except in deep enough sand or mud). I wish I had tried it, but I did not think about it.
People had raised questions about the CVT's ability to reverse. Well, I am not the only one to consider the 5EAT the best Subaru pre-CVT transmission. I climb stuff at will. But it does not seem that the reverse can do much.
Tips about reversing up a slippery and steep slope? (other than "get the silly rock out of the way ahead of time," thanks
)
In 2,500 off-pavement miles in the B9 and the OB, I had not had to reverse due to need until today. Today, the kids and I took what was not expected to be the brutal trail it was.
Speaking of good judgment, we turned around 1.5 mi from summit (Harquahala Peak, I had seen a youtube video, but it showed it smoother than it was today) at a small ledge. I could have negotiated it with desire and patience but had run out of both. Neither of the Z71 Silverados that we saw there were able to get over it at first try. That made me a bit sad about having parked since I thought I could go up with less drama. However, going up is fine, but I did not want to deal with it going down and I knew the tougher part, the descent, was ahead of us. With no spotter and only the kids as a company, I think this was good judgment (we hiked another half a mile but the 4 year old is too much to carry up under the already blazing AZ sun and the road is too slippery for him to walk. I had proper hiking shoes, but the 8-year old is constantly outgrowing his shoes and was slipping all the time in his running ones, LOL, the Subaru on AT tires is WAY better).
So, going down I managed not to hear the skid plates once even though the first 3 miles downhill took me 45 minutes clean driving time. The low oil pressure light came first (and went off), later the low oil light came on--the second time this has happened when descending slowly enough over steep enough terrain (oil was fine).
EXCEPT there was one spot where, when going up, I had gone over the bigger rock (approach angle and clearance up front are maximized) but going down I tried to go over the smaller rock (should have cleaned it out) and got hung on it on the front skid plate (front clearance is minimized downhill, main reason I do not like the descents much). So, I was able to reverse just enough to free the car, position the wheels sideways, get out, remove the rock, and move on.
BUT, I was NOT able to reverse altogether out of the steep spot. True, I did not turn traction control off, but this had never been necessary when climbing (except in deep enough sand or mud). I wish I had tried it, but I did not think about it.
People had raised questions about the CVT's ability to reverse. Well, I am not the only one to consider the 5EAT the best Subaru pre-CVT transmission. I climb stuff at will. But it does not seem that the reverse can do much.
Tips about reversing up a slippery and steep slope? (other than "get the silly rock out of the way ahead of time," thanks
)
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