P1000 When do you use Low gear

[ZeroG]

I've had my P1k5 less than a month. I have not tried out low yet. Too dang cold to do it today, so I figured I'd ask here. When I bought I thought of low for use much like 4wd vehicles. But a post on the facebook group replied to a guy who was driving 10 to 15 mph terrain. His machine was shifting a lot. He thought it might be the clutch issue. But the replies advised that he should be in Low gear. This got me wondering since I've experienced the same shifting a lot when going 15 mph or less. Your thoughts please.

 

[Admin]

 

[ohanacreek]

Welcome its fine and normal. If it gets too annoying put it in manual and keep it in a gear that keeps it from bogging down the motor. It WILL downshift if needed.

Low gear should be used when riding slowly through technical terrain, its speed limited at 33 so you have plenty of speed for most trails. High is more for smooth trails at speed, or basically road like conditions.

 

[Rambo]

I've had my P1k5 less than a month. I have not tried out low yet. Too dang cold to do it today, so I figured I'd ask here. When I bought I thought of low for use much like 4wd vehicles. But a post on the facebook group replied to a guy who was driving 10 to 15 mph terrain. His machine was shifting a lot. He thought it might be the clutch issue. But the replies advised that he should be in Low gear. This got me wondering since I've experienced the same shifting a lot when going 15 mph or less. Your thoughts please.

I find myself using low with manual on most trail rides. Low gear keeps the rpms up (clutches like that) and the manual eliminates all the unwanted shifts. Took me awhile before I started using manual, but once I did I prefer it most of the time!

 

[ZeroG]

Thanks for your replies. I have used manual but it would downshift to 1st gear automatically to soon for my liking. So is Low = to being in 1st all the time?

 

[ohanacreek]

if it downshifts and you're in manual it needs to downshift.

No low is just a lower range for the gears than high. If theres a lot of technical or long steep uphill where I can't find a good speed in a gear I'll put mine in Low range and I'll be in all 6 gears at different times.

 

[nbomar]

Low drives me bananas and I don’t use it unless it’s a very technical section. I’ve killed the engine in high before because it bogged to much. I’m not saying my style is good for the machine it probably isn’t but the low range shifting even in manual drives me nuts. I will use it like I said for extreme technical stuff or very steep where I know I need RPMS.


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[drfubar]

I must ride different trails because I'm in low range 70% of the time.

 

[1BadDart]

Low drives me bananas and I don’t use it unless it’s a very technical section. I’ve killed the engine in high before because it bogged to much. I’m not saying my style is good for the machine it probably isn’t but the low range shifting even in manual drives me nuts. I will use it like I said for extreme technical stuff or very steep where I know I need RPMS.


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Same here, I very seldom use low.

 

[infernored1000]

Flat trails that wind around and you can maintain around 15 and up I will use high gear sport mode or manual mode.

Going up and down trails with tight turns and big hills use low gear.

When I'm around the house working, towing or heavy loads in bed I use low gear

 

[elkaholic]

I must ride different trails because I'm in low range 70% of the time.

Cannot say it better


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[ZeroG]

Interesting. I've learned something today. Thx all!!!!
I look forward to trying out Low when it warms up a tad.

 

[Welshman]

Interesting. I've learned something today. Thx all!!!!
I look forward to trying out Low when it warms up a tad.

I've had mine about 8 months and I drive almost 100% in manual now unless I use sport. I think everyone depending on their use is going to give you a different answer.
I use mine to check cows and calves in pastures in the summer and calving real soon. If your creeping around at under 5 miles an hour or less you definitly want it in low.

 

[Average_Joe]

In 4wd and anything below 30mph I use low but I am also turning aggressive tread 30in tires. I don't want to nuke my clutch yet.

 

[sharp]

I use low most of the time if it's rutted, thick mud and rocks and if I'm not going very fast. If I feel that it's too high or low of gear I just slap the paddle shifter to whatever I think is better.

 

[Hondoman]

99.9 percent of the time I'm in low. I don't drive mine very fast.

 

[Hucker]

Running fast = high gear in auto mode (at least 50% of my time)

Running slow (<30 mph) = low gear in manual mode

Like others have said, it took me awhile to appreciate low/manual mode. The auto downshift makes it perfect. I find myself spending most of my time between 2nd and 5th gears running technical trails. 1st is so slow, and reserved for steeper climbs or filling-rattling-rough trails.

 

[Landman]

When I went to have my clutch update done, the service manager asked me what I normally drove it in and I told him low because unless I was out running on a dirt road, I was in low. He said as long as I trail rode in low and only used high on dirt roads/flat or fast, smooth trails, I'd probably never have a clutch issue. Granted, I still had the clutch update done and he still recommended I do it now rather than wait for problems down the road, especially since I was 3rd in line for the update...

He never would come out and say it, but I'm pretty sure he felt running it in high when it should've been in low was a contributing factor to the clutch issues people have.

 

[Rincon]

Like the responses above, I use "sport mode" or manual mostly............That's driving on logging roads in the Northern California Sierras. I only use low when getting tackling really steep terrain or rocks like on the Fordyce trail. (not saying I've done the trail in my Pioneer!)

 

[walexa07]

I run mine in high 98% of the time, letting the rpms stay low to keep engine noise down. I lug it up hills and such. Only time I ever use low is pulling something heavy, going through thick mud, or like Joey said - when I want/need the rpms to be up. I haven't had the clutch campaign performed and no issues with my clutch yet.

Waylan

 

[nerd]

He never would come out and say it, but I'm pretty sure he felt running it in high when it should've been in low was a contributing factor to the clutch issues people have.

Mine DID come out and say it - if you're going slow or pulling, it should be in low or you'll burn it up in no time.

Mine is in low 85% or more. I don't drive fast unless it's on the road, and then I run it in high. I read on here somewhere (and it seems to be good advice) to keep RPM's above 1800 for adequate (or minimum) cooling and clutch engagement. When I do ride trails I much prefer low in manual - as others have said. For where I live and what I do, this suits me.

Needless to say, responses vary so widely due to 1) terrain / geography, and 2) personal driving habits. I guess you could add beverage consumption and mental capacity as close followers, hahaha. Enjoy!