[susan3004]

Originally Posted by 4x4addict

so you only need to move the wheels a little while trying to engage the lock.

That little movement is also difficult/impossible at times!
And also, at times the free wheeling hub is full of mud stuck into it that more labour is required to accomplish the task.

But then, the best part with you is that you are already aware as to when you are going off road and you can engage them before hand.

[4x4addict]

I just did my first long trip after installing the free wheeling hubs. Put a full tank of gas in Bangalore and drove to chennai (350 kms). The last time I drove to chennai, I felt the jeep was straining to go beyond 80-85 kmps, but this time it seemed to be okay upto 90. Then again I don't know if the free wheeling hubs helped or it's just a figment of my imagination. I will top up the tank tomorrow to see if there was any improvement in FE. On my last highway trip from Kerala to Bangalore I averaged 11 km/l.

[SirAlec]

Originally Posted by pdev29

if possible please post the pic of it, i would definately go for this for my gypsy

All about FWH. with images.

Free Wheel Hubs

major disadvantage of manual locking hub is that when you need 4x4, you have to come out of the vehilcle and engage the front wheels. and you obviously won't be in favourable of situation if you need 4x4.

advantages are mileage (itna farak nai padta), less vibration & wear and tear, thoda improved top speed.

[aandu]

major disadvantage of manual locking hub is that when you need 4x4, you have to come out of the vehilcle and engage the front wheels. and you obviously won't be in favourable of situation if you need 4x4.

Absolutely right Sir Alec. When you know you are moving through rough terrain lock the hubs...We were once caught in a very similar situation.

We were on an early morning photography session on a customized MM Jeep (A 4x4 CJ500D). We spotted a lone male tusker. We were all very excited and went too close to the elephant. It gave us a charge and the next thing we knew the jeep was straining & skidding through the slushy jungle trail with the tusker about 10 feet behind the jeep. Fortunately after 60 or so meters it gave up.

We were all puzzled how the jeep did not grip well even with 4x4 engaged. The problem was the Jeep was fitted with a Mitsubishi Free wheeling hub and it was disconnected. Even though we engaged 4x4 gears, it was not engaged... Back then I thought all Jeeps came with Free-wheeling hubs.

[4x4addict]

I have a question?

What percentage of your driving do you do on road that can be driven by two wheel drive vehicles and what percentage of driving do you do when you will get chased by elephants over slippery roads? I still think in most situations you can remember to lock your hubs, especially if you going to snap pictures of tuskers in the wild.

My point is that if you do see the benefits of the hubs don"t worry about the elephant. If you drive most of the time where you require 4x4 then maybe it is not worth investing in them. I only need 4x4 when I go to the estates or when I go off-roading so I will remember to lock them.

[aandu]

But I am still planning to fit free wheeling hubs on my jeeps and my friends' jeeps... It is way too useful...

[aandu]

Called those guys a few times in the last couple of weeks. They said they have to manufacture a few more components to make a complete set...

[chandan]

I engage the hubs during monsoon,when chances of getting stuck are more.I do engage them & leave them on when I know I will have to do some steep inclines (like in Kodachadri Hills) & also before getting into forest ranges with mud roads(like in Kabini core area).As regards the FE,it does not make any difference at all in my Gypsy,just that I can hear a low intensity hum from the front wheels,while driving on tarmac.

[sat]

I just spoke to Mr Arun ( 93438 40011) at Lamda too purchase free wheeling hubs for lhd CJ3B, they asked me to get in touch with their dealer in Delhi

Mr B Kothari
Rajasthan Auto Distributor
1073/5 Bada Bazar
Kashmiri Gate
New Delhi - 6

tel - 0 98116 49210, 011 2392 2743, 2396 6191

vishnu.kothari(at)yahoo.co.in

Prices have gone up, Mr prasanna at lamda said the prices were 2500/-.
I was quoted by kothari 2750 + 150 courier charges to rajasthan.

Lamda also have free auto wheeling hubs for scorpio & gypsy. One can engage the hubs by pressing a button, I think the scorpio auto free wheeling hub cost 11,000/-

[susan3004]

Originally Posted by sat

I just spoke to Mr Arun ( 93438 40011) at Lamda too purchase free wheeling hubs for lhd CJ3B, they asked me to get in touch with their dealer in Delhi

Mr B Kothari
Rajasthan Auto Distributor
1073/5 Bada Bazar
Kashmiri Gate
New Delhi - 6

tel - 0 98116 49210, 011 2392 2743, 2396 6191

vishnu.kothari(at)yahoo.co.in

Prices have gone up, Mr prasanna at lamda said the prices were 2500/-.
I was quoted by kothari 2750 + 150 courier charges to rajasthan.

Lamda also have free auto wheeling hubs for scorpio & gypsy. One can engage the hubs by pressing a button, I think the scorpio auto free wheeling hub cost 11,000/-

Auto wheeling hubs sound as the correct answer to all the long discussion we have had.
Are these available with Mr Kothari? If yes, for which all vehicles?

[maddy42]

@4x4addict pictures please. You promised us of your free wheeling hubs

[SirAlec]

Originally Posted by sat

Prices have gone up, Mr prasanna at lamda said the prices were 2500/-.
I was quoted by kothari 2750 + 150 courier charges to rajasthan.

Lamda also have free auto wheeling hubs for scorpio & gypsy. One can engage the hubs by pressing a button, I think the scorpio auto free wheeling hub cost 11,000/-

Its available in jodhpur. will ask my friend tomorrow, he is still here with us.

[motocamp]

I dont know about everybody else but i am somehow not too convinced about free wheeling hubs.

I feel it aint worth the hassle, one more thing to worry about when offroading,lock it then unlock it.

I like things simple and my 4wd ready to go whenever i want it without having to get off the jeep.Trust me i'm not the lazy type

By the way anybody knows where i can pick up a hi lift jack in bombay??

[DKG]

Originally Posted by motocamp

I feel it aint worth the hassle, one more thing to worry about when offroading,lock it then unlock it.

You could explore getting self locking hubs like what my Landcruiser GXR had. Whenever I engaged 4wd they locked automatically. Once out of offroad terrain, all I needed to do after shifting into 2wd was stop, reverse a few meters, and move forward. You heard a clicking sound as the front hubs got unlocked. They are worth it as the 2wd with front drive train immobolised is much smoother on tarmac not to mention better fuel economy. That monster of a SUV gave me 6 kms to a litre on a 4.5 litre engine!

[GTO]

Originally Posted by motocamp

I feel it aint worth the hassle, one more thing to worry about when offroading,lock it then unlock it.

You don't have to lock / unlock any more than once per offroading session. Lock it at the start, irrespective of 2WD / 4WD patches, and unlock once you are on your way back home.