Remember, though, to engage them once a week for a few miles so as to engage the front drive shafts. This lubricates the top pivot inside the swivel housings by throwing up oil from the universal joints inside. If this is not done regularly, the pivots and bushes will start seizing up and you may wonder why your steering goes stiff.

You must engage the FWHs before going off-road because, if you forget, when dropping into low ratio all the torque goes straight to the back axle only and this has been known to break half shafts.

However, driving carefully while manoeuvring trailers on a hard level surface with the FWHs in the 4x2 'free' position you can reverse the trailer in a low ratio more slowly without the fear of getting 'wind-up'.

It is possible, though highly unlikely, that you may come across an early Land Rover fitted with Fairey automatic FWHs. Fine for on-road use, but dodgy for off-road use. The reason being, when descending a very steep hill in an overrun condition, they could disengage!

Finally, on the subject of selectable (part-time) transmission every Series I's had, in fact, permanent four-wheel driving utilising an overrun dog clutch system on the front of the transfer case to drive the front propshaft. You can always tell one of these vehicles, as it is the model with the chain coming up through the hole in the floor. The idea is to pull, or lift, the chain to engage four-wheel drive when reversing in muddy conditions!

Engaging low ratio

Just before driving into an off-road area, make sure you engage, if required, low ratio. Your transfer case gives you a completely extra set of lower gear ratios to enable you to tackle demanding off-road conditions as well as ensuring you keep your speed down to a minimum.

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(c)Goodwinch Limited 2006