lower ratio low range ?

In these days of disc brakes and ABS, it is completely unnecessary unless you compete in rock crawling events .

In fact the Freelander has NO low range yet can go down hills quite well with its HDC which is just an automatic ABS and easily replicated by a good driver.
Going up might be another matter.LOL
Regards Philip A

Hi d200dug
You have not stated whether you have a petrol
diesel motor. This makes a great difference. Diesel motors have a lot more engine braking ability. petrol motors will tend to rev off the scale. You can buy reducton gears for auto's that will help a great deal

I know your feeling, the Hilux is the same. I just feather the brakes to stop too much momentum and I find it no problem. This is the only disadvantage of these auto boxes but find them superior to the manual box in all other aspects so happy to live with it.
The newer boxes have much better gearbox engine braking.

I know you can do a solenoid upgrade that will lock the box up but I have not found that to be necessary

Did that in my 4800 Patrol to make having an auto bearable.

I fitted 44% reduction gears in the transfer case and it really was a winning modification.

The gears tend to be straight cut and make a bit more noise than original Nissan ones however not a problem and noise only there in low range anyway.

Engine braking was transformed and matching my similar manual 4800 Patrol.

Car still can do 80 kmh in low range.

I,m on my 2nd auto patrol , GQs the early had to smaller brakes ,it got a very
ordinary pedal when hot . The 97 GQ has bigger pads an rotors , if you put
good quality pads in it never have an issue .
mechpete

I love the start difference between auto and manual. I have a manual diesel rodeo and if you put it in 1st low on a steep down hill you feel as if you are going backwards up it you go that slowly!