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Dana 20 with twin sticks - best practice guide

Wolverine

Jr. Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2017
Messages
101
Last year I changed out the Dana 20 j-shift for twin sticks. As advertised, makes shifting much easier. Thanks JB fabricating. What I am searching for is a guide for best D20 selection (high, low, front, rear drive shafts) on various terrains. Sand, paths, hills, mud, rock, uphill, downhill, etc... I've searched everywhere and can't locate a 'best practice' for different environments. With the twin stick increased selection of 'gearing' (8 'gear' choices?) I would think someone created a guide.

Example; I am planning on a trip to silver lake dunes (MI) in August. I haven't been there in 30 years, but if I recall you start at a sand hill with steep climb (need speed/rpm) to gain access to the dunes, then flatten out at places, more climbing at other. My LUBR (3" lift) doesn't see much 4-wheeling but I'd like to do more than just put it in 4h or 4L if there are better combinations. Anyone see a twin sticks best practices guide?
 

brewchief

Sr. Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2007
Messages
872
For the sand dunes it will depend on your motor, transmission and axle gearing, I normaly run 4l and use 3 and 4th gear on my np435, if I'm in 4h I end up in 2nd and 3rd and the gear split isn't great for my combo. Coming off the dunes I will simply take the front axle out of gear if I'm in low or high.

This will change for me this year as I am in the middle of a transmission swap to a C-6/205 combo, it should end up a lot better but I really don't know if I'll end up using high or low range most of the time, I will sometimes play around in 2lo but it's easier to get stuck that way, I run paddles on the rear so it isn't normally a problem for me.

What I'm saying is there is really no hard set rules as to when you should use different ranges.

Sent from my SM-T510 using Tapatalk
 

sanndmann3

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Messages
1,790
I have 4R70W/NP205 combo and 2nd & 3rd gear in low range are what I usually run. Trans temps get out of hand if I run high range. run around mostly in 3rd gear and if I start slowing just dump it in 2nd to get the revs back up...
 

garberz

Bronco Influencer
Joined
Jun 24, 2007
Messages
6,861
Loc.
Conejo Valley, Ca.
I never use 4 hi. I don’t have the HP to pull it off, especially in the sand. Everything else that I run, the auto trans will overheat very quickly running in 4hi. So for me, 99% of the time I’m in 4wd, it’s 4 low. And don’t get in the practice of using 2 low, it’s a huge strain on the drivetrain. The narrow width gears in the Dana 20 weren’t designed for it.

Mark
 

Bajabrewer

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jan 28, 2012
Messages
1,559
What you use will depend somewhat on conditions & what the weather has been. Hot and dry for a while & the sand gets soft & deep, If it's rained recently it will pack easier & provide more traction. My best practice is to try it & see - Different days different gear combos.
 

sanndmann3

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Messages
1,790
Another thing to consider when playing in the sand is tire pressure. lower is better. Get a bigger footprint for flotation...
I'd start at 10-12 psi and see how it goes.
 
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