Customer Reviews

Shifting into 4WD: The SUV Owner's 4WD Handbook

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The book says it's for beginner to advanced, but I felt it was more beginner to intermediate. He does not cover using a winch at all, just tow hooks and straps/chains- sort of. If I got stuck in the back country and this book was the only reference I had, I might stay stuck. The author expects me to shell out an additional twenty-five dollars for Volume II which contains the recovery section along with more advanced techniques. I felt like an someone was telling me the first half of a set of directions. That's not helpful if the directions run out long before the job is done.

The book contains some tips that an advanced 4wheeler might use, but perhaps not enough of them to justify the cost of Volume I for an advanced user. Beginners might also become frustrated at the lack of sketches of some pieces of equipment that are listed as necessary. I got bogged down with the chatty, disordered style of information sharing. I had to take notes to sort out the decision trees, because I couldn't track them otherwise.

If you want a good description with lots of clear diagrams on how differentials and transfer cases work, this is a good book. If you want excellent information on airing down your tires for improved traction, this is the book to get. Other references quote this author on tire pressure.

This book contains a lot of good commonsense information for the new or experienced 4X4'er. The author covers many aspects of driving off-road in all kinds of terrain. There's also advice on emergency repairs and getting "unstuck."
However, once you start reading through the book,the author keeps referring to a mysterious "Volume 2" of this work for more detailed information. Volume 2 seems to be available only directly from the publisher for another $[money].
This seemed to be an unfair catch to an otherwise excellent book.

This is written by a colorful guy, who seems to have a lot of experience. It makes a good entertaining read, but the reality is that it comes up short with technical info. Probably the best part of the book is that there are good, if not excessive, equipment lists provided. These lists make me wonder how I ever got home with the junk I used to bring (some pliers, a flashlight, a can of beanieweenies...). The down sides, though, are numerous: There's a lot of ink wasted in the telling of stories where the lessons are fairly obvious. Much of the recommendations are based on personal experience, rather than actual data. The author's experience is restricted to Southern California and Mexico (hot, dry, sandy stuff). Other environments/terrain are glossed over so badly that they're useless (his treatment of snow, for example). The most dissapointing thing is that in an effort to cut down on the length, they decided to create "Volume II" which was never published. It leaves the reader feeling ripped off, because the more difficult and technical topics were moved there (e.g. winching). The book is entertaining to read, and I did learn a few things, but overall it's very basic. It's written for folks who bought an SUV, but have never been anywhere an ambitious driver couldn't go in a honda civic. If you don't understand what kind of differential your car has, this book's for you. If you think a winch might be in your future, then move along.

Harry Lewellyn's handbook will get you home (or at least back to the pavement) the next time you try one too many stream crossings while exploring the back country. The book is loaded with hundreds of practical tips and suggestions for safely operating a SUV off pavement. His wry sense of humor enables a sense of fun and the confidence to hit the road as soon as possible.

Lewellyn also presents an eloquent case for environmentally responsible behavior and trail etiquette for all users of off-highway roads and trails.

This is the best book I have ever read on the subject of driving vehicles off-road. Buy it. Try the excercises. If you do, you will be ready to leave the pavement with confidence.

I like this book a lot: it's packed with useful and practical advice. It's directed towards people who want to get the most out of their SUV. It is NOT aimed at people who plan to spend thousands of dollars building the ultimate rock-crawler rig. Lewellyn's advice is always sensible, with an emphasis on safe technique. I enjoy his light, clear writing style, and the illustrations are entertaining and informative. I like the way Lewellyn analyzes and demolishes "old husband's tales": widely-held but misguided views. My only complaint is that there are frequent references to "volume 2", which apparently hasn't been published yet. I'll buy it when it is.

I was sad to hear there is no vol 2. I wanted to get it for the bit about tires and other advice. Oh well. While I wish this was a more complete book, I can understand not going to the work for vol 2 if this didn't sell better. All I can say is if Vol 2 is ever published, I will be in line.

Love the cartoons and the humor, esp APF. (Buy the book to learn more about APF)

This book is very easy to read cover-to-cover. It is entertaining, and easy to understand. A couple of things got annoying. There are 4-5 pages of "How to pack a cooler" which will leave you wondering "why did i just read that?" and many many references about "Volume 2". Much of the information that i wanted from this book is apparently going to be published in volume 2. I will buy that one when it comes out.

Great little book, with top to bottom sound advice on how to select and use your SUV off road. Harry clearly explains, with the help of cartoons, how the cars work and how to and not to apply them in the field. Very practical advice from packing a cool box to preparing for emergencies and for once strongly recommending that the women get to drive. Some of the best 4x4 drivers I see are women by the way. I really liked the emphasis on safety and preserving the environment once you are out there. Follow the advice and you are almost guaranteed to get in and out safely. I guarantee you, you can use your car to visit some of the most beautiful country in the world and find some really peaceful places away from the daily stress. Best 4x4 book x far that I have found. Check out Bill Burkes getting unstuck video to see similarly good advice in action. Come on out and run around at 1-10 mph for the day, you'll be amazed. If I were a dealer I'd put one in the glove box of every car I sold.

Excellent book for learning as much as I could about the proper way to 4wheel so I wouldn't be late to dinner at Sara Palins for a Caribou steak.( Hope I don't break a tooth on one of the bullets she shot it with from her fifty shot clip and two seperate rifles. Guess we should be glad we don't have to depend on her for a meal every day. She'd deplete the worlds lead supply to nothing after a couple of hunting trips and maybe one or two Rudolph's and Dancer's. We'll be lucky if she doesn't shoot Santa with one of her many wild shots.

I picked this book up eight years ago. I was already an experienced off-roader with many miles of dirt and rocks under my belt, and curious. I had never believed in reading a book to learn something that practical experience could only teach you, but I was pleasantly surprised at how down to earth and straitforeword his information actually is.
Yes, a lot of his information is common sense to most of us with any off-road experience. However, if you have no experience, very little, or have only walked trails, then I say take this book home, read it, re-read it, meditate on it, do whatever you do but do not forget the teachings of the Silver Coyote.
His sense of humor alone will keep you interested in the subject, not just the practical applications of his methods.
From Olive-seeding rocks out of your way, to basic emergency repair, he knows his stuff. And any off-roader, regardless of experience, should at least tip their hat to this guy for sharing the knowledge that most of us refuse to share with any rookie. "Aw, let him figure it out." I hear most often, and most often it ends with the rookie feeling stupid with a mangled fender and never wanting to tread on dirt ever again.
This book will get any rookie four-wheeler feeling more confident, and better prepared for making the journey from pavement to dirt. Harry's figured out a no-nonsense, down-to-earth way to make off-roaders out of freeway jockeys, and it is most certainly worth a look. Even if you already know everything.