Tank 300 4L Mode: How to Engage Low Range Without Damaging the Drivetrain

To engage 4L on the GWM Tank 300, the engine must already be running, the vehicle must be at a complete standstill, and the shift lever must be in N before you turn the 4WD knob. The same conditions apply when exiting 4L. If no gear-shift delay prompt appears on the cluster, keep the vehicle stationary and in N until the switch completes. Moving the vehicle mid-switch can damage the transfer case. In 4L, keep vehicle speed below 40 km/h and avoid sharp turns.

What 4L actually does

Low range is not just another traction mode. It changes the mechanical gearing of the vehicle.

Selecting 4L raises the primary reduction ratio, which multiplies torque at the wheels while dropping road speed. The result is maximum pulling force at crawling pace, which is exactly what you need for steep climbs, technical descents and vehicle recovery.

It also unlocks five terrain sub-modes that are simply unavailable anywhere else in the Tank 300 system:

• 4L standard: steep slopes and vehicle rescue
• 4L mud and sand: muddy ruts, deep snow, soft sand and soil
• 4L rock: step and rock climbing, with automatic differential lock engagement
• 4L hilly: bumpy and slippery hill country, dirt and rock roads
• 4L pothole: cross-axle situations where wheels lift clear of the ground

If you have never used these, it is usually because the terrain knob was turned before 4L was selected. The knob does nothing until low range is engaged.

The engagement procedure, step by step

1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Not slow. Stopped.
2. Keep the engine running. The power supply in ON mode alone is not enough for this switch.
3. Move the shift lever to N.
4. Turn the 4WD knob to 4L. The corresponding indicator light illuminates.
5. Wait for the indicator to become steady. A flashing indicator means switching is still in progress.
6. Only then select your terrain mode with the all-terrain knob.

A mechanical clunk and a slight jolt during the change is normal. It is the transfer case gears meshing, not a fault.

When the cluster asks you to move the vehicle

Sometimes the gears will not align and the 4WD indicator on the knob flashes continuously while the instrument panel prompts you to move the vehicle. This is a 4WD gear shift delay.

The correct response is to drive straight ahead below 5 km/h and move the vehicle slightly so the gears can engage. Do not turn the steering, do not accelerate, and do not force the knob.

The dangerous scenario is the opposite one. If there is no delay prompt at all when entering or exiting 4L, the vehicle must stay stationary and in N until switching finishes. Rolling forward during that window is the single most reliable way to damage a transfer case on this vehicle.

Comparison table: 4H against 4L

What switches off automatically in 4L

This catches people out, so treat it as part of the mode.

• Electronic stability control is off by default in both 4H and 4L. There is no electronic safety net catching a slide.
• The intelligent start-stop system is disabled.
• Hill descent control turns on automatically if you shift into manual mode while in 4L. Leave it on. It brakes the vehicle to hold a steady descent speed, and it is doing work you would otherwise do badly with your right foot.

HDC is an aid, not a guarantee. On a very steep slope it may not be able to hold a constant speed, and you will need the brake pedal. It also switches itself off above 60 km/h.

Differential locks: the 4L-only layer

The rear axle electric differential lock works in any mode, but the front axle lock has a hard requirement: the vehicle must be in 4L.

Front locker conditions, all of which must be met:

• Vehicle speed below 5 km/h
• Rear axle differential lock already locked
• Drive mode in 4L
• Left and right wheel speed difference below 50 rpm

There is also a shortcut worth knowing. Selecting 4L rock mode locks the rear differential automatically by linkage, provided the locking conditions are met. Switching away from rock mode unlocks it again. One important difference: a linkage-locked rear differential will not automatically unlock on overspeed the way a manually locked one does at 40 km/h.

With any locker engaged, avoid large steering angles. Emergency turning with a locked differential seriously affects stability and can damage components.

Common mistakes Tank 300 owners make with 4L

• Selecting 4L while rolling. The most expensive mistake on this list, and the easiest to avoid.
• Leaving the lever in D and turning the knob anyway. Without N, the switch will not complete properly.
• Using 4L on sealed roads or concrete. High-grip surfaces plus locked drivetrain equals driveline wind-up, tyre wear and noise. The manual prohibits 4H and 4L on high-adhesion surfaces.
• Exceeding 40 km/h in low range. An alarm will trigger and components can be damaged.
• Sharp turns in 4L. Add a locked differential and the risk multiplies.
• Forgetting to disengage the locker after recovery. Differential locks are for getting out of trouble and should be deactivated the moment you are out.
• Switching modes while the rear wheels are skidding on ice or snow. Never do this.
• Mismatched tyres. If four matching tyres cannot be guaranteed, including after fitting a non-full-size spare, the vehicle must be driven in 2H and the tyre replaced within 50 km.
• Jacking the vehicle in 4H or 4L and then turning the wheels. The vehicle can drive itself off the jack.
• Tug-of-war and wheel-spin flying. Prolonged abnormal use like this damages driveline components and shortens vehicle life.

Build the vehicle around where low range takes you

Low range is where the Tank 300 goes furthest from a workshop, which is exactly why the hardware underneath it matters. Rock and pothole work puts sumps, transfer cases and fuel tanks directly in the firing line. Mud and sand work puts pressure on recovery points, breathers and tyre pressure control.

At GWM Accessories we supply aftermarket protection and recovery gear chosen around how Tank 300 owners actually use low range, from underbody and transmission skid plates to rated recovery hardware, diff breathers and tyre deflators. Browse the full range at gwmaccessories.store.