Smoother auto shifting in 4LO?

[GhostRing]

So this weekend I finally got to get some decent trail time in...
I have always driven 5MTs and would cruise around in 2nd gear/4LO.
In my current auto, keeping it in 2/4LO the vehicle kind of surges
between 1st and 2nd gear. Not harsh, but just...ungraceful I guess.

Is there a way to smooth out the shift? shift manually btw 1 & 2?
I know it sounds dumb, but I wish there was a way 2 was locked out
and wouldn't drop into 1st. (I know - shoulda stuck with a 5MT!)

Any tips on slushbox finesse?

 

[Dous]

Heh, image having a racetruck-esque tuned transmission. You want to talk about a nasty shift in 4-LO.

I always try to keep it in first, but sometimes by force of habit I end up i drive...it is truly neck snapping.

 

[benedict1337]

my 4runner does that as well. pretty sure its normal

 

[99 sr5 highlander]

Yep same here. Most of the time when I need to be in 4low I don't need the extra speed of 2nd gear. The t-case also starts whining when you get too much into second.

 

[Jon]

Stop using 4-lo on the trail! It's for crawling. I know it's annoying to have to stop and shift back and forth but in the end it's worth it.

 

[GhostRing]

Yeah, it's kind of that grey area where 1st 4HI doesn't provide enough torque, but 4LO is a slowpoke.

But it seems like that's the norm? That's comforting that at least it's not broken.
Around town everything is hunky-dory, I guess I have a ways to go feeling comfortable
with how the tranny reacts offroad. At least the elocker has its act together

 

[GhostRing]

Stop using 4-lo on the trail! It's for crawling. I know it's annoying to have to stop and shift back and forth but in the end it's worth it.

Where I was, 4LO was applicable. It would run away if I wasn't constantly on the brakes. Rocky, loose climbs up and down with 2 dogs and a rig full of
camping gear all over it. Unless I'm letting 5 speed habits follow me?