winton wrote:would I be better off keeping it in low range 4x4 and in first gear? OK someone just wrote about 2nd. Thats good to know.
As a rule of thumb low-range second is almost always best.
You want to maintain a bit of momentum going in, and LR first is too slow. LR second makes for a good speed while still having plenty of torque.
You'd only want to use LR first if you were going over significant obstacles in the water, but it doesn't sound like that's on the cards for you.
winton wrote:Is it a good idea to put car in reverse if you decide not to go any further?
Ideally, you want to avoid changing gear while in water.
Determine your path, pick one gear for the job and complete the crossing in a single push.
The risk when changing gear mid crossing is water getting into flywheel/clutch, causing it to slip, and then you're going nowhere. You won't be able to get it to bite again while submerged and will need to be recovered and left to dry before you go anywhere. This isn't an everyday occurrence, but it can happen.
Obviously, common sense should prevail though. If the choice is between driving forward into a watery abyss or changing into reverse, then yeah, change into reverse