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What I saw was that only the left front wheel and left rear wheel were turning.
I should have said the right front wheel. Just to understand it, why can't you have ALL wheels drive at the same time regardless of traction, at least in an emergency?
When I used to do on-site computer service, my 4WD on demand SUV came in very handy on several occasions in the winter. One time, I had to go to a house with a huge, steep driveway up the side of a hill, right after a big snow. I actually made it (and was given a tip at the end of my work out of appreciation I made the effort to show up in those conditions).
If you live in California or something, then no .... you don't need it unless you're going to be off-roading. But where there's risk of snow and ice, it's beneficial, IMO.
The big problem, though, is educating people that 4WD won't help you STOP any quicker. The only thing that helps there are having the best tires possible for the conditions.
I should have said the right front wheel. Just to understand it, why can't you have ALL wheels drive at the same time regardless of traction, at least in an emergency?
You would need three locking differentials and because of cost, most vehicles have open diffs up front and in the rear. A few will have a locker in the rear like GM Z-71's equipped with the Eaton.
A Hummer H1 can lock front and rear axles and send all its power to one wheel if necessary.
I should have said the right front wheel. Just to understand it, why can't you have ALL wheels drive at the same time regardless of traction, at least in an emergency?
My Rogue I believe has this feature (4WD interlock) It's just for brief periods of time where you need all 4 wheels to spin or pull. I believe the computer kicks it out when you get above a certain speed or rpm.
The reason you can't have 4 wheels locked in at all time is you need differential for steering.
When my car is in AWD mode, when it senses a wheel slip the computer automatically shifts the torque to another wheel and rotates the traction around. There is also a button I can push to disable that. I've never tried it.
Perhaps mentioned earlier in the thread but 4WD preferred for towing a trailer? Applicable to warm weather seats as in Florida where folks trailer large boats to/from.
At least one of our cars has had four wheel drive, and that will always be the case.
We used to have a Silverado 4x4 that was a fantastic, dependable vehicle for us, but we've recently traded that for a Subaru Outback that we love. 30 mpg and all wheel traction is a great combo for us.
I used the four wheel drive of the Silverado frequently - especially the "auto track" setting that locks the transfer case and engages the front hubs only when needed. That was a great feature. I honestly only used the 4wd "low" setting two or three times, and they always involved pulling heavy objects very short distances.
My new Outback does not have a low range, and I don't really miss having it.
I should have said the right front wheel. Just to understand it, why can't you have ALL wheels drive at the same time regardless of traction, at least in an emergency?
As noted, most 4WD's and AWD's have "open" differentials. Limited slip or locking differentials are often an option on the rear axle on "conventional" 4WD's--conventional meaning a 4WD that operates in RWD on dry roads, with 4WD reserved for off-roading and low traction driving conditions. Limited slip and locking differentials can actually be problematic on a front axle because, when locked or activated, they can cause the vehicle to tend to push straight ahead, even if the front wheels are turned. On the rear axle, though, limited slip or locking rear differentials make a huge difference. My "beater" 4WD has an open front differential and Detroit Locker rear axle. The difference? I can drive in 2WD with less slippage than most open differential 4WD's engaged in 4WD. When I'm in 4WD, I have almost no slippage unless the road condition is truly abysmal.
Many of today's AWD's are front-wheel drive cars that have the ability to engage the rear wheels in low-traction situations. One exception is the Subaru line--which actually is a "full-time" AWD system. In later model AWD's and many 4WD's, traction control systems and electronic stability control programs increasingly are supplanting limited slip and locking rear differentials. TCS and ESC sense wheel slippage and modulate the brakes on the slipping wheel to reduce slippage. Their effectiveness varies and many "old school" 4-wheelers still prefer the mechanical limited slip or locking differentials. In my case, I have not owned a 4WD for going on 20 years that did not have either a limited slip or locking rear differential either factory-equipped or added by me.
One of the reasons that the newer model Subies are so popular is that they sport the combination of symmetrical AWD and ESC systems that effectively will deliver traction to all 4 wheels in very slippery conditions. The video below obviously is Subaru propaganda, but the results pretty much mirror what I've seen out in the field with Subies vs. other makes of AWD's.
This past winter I couldnt thank my AWD vehicle enough. My fiance's company where she works is on a very steep incline. There were numerous days where had it not been for our awd vehicle, she would had been at the bottom of that hill spinning her tires with the numerous other non awd vehicles that couldnt make it up the steep incline due to all the ice and snow.
Last edited by louie0406; 09-08-2014 at 01:17 PM..
Front wheel drive with snow tires has never let me down! The biggest snow storms of last winter I left the lifted Jeep with snow tires sitting and used the front wheel drive car.
The biggest problem with AWD I see is people don't feel the need to equip them with snow tires. Then they slide into people when trying to stop. Sure - it helps you go, but it doesn't help stop; it won't overcome the laws of physics.
I'm sure I'll buy an AWD vehicle at some point and when I do it will be equipped with snow tires.
I live on a hill. I love watching people with their AWD vehicles with bald tires try to get up and down the hill and get stuck. Then I just mosey on by them in my front wheel drive car.
Here in Montana 4x4 and AWD are about half the vehicles. You can hardly give away a 2 wheel drive pickup. I bought one used that looked like new 4 years old, for half the market value at a new car dealer as no one wanted it. I bought it as I only need it to take trash to the dump, and occasionally take it shopping 50 miles away to haul things home. Only drive it on highway driving in good weather which is most of the time.
The Explorer is what we drive in the winter weather, and never have a problem. Have had a 4 wheel available to use in bad weather for 40 years.
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