If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
AWD vs 4WD?
Hi All,
Can anyone give me a functional difference between "All Wheel Drive" and "Four Wheel Drive", other than AWD won't ruin your drive train on a smooth road? How will AWD do on a dirt road with a fishing hole at its end? (I asked the service dept at my Mitsubishi dealer and got "They are on all the time". In other words, they are not saying.) Many thanks, -T |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
AWD vs 4WD?
ToddAndMargo wrote:
> Hi All, > > Can anyone give me a functional difference between > "All Wheel Drive" and "Four Wheel Drive", other than AWD > won't ruin your drive train on a smooth road? How will > AWD do on a dirt road with a fishing hole at its > end? (I asked the service dept at my Mitsubishi > dealer and got "They are on all the time". In other > words, they are not saying.) There are all types of AWD. Generally 4WD is used to mean vehicles with part time 4wd where you wouldnt want to use it on anything but very slippery surfaces and dirt roads don't count. These vehicles with also have a transfer case with a low and high range. There ARE 4wd vehicles that are AWD and come with a transfer case. For that you need a limited slip or other means to allow the front and rear axles to not quite turn at the same speed without burning out or blowing up your drive train. With few exceptions, the true offroaders in this class will also have two speed transfer cases. Most will also have at least limited slip on the rear axle and limited slip in the transfer case... Those tend to be very nice for higher speed highway driving where you might also run into really slippery stuff occasionally, as they always have at least some drive on all four wheels. Kinda like an Audi. Some also have locking transfer cases and/or axles standard, some as aftermarket addons. Those tend to be for serious bad trails. Ground clearance is as important as any of this. An old Citroen jacked up can go most places anything but a hardcore 4x4 will. Oh, and water tightness might be a factor if you fail to stop before you hit that fishing hole. You can buy snorkel kits if you must do your fishing in drive thru mode. Some of the better crossovers can also do much of what you are looking for, and may have a better ride quality. Or you could invest in the lottery and when you win, buy a Range Rover Turbo HSE or a Turbo Cayenne or a Mercedes G-Wagen and tour the highways in excess of 150 mph, yet still be able to jump sand dunes off road. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
AWD vs 4WD?
ToddAndMargo wrote:
> Hi All, > > Can anyone give me a functional difference between > "All Wheel Drive" and "Four Wheel Drive", other than AWD > won't ruin your drive train on a smooth road? How will > AWD do on a dirt road with a fishing hole at its > end? (I asked the service dept at my Mitsubishi > dealer and got "They are on all the time". In other > words, they are not saying.) > > Many thanks, > -T Try here for some background info: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_th..._4WD_vehi cle bear in mind that most AWD vehicles are not really meant to be "off-road" vehicles, due mostly to ground clearance issues. Also AWD was developed from race cars where it helps get power to the road for high-speed cornering 4WD or 4x4 was of course created for serious off-road use |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
AWD vs 4WD?
Reed wrote:
> ToddAndMargo wrote: >> Hi All, >> >> Can anyone give me a functional difference between >> "All Wheel Drive" and "Four Wheel Drive", other than AWD >> won't ruin your drive train on a smooth road? How will >> AWD do on a dirt road with a fishing hole at its >> end? (I asked the service dept at my Mitsubishi >> dealer and got "They are on all the time". In other >> words, they are not saying.) >> >> Many thanks, >> -T > > Try here for some background info: > > http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_th..._4WD_vehi cle > > > bear in mind that most AWD vehicles are not really meant to be > "off-road" vehicles, due mostly to ground clearance issues. > > Also AWD was developed from race cars where it helps get power to the > road for high-speed cornering > > 4WD or 4x4 was of course created for serious off-road use Okay, so no (really) low gears. And dirt roads ability have more to do with clearance that drive train. AWD corners nicer than 2WD. Now I understand. Thank you! -T |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
AWD vs 4WD?
Lon wrote:
> ToddAndMargo wrote: >> Hi All, >> >> Can anyone give me a functional difference between >> "All Wheel Drive" and "Four Wheel Drive", other than AWD >> won't ruin your drive train on a smooth road? How will >> AWD do on a dirt road with a fishing hole at its >> end? (I asked the service dept at my Mitsubishi >> dealer and got "They are on all the time". In other >> words, they are not saying.) > > There are all types of AWD. > > Generally 4WD is used to mean vehicles with part time 4wd where you > wouldnt want to use it on anything but very slippery surfaces and dirt > roads don't count. These vehicles with also have a transfer case with > a low and high range. > > There ARE 4wd vehicles that are AWD and come with a transfer case. For > that you need a limited slip or other means to allow the front and rear > axles to not quite turn at the same speed without burning out or blowing > up your drive train. With few exceptions, the true offroaders in this > class will also have two speed transfer cases. Most will also have at > least limited slip on the rear axle and limited slip in the transfer > case... Those tend to be very nice for higher speed highway driving > where you might also run into really slippery stuff occasionally, as > they always have at least some drive on all four wheels. Kinda like an > Audi. Some also have locking transfer cases and/or axles standard, some > as aftermarket addons. Those tend to be for serious bad trails. > > Ground clearance is as important as any of this. An old Citroen jacked > up can go most places anything but a hardcore 4x4 will. > > Oh, and water tightness might be a factor if you fail to stop before you > hit that fishing hole. You can buy snorkel kits if you must do your > fishing in drive thru mode. > > Some of the better crossovers can also do much of what you are looking > for, and may have a better ride quality. > > Or you could invest in the lottery and when you win, buy a Range Rover > Turbo HSE or a Turbo Cayenne or a Mercedes G-Wagen and tour the highways > in excess of 150 mph, yet still be able to jump sand dunes off road. Thank you! -T |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
AWD vs 4WD?
Hi Todd !
> Okay, so no (really) low gears. And dirt roads ability have more to > do with clearance that drive train. AWD corners nicer than > 2WD. Now I understand. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOkbPxGa14o This video may illustrate this (cornering) for you. Kind Regards -- Med venlig hilsen René Løweneck http://www.loweneck.dk/rene/default.asp?PG=51 Land Rover Discovery II TD5 - The best 4x4xfar |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
AWD vs 4WD?
René Løweneck wrote:
> Hi Todd ! > >> Okay, so no (really) low gears. And dirt roads ability have more to >> do with clearance that drive train. AWD corners nicer than >> 2WD. Now I understand. > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOkbPxGa14o > > This video may illustrate this (cornering) for you. > > > Kind Regards > Wow! Thank you. -T |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|