At lunch, I went for a little drive on the snow covered streets around where I work.
I started out in 2wd. Backing up and turning at the same time was the shattz. Turning to get out of the parking lot was the shattz. Trying to keep the truck going in a straight line while travelling down the road was the shattz (give it a little gas and the rear end kept wanting to go squirley ie.. rear tires would break traction).
I pushed the 4x4 hi button on my console and it was like night and day. It was like my truck was glued to the road. HUGE DIFFERENCE.
I never said locked axle, I said locked front to rear. Of course they're open in the front and rear (assuming you don't have a locker installed).
However, the front left and rear left do not always spin the same speed! Don't believe me? Drive your truck in circles on the snow, do you make 2 tracks or 4? Obviously this is more pronounced in tight corners but at high speeds your tires are rotating much faster and it only takes a split second of lost traction to lose control of the vehicle.
If 4x4 was better in slippery conditions why do rally cars run AWD systems?
A number of reasons I suspect... number one being that 4x4 systems generally are not available in cars. Also, I suspect you may be able to drift around corners much easier in an awd than in a 4x4. Corner drifting is very important in rally racing. Also a 4x4 system probably is a lot heavier (transfer case weight and all that) than an awd system. Racing teams tend to like to keep their vehicle weight as low as possible.
Your transfer case is probably not happy with that.
Some of the worst 4x4 repairs I have ever seen came from people thinking they would save the 4x4 and never engage it. Like anything else, without use the shat seizes up.
My transfer case would be more unhappy that my tires arent the same tread depth all the way around. Plus I fail to see how using it infrequently affects it. At highway speeds you shouldnt be driving in 4x4 above 100km/h.
A number of reasons I suspect... number one being that 4x4 systems generally are not available in cars. Also, I suspect you may be able to drift around corners much easier in an awd than in a 4x4. Corner drifting is very important in rally racing. Also a 4x4 system probably is a lot heavier (transfer case weight and all that) than an awd system. Racing teams tend to like to keep their vehicle weight as low as possible.
AWD car's have transfer cases too...
Lets clear up another misconception...
"Full Time" 4x4 = Open centre differential = AWD
"Part Time" 4x4 = Locked centre differential
A number of reasons I suspect... number one being that 4x4 systems generally are not available in cars. Also, I suspect you may be able to drift around corners much easier in an awd than in a 4x4. Corner drifting is very important in rally racing. Also a 4x4 system probably is a lot heavier (transfer case weight and all that) than an awd system. Racing teams tend to like to keep their vehicle weight as low as possible.
Lots of AWD systems are crap. If you're running one with a Torsen centre diff or a newer HALDEX centre diff, you have a huge advantage over a 4x4 system at higher speeds in slippery conditions. You can transfer power front to back.
With a Torsen diff, the transfer happens even before a wheel slips, as it can sense the loss of torque. If your rear axel has more traction, power gets diverted to the rear and prevents the front from slipping. Same with the reverse.
With a 4x4 system you'll still have 50% of your power going to the slipping axel.
I've gotten to my destination safely everyday since I was 16, regardless of weather. It doesn't matter what type of vehicle you drive, driving safely, and cautiously will always trump the inflated sense of safety you get from your vehicle and it's size/features.
In fact I would attribute that false sense of security from people who drive big trucks to the generally unsafe, and boneheaded behavior they use on the road.
The Following User Says Thank You to J pold For This Useful Post:
I've gotten to my destination safely everyday since I was 16, regardless of weather. It doesn't matter what type of vehicle you drive, driving safely, and cautiously will always trump the inflated sense of safety you get from your vehicle and it's size/features.
In fact I would attribute that false sense of security from people who drive big trucks to the generally unsafe, and boneheaded behavior they use on the road.
Eff that. AWD and snow tires and I'm spitting snow on the hoods of chumps like you when I'm taking off from a set of lights all day.
Chicks get so turned on when you can do the speed limit regardless of weather conditions, I barely have time to drive my car I'm closing so many deals.
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Bill Bumface For This Useful Post:
The last two days, I start up my truck, punch it into 4x4 HI and then off I go to work. Today, with all the snow we got last night and what with the road conditions, I was particularly happy. Nothing beats having power to all four wheels. No more trying to get traction at lights or stop signs, good traction when going around corners or curves, good stability when travelling and you hit a snow drift or a patch of ice. Nothing beats it, IMO.
4x4 Rules!
My Durango loves days like this. Came across a guy on a back country highway in a half-ton this morning crawling along at 50 kmh before passing and resuming the 100 kmh I had been doing.
On ice leading into an intersection, however, something as heavy as a Durango is like a giant curling rock . . . . it can slide a long ways, 4 wheel drive or not.
Pluses and minuses.
Can't wait for that first big, big snowfall on our lonely country road so I can beat the neighbours out in the morning and have a big bow wave going.
Cowperson
__________________
Dear Lord, help me to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am. - Anonymous
On ice leading into an intersection, however, something as heavy as a Durango is like a giant curling rock . . . . it can slide a long ways, 4 wheel drive or not.
4 wheel drive is for driving 4 wheel winter tires are for stopping.
The Following User Says Thank You to Bill Bumface For This Useful Post:
__________________ https://www.reddit.com/r/CalgaryFlames/
I’m always amazed these sportscasters and announcers can call the game with McDavid’s **** in their mouths all the time.
i too love the 4x4, my sierra & wrangler silent armor tires make quick work of snow, ice, and getting around if it does get a little slick.
my only hope is that other people, namely 'city' poeple, realize that 4x4 does not mean invincible, i once met a girl who thought 4x4 meant she could stop FASTER....somehow....its a great tool to use in places where traction is an issue, its a great tool to help you avoid things that may pop up on icy roads, but it doesn't make you a bullet proof driver.
I should also be loving the traction control, but in fact I hate it. Because of it, I can't do 180s to turn around quick. And that's the best part of RWD.
What the hell do you drive? My TC is a G80 locker, I park by whipping a 180 and sliding smoothly into a spot...chev 3/ton diesel
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackAce
Then you would REALLY like a Subaru with winter tires on... I think it's unstoppable actually
scoooby-doo's are fun...but it's like cheating...get and old volvo and swap in a dana 30 tru-trac, add some skinny studded tires, now we're talking!!!
My truck makes me want to move out to Loxahatchee.
In any case it will come in handy during our rainy season when the roads flood out. My car just stalls out, I came very close to ruining the engine more than once.
I drove both of my Subarus today, they were little monsters on that snow. I have no doubts I could have beaten any 4X4 in any sort of race today. 2WD cars had no chance, but they are all good as long as you are driving carefully. Unfortunately, those same foolish drivers were out today doing all those stupid things. Escalades inventing dual turns, tailgating, merging in around the car in front of them, and even slowly creeping through an intersection while bumper to bumper so they block off the entire intersection. This was all common today and will be again when it is nice out.
