Snow Driving

[JD001]

Originally Posted by PenGun

My BRZ is not great in the snow, its so light.



But my Suzuki Samurai is lighter and I hardly ever put it in 4 wheel. Its quite different with big tires and not much air in em', as they are supposed to be. 20 lbs is the law with a Sammy.

I thought the Suzuki was always 4WD, low gear set when things got really tricky for the little thing..

[Jordanwolf]

Originally Posted by JD001

I thought the Suzuki was always 4WD, low gear set when things got really tricky for the little thing..

As far as I know, most if not all 4WD vehicles have the ability to turn off the 4WD and go to 2WD, unlike an AWD system.

[Sapphireho]

4wd and awd are two very different animals.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Jordanwolf

As far as I know, most if not all 4WD vehicles have the ability to turn off the 4WD and go to 2WD, unlike an AWD system.

That is indeed the definition of the difference between "4WD" and "AWD". Technically all AWD vehicles are 4WD but in order to market the difference they sort of split them.
I believe that the 4WD/AWD split was sort of established back in the day when to switch over your 4WD vehicle you had to stop, get out, lock on the front hubs and then get back in and drive. That process of course went away with the automatic or electronic systems but the definition stayed.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

4wd and awd are two very different animals.

How so? Both have 4 wheels that propel the vehicle.

[Sapphireho]

Traditional 4wd with transfer case, where front and rear axles are locked is only to be used on slick surfaces. There is no slip in the system and requires the slip of the ground. Driving them in 4wd on dry pavement will ruin them.

Awd systems have slip units between front and rear drives. Huge difference.

And auto locking hubs suck. They stick all the time, and are weaker than manual locking hubs. First thing serious 4x4 people do is swap to manual locking hubs.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

Traditional 4wd with transfer case, where front and rear axles are locked is only to be used on slick surfaces. There is no slip in the system and requires the slip of the ground. Driving them in 4wd on dry pavement will ruin them.

Awd systems have slip units between front and rear drives. Huge difference.

Then there's the in-between. My Suburban has 2WD, Auto 4WD, 4WD High and 4WD Low.

I've always found the Auto 4WD the best for the mess we get around Atlanta unless it's hop deep and I know I'm crawling.

[Jordanwolf]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Then there's the in-between. My Suburban has 2WD, Auto 4WD, 4WD High and 4WD Low.

I've always found the Auto 4WD the best for the mess we get around Atlanta unless it's hop deep and I know I'm crawling.

Well I'd assume the use of High and Low would be specific to when you happen to be in a bit of a pickle.. (stuck or something)

[JD001]

^^^^^ Glad we're all sorted on different drives ^^^^^

[RToyo86]

My old 5spd AWD Suzuki sx4 had a clutch based center diff for the AWD. It had a 2wd/auto and 4WD lock for sticky situations that would disengage at 30kmh or so.

That thing was a tank for what it was when you had good winter rubber on it. I plowed through snow that was at license plate level just below the headlights and it took it like a champ.



This car is no wear near as capable but beyond crazy snow storms of that caliber I managed just fine every day last season except for one.

The car dragged it self out of this mess with out much fuss. Some revs in reverse and about 20-30 seconds. Compared to a coworker with a genesis which spent 40 minutes to do the same.

[JD001]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

That is indeed the definition of the difference between "4WD" and "AWD". Technically all AWD vehicles are 4WD but in order to market the difference they sort of split them.
I believe that the 4WD/AWD split was sort of established back in the day when to switch over your 4WD vehicle you had to stop, get out, lock on the front hubs and then get back in and drive. That process of course went away with the automatic or electronic systems but the definition stayed.

I wonder if there was s big "hoo-ha' when manufacturers switched from manual to automatic drivetrain locking?? I can picture it now, manual 4WD with back window graphics warning other drivers that the car ahead of them is manual and therefore prone to erratic behaviour!!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Then there's the in-between. My Suburban has 2WD, Auto 4WD, 4WD High and 4WD Low.

I've always found the Auto 4WD the best for the mess we get around Atlanta unless it's hop deep and I know I'm crawling.

I think that most 4WD now have an auto setting.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I think that most 4WD now have an auto setting.

Yea, probably so. It wasn't when mine was built in '04. There are some trims that don't have the "auto" button.

[PenGun]

LOL. My 87 Sammy is a beast. It goes anywhere I'm brave enough to take it. One advantage real 4WD has is that the axles run slightly different ratios. Effectively the vehicle is pulled apart when in 4 wheel. Smooths out the rough stuff.


As it is extremely short, light, and has massive tires, for its size, at low pressure it seldom actually needs 4 wheel. We had pretty god snow last winter and it never saw 4 wheel, for snow, at all.