BornFisher
Super Nomad
Posts: 2107
Registered: 1-11-2005
Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
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4 wheel drive van????
Is all wheel drive the same as 4 wheel drive? Does Dodge, Chevy or Ford make a standard cargo 4 wheel drive van? Just looking for a van that can get
me through some soft sand and over some sandy hills with some high clearance. Something I may be able to rework the inside into a nice, practical,
drive on the sand Baja camping van. Gracias!!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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It's kind of a play on words since 4WD is ALL the wheels, thus 'all wheel drive' (what International Harvester called their vehicles with 4WD)...
However, in TODAY's terminology 'All Wheel Drive' is applied to passenger cars that have full time four wheel drive for improved handling on slippery
pavement or snow, sand, etc. There is a middle or third differential that allows slippage between the front axle and rear (the front turns more than
the rear as those tires steer).
Jeep originated this in it's off highway vehicles with a system named QuadraTrac about 1973. Fuel issues had caused changes in the system offered to
switch from 'Part Time' (typical four wheel drive) to Full Time on demand, called 'Select Trac' or back to the original system. Then there was
'Command Trac' where you only use 4WD off the pavement, as there is no middle differential. The newer Part Time systems have self locking hubs... no
need to go out and lock and unlock them (locking hubs reduce un-necessary wear on the front end if most of your driving is in 2WD).
The one car company to offer the most models with All Wheel Drive is Subaru... who has a model called the 'Baja'!
Quigley is the only company authorized by Ford to install 4WD on new vans ... Here is a photo of a 2001 V-10 4WD Ford van...
This was the Viva Baja 4WD (15 passenger) van, at Alfonsina's, on its testing maiden Baja voyage with amigos from the Internet (Debra, El Camote,
Desert Rat, David Eidell, Miguelito Humfreville, & my kids included). 9-11 ended the tour business plans that the van was going to be put into
service for...
More photos at http://vivabaja.com/van1
[Edited on 9-27-2005 by David K]
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Excellent David. Also note that GM vehicles that have Auto 4WD (like my Z71 and Tahoe) should not be driven in that mode all the time. The local
service manager at GMC told me some people think you just leave in that mode and drive. He said it will damage the clutches in the transfer case. It
is ment for use in sand and ice and/or wet conditions where traction is transfered to the best axle.
[Edited on 9-27-2005 by TW]
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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Mood: mellow
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I have a Chevy Astro AWD it is in 2wd normaly when a wheel slips goes into AWD. This feature is only in the 99 and newer, they are very dependable and
economical. I have BFG AT's so far go on all beaches only had to air down once. Also its very roomy, In mine have bed, galley in back, portapotti for
wife. Bought mine off Ebay, good price, there's also a very helpful forum. If you have more questions u2u me.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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roverdude
Junior Nomad
Posts: 74
Registered: 10-1-2005
Location: Garden Grove
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Mood: No Bad Days, Mornings Maybe...
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Technically, to be 4 wheel drive you have to have a two speed transfer dase (high/low). Therefore, AWD has no 2 speed transfer case. Now, there are
multiple versions of 4WD. Full Time, Part Time, Permanent, etc...
John
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Intersting new definition, but that seems the case!
I used to drive Subaru 4WD wagons ('77.5, '80, '87) in the first two, there was a one speed transfer case (front wheel drive to four wheel drive)...
the last one had low range and a bigger motor....
Now, Subarus are AWD ('All Wheel Drive') instead of '4WD' (Four Wheel Drive) and don't have the low range anymore (big mistake). Perhaps why I drive
Toyotas now... plus the additional ground clearance in a Toyota is helpfull to get to those places I like to visit in Baja!
I really scarred the underside of my Subarus going up Matomi canyon and other places... like Gonzaga from Puertecitos in 1979 over the
grades/'sisters'!
Here's my 1977.5 Suby (temporarily) stuck in a rising Arroyo Matomi flash flood in December, 1978.
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