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rv:awd [2022/01/25 17:43] princess_fluffypants [What AWD is good for] |
rv:awd [2023/12/18 16:19] princess_fluffypants [4WD Conversions] |
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Billions of dollars worth of marketing has firmly lodged into the brain of many a vehicle buyer that they //need// All-Wheel-Drive or else they will instantly pirouette off the road to their death at the slightest hint of snow, or that they' | Billions of dollars worth of marketing has firmly lodged into the brain of many a vehicle buyer that they //need// All-Wheel-Drive or else they will instantly pirouette off the road to their death at the slightest hint of snow, or that they' | ||
- | Reality is somewhat different. While AWD has it's uses, the capabilities are vastly over-blown and over-sold. **AWD has very limited usefulness in rough or uneven terrain**, and should not be relied upon to significantly extend the capabilities of your van into these areas. However AWD can mostly be left on at all times, is very user-friendly and forgiving of mistakes. | + | Reality is somewhat different. While AWD has it's uses, the capabilities are vastly over-blown and over-sold. **AWD has very limited usefulness in rough or uneven terrain**, and should not be relied upon to significantly extend the capabilities of your van into these areas. However AWD can mostly be left on at all times, |
- | For a great many people, especially people hoping to use their van off pavement, a RWD van with an aftermarket locking rear differential will provide more capabilities when off pavement than the factory AWD system. | + | For a great many people, especially people hoping to use their van off pavement, a RWD van with an aftermarket |
Neither are substitutes for an actual 4-wheel-drive system, which are offered by aftermarket upfitters. | Neither are substitutes for an actual 4-wheel-drive system, which are offered by aftermarket upfitters. | ||
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- | ===== 4WD vs AWD ===== | ||
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- | A 4-wheel-drive system mechanically locks the front and rear axles together, and the left and right wheels together if engaged with differential locks. | ||
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- | AWD systems such as used on the Transit and the Sprinter don't have mechanical locks between the axles and wheels. Instead they use computerized controls to detect when a wheel is spinning and doesn' | ||
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- | The result is that while 4WD vehicles seem to glide smoothly through lose terrain and up hills, AWD vans tend to " | ||
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===== What AWD is good for ===== | ===== What AWD is good for ===== | ||
- | Daily driving and helping to accelerate on short sections of slippery, flat surfaces. Think of moderately plowed snowy streets, or pavement covered in wet leaves, or well graded gravel roads with short sections of loose surface. The sort of conditions that you might reasonably expect | + | Daily driving and helping to accelerate on short sections of slippery, flat surfaces. Think of moderately plowed snowy streets, or pavement covered in wet leaves, or well graded gravel roads with short sections of loose surface. The sort of conditions that you might reasonably expect daily driving in most situations. |
- | It's also good for drivers who have limited mechanical interest don't want to worry about how it works. AWD is pretty forgiving, while mistakes in application of a 4WD system will lead to immediate and catastrophic failures (And not failures like "a warning light came on", but failures like " | + | It's also good for drivers who have limited mechanical interest don't want to worry about how it works. AWD is pretty forgiving, while mistakes in application of a 4WD system will lead to immediate and catastrophic failures (And not failures like "a warning light came on", but failures like " |
===== What AWD is NOT good for ===== | ===== What AWD is NOT good for ===== | ||
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Locking differentials can typically be installed into most RWD vans for $2-$3,000. | Locking differentials can typically be installed into most RWD vans for $2-$3,000. | ||
- | ===== 4-wheel-drive ===== | + | ===== 4WD vs AWD ===== |
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+ | A 4-wheel-drive | ||
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+ | AWD systems such as used on the Transit and the Sprinter don't have mechanical locks between the axles and wheels. Instead they use limited slip differentials and computerized controls to detect when a wheel is spinning and doesn' | ||
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+ | The result is that while 4WD vehicles seem to glide smoothly through lose terrain and up hills, AWD vans tend to " | ||
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+ | ===== 4WD Conversions | ||
4-wheel-drive conversions are offered by [[https:// | 4-wheel-drive conversions are offered by [[https:// | ||
- | Expect to pay ~$15,000 to have a stock van converted to 4-wheel-drive. | + | Expect to pay $15,000-$25,000 to have a stock van converted to 4-wheel-drive. |