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rv:awd [2022/02/17 19:59]
princess_fluffypants [What AWD is good for] |
rv:awd [2023/12/18 16:19]
princess_fluffypants [4WD Conversions] |
| 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. This provides smooth, //consistent// power to all wheels no matter what is going on with the other wheels. This makes it much easier to maintain control and critically //momentum// when in challenging conditions. | 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. This provides smooth, //consistent// power to all wheels no matter what is going on with the other wheels. This makes it much easier to maintain control and critically //momentum// when in challenging conditions. |
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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't have enough traction, and then apply the brake to that wheel which forces torque to be sent to the other wheels. [[https://youtu.be/3zTjeRRfGmU| This video by CampoVans]] is a good example of how the AWD system works. At various points you’ll see an off-the-ground wheel spin, then stop. Or a wheel on the ground spins and skids, then stops. That’s the computer applying the brake to just the spinning wheel, so the other wheel maintains traction. Also note that the van will back the power off without the driver changing their foot position on the accelerator, making the van lose momentum and being more likely to get stuck. | 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't have enough traction, and then apply the brake to that wheel which forces torque to be sent to the other wheels. [[https://youtu.be/3zTjeRRfGmU| This video by CampoVans]] is a good example of how the AWD system works. At various points you’ll see an off-the-ground wheel spin, then stop. Or a wheel on the ground spins and skids, then stops. That’s the computer applying the brake to just the spinning wheel, so the other wheel maintains traction. Also note that the van will back the power off without the driver changing their foot position on the accelerator, making the van lose momentum and being more likely to get stuck. |
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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 "hop" and lose momentum as the computer can't react quickly enough to abrupt changes in traction. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O3Wb_qCpEc|This video from Quigly]] (who makes true 4WD systems for vans) shows the difference. | The result is that while 4WD vehicles seem to glide smoothly through lose terrain and up hills, AWD vans tend to "hop" and lose momentum as the computer can't react quickly enough to abrupt changes in traction. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O3Wb_qCpEc|This video from Quigly]] (who makes true 4WD systems for vans) shows the difference. |
| 4-wheel-drive conversions are offered by [[https://quadvan.com/|Quadvan]] or [[https://www.quigley4x4.com|Quigley Vans]]. The Quigley 4WD system has been approved by Ford for the Transit, and if installed when new Ford will still honor the full factory warranty on all non-Quigley components of your van. | 4-wheel-drive conversions are offered by [[https://quadvan.com/|Quadvan]] or [[https://www.quigley4x4.com|Quigley Vans]]. The Quigley 4WD system has been approved by Ford for the Transit, and if installed when new Ford will still honor the full factory warranty on all non-Quigley components of your van. |
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| 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. |
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