Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
In corners 4WD & AWD absolutely help you out in bad weather. BIG TIME! It is not even a contest with a 2WD vehicle. As the guy above said you have 4 wheels that are powered so if the rear slips the front can pull you back.
Now you're cherry picking.
We are talking about
most people, who have no idea what they're doing. If you don't know how and when to use the gas in an AWD car, it's useless.
Clearly you know what you're doing in the snow, so this argument does not apply to you. I'm glad you're happy with a 4WD vehicle.
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Even in braking 4WD does help.
Not if you're traction limited, which is 99% of the time in the snow.
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Try doing a coasting stop sometime in a 4WD vehicle from 30 MPH. Do it in 2WD and then switch over to 4H and do it again. Just let off the gas and don't touch the brakes. See how much shorter you come to a stop with 4WD engaged.
Why would I do that? I don't brake with my engine. I brake with my brakes, and I'm pretty sure most people do as well.
Besides, you're talking about a truck. Trucks are VERY front-heavy. Of course they work better in 4WD. No one ever said they wouldn't, and no one in their right mind ever would.
When we talk about RWD vehicles, we are talking about RWD, period. No transfer case, no front axle. Less weight, better weight distribution, and usually a lower center of gravity. BIG difference between that and a truck in 2WD mode.
I am not cherry picking in the least. I am merely pointing out where your comments are wrong. If you are going to tell people they are wrong be able to back it up. You have not done that. Just the opposite actually.
I have owned every type of vehicle there is from RWD cars to FWD cars to 2WD and 4WD trucks to AWD SUV's. I have experience across the board. Just pointing that out. My experience is not all just trucks. You guys were talking about a LOT more than just RWD cars period. You were implying they were as good as any 4WD/AWD. Don't try and weasel out now.
4WD and AWD help ANYONE in bad weather not just an experienced bad weather driver. Kind of funny to read you saying those are useless to someone who doesn't know how to use them. An experienced driver will know how to use them better obviously but I would much rather my 16 year old kid driving in his/her first storm be behind the wheel of a 4WD/AWD than anything else. Much less room for driver error in those.
Yes, 4WD absolutely DOES help you to slow down. For the reasons I talk about. I guess we need a lesson on how to brake in bad weather now too( for all vehicles ). Why would you brake with your engine? That right there sums up why you and a few others have no business telling people the advantages and disadvantages of driving 4WD/AWD vehicles. It shows you have no understanding of how to drive them, or frankly ANY vehicle, in bad weather.
FYI - you brake with the engine and not the brakes heading into a corner, going down a steep hill, or even on a regular flat and straight road at times. You just start stopping sooner than you normally would by easing off the gas. You can't allways do it but it is a common safe driving practice for bad weather. Helps you to stay in control of the vehicle regardless of the drive type.
Doing so keeps the tires moving which provides traction while the driveline drag slows the vehicle down safely. Applying the brakes grabs the rotors/drums and can stop them from spinning if you hit a really slipepry spot which will send the vehicle out of control. Using the engine by down shifting or the natural down shift effect of 4WD being engaged causes the vehicle to slow down at a more controlled rate than trying to brake 100% to do it. Anyone who knows bad weather driving( be it in a RWD car or a 4WD truck )knows the faster you are going the less you want to use the brakes.
With the brakes on if you hit an ice patch the brakes being applied actually lock up the brakes and the tires stop moving and thus the vehicle can slide a LOT easier. That is the reason why if you do start to slip while using your brakes in bad weather you pump them rather than keeping them applied. It lets the tires keep moving which keeps traction. If you keep pressure on them it keeps the tires from moving and you will just keep on slipping.
I am out of this. Some of you guys apparantly mean well but you either don't have a good handle on bad weather driving or you are not very good at expressing what you mean in writing. I am surprised as well based on the locations some of you are apparantly from. I would expect different comments from people in those locations.
There are definitely guys on here I would not want too ride with in a storm.