sand bags

[Ufatz]

Well, okay. You actually have some practical experience from which to draw a conclusion.....not just "somebody says....blah blah". I'll accept what you say and it DOES make sense. Way back when auto hubs first came into pick ups I had them taken OUT of a couple Fords and had WARN locking hubs installed instead.

I guess each driver is going to have to consider whether the wear and tear is offset the addition of safety/traction.

Of course my guess is half the people who have the feature in their vehicle won't remember to use it or even know what it is! Ha Ha Ha. I read a short piece the other day discussing how many people basically know how to start at vehicle, put it in "go" and steer it. That's it. Oh, and they know how to operate the radio/sound system.

[delcecchi]

is this system you are talking about like the one in my explorer (99 v6)? Sure sounds like it, but I never hear any clunks or anything like that. It doesn't even have a 2wd option. It is auto, 4high and 4low for choices.

[Ufatz]

Hey fella's....just for clarification, the hubs I had removed from those Fords were the ones you could lock in and out from inside the cab. I always thought they were a PITA and you could easily wreck one of them simply by turning wheel sharply and one would go in and lock and the other would not.

I had them pulled out and the WARN's installed.

Carry on.

[harvey lee]

Did the same thing Ufatz.

[Dave S]

Only heard the "clunk" in my Silverado while the rears suddenly broke loose at faster speeds. During gradual acceleration, the transition between 2wd and 4wd was seemless.

Now as far as the VW is concerned, the AWD only kicks in once the FWD looses traction and that is seemless as well, regardless of speed. Over 80K miles and it still drives like new. No switches to change from one mode to another. There's only one mode, AUTO.

[JOHNBIGDOG]

Awd and 4wd are two different animals. Usually there is a clutch of some sort to porportion torque to the rear wheels, but there is always some torque there.

[Ufatz]

Good point Bigdog. I do not pretend to be a mechanical engineer nor am I thoroughly versed in automatic 4-wheel drive systems and I agree there will likely be more wear on the system if it is used all the time: as someone said, that just makes sense. In addition to potential safety increase I still suspect one of the reasons for the system is to help keep fuel consumption down. Running in 4X4Hi all the time will consume fuel and tires. So...do we pay more for fuel and tires or pay more for upkeep on the auto 4X system.

I guess we pays our money and we makes our choices. I DO think too many people jump into 4X4 before it's really needed and that a great many accidents and tow jobs have been CAUSED by using 4X4.

So.......whadda you guys think about that!!!LOL

[delcecchi]

I think I really like the full time system in my explorer. I have never driven an AWD system. The 2wd with the driver only switching to 4wd when it is slippery seems sort of archaic. (I have a switch for real 4wd high and low in addition to the automatic)

[hitthebricks]

After driving trucks since I was 15, now 57 they are always a little light in the rear end. A couple sandbags work wonders when slippery, saves on tires and gas. AWD in the Burb I know will cost me, Wifey loves it because it's always on and so are the check this and that lights.

HTB