4-wheel drive sucks!!!!

[CDonaldson]

I have to say that this truck is awesome in snow, trucks right along in 4hi and a foot of snow. It is like any other truck when the bed weight is not there, slips a little and goes a little sideways until you put it into 4wd, then its solid. I have had 4wd trucks all my life, driven in tons of snow, this truck is no different than any of them, long wheel bases always bind a little in tight turns, in or out of 4wd. This truck is a little better than my old Ford ext cab.



CD

 

[RJOL]

There were a couple of companies that use to make kits for the front axles/drive shaft that were the viscous damper type. I think one of them was MileMarker, but I don't think they have them anymore.

I emailed MileMarker and they confirmed that they no longer make this kit.

 

[Yo Hoot]

The binding means you have good traction in the snow.

 

[MCummings]

How much does a jeep weigh? What's the wheel base?



Same Questions for a Dodge CTD.



Ever dragged an erase across a piece of paper very lightly, then dragged it again, applying excessive pressure.



Generally, when pressing lightly, the eraser glides, but when you press hard, it hops, and bounces.



Merrick

 

[buddys06]

O. K. , I went out to some property I own in monterey where the soil is red sand used to grow strawberry's. This was the first time I have used the 4x system since I bought the truck 3 weeks ago. The truck was flawless in the operation of both 4low and 4hi with no pushing, hopping or binding, granted it was in sandy soil but it worked better than my old ford v10. And yes I owned a 2004 tj so I know how they feel and the jeep seemed like it bound up more but that could be because it was a stick.

 

[DPeltonen]

Anything will bind depending on how much traction you have. I drive in 4wd every day in both trucks and vans and most have 36" or 38" tires. All of them bind when turning, especially when backing in a turn. Depending on the traction will determine the bind or wrap. We don't have any paved roads here (Antarctica) so it's either coarsely crushed rock, snow or ice. The less traction, the easier the drive (within reason). Now if you think 4wd with tires is a pain in a turn, you should try a MATT Track. You would swear you are going to blow the transfer case driving on dirt. I guess that's why they all have transmission temp gauges in them.

 

[CRuth]

Don't think I'd want to try steering that with manual steering But I'd love to play with it.

 

[CLWilliams]

I've owned all of the big three and ALL of them would bind on dry pavement. Drove a TOYO once and it didn't do it, but my motor in my Ram weighs more than the whole TOYO did... ... ..... almost.

 

[WM-300]

So what is it like to drive a Matt Track ? Do they really go well in snow (ok except for turning).



Paul

 

[DPeltonen]

Top speed is about 35 and don't try to turn the wheel unless you are moving. Great way to blow the steering if you do. Great on the snow, compact snow anyway. Too bad the tracks only last about 2000 miles. At $1500 a pop, it is pretty expensive to maintain 4 of them.

 

[JEstes]

I got a chance to drive my '03 2500 in the snow/ice for the first time about a week ago. We had snow/freezing rain Thursday night, and it got pretty slick for a few hours. It was no snow-mobile, but it handled the ice pretty well. I wouldn't want to turn in 4WD, but leaving a stoplight with 4WD on helped alot.



It's not an engineering issue with the 4WD bind. The front tires are turning at different speeds than the rears, and they are locked together. Something is going to give. Some 4WD/AWD systems have a differential between the front and rear to fix that problem. Then you get into simmilar issues like an open diff though.



And of course these things will sink in mud. They're like 90/10 weight distribution... .

 

[DWeiler]

Top speed is about 35 and don't try to turn the wheel unless you are moving. Great way to blow the steering if you do. Great on the snow, compact snow anyway. Too bad the tracks only last about 2000 miles. At $1500 a pop, it is pretty expensive to maintain 4 of them.

Ouch----I'll take a little bind for that price. My ram with the TOYO 35's does quite well in the deep stuff(snow----18+ inches)----some bind on the dry surfaces,but haven't hurt anything yet,better then the little suzuki samari i drove in my late teens/early 20's. For deep stuff it comes down to clearance. My brolaw's stock 3rd genner dually binds more than my second genner even though mine has the bigger meats on.

 

[NUKEMAN]

Cummins and mud just don't mix. Here's a "non-Dodge" example.

Cummins Hummer

 

[cojhl2]

Anything will bind depending on how much traction you have. I drive in 4wd every day in both trucks and vans and most have 36" or 38" tires. All of them bind when turning, especially when backing in a turn. Depending on the traction will determine the bind or wrap. We don't have any paved roads here (Antarctica) so it's either coarsely crushed rock, snow or ice. The less traction, the easier the drive (within reason). Now if you think 4wd with tires is a pain in a turn, you should try a MATT Track. You would swear you are going to blow the transfer case driving on dirt. I guess that's why they all have transmission temp gauges in them.

Do you get into the forums regarding grid heaters? How about the plugin not to plugin forums. .



How cold is it down there now?? How about winter?



Must be quite an experience!!!

 

[JEstes]

Cummins and mud just don't mix. Here's a "non-Dodge" example.

Cummins Hummer

Dang! I hope he had a good winch... . All that cold water couldn't be good for the block either... .

 

[DPeltonen]

Do you get into the forums regarding grid heaters? How about the plugin not to plugin forums. .



How cold is it down there now?? How about winter?



Must be quite an experience!!!

Sorry no forums at all regarding these vehicles. They are all Fords anyway. All gassers too. As far as the temps, well it's the middle of Summer right now and in McMurdo they run around 20-32 most of the time. The South Pole is running temps of -35 to -40 right now. Winter is pretty cold, -50 here and -100 or so at the pole. Although there are recorded temps well below -150.



You could say it is an experience, but this is my third Summer and it is getting to be pretty routine.

 

[Jeremiah]

AWD anyone?

This thread reminds me of why I like AWD, where tires don't pull unless sensors tell them their services are needed. My wife drives a Honda Pilot and it boogies up snowy hills as well as my Turbo-Diesel in 4-by. No binding either. However, the Honda does have a 4-wheel-lock button, so I imagine punching that in low or reverse (the only place it works) would bind 'em up. I also seem to remember driving an old Quadratrac Jeep Wagoneer w/fulltime 4WD. It didn't bind up either, so maybe there are some better systems out there. $$$ natcherly.



Somebody told me once the only difference between 2WD and 4WD was about 20 yards. That's worth remembering because you can stick a 4WD, and it won't be long after the 2WD gets stuck either. The main thing 4WD and AWD is good for is to getcha going from a stand-still, or for going up slick hills.



That's why in the Colorado high country we have the chain law for big rigs. Those driver wheels just won't pull heavy loads when the going gets slick. Most big trucks out here have chains hanging from the side of the tractor.

 

[CRuth]

Theres certainly some truth to that. But its very situational. Mostly dependent on the use of a little common sense.



Used properly four wheel drive makes a huge difference. In two wheel drive my Jeep would never make it over the rubicon. In four wheel drive it has no problem.

 

[JCarlisle]

The dodge 2500 and 3500 weigh more than a jeep by around 2000 lbs. This is very helpful when pulling trailers or pushing snow. If you will notice the jerking or binding your talking about isn't your front axle it is your rear wheel on the inside of the turn slipping on what ever surface you are on. The binding will be worse on dry pavement and the inside tire will make a scraping sound. As Far as Design problems Dodge did us all a Diservice when they did away with anykind of Front axle Disconnect and the front drive components turn all the time.

 

[abdiver]

Theres certainly some truth to that. But its very situational. Mostly dependent on the use of a little common sense.



Used properly four wheel drive makes a huge difference. In two wheel drive my Jeep would never make it over the rubicon. In four wheel drive it has no problem.

CRuth I agree with the above, For a good over all truck for me my Quad Cab 4x4 serves my needs. If money was no problem I would have a Reg cab 2wh drive, a Reg cab 4wh drive and a Quad and Maxi Cab both in 2wh and 4 whl drive each would have its been benifits. My Quad Cab 4x4 is a good compromise



In my opinion the if you REALLY want a GREAT 4wheel drive then buy and older Jeep. I great up on a Ranch and my Dad had 4x4s way before they were cool. We needed something besides a tractor and trailer to feed the cattle in the winter mud, plus with a tractor you would get wetand real cold, (before enclosed cabs and heaters in tractors).



One of the best ones we had was a 61 Jeep pickup Light 6cly engine and low gears our Cummins are just to heavy to float over the mud.