If you live somewhere with a lot of rain or snow, or if you like to drive off-road, then you probably know the difference between all-wheel-drive (AWD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD or 4×4) vehicles. Both have an advantage over two-wheel-drive vehicles when it comes to wintery conditions or dirt because they send the power to all four wheels, not two. Some might even use the two interchangeably, but there is a difference and you should know what that is.
Just how exactly are the two different? We will break it down for you in this blog.
What is AWD?
All-wheel-drive is a vehicle system that sends power to all four wheels all of the time. AWD helps keep your vehicle moving forward better than front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. This helps the vehicle maintain traction and stability in road conditions like mud, snow, and even rain. Most AWD vehicles decide on their own when to drive all four wheels. They use traction without the driver having to think about what it’s doing.
How Does All-Wheel-Drive Work?
When a vehicle is equipped with AWD, they use sensors to monitor whether the front wheels are slipping and engage all-wheel-drive to compensate for it. All-wheel drive connects your vehicle’s engines to the front and rear wheels and seamlessly shuffle torque between the front and rear tires as needed. This is called “part-time all-wheel drive,” and it’s the most common type of AWD. The car will take care of itself, all you have to do is keep driving. Part-time all-wheel-drive systems send most of their power to the front wheels so they are limited in how much they can actually help in extreme conditions. The AWD systems are often capable of switching to two-wheel-drive in some driving conditions to improve fuel economy. Power can then be reverted to all four wheels the first time it feels the wheels slip.
What is 4WD and How Does It Work?
Most 4WD, sometimes written as 4×4, vehicles link the front and rear wheels together, splitting the power between them both. In order to know how 4×4 works you must first understand what a transfer case is. A transfer case is what connects the front and rear wheels, making them both axles turn at the same speed. This gives these vehicles an advantage when trying to get out of mud or a slippery spot.
You will normally find a switch in a 4WD vehicle that allows you to toggle between driving with all four wheels or just driving two wheels. The driver must initiate this by either pushing a button, turning a knob, or yanking a lever into gear. By doing this it locks the front and back driveshafts together, keeping them turning at the same speed. The way 4WD works is that it is not supposed to be used at all times as it can cause premature tire wear and damage to the vehicle if used on a high-traction or dry pavement. Four-Wheel-Drive works best during slippery conditions like ice and snow, low-speed driving, and off-road driving. If you want more information on when to drive AWD or 4WD take a look at this youtube video on “How and When to Use 2WD or Auto 4WD”. This is a beginner-friendly video that will help you know when to use one or the other.
During the winter months, it is important that you drive a 4WD vehicle to Red River when you visit. Some of our properties require four-wheel-drive to access the driveway and property as you never know when a snowstorm may roll in. If you book Ponderosa Valley during the winter months then you should drive a 4×4 vehicle and carry chains with you just in case. It’s better to be safe than be stuck in the Upper Valley not able to get to your property because you are in the wrong vehicle. Here’s another video you should watch if you are new to these types of systems. This video is really great for anyone who is a visual learner, check out the video now!
It may not make sense for you to own a 4WD if you don’t live where it snows or is icy a lot and that’s okay. You just need to make sure you rent one if you will be visiting us during the winter season! Because AWD and 4WD send power to all four wheels, rather than two, they do provide roughly twice as much traction as a two-wheel-drive vehicle for accelerating in slippery conditions.
