[AT] The terror strikes again. - 4WD

[charlie hill]

Grant you need to drive a newer 4 wd vehicle.
Mine is an 06 GMC Sierra crew cab.  It weighs in at
about 5,000 lbs.  Except for getting into and out of
tight parking spaces it drives and rides as good as
a full size sedan.  It gets around 20 mpg on the highway.
My overall average fuel economy is about 17.5 over the life
of the truck and that includes a fair amount of towing.
The 4 WD is controlled by a switch on the dash.  You run
in 2 wd.  If things get touchy you can hit the switch to put it
in Auto 4 wd and it selects 4 wd if it needs it or you can hit
the button for full time 4 wd.  You do this on the fly without
slowing down, stopping or putting the transmission in neutral.
The only time you have to stop to shift is if you need to go into
4wd low range.

The front suspension is independent like the rear suspension on
a Corvette or a typical front wheel drive sedan with short stub axles from
the transfer case to the front wheels.  210,000 miles and I've had
only very minor problems with the entire truck.

There is nothing wrong with 2WD but there is also no down side to modern
4 WD except for the up front cost.

Charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Grant Brians
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 12:08 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] The terror strikes again. - 4WD

I fall into the category of the "2WD supporters", but for exactly the reason
Steve cites - I don't drive in snow or other conditions where it would be
useful! Once in a while we get snow in the Mountain valley ranch, and there
is frequently ice on the pass in the winter, but then we almost always have
enough weight to compensate. Also, while I did finally buy a 4WD Dodge last
year for wet conditions around the fields (1980 3/4 ton - boy it drives like
an OLD truck...), it was not intended for road use really. As a result, I
can say that as the old internet meme goes YMMV your mileage may vary! LOL.
        Grant Brians
        Hollister,California Farmer

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com]On Behalf Of Stephen
Offiler
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2014 5:13 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] The terror strikes again. - Studebaker speed response


(replying to Charlie's note with a lot of snipping...)

On Tue, Jun 3, 2014 at 9:27 PM, charlie hill <charliehill at embarqmail.com>
wrote:

> john I put some weight in the rear of my 4 WD truck if possible but
> usually not more than 200 or 300 lbs.


I usually don't add weight, and the reason why not is because my truck is
not a daily driver; it comes out when I need to haul something meaning I
generally need the bed to be free of dead-weight obstructions; and
otherwise it comes out when the snow is really bad.



>  I know those who don't have 4 WD or
> don't want 4 WD or just don't believe in it for one reason or another
don't
> want
> to hear this but there really is a dramatic difference when driving in
snow
> or
> anything else slick or deep.



This is really the part I wanted to focus us.  YES!  It's just a fact.  The
2WD supporters have found that it works for them, but clearly they aren't
taking their trucks into some of the same situations as Charlie and I have
described.

SO
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