The last 4x4 I drove was a J40 Toyota. It was a company vehicle and in my job I would occasionally have need of it. It was mostly for being able to get in and out of building sites. That would have been in the early '70s I think. It was a diesel, smelly, and gutless. I also wasn't convinced it had much to offer in the way of a go anywhere vehicle. Let me explain.
I had a memorable experience where I had to take a drive down a county track. The ground was hard packed but wet because of some recent rain. The track was nearly perfectly horizontal, but there was this tiny spot where it dipped and a few puddles had formed. The car started to slip and pretty soon I was going nowhere. I was surprised. This was one of my first experiences in driving a 4x4 and I got stuck. It wasn't a big deal. I just rocked it back and forward (reverse/forward/reverse etc) until there was enough momentum to keep me going forward and I got on my way. But I was curious about what had happened.
I was a bit silly, but I was young.
I got out and walked around the vehicle. There was mud on the ground. It was soft and my shoes were sinking into it for all of about half an inch, but it was hard underneath. This was no deep bog. My initial thought was, that's nothing. Why is it stuck?
Before driving off, as noted above, I started the engine, put it into gear, and released the clutch, but I was going nowhere. I looked out the window and could see the back wheel turning, but I couldn't see the front. Here's the silly bit: I hopped out the car.
The engine is still running. It's still in gear. And I'm standing next to the thing watching the back wheel go around and round but not going anywhere. The front wheel is stationary. I'm wondering if it's actually in 4WD. So, I walk around to the other side (that's the silly part) and spot the other side front wheel rotating but the back wheel is stationary. So here we have the LHF and RHR wheels driving but slipping, and the LHR and RHF wheels stationary. I hopped back in and as mentioned got on my way again.
If one of the other wheels suddenly gripped I doubt there would have been any harm done. I was in the middle of a huge paddock and the track was not much different from the rest of the terrain, and there were no trees or rocks that I noticed. I wouldn't have got out, otherwise. I would probably have been able to run after the thing.
It made me think though. If there's no LSD then the best a 4WD vehicle has to offer is 2WD and of course the best a 2WD car has to offer is 1WD. This, of course, is a slight exaggeration, but the essence of it is true.
So, all these years later, here I am interested in buying a 4x4. A second hand car. I've been looking at country properties, and I might need a 4WD to gain access. But what kind? My neighbour said get the property then you'd know what kind of 4WD to get. True, but what if the property I'm bound to fall in love with is only accessible by 4WD. If I can't get to it to view the place I'm never going to know whether I want it or not.
So, I've been looking at the car ads. I've been reading up on the various opinions of people who publish on the web on 4x4s. And trying to understand some of the technical issues. I'll have a few questions that I hope you can help out with.
I had a memorable experience where I had to take a drive down a county track. The ground was hard packed but wet because of some recent rain. The track was nearly perfectly horizontal, but there was this tiny spot where it dipped and a few puddles had formed. The car started to slip and pretty soon I was going nowhere. I was surprised. This was one of my first experiences in driving a 4x4 and I got stuck. It wasn't a big deal. I just rocked it back and forward (reverse/forward/reverse etc) until there was enough momentum to keep me going forward and I got on my way. But I was curious about what had happened.
I was a bit silly, but I was young.
I got out and walked around the vehicle. There was mud on the ground. It was soft and my shoes were sinking into it for all of about half an inch, but it was hard underneath. This was no deep bog. My initial thought was, that's nothing. Why is it stuck?
Before driving off, as noted above, I started the engine, put it into gear, and released the clutch, but I was going nowhere. I looked out the window and could see the back wheel turning, but I couldn't see the front. Here's the silly bit: I hopped out the car.
The engine is still running. It's still in gear. And I'm standing next to the thing watching the back wheel go around and round but not going anywhere. The front wheel is stationary. I'm wondering if it's actually in 4WD. So, I walk around to the other side (that's the silly part) and spot the other side front wheel rotating but the back wheel is stationary. So here we have the LHF and RHR wheels driving but slipping, and the LHR and RHF wheels stationary. I hopped back in and as mentioned got on my way again.
If one of the other wheels suddenly gripped I doubt there would have been any harm done. I was in the middle of a huge paddock and the track was not much different from the rest of the terrain, and there were no trees or rocks that I noticed. I wouldn't have got out, otherwise. I would probably have been able to run after the thing.
It made me think though. If there's no LSD then the best a 4WD vehicle has to offer is 2WD and of course the best a 2WD car has to offer is 1WD. This, of course, is a slight exaggeration, but the essence of it is true.
So, all these years later, here I am interested in buying a 4x4. A second hand car. I've been looking at country properties, and I might need a 4WD to gain access. But what kind? My neighbour said get the property then you'd know what kind of 4WD to get. True, but what if the property I'm bound to fall in love with is only accessible by 4WD. If I can't get to it to view the place I'm never going to know whether I want it or not.
So, I've been looking at the car ads. I've been reading up on the various opinions of people who publish on the web on 4x4s. And trying to understand some of the technical issues. I'll have a few questions that I hope you can help out with.