4X4 Trucks

4X4 Trucks


Four-wheel drive, 4WD, 4x4, all wheel drive, and AWD are different phrases used for describing a four-wheeled vehicle with a powertrain that allows all four wheels to receive power from an engine at the same time. Powering all four wheels gives better control on smooth ice and is a main part of rally racing on cemented roads.

These are truck-like motor vehicles in which a driver can manually switch between a two-wheel drive mode for streets and a four-wheel drive mode for low grip conditions such as ice, mud, or loose gravel. These vehicles do not cause poor control and too much tire.

Although, the term "four-wheel drive" refers to a capability that a vehicle may have, it is also used to represent the whole vehicle itself. The term 4x4, read as four by four, is used to indicate total number of wheels on a vehicle and is frequently applied to vehicles equipped with either full-time or part-time four-wheel-drive. This term is common in North America.
The first four-wheel drive vehicle, Spyker 60 HP, was manufactured in 1903 by Dutch brothers Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker of Amsterdam. 4X4 designs in the US came from the Twyford Company of Brookville, PA in 1905. The first US four-wheel drive vehicle was made in 1911 by the Four-Wheel Drive auto company (FWD) of Wisconsin. Some of the earliest four-wheel drive cars were various rally cars, such as the Ford RS200 made from 1984-1986. In 1989, Panther Westwinds built a four-wheel drive, the Panther Solo 2. Today, sophisticated all wheel drive systems are found in many commuter vehicles and sports cars. In a 4X4 truck, when one wheel spins out of control, a brake can be automatically applied to that wheel. Torque will then be matched, causing power to be divided between a roadway and a brake. It can cause brake wear, but it is effective.