Advice needed about all wheel drives

[Jo]

My family do a lot of camping but would like to take things to the next level and buy another car. My question is can an all wheel drive go the same places as a 4WD eg Frazer island or even Cape York. We are very confused as some car dealers are saying yes others no. Please help!

[FNQCairns]

My personal view is most true 4wds will go most places, but some of the newer ones if I owned them I would feel more comfortable with another 4wd on the trip.

Which ones are you interested in how much, how large?

Hard to say there are so many differing prices for ability.

cheers fnq

[CHRIS aka GWH]

My family do a lot of camping but would like to take things to the next level and buy another car. My question is can an all wheel drive go the same places as a 4WD eg Frazer island or even Cape York. We are very confused as some car dealers are saying yes others no. Please help!

jo,

an all wheel drive is most definitely NOT as capable as a FWD and its more than just having low range. You might get to the cape these days in the middle of the year in an AWD but Fraser would get ya ! ;)


http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/difference_4WD_awd.html

a big difference not mentioned in this article is manufacturer intent - if you intend a vehicle to be offroad capable you give it clearance, protected electrics and sump guards etc etc

Go for something like a Navara or Hilux at a minimum and take some options. Let the ravs, crvs and pathfinders etc have fun on Rainbow Beach and think they are four wheel driving.

BTW what vehicles are you looking at.

chris

[Jo]

Thanks Chris we were originally looking at a Mazda Tribute but have now been talked out of it. We are now looking at a landcrusier or a Patrol with three kids this is the better way to go. thanks again Jo

[jimbamb]

You don't have to go to CL or patrol to get a cpable 4wd that will go anywhere you are lookin at.
Hilux, navara, rodeo.Mazda bravo/courier are all capable vehicles and nowhere as expensive to buy or run as LC or patrol
Ive taken hiluxes further than some of the big ones will go.and pulled a few out of bogs. much to their amazement.especially the cruiser and caraven i pulled out of the sand at inskip point.
Depends a lot on how much you want to spend.
Jim

[username_taken]

Subaru's are great on the beach. An outback or forester with an auto gearbox and deflated tyres will get you everywhere you want to go on fraser including across indian head. can get body/suspension lifts for them if you want slightly bigger tyres.

I've got an '81 subaru sedan running a '93 imprezza engine and I towed a camper-trailer all over fraser this time last year.

[Handyman]

Hi Jo,

I suppose it depends on your budget, but I think Jimbamb has a point with regard to the dual cabs being great value for money.

I have a Navara and it takes the family of two kids quite comfortably both on and off the road. I have a dropside tray fitted on mine and with a fairly inexpensive custom built frame and canvas canopy, I'm 100% positive it would hold more than any cruiser or Patrol wagon if the back seat was full of kids.

My old man just traded his Pajero for a Triton and it has an incredibly spacious and comfortable back seat. No kids, but he specifically bought it because he can fit more in and organise it better on their regular long distance 4wd trips.

As for off road capability, I think if you get a Navara/Triton/Hilux bogged, you probably would have gotten your Patrol/Cruiser bogged too.:)

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Handyman]

Hi Jo,

Sorry, forgot to mention All Wheel Drives. You seem to have gone off the idea, which is good.

Refer back to Chris aka's post. The dealers are having you on (surprising I know;) ). They are a totally different thing. If you are going to buy a 4wd, you might as well get a real one.

[username_taken]

If all you want to drive is the beaches and the easier national parks then an AWD can be fine. Just be aware that you may want to put a bit of lift under it and some bigger/more aggressive tyres. Hell pay $2k for a nice condition 80's subaru wagon ( dual range - manual ) chances are you'll get one with 2" lift and good tyres already. The subies fly over sand.

[Brett1907]

Go a 'real' 4WD, and I'm not just having a go at the 'Soft Roaders'. They just don't cut it when you need low down torque, ie 'Low Range 4WD'.

I love the Toyota's, I have a 2006 Hilux with a few mods and it will go almost anywhere. But you don't need to go that far. The Pajeros that went to Levuka over the weekend impressed and surprised everyone. Poodroos has 380000km on the clock and is stock standard. With some good spotting (directing from outside the vehicle) and some gutsy driving he got through a couple of bogholes that the Patrols got stuck in. One of which I popped the tyre off the rim cause I went in too fast.

Whatever you buy make sure it is a 'Real' 4WD and has selectable low range, eg Hilux/Bravo/Navara/Triton/LandCruiser/Patrol/Pajero. Necessary mods are.. Suspension lift, ARB make really good basic lifts that usually improve on road handling as well. You don't need to go more than 50mm lift. Get at least All Terrain tyres, I like the Bridgestone as a good all rounder, but others will tell you to go BFG. Don't go Coopers unless you plan to spen a lot of time off road as they are a little unpredictable in the wet on bitumen. Trust me, I had them untill recently.

If you are going to travel up North or out West get a STEEL Bullbar, not alloy. If you hit a Big Red Roo or a bull or even emu or Boar with an alloy you may as well not have one on at all. I almost hit a Boar that stood as high as my bonnet.

If you want steps DON'T get the alloy ones either. As soon as you run out of clearance you will need new ones. Get steel protection steps, ARB, TJM or others will do.

Good luck with whatever you buy. Be carefull though, 4WDing is an addiction.

Now where did I put that welder? Oh yeh, beside the Rock Sliders I'm making out of those steel steps...

Brett

[Poodroo]

Jo the only advice I can offer is that if you invest your money into a proper 4wd that has a low 4wd range then you will open a much larger variety of places where you can take your family. Something I have found priceless about owning my Pajero is that I have been also able to join other like minded people who have 4wd's on these fun M&G's. Have met some great new people and made great friendships in the process. I am glad I didn't spend the money on a soft roader all wheel drive type and then wished I had something more capable to do more things. I am very impressed with what the Nissan's have in their range and yes they are very capable vehicles in nearly all conditions but something that I have learned a lot about over the past 4wd trips is that most vehicles are limited only by the capabilities or lack thereof of the person driving it. Very important advice I can give is never go adventuring on your own. A backup vehicle is a must when you leave the bitumen because if you come unstuck another vehicle to recover you is a very sensible and safe habit to get into.
Safe driving with whatever your choice is.

Regards,

Poodroo

[Jo]

Thanks again everybody for there advice I sure have decided against an all awheel drive it wouldn't have done what I wanted it to do. I would have just traided it and wasted all that money. We are now looking around for a real 4WD. Thanks again Jo.

[Mighty_Quin]

Surprised that the Toyota Prado did not get a mention. It is AWD and will go anywhere. A bit expensive though.

[Poodroo]

Thanks again everybody for there advice I sure have decided against an all awheel drive it wouldn't have done what I wanted it to do. I would have just traided it and wasted all that money. We are now looking around for a real 4WD. Thanks again Jo.

You're welcome Jo


Surprised that the Toyota Prado did not get a mention. It is AWD and will go anywhere. A bit expensive though.

I love the new Prados but they do come with a nice price tag and everyone I know who owns one complains about the fuel consumption. Apparently they like a bit of fuel. ::)

Poodroo

[whynott]

You will kick yourself, if you get an AWD and not a 4wd.
You will be so limited, in where you can go, and what you can do.
Graham.

Heh Brett,
You failed to mention that you got stuck at Levuka, :D :D :D :D and only one Patrol got bogged.

[MY-TopEnder]

What Brett said....

Basically you can't go past a Patrol.

[Brett1907]

I didn't get stuck Graham, I just had to take a different track to get out.

But you're right, I found a track I couldn't get up. There's something a little disconcerting about having your foot flat to the floor and still sliding BACKWARDS!!! So there is a limit to what the Hilux can do.

Brett

[Tangles]

brett, where the lockers engaged or just 2wd;D

[Brett1907]

You know, I actually checked that. And it WAS in low range with both lockers engaged and right foot firmly planted on firewall. ::) And I still couldn't get up. I gave it a few tries though. Plenty of mud getting thrown around by those MTR tyres!!;D

Brett

[ozscott]

Discos, Defenders and Countys and Range Rovers have always been all wheel drive, but of course they are not the type of AWD that your post was refering to mate! You cant go too far wrong with any of the bigger ones for serious offroad use from Cruisers to Pajeros. If you want a combination of good on road ride and excellent off road ruggeddness and ability then you would have to include a Discovery in your hunt - second hand prices are pretty good now too.

Cheers