GM HD Trucks Many with AWD instead of 4WD

Terryallan wrote:

mkirsch wrote:
AWD and traction control probably would have worked well in that situation.

Traditional 4x4, even with a limited slip or locking rear diff, is at best a THREE wheel drive system, and that one front wheel that's spinning doesn't bring anything to the party except some slung mud. If you've got open diffs front and rear then you're down to a TWO wheel drive system, and the wheels that get power are always the ones with the LEAST traction.

AWD doesn't let you get to that point. If you're stuck, you're truly stuck because all four wheels have no traction. You're not stuck because the two wheels that might be able to get a little bite are just sitting there while the other two spin.

AWD will cover 99.99999% of cases, except maybe rock crawling or mud bogging. If you're doing those with a brand new production vehicle, I'd call your sanity into question.

I have seen a AWD stuck spinning each wheel, then taking power from the spinning wheel, until finally. It took power from all the wheels. and it just sat there doing nothing.

This right here is the problem with AWD - I have a Ford Explorer - work vehicle. The first snow, going up a hill, the wheels started to slip, all wheels started to slip. It didn't matter how much I pushed my foot down, it wouldn't go. Started to roll backwards. I had to play with the AWD functions, found one where it turns of the limited slip. Then I could spin the wheels until I could power up the hill. Went and bought studded tires as soon as the weather allowed me to get out. A truck with this feature would be useless unless you can turn it off.

From other posts, it sounds like a similar feature on a Yukon I used to have, Auto was a 4WD feature that would engage the front if it started to slip. Not sure if it worked, but I would turn it on if the roads were slippery but not enough for true 4WD. This is OK and a nice piece of mind, but a truck needs a true 4x4 transfer case.