What Is The Best 4WD System? 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Vehicles like the Mercedes G-Class blur the lines between what is “technically” 4WD vs AWD. Today, to call something 4WD traditionally means it has a transfer case and can switch from 2WD to 4WD, as well as having a low speed range within the transfer case. While the G Wagon does not have the ability for 2WD, it does have a hi/low speed transfer case, as well as lockers front/rear/center. For these reasons I’ve included it in this discussion, since like the Jeep Wrangler and Ram Power Wagon, it is designed with offload capability in mind. Like the Jeep and Ram, the center lock in the G-Wagon should not be used on road, since it will cause binding (assuming the road isn’t covered in snow, ice, etc). For what it’s worth, Mercedes currently refers to this system as “Permanent AWD with 2-speed transfer case.” The same terminology is used for the more serious G550 4x4 with portal axles, a machine clearly built for off-road use.That said, according to MotorTrend, in the 90’s Mercedes referred to the E-Class with 4Matic as 4WD, not AWD like it is called today. It’s important to know that ultimately these terms are founded as marketing differentiators rather than technical differentiators to explain how the 4WD system works. At the most basic level, 4WD simply means all four wheels receive torque. If you’re interested in more detail, below are a bunch of related videos. :) Best AWD System - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TotrUUuYOM4.html AWD - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UL9LmT3fzbQ.html 4WD - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZN6xHc7Nz-E.html Transfer Case - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-K1qj8dHTmP4.html Torsen LSD - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wiq1Rk5wqds.html Viscous LSD - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-w2bRb17jJ1U.html Clutch Type LSD - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ujsxq9WBllU.html Torque Vectoring Differential - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qwwFZAbYGW0.html Differentials: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Hv0jYDWp0ZA.html Open vs. Locked Diff: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gwJEU7p9U2Q.html Open vs. Locked Diff Part 2: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_HOa0aRZYpw.html Multi-plate Clutch: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-SQvFg4WbdZ4.html

A question.. how many G-Wagon owners actually use their G-Wagons for off road?

the fast and furious part almost made me choke on my cereal lol

Man i think this channel has stayed the same more or less but SERIOUSLY upped the GAME on subject matter lately!!! Thanks sir this is becoming my new fav channel!!!

Manual locking hubs and manual shifting transfer case that does not require wires or hoses that will work every time is a must in my book.

As a former and proud owner of a 1976 Toyota land cruiser, I can tell you that the best 4WD is the one that does not breakdown in the middle of nowhere, and is easy to fix. You have the best simple explanations out there, and we are very grateful for it. Do you remember another beast from Mercedes called the " Unimog "? Cheers from Canada.

Also, just about everything you find in that G Wagon system can be found in a $2000 Mitsubishi Montero/Pajero from 25 years ago.

What if all 4 wheels are stuck? *spare tire intensifies*

you only wanted to impress the ladies with that dumbbell :-P

Sure is hard to beat gear to gear transfer case and high pinion locking solid axles :)

My Cherokee had the following modes: 2WD, locked center diff (part-time 4WD), and a viscous coupling center diff (full-time 4WD), and limited slip front and rear diffs. This viscous coupling setting ("full-time" 4WD) was awesome on icy roads, because you could safely leave it on without breaking traction every time you made a turn, but you still got good traction when some of the wheels were on ice. It did really well when there were repeated transitions from/to ice & dry pavement. It was better for mud than my wrangler Rubicon, partly because of this system, but mostly because of the lower weight.

The Eaton G80 automatic locking rear differentials on the Z71's are pretty slick. It uses centrifugal fly weights that lock the rear diff when one wheel spins too much faster than the other. I never need to manually lock or unlock the differential.

I'm curious why we haven't seen any major electric vehicles aimed at off-roading, since their low end torque seems pretty ideal, and for the type that has a motor in each wheel you can do torque vectoring like this as long as you can control power distribution to each motor separately.

The Quadra Drive II system in my Jeep Commander has the only limitation of tires that cannot grip.

You posed the question "how do you get 3 wheels off the ground" and I have the answer to 3 or even 4. It happens all the time when we "turtle" or "hi center" where the weight of the vehicle is sitting on a rock as we teeter. In that situation I lock front and back (jeep for center is already locked) to try and catch enough tracking on one wheel to pull my self off (before I try a different line). If that doesn't work, we pull cable and winch enough to get tracking again.

This is great, thanks for explaining it all so simply. When I first got into off roading this was pretty hard to get my head around, if I had a video like this to watch it would have saved me a lot of Googling and head scratching staring at diagrams.

6:11 for fast n furious joke

What Jason owns a dumbbell? Perfect condition never used :)

Can’t say It’s the best considering I have not used all of them but the 4wd system I had on my hummer H3 was great. It went through everything I throw at it.

So in the dumbbell example... That's why brake lock diff technology works so well? It senses the wheel in the air is spinning, applies the brakes to it, forcing more torque to go to it, which means that more torque is sent to the ground-wheel as well, and is hopefully able to pull you out. Interesting.

so basically, he doesnt actually tell you the best one

Bonus points for the jab at Fast & Furious, that was a good laugh

I watched several videos on the subject, and many of the viewers over there said that the explanations were amazing, but I personally found them confusing. Only this video explained everything very clearly. I have no questions or queries. Thank you.

Very much enjoyed torching out independent suspensions in several Toyota and Nissan trucks over the years to install solid axles. Finally quit breaking the tender CV joints and suffering all the tender suspension component failures (ball joints, bushings, bent arms, etc).

Alot of EE lately! Which is good 👍

Dumbbell explanation was brilliant. Thank you for all the great content.

For someone who is interested in buying a 4x4 all this talk about differentials and locks and different types of drive trains you break it down into detail and direct thank you very much! Looking forward to seeing more of your videos!

I always catch your videos because instead of just showing a DIY repair, you explain what is going on which gives me more in depth understanding. Good job!

When electric off roaders become a thing this conversation will be much more interesting.

"fnf will make it happen" made my day

Jeep QuadraDrive (specifically QuadraDrive II before 2011) Automatically goes from open diffs (including transfer case) to limited slip, to locked. Thereby allowing it to be in 4WD at all times, even on dry pavement. But could fully lock 1 or both axles and the transfer case if needed, or just engage a Limited slip mode. Additionally, you could put the transfer case in low range which would also preemptively lick the transfer case as well. Open when best for open, limited when useful, locked when needed with no input from the driver other than NOT lifting if a wheel started to spin.

this channel is quickly becoming my favourite. Thanks for the ELI5 type videos, newbie offroader here.

How about an electric drive for each wheel?

So use lockers off road...... explained

Pinzgauer 6x6 drivetrains are something of a Swiss watch. Beautiful but not overly pleasant to service.

The dumbbell was a good explanation of the torque. I really never thought of it before but now I understand

Since going off road is in big part a sport, aka FUN for the driver ( presumably human, so able to experience fun ) the best off road system would be one where absolute control over which diff is open or closed at ALL TIMES is given to said human driver, as opposed to letting mentioned driver fight computers over control, ruining the FUN factor --> ESSENCE of going off road for most people, I'm sure self driving cars wouldn't mind having to deal with AI deciding what happens when ... as for people who simply don't know how to drive off road, it's just not your thing, there ARE people for whom it IS

This just made me wish I could afford lockers for my xj

I have a Jeep G.Cherokee WJ with a 242 transfer case. It has 2wd, 4WD, AWD, and Low range 4wd. The 3 differentials have gearotor hydraulic pumps on either end to either limit the slip in AWD or to lock them together in 4wd. The driveway to my house is a gravel road on a 40 degree incline. 4wd is required to tow a trailer up the hill.

No one manages to make the physics of all this more easily understandable than you, Dude. Keep it up!

the Mercedes Unimog hands-down the best drive system there is

Lada niva. Amen.

So basically the second example with a locked center diff is your typical 4X4 (if a wheel in front and rear lose traction you get wheel spin), and the third example with three locked diffs are your super off-roading vehicles like a Rubicon where all wheels spin at the same rate regardless of traction.

And the ZR2 featured in your promo video. Transfer case is _____? Has locking front and rear differentials. Awesome vid!,

Fast and furious is able to make it happen! Don't we know it! lol

At about the :30 mark you said front middle and Center differential I think you meant to say front center and rear

oust 1 note for you 4x4 guys out there with open diff, there is a way to get you out of most trouble even as you got 1 front and rear wheel stuck. and that is actually applying the brake while you accelerate, as the tiers won't be limited by the traction they have but rather the force of the brake clamping down you can over a short distance make it behave almost like a locked differential, dont this a couple of winters myself when i did not care to get on ice chains to get up the smaller hills to get home.

Good video, and I'm glad you referenced your AWD video in it so that people can see the difference. It would be nice to see a discussion of other systems and hybrid 4WD/AWD systems. I would also mention that a nice addendum to this video would be one covering the types of locking differentials and hybrid lockers like the GM G80 which give the driver the best of both worlds.

Best 4x4 system? FZJ80 land cruiser.

front middle and center differentials? XD good video anyways

I've always wondered what all the differential modes on the G-Wagon did...I don't really have any experience with off-road driving, so this was a great explanation! Thanks for sharing!

Thank you for your comprehensive explanation. I always wondered about the differences and could never get an accurate explanation. Understanding that different manufacturers approached with their version made it very confusing for me ti even pose my questions properly.

Jason didn't you make one of these videos about 2yrs ago?

They got front to back. And side to side.

I'm watching this 2.5 years after it was released, and I haven't had time to read through all 1,103 comments so maybe someone has already mentioned this, but some of this information is now a bit dated. Instead of or in addition to locking differentials, many new 4WD vehicles now leverage the existing ABS hardware to route power to the wheels with traction even more efficiently and in a more controlled fashion than full-locking differentials. I believe this type of system was originally pioneered by Land Rover (but I could be wrong about that) but is now becoming much more common. So far from my experience, this system works rather well, and most vehicles that have it have several modes that vary how the power is redistributed and how much slippage is allowed before redistribution occurs.

Please do a video on Torsen differentials. With a Torsen center differential, when an axle begins to loose grip the forces simply travel through the Tortsen to the other axle without slippage and loss of traction, yet it does not lock in corners. No viscous or clutch slippage required. I claim the test of an AWD system is in cornering under power in limited traction conditions, like rain. The goal is to prevent slippage to begin with, so no wheels slip. Locked diffs are only used at low speeds where the downside of lost traction is a tow truck to get you moving. Torsen diffs are used at high speeds where the downside of lost traction is a tow truck to retrieve your wrecked vehicle,

Electric cars with one motor per wheel would probably be the best four wheel system. 0 differentials required! Then all the power can go to the wheel with the most traction and steering wouldn’t be affected since the wheels wouldn’t be locked together. A computer can calculate the steering angle and apply appropriate power to each wheel. Crapper 4wd systems use brakes to slow down spinning wheels which this system wouldn’t need.

The best 4WD system is a good experienced driver!

The best is the locking diferentials system. The cheap and working - remplace rear differential with Lockright/Powertrax kit.

These videos are super helpful. Thank you for putting these together. In our house, we're consolidating cars since we live in a city now and don't really need two. Unfortunately it means my BRZ has to go. Fortunately, it means I get to pick what we get next. Maybe a new Bronco? Now I get to learn about the wonderful world of SUVs, 4WD systems, and everything that comes with it!

Best four wheel drive is knowing how to drive in the first place

I like rice

I don’t know how he does it but he just explains the most complex things and makes sense out of it. Well done 👍

Your correct in stating the Jeep has a transfer case but they also have a diff inside the transfer case which allows for driving in 4 high on the road. 4 low locks this diff.

Locking diffs are expensive and manufactures think that no one will notice if they skip them. Look at the Subaru, pathetic. BMWs with over 200HP through rear axle and no LSD, pathetic.

The best is an electric motor at every tire.

Keeping it as simple is often better. You will eventually break something doing real offroading and simple things are often more robust or easier to fix or even able to limp back. More complex systems often tend to be weaker or when something breaks can't be fixed or limped. Take Matt's offroad recovery for example. Might be cool to see you check their rigs out.

We have a 2016 Tahoe with the Max Towing package. This package includes a 2 speed transfer case. No one has been able to explain to me 1. If the transfer case is locked 50/50 front/rear by default, and 2 . if rear LSD is standard with this package.

Subaru; Nuff' said.

The best 4WD system is obviously one electric motor for each wheel.

That dumbbell example was really helpful. Thank you!

Hey there! Would love to see a video on opposed-piston engines (OPOC). The concept isn't new but is currently receiving an additional push from engineering communities

You didnt answer the question

Land Rover all day

Totally new to your videos, but they are really great! Definitely one of my favorite channels now.

Jeep made a great and simple system with the XJ Cherokee. Selectrac with optional LSDs. The 2.72:1 low-range is still decent. FCA is allegedly putting a newer Selectrac system in the Rubicon for 2021, so now it will have 4:1 low-range and selectable lockers. The new Selectrac system isn't as simple as the old one though, using electronic sensors to detect slip between front and rear. The old NP242 Selectrac used a simple viscous coupler setup.

Toyota trd pro system

quattro 🔥

Give me an old school transfer case with manual hubs with axles equipped with lockers over anything else out there. Simple and almost un breakable set up.

awesome job. i love how you make things easily understandable

Hahaha.... not first

Subaru sAWD is the best AWD out there.

Always engaging, always quality. Love the education!!

The one that goes to a solid front axle and has a gear driven/lever operated transfer case and a manual transmission.

Audi 👌Quattro.... simply.... Maybe x_drive hhhhhhh 😛

As always, a great video. Straight to the point. Adequate example/explanation. Thanks again!

Thankfully, you can use "Left Foot Braking" on JKs and JLs to make up for some traction when lockers aren't available.

I have a old 74 CJ 5 with a built amc 360 , Np 435 4 speed and d20 t case. Front E locker and rear detroit locking diff and its gone everywhere ive ever needed and never let me down. Ive pulled gobs of newer vehicles out of mud & snow . But driver and tires are the most important

Fulltime with front, center and rear locking differentials.

I look for your videos every day after work. Never learned so much.

This may be in earlier posts, but the dumbbell analogy is incorrect. With a locked diff, torque is applied to both wheels evenly.Even if 1 wheel is on ice or up in the air, torque is still applied evenly to both wheels. With the lockable center diff, an open center diff is the same as an all-wheel drive car, engine torque MAY be applied to all 4 wheels. When the center diff is locked, this locks / connects the front and rear driveshafts together, essentially a regular 4x4 system. The front diff can be the same as the rear diff, just installed facing the rear. This configuration on a slippery road will give a spinning right rear wheel and a spinning left front wheel. It's this condition that can require a locking front or rear diff which will pull (front) or push (rear diff) you out of the situation.

Three, lockable automatic torque biasing (e.g. Torsen or Quaife) differentials. Or individual electric wheel motors.

What you should say is that on braking things are totaly opposite. With locked differentials your grip is dictated by the wheel with the least amound of grip, and braking downhill on ice conditions is a nightmare. One should at least free up the center differential to be able to control the car. So the best system is the one with the better electronics to limit wheel spining or locking up.

my 05 denali suv had no optional separate differential torque control, when i would accelerate hard from a stop, the front wheels would brake loose on slick asphalt, unless i used the etc, that was a dream to drive on wet roads

dont care too much about the best 4wd systems but always wanted to learn about how differentials worked great vid

You make things so simple to understand! Thank you! Interesting stuff.

I have one of the rare full time 4WD Tahoes with 4 Lo option (2005 Tahoe LT with Autoride suspension). It is amazing in the snow. It’s the Borg Warner 4482. It has full time 4WD (60:40 split) and the 4 Lo button that allows the center diff to lock it to 50:50 torque split. But it has no 2WD option. Sometimes I wish I had the standard transfer case. But, it’s a very unique setup for sure. It’s a similar transfer case to the Borg Warner in the Hummers (BW4484) but mine lacks the 4 Hi (locked center diff) option and the Super Low option some Hummers have (3 speed transfer case).

This was very helpful - thank you

It should be noted that having a "full time" AWD system, like the G, is a better every day system. The issue with the Wrangler (which I own) is that you can't use (without possible damage) the 4WD system driving on paved roads, even in very wet conditions. The benefit of the G Wagon (which I also own) is that you have power front & rear all the time. If extra grip is needed, you push the center lock button and you now have a "part time" system. Having that option makes it the best 4wd system, IMHO.

I own a 2003 4runner with a v8. It has a permanent 4wd system with a locking center diff. Imo it's the best system out there.