4WD Truck and 4x4 Myths: The Truth about Four Wheel Drive

When it comes to 4WD trucks, SUV's, and 4x4's in general (as it often does here), there are a lot of myths and misconceptions floating around out there. Many of those 4WD myths are perpetrated by the very companies that manufacture and market four wheel drive vehicles (just look at the commercials) and many more live on as 4x4 urban legends in the minds of 4WD, SUV, and 4x4 vehicle enthusiasts, new and veteran alike.

Once again, it's time to attempt to dispel some of the myths surrounding 4WD vehicles, for the simple reason that they can be harmful--to you, your ego, and your 4WD vehicle. We've compiled this partial list of five of the most common 4WD Truck and 4x4 Myths based on our collective personal experience.

There's a good chance you'll have a few of your own 4WD myths to add to this list as well. So don't hold back--post your 4WD Truck and 4x4 Myths by commenting below. We'll get things started with the first five:

Myth #1: Four wheel drive is 4 Wheel drive
This myth persists, mostly among the new and uninitiated 4x4 owners. But your 4x4 is not really a 4x4 unless it has front and rear differential lockers. With open differentials (fitted on about 90% of new 4x4's) only one wheel receives power at a time in 2WD. Shift to 4WD and only two wheels will receive power at a time (one front and one rear). As many a 'nube four wheeler has discovered, a 4WD is really only 2WD--until the differentials are locked or equipped with a limited-slip.

Myth #2: More Power Means Better Off Road Performance
One of the most annoying 4x4 myths, ruthlessly exploited by many 4x4 manufacturers here in North America (come on guys, do we really need V8 4x4's?) is that larger engines with more horsepower mean more capable 4WD vehicles. Nothing could be further from the truth. Off road performance (unless you're in a rally) is all about torque, which delivers traction to the ground. High horsepower simply means more acceleration more quickly, which breaks traction. The best off-road engines have more torque, less horsepower...like small displacement diesel engines, traditionally found in the best 4x4s the world over.

Myth #3: Manual is better than Automatic for off roading
Many four wheelers mistake the pleasure of manually shifting gears with a more capable 4x4 vehicle. Not true. Automatic transmissions are 'torque converters' and torque is what's needed most off road. By smoothly converting torque into acceleration, automatic transmissions provide more control and traction in low traction, low speed situations. So while there are other advantages to a manual tranny (such as jumpy starting) off road capability isn't one of them.

Myth #4: You can stop faster in the snow/ice with four wheel drive
Being Canadian, this 4x4 myth is one I see every winter: aggressive young 4x4 drivers think that by pushing the "4WD" button on their dash board they become unaffected by the laws of physics on slippery roads. Four wheel drive only provides increased traction for acceleration, not deceleration. It can improve steering on slippery (slick, slippy: in Canada it's 'slippery') roads which gives the illusion of greater stopping power, but it's not the case: when trying to stop, you'll slide just as easily with 4WD as with 2WD.

Myth #5: Lift kits improve off-road performance and capability
Excluding rock crawling and 4WD competitions, there is only one thing a lift kit can do for a 4WD vehicle: enable the fitment of larger off-road tires. While larger tires can have a positive impact on off road performance, a capable driver with the proper kit will do just as well in a stock height vehicle outfitted with decent off-road tires--without the negative impact of a higher centre of gravity caused by excessive lift. Also, the amount of clearance obtained from most lifts isn't enough to clear those day-stopping trail obstacles (trees, ditches, holes, boulders, etc.) which will have to be avoided or removed anyway.

Share a 4x4 Myth: there are many more, so add your 4x4 myths the list by posting a comment below. If we compile enough maybe the manufacturers will stop perpetuating them!