stuart@ssc-vax.UUCP (Stuart Lewis) (04/20/84)
In regards to the earlier posting in which a net.auto person was considering purchasing a 4 wheel drive vehicle, please allow me to throw out my own com- ments. First, I apologize for not specifically sending to that person as I continued without saving article or author. It was stated that this person had surveyed the Ramcharger, Bronco and Blazer. Consider this: how about looking at the new Jeeps. I personally am not familier with the new ones, but considering the fact that they were named '4 Wheel Drive Truck of the Year' by every 4 wheel magazine in the world, it's certainly worth considering. My brother-in-law used to own a Jeep truck a few years back (I think it was a '74 or there abouts) and that sucker was unstoppable! He had a flatbed on it so he could haul 2 snowmobiles. It had the patented "Quadra-Trac" drive train and he went places in 2-low that the other guys used 4 wheel to get to. He used 4 wheel drive to get places the other guys used 4 wheel drive + chains to get to! I don't think he even bothered to get chains for it. I had been with him on some of those occasions but he told me that once he was going through snow so deep it was nearly up to the hood. Also consider if you really need one and if you will use it on at least a semi- regular basis. If all you're interested in is getting a 4 wheeler that sits 3' off the ground with N size mudders, mag wheels, chrome on everthing in site, fog lamps, driving lamps, neon lamps, winches, c.b.'s with twin whip antennaes, don't bother. You're just wanting something to impress your neighbors. If you're not going to use it, why spend the money. Insurance rates are higher andgas mileage is lower. I have a 2 wheel drive Chev' with a canopy and it has proved more than adequate - and I am a real avid outdoorsman and use it a lot. For 4 wheeling, I conned my buddy into buying a 4 wheel drive truck (he could afford it, so what the hell!) and we use his to go snow breaking. Just a few things to consider. No flames intended I hope you understand. I'm sure you know the 4 wheel owners who I'm talking about - you see them every- where. Oh, one other quick note. My oldest brother has owned both 4 wheel drive Blazers (full size) and 4 wheel drive 3/4 ton Chevy trucks. An intersting fact that he noticed was that when it came using the 4 wheel capability, the Blazer was no match for the pick-up under the same situations. He lives in Casper Wyoming where you put your rig in 4 wheel drive in November and dis- engage it in April! __________ | | ------- --------- /Stuart Lewis / / ssc-vax!stuart/ --------- ------- | | ---------- REAL men drive AMERICAN V-8 cars, by God!
hobbit@bnl.UUCP (04/25/84)
*? I own a '74 Blazer. Even so I can see your point about Jeeps. The reason they are usually so capabable off-road is their light weight! You get stuck usually due to a small tire-footprint to weight ratio. I noticed this on the Blazer when driving through mud and finding that the most likely direction I went was down into my own ruts. *However*: when I installed the 38" Hawgs I had much more diff clearance which can make all the difference in the deep stuff. This leads me to believe that it is less the vehicle and more the kind of feet you bolt on your machine... Didja ever notice how the leaf springs on a jeep are mounted *under* the axles? This can give you real problems in swampy places with a lot of tall grass tufts. The less hardware you have hanging down, the better off you'll be. _H* [Washing the mud off *again*]