Is an AWD a 4WD?

To clarify things... I know an AWD is not a 4WD in any other sense of the word, I'm not that stooooopid. Question relates purely to the raod traffic act interpretation.
Fab.

In Australia the term AWD normally refers to a road car that has all four wheels driving - like an Audi Quattro, a WRX, Liberty etc. These are generally characterised with low ground clearance, road tyres and no marketing that relates to off road.

In 4wd vehicles there are usually two groups - softroaders and full 4wds.

Softroaders may be part time or full time 4wd and generally characterised with a little more ground clearance than onroad vehicles but no low range. They may be quite competent off road bit are usually restricted by ground clearance and hill climbing ability.

Full 4wds have ground clearance, low range and are generally more competent off road.

In the circumstances you are talking about softroaders and full 4wds would be considered to be 4wds but as always the capabilities of the vehicles needs to be considered compared to the terrain being driven on - softroaders go very well in sandy/desert areas but do not like slow steep climbs where low range is needed.

I would say that awd road cars do not count as 4wds as far as legislation is concerned.

Garry

Gday,
Yes.....If it has 4 wheels and they are all being driven its a 4wd.




For rego purposes...probably not.

What is a HJ60 Landcruiser without the hubs locked in? A 2wd or a 4wd in 2wd. What if the front diff broke? A 2wd with a lift kit or an off road 2wd?

Whats a WRX with a lift kit? 4wd or still awd?
How high do you go before it officially becomes an off road 4wd?

Or is it all determined my make/model?


You could argue the point till the cows come home....
But a 4 wheeled vehicle with all wheels being driven is a 4wd.... whether or not its off road or not is up to the driver.

lol
Cheers

I doubt the road transport people would check, or care greatly for that matter. But make a claim for damage from your insurance company and they may look a little closer to determine whether the vehicle should have been there or not, and whether the road conditions were a mitigating factor in the accident.

Also is it a traffic directive or traffic advisory that is on the SA Transport web-site?

Cheers, The Landy

Hi Fab72

You better look into this properly, yes AWD & 2WD vehicles are able to travel these roads if the conditions are good. I was told that when the roads are closed it a $1000 fine per wheel. Not sure if the same applies to your question, but it is expensive if you are wrong.

Wato35

The way I would interpret open to 4wd only sign is to protect the stupid.
In otherwords if you take a 2wd on a 4wd only road than you could suffer vehicle damage in regards to low clearence, inadequate grip easy bogged etc.
If you have a 2wd and get stuckl and ask for help you will not get any sympathy from the powers to be and would most likey have to pay for any rescue and get a talking to.


honky

This is one of the best topics and always gets a lot of feedback.

Now ignore free wheeling hubs, variable torque centre diffs etc etc.

AWD has the ability to provide drive to one of the 4 wheels at any given time.

4WD has the ability to provide drive to one front and rear wheel at any given time. (centre diff lock).

My daughter Subaru Imprezza is an all wheel drive, but jack up one wheel and it don't go anywhere. (no lockable centre diff).

My Landcruiser is an All Wheel Drive and the same applies with one wheel off the ground, but I can lock the centre diff = 4WD and off she goes.

Subaru Outback and Forrester are 4WD Captiva and Territory AWD most police or State authorities would know that.

Thanks to all.
I am very aware of my vehicles limitations and having been on a pre trip scout out to the Birdsville track as far up as the Cooper, I have a fair idea what to expect.

Will I venture with my Captiva to the Simpson Dessert? Yeah sure...well to the base of big red and that's about it. I'm very mindful of the safety of my vehicles occupants, others safety and the fact that the car will still have about 6000kms in front of it to do, plus the additional load it will be carrying.

I'm not out to set any "hero records", but I do want to travel the length of the Birdsville track LEGALLY.

If it dries up and reopens to all traffic, then my question will be null and void. If however, the track keeps getting top up rain, I may have to look into this further.

$1000 per wheel....YIKES! I hope they don't count spares as well...LOL.

Thanks again and keep the posts coming.

Fab.

yes they do count spares

In all reality they were driving cars up and down these and similar tracks back in the 1920’s, and that isn’t to say they had an easy run of it.

But today, we have far more capable and reliable vehicles (yes debateable I know!) and everyone worries about whether it is suitable, and that isn’t a go at those responding here...just an observation of the pen pushers, and do-gooders trying to ‘protect’ us.

Tom Kruse was doing it in the ‘Badger’ in the 1950’s on a track that looks nothing like the track we see today....

Image Could Not Be Found

Litigation lawyers and many of their clients have a lot to answer for in my opinion; they’ve managed to turn the world into a place where even walking from the front-door of your house to the letter-box and back is considered dangerous and something to be protected from!

Ah...fell better now!

Cheers, The Landy

How does this Hyundai AWD transmission compare to the drivability of true 4wd's ?

They have an electronically-controlled on demand AWD, including driver selectable centre differential lock for 50/50 front/rear, with a 6 speed automatic with electronic sequential manual mode gearbox.

Not interested in comments on height or ride etc, at this time, just the way the transmission works ?

Would it be suitable for launching and retrieving a 4mt tinni off the beach ?

Hyundai ix35 AWD

Maîneÿ . . .

just a little story...

went to the snow once with a mate in his Mazda 323 Turbo 1.6L DOHC Full Time Four Wheel Drive (that's about what the stickers down it's flanks said) which had a good 4" clearance and low profile performance tyres. They were fitting chains to non 4WD's and when the ranger came over my mate said "it's 4WD, do we have to fit chains" and he let us through. Thankfully the little Mazda ploughed it's way through the snow the rest of the way to the carpark and we didn't end up looking like jackassses, stuck somewhere!

Hi Fab,

I would think that the only problem you are likely to be confronted with is ground clearance, some of the tracks in the desert have been cut up this winter due to the wet, and you "might" get stuck. If you have recovery gear with you, there will always be someone who would help you out. Just make sure you have your recovery gear with you, and not left in the caravan park.... LOL... it does happen!


"Once met a bloke who bragged about getting nearly all the way across the Simpson in 2WD in his Toyota L/C. I thought this practice was illegal, if not immoral because it tears the tracks up. "

Not illegal, dunno about immoral.... I wouldn't brag about it, but it depends on the vehicle and the drivers capability. I towed my Tvan across the desert last month, wets to east, did most of it in 2wd. Not the wet area's or the dunes, but a lot of the easier stuff was 2wd. Only to conserve fuel, not to be a hero. 16psi all round, careful track reading and common sense got us through.

Enjoy it out there mate.... it is truly awesome!!

Cheers

Brian