wha....

 

Last winter here in NYC, we had a bad storm. The streets snow up and they do a terrible job of plowing side streets, some on hills.

Back then all I had for my daily driver was an old 85 z28 camaro with 3.23 posi rear. I managed to get to places and up roads I saw 4x4's stuck on and backing down. Granted I got to the top of those roads sideways, but I got there.

:P

 

i pushed my buddy's '81 Z up a hill like that, with my '82 Omni. 'cause he was actually travelling across the hill, not up it!

 

Ok I dont think im getting my point across clearly. Stopping in 2wd and stopping in 4wd is not the same thing. a 4wds transfer case will alter the ratios of the motor allowing you to you less braking power. Less brakes on ice means more traction. A 2wd you can shift into first but you are still in a higher ratio than in a 4wd so you will need more braking power which could result in less traction.

No matter how you guys cut it a 4x4 will always supercede a 2wd in limited traction situations.

Granted if you 2wd has things like posi lock, limited slips, or even lockers sure your rear wheels may not slip but you still are depending alot on those brakes. Where as in a 4wd you can engage your transfer case which alters your ratios and allows you down shift and use that extra motor braking to help you stay off your brakes.

I had a 2wd and a 4wd cherokee. The ratio on the 2wd was 2:1 the ratio on the 4wd was 4:1 double.

I am not really sure how much you guys offroad or what exactly the people here would consider "offroad" but it just seems that no one is really thinking about how a transfercase actually works and what it does. Its more than just turning 4 wheels at once.

I am not trying to offend anyone and I am not saying 2wd are trash or anything of the sort. I just dont get all the talk about 2wd being the same as a 4wd on ice or on anything for that matter because they are two completly different systems.

 

Physics disagrees with you. You can gear down all day long. You can have 400 wheel drive if you want... the fact of the matter is, once you get on ice, you lose traction. no traction means no stopping. Period.

All motor vehicles need traction for safe steering - 4WD/AWD does not provide extra traction for steering.
All cars need traction for safe braking - 4WD/AWD does not provide extra traction for braking.
Reference
Reference 2

Although everything you said said does pertrain to limited traction. but even in soup mud not traction means no stopping

 

Not sure about you guys but I don't use 4 low on the street. 2 high and 4 high have the same gear ratio.

 

Ok guys whatever im not gonna argue you obviously are not getting the point.

Only thing I can suggest is going offroading. Not behind the dumpster at work but to a actual OHV park. Try a hill in 2wd with limited traction or no traction then try it in 4wd. then try it going down the hill in 2wd and then do it in 4wd. I guess I just have more experience with 4wd than most on here. It really doesn't seem like there is a big offroad following with blazers. Yes I have saw the offroad section.

Again not trying to offend anyone I just can't see how you guys think a 2wd and a 4wd are equals.

 

I dont think the blazers engines have alot of engine braking power, on the street in an icy situation 4wd is not going to help you stop any faster

 

Trying to stop (likely is a controlled stop right) while offroading on mud/rocks/gravel/grass/etc is quite a bit different than panic stopping on snow/ice. Your main premise is that engine braking will help you stop. That is the only benefit of having 4wd engaged. As stated, engine braking is minimal on these trucks unless you drop the shifter down into a lower gear which on snow and ice is a great way to loose control.

Do you agree that your stopping power is directly related to the traction available between the tires and the road?

 

Ok the increased friction of the driveline while in four wheel drive can help in some situations (I have had an fj40 that was strictly and off road rig), but once you put some pressure on the brakes it doesn't make any difference what you are driving. Godd studded tires will help but 2 vs 4 wheel drive has no meaning.