Why We Always Drive in 4WD | UTV Academy

What do you think? How do you decide when to use 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive?

I like to be able to spin the tires. I like throwing the rear end around. 😂

I've been off-roading full-size vehicles specifically Jeeps for over 20 years now and for the most part I stay in two-wheel drive until I need four-wheel drive. My reasoning for this is that it helps prevent me inadvertently getting stuck. If I get stuck in two wheel drive I can always shift into four wheel drive and get out. If I get stuck in four wheel drive I'm stuck.

I'm usually driving in the desert so I like to slide in the corners, but as always, when we come to a hill or rocks I always hit the fun button.

I leave my Talon X4 in 2WD unless I'm in need of more traction. At that point, I know the obstacle is approaching and hit the button the fly. However, I'm also not concerned about having the front wheels active in 4WD (unless on pavement or high traction areas). The rear end of the Talon is always locked and the front differential operation is controlled by the brakes, if I haven't broken the rear end yet, my money says I wont be breaking the front either. Axles on the other hand.........might carry a spare. Be sure and let off the gas if you get the front airborne and come back down with big wheel spin and high traction! Great series guys. I'm going to Moab for the 1st time during Thanksgiving and these tips/ideas have helped!

With my krx the front end is lighter and more flowy in 2wd as there’s less load on the suspension in the front so gliding over bumps and whoops is more enjoyable plus drifting is better generally in 2wd. But for climbing and super steep deff 4wd. Overall more comfy and less choppy with 2wd I’ve felt. Works amazing either way though.

I leave it in 4WD for all the reasons you just mentioned, unless on hard pavement. I don’t think you save much on fuel when in 2WD. My machine is more stable in 4WD as well. I have owned a Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Polaris and this theory holds true with all of them.

4wd all time time in my XRS 2 seater sway bars dropped. Perfect for open desert!

For me I like the when I’m cornering in my trails and the ass end kicks out two totally different feels between 4wd and 2wd. It really depends on what I’m doing if I’m just trying to go from point a to point b as quick as possible then I’ll run 4wd but if I’m giving somebody a ride they tend to freak out a lil more when it’s slipping and sliding all over the place lol

I have an Artic cat wildcat X -- & on trails I use 2 wheel drive but when I blast the sand dunes that 4 wheel works great -- you can climb anything / never get stuck just when coming down from a dune I click it into 2 wheel

I have a canam xrs rr max and run in the dunes 98% of the time when riding. I’m always in 4x4 even with paddles. I have friends that run two wheel drive and they get stuck, when I’m ripping up the soft stuff with no problem. Better control and much better steering. I can Cruise much slower and in control when the dunes are challenging.

Why not give your machine every chance of keeping you out of trouble? I 100% agree with you.

Would your guys recommend driving around in 4wd all the time in an ATV as well? I currently do while on dirt but not on the street when heading to dirt. The only time I take it out of 4wd on dirt is when I think I am running low on fuel. What are your thoughts?

I ride in 2wd all the time. Better gas mileage and less wear and tear. It is so easy to switch my RMax in 4wd when I need it.

I run a Polaris General '22 and I leave it in AWD, just makes sense.

This is all desert talk in western pa it’s all woods riding aka more stress on your front end when using 4wd I only use 4wd in my turbo s when needed

Agreed

Makes sense

I'm not against driving around in 4wheel but you can't compare it to trophy trucks and rally cars because thoughs trucks and cars get new parts whenever something breaks and they do break. My pro r has a good warranty so I'll try it next time I'm at sand hollow.

Always 2wd in the x3 unless rick crawling. I feel like 2wd is better in belt life, allowing the tires to spin a little