Bonanza Trail and Four-Wheel Drive....Continued..

By 

Scott Schwartz

FOUR WHEEL DRIVE…..       

Earlier, I wrote that the Bonanza Trail can be negotiated with a stock four-wheel-drive vehicle.   “Stock” means that no special modifications should be needed in order to safely drive along the trail-and this holds true for the Bonanza Trail at the time that this is being written.  However, many Sport-Utility Vehicles are equipped with “all-wheel drive”, as opposed to “four wheel drive”.  In the literal sense, “four- wheel” and “all- wheel” drive are the same in that power can be delivered to all four wheels for better traction.  The two terms, however, have different meanings in practice.  Most “all-wheel drive” vehicles are designed to be driven primarily on the pavement, with their transfer cases (the second gear box that distributes power to all four wheels) being optimized for traction in the snow, rain, or for limited off-road use.  “Limited off-road use” means travel on terrain that does not require the use of “four wheel drive” or “low range” gearing.  Typically, this means driving on dirt roads, or slightly rocky roads, and along routes that do not require the vehicle to climb steep, rocky or sandy grades. 

“Four- wheel-drive” usually refers to a vehicle with a transfer case that is optimized to provide better traction off -road.  What’s more is that the transfer cases in these vehicles usually have a “Low Range” gear setting.