Difference between 4 x4 wheel & 2 wheel drive Cars

4×4 wheel & 2 wheel drive Cars: Uganda is a destination with all types of roads leading to different regions of the country. Varying from marrum roads, hill hugging roads to flat terrain roads. All these roads are haulable by both 4×4 and 4×2 wheel drive vehicles.

A 4×4 pass through all roads but a 4×2 cannot manage all. Especially muddy terrains, that’s why most of road trippers prefer adventures by 4×4 Wheel drive Vehicles.

To be on safe side for your Uganda Self-drive Safaris, choose for a 4×4 though some of travelers cannot distinguish between a 4×4 and 4×2.

But this should not be a worry, because Car rentals companies in Uganda only provide 4×4 for self-drive Safaris. Below is the differential highlight about 4×4 and 4×2 wheel drive vehicles.

Many define 4×4 as a term means that all four wheels of the vehicles are turning at the same speed. When it’s navigating but this is not the case. Often the 4×4 wheel vehicle is moving, the outside tires spin faster than the inside tires when compared.

While driving on smooth surfaces, the power from the engine usually goes to the wheel with least amount of traction, therefore the most skidding wheel gets the most power.

This  highly reflected by one of the laws of nature which states that force always takes the path of least resistance.

When a vehicle is in four wheel mode, the front and rear axles  synchronized such that there is at least one wheel on each of the drive axles driven by the power of the engine

If you are experienced driver in a 4×2 vehicle you can easily turn to act like a 4×4 by applying the brake pedals to slow down the wheel that is spinning and this transfers its energy to the wheel with traction.

After all that insight, below is the difference between 4×4 and 4×2 in addition to other terms like part time 4WD, Full time 4WD and automatic four wheel drive.

4×4 (4WD) #4×4 & 2 wheel drive Cars

When you hear about 4×4 vehicles, this means that the vehicle has four wheels in total and there are all driven when the Car is hauling. and many tourists on Uganda safari prefer this kind of vehicle

4 x 2 (2WD)#4×4 & 2 wheel drive Cars

Then a 4×2 wheel vehicle  the one which has four wheels in total but only two are driven. The wheels driven can be in front or back wheels. But most of the two wheel drive vehicles have the back wheels that are driven.

Other Vital terms.

Part-Time 4WD

This means a vehicle with four wheel drive system but usually operates on demand. It powers all the wheels by synchronizing the front and rear axles together via a shift lever. This is more common with automatic Cars.4×4 & 2 wheel drive Cars

This system is designed to be used in special cases when there is need for extra traction like slippery and muddy roads. It’s not advisable to drive the car with part time 4WD via smooth roads when it’s under 4WD, you can cause damages to the gear box.

All-Wheel Drive #4×4 & 2 wheel drive Cars

This is a full time single speed four wheel drive system. It supplies power to all the four wheels and each system has a different front to rear delivery ratio of power.

Full-Time 4WD

A system operated at all times on all surfaces. With this system you have the option of part time operation. So you can shift to two wheel drive while on smooth terrains like pavements, tarmac.

Automatic Four-Wheel Drive

This is common in automatic cars.  Designed to automatically shift to four wheel drives when it’s needed. Automatic cars are fitted with monitors that sense the different wheel speeds while hauling through terrains of different kinds.

Shift on the Fly 4WD #4×4 & 2 wheel drive Cars

Common with manual cars. It allows drivers to manually shift from two wheels to four wheel drive system without stopping on the way. With this system, there is a speed limit at which you have to apply it. It’s actually less than 60 mph.

Vehicles with push button will not shift to 4WD even if you press the button unless you are driving under the required speed.

While for the vehicles with a shift lever, they are unable to sense the speed. Therefore you may shift to 4WD when the speed is still more than the required one, this can cause damages.