Watch as the basic mechanics and features of four-wheel drive vehicles are explained and tested at the All Terrain 4×4 training course.
Four-wheel drives are named as such and function differently from other cars for a pretty straightforward reason… Power is sent to all four wheels. It’s a fundamental feature that allows these vehicles to traverse terrains unimaginable to your daily hatchback or sedan.
However, while a four-wheel drive system is imperative to off-road capability, there are numerous other features that allow these cars to crawl through mud, over rocks, and across rivers. Namely, your differential locks, low-range gearbox, and – in more modern off-roaders – traction control systems.
In late May, my colleague and I took an off-road training course with All Terrain 4×4. In part 1 of the video series, the various driving modes are explained and tested, as we are shown the difference between two-wheel and four-wheel drive, the effect of traction control, and the power of low-range gears and a rear differential lock.
Thanks to Deon Joubert Racing and ISUZU Motors, we tackled the training course in the latest 3.0L ISUZU D-Max LSE 4X4.
