Yes, it has the same AWD system like in the '96 to '01 V8 Explorers with AWD.

 

Not sure if its exactly the same setup but my mom had a 2001 Olds Bravada a few years back. The Stabilitrac (spelling?) all wheel drive setup was alright around here in Northern Iowa in a few inches of snow. I did not like the fact that the Olds had no manual control over the transfer case at all. There was a few times the Olds got stuck where I think it wouldn't of if it had the option of a transfer case with 4lo.

I agree with a few others on here that the auto all wheel drive setups souldn't be standard equipment but rather an option for those who like to "idiot proof" things.

I still prefer my manual transfer case and my warn manual lockout hubs. I get a little uneasy with electronic and vacuum actuated hubs, nothing like having your hubs crap at the worse posible time and ending up stuck in 2wd.

I think some of you fellas need to give your signifigant others a little more credit, if I could teach my girlfriend to get out and lock the hubs and how to use 4hi and 4lo anyone can.

 

I've got a friend with an older Bravada that he runs studded snow tires on, and it does REALLY well. He works construction and uses the bravada as a DD and his 08 F350 (wich does REALLY POOR)stays home. My gf has a 99 pathfinder that she bought new and has never had it in 4lo though she does use 4hi in the snow

 

The Subaru vicious differentials are a great setup for AWD. Virtually no torque bind and AWD is available at any time.

With Blizzaks on ours, I use it to go Ice Fishing. Was pushing snow with the bumper last year on Pike Lake. 14" of Snow and Ice, no problem.

 

How true sir, reps sent!

My '88 as you all know is all truck and old fashioned by todays standards. I had to engage everything on it for my wife as she couldn't grasp the concept of locking front axles and then moving a shift lever to the appropriate or desired T-case setting.

Many of todays 4x4's and quasi AWD's are no more complex to operate than turning on the blower to enhance heat or A/C.

How did we ever survive differential road conditions prior to the '90's?

Tim

 

And then the wife gets tot the grocery store makes a turn to get into the one empty spot, and it binds BIG TIME. Its 2009, time for something better.

I have a coulpe Gm driving friends that would'nt mind a F150 but not having that auto option is a deal killer.... so far.

I had a 2000 Explorer with the auto and believe me the Gm system works better than that system.

Its just damn handy when its 31d and raining and in icy in spots...

 

I gotta say Jeep has the best Full Time cases I've ever experienced. Even my 83 Cherokee(SJ FSJ not XJ) had a full time 4x4 50/50 split with no center locker so you could use it on the highway, man it was awesome. The only downfall was if things got sticky 4hi all time wasn't enough so you would just have to go to 4 low.

The Qudra-Trac II that the Jeep Grand Cherokees have is really sweet too. The XJ Cherokee's(and I think Liberty) had an available Selc-Trac transfer case with 4hi,N,4all time 4lo, 4 all time had a 48/52 split that was intended for highway use I'm not sure if it locked in the center or not.

I think if Ford had something like Jeep's Selc-Trac it would be to their benifit. I'm not sure but I think Dodge 1/2 tons might use a very similar transfer case to the Selec-Trac.

 

Sorry to resurrect this dinosaur but, I am going crazy reading AWD and 4 WD as one in the same in this thread. AWD is not equal to 4WD. I read at least three times that gold believe AWD is where all wheels actually "drive " the vehicle. As in alk have power to them at any point in time. No. AWD is actually one-wheel-drive, only one wheel will have power to it. Power will always take the path of least resistance, so the wheel with the most slip/least weight to our will get the power. This is overcome by traction control systems that can reroute the power flow our by using the breaking system to change the direction of power travel through increasing resistance to the slipping wheel. Only one wheel though. 4WD, is for the most part 2WD. It's just that you will get power to one front and one rear wheel. This is the case as most stock vehicles have open differentials front and rear. Power flow is engine, transmission, transfer case, rear differential. If the transfer case is engaged, (4X4 Auto, 4HI, 4LOW) then power leaving the t-case will go to front and rear differentials and from the diffs it will go to the wheel with the most slip. This can also be over coffee by installing limited-slip, or locking differentials, as well as through a braking type traction control.