2006-08-07 03:07:55 · 32 answers · asked by Fatboy_Howie 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
The designation "4X4" was "borrowed" from the classification system for Class 8 trucks. (What most people call "semi-truck" or "semi-tractors.") The first number designates the total number of axle ends, while the second number designates the number of drive axle ends.
Thus on a typical semi truck, they are designated as 6X4's. That is, there are 6 axle ends, the front two are "steer only" and the rear 4 are drive ends. Some semis are 6X2's with the front being the steer axle, the rear is the drive axle, and the center are "tag" or "tag-a-long" axles.
You have to say "axle ends" because the rear axles have dual wheels. So, there are actually 10 wheels, but only 6 axle ends.
So, on a 4X4 you have a truck with 4 axle ends, and 4 drive wheels.
The auto industry does call 2 wheel dive trucks "4X2's" so it is okay to do that. You can also designate them as 2WD for "Two Wheel Drive"
Note that pick up trucks with dual rear wheels (typically 1 ton trucks) are still called "4X4's" even though they have 6 wheels. Again you are only looking at the "axle ends."
The "4X4" has nothing to do with the number of doors or transmission speeds. 4X4's can be 2 door, 4 door, or in some years 3 doors. They can have 4 speed transmissions, 5 speed, 6 speed, automatics, standard, it doesn't matter.
2006-08-07 03:22:13 · answer #1 · answered by zipperneck5 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's quite simply a technical term that has made it's way into everyday language:
if you have a car with 4 wheels and the engine turns two of these (as is the way with most cars) you have a 4 (wheels) x 2 (being powered)
And of course now you have read that - you'll know that a 4x4 has 4 wheels and 4 of them are being powered.
The idea behind it is that these cars may get one wheel stuck or off the ground on a certain gradient, and as a result a 4x2 would get stuck.
I've added this after reading ratboys effort down below - that is so far from the truth it's funny - it's nothing to do with transmission. If that is the case, then he is wanting all cars to have 4 gears?! We don't think so!
2006-08-07 03:14:08 · answer #2 · answered by Haggis B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A vehicle has 4 wheels.
Most are called 2x4 which means, 2 of the 4 wheels are power producing wheels. 4x4 translates as 4 wheels that produce power. Now 4x4's are 2x4's unless put into 4x4 mode.
AWD is all wheel drive meaning all the wheels are giving power at all time.
2006-08-07 03:13:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Vehicles with four wheels, all of which are, or can be, driven are 4x4s. Vehicles with four wheels of which only two are driven are 4x2s. Vehicles with six wheels all of which are driven are 6x6s.....I guess you get the idea.
The first figure is the number of wheels, the second figure is the number that are, or can be, driven to propel it. On some off-roaders all the wheels are driven all the time, so they are dubbed full-time or permanent all-wheel-drive systems. Others have a selectable system whereby the non-driven axle (usually the front, but not always) is only engaged when required.
I hope that helps. It's probably more info than you wanted, but once I get started ................ I can't help myself.
2006-08-11 05:16:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone so far seems to have missed the answer. The reason it's called a 4x4 is because it has four wheel drive AND a four speed transmission.
2006-08-07 03:16:44 · answer #5 · answered by ratboy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Four wheels with each wheel receiving power. That means there are four wheels and four locations at which power is transferred to the pavement. A 4x2 has four wheels, but only 2 provide power.
You can ave all sorts of combinations (6x4, 6x6) but only 4x2 and 4x4 are used commonly to describe vehicles.
FWD, RWD, AWD, and 4WD are used to describe which wheels are providing the power, with front wheel drive the most common in cars today, rear wheel drive preferred in sports and race car, all wheel drive being an ONroad adpatation to slick conditions, and 4 wheel drive being useful offroad.
2006-08-07 03:13:24 · answer #6 · answered by But why is the rum always gone? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All 4 wheels are used to drive the car forward
2006-08-07 03:11:46 · answer #7 · answered by dnlrawson 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The real term should be 4x4x2 or 4x4x4 which means 4 wheels fitted, 4 wheels drive and 2 or 4 wheels steer respectively.
I also have a 2x2x2, but its a bit of a tank.
2006-08-13 09:01:34 · answer #8 · answered by rookethorne 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because most cars are only motored by 2 wheels mainly the front ones 4x4s are motored by all 4 wheels.
2006-08-07 03:12:09 · answer #9 · answered by Twiggie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they have the capability of driving all four wheels but not at the same time they only have two driving at any set time so they should really be called partime four wheel drive unless they have differential locks then they would be three wheel drives
2006-08-07 03:15:32 · answer #10 · answered by shane b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋