http://www.vtconnection.com/drive-shaft-2/
Why Four Wheel Drive Cars are Safe Off Road
It’s not hard to believe that Ferdinand Porsche had something to do with inventing the 4WD car. Porsche is credited with inventing the first 4WD vehicle in 1900 for an Austrian truck manufacturer. Some records show the year was 1899, but regardless of the year the first 4WD vehicle had electric hub motors on each wheel and the engine powered a generator for the energy supply. Porsche’s ingenious 4WD design was used by NASA seventy years later to power the wheels of the first lunar landing vehicle.
The first mechanical 4WD vehicle was built by the Dutch company Jacobus Spyker in 1902. It had a transfer case and drive shaft so it is considered the first 4WD car. The world’s first automaker Daimler Benz started producing 4WD cars in 1903, and the first United States 4WD vehicle was built in 1911 by the Four Wheel Drive auto company (FWD). FWD designed vehicles for the military during the First World War.
Although the first 4WD cars were geared toward truck and military use, a technological transformation process has taken place over the years. Today, four wheel drive cars are designed to look like their 2WD siblings, but they act like their 4WD truck cousins. The advantages of driving a 4WD vehicle start in the wheels, which are the focal point in these new road and off road warriors, but there are other features that compliment the performance of the four wheels. Most 4WD cars provide excellent service without a lot of high cost maintenance.
Driving a 4WD car has a number of great advantages. Regardless of the road conditions a four wheel drive car will avoid wheel slip which is an important feature in off road performance. Mud and ice are no match for the traction action of a 4WD drive car. Control in unusual conditions is another advantage that most drivers ignore until they need it. A 4WD car handles like a dream when the roads get rough and the trail becomes a rock infested nightmare. Lift kits are available to improve performance when off road traveling is a daily necessity or when traveling in the outback becomes a monthly family outing.
Another important advantage is the towing ability of a 4WD car. The unsuspecting who venture out in the nether-world in 2WD vehicles often have to be towed back to civilisation, and that can be an expensive lesson unless they are fortunate enough to have a four wheel drive car companion that can tow them back to safety. The towing ability of a 4WD also comes in handy when boats, trailers, and other possessions have to be moved from one point to another.
The safety features incorporated in 4WD cars make them reliable off road mates. The anti-lock braking system, performance suspension systems, interior safety features, larger rims and exterior lights all contribute to off road car safety.
Enjoy Off Road Fun In A 4WD Car that Thinks It’s a 4WD Truck
Some folks can’t put their thoughts around driving a 4WD truck because of its size and the cumbersome handling issues, but those same folks have no problem driving a 4WD car that offers better control, easy maneuverability, lower maintenance and repair costs, and all the safety features of 2WD drive cars. Take a trip to Mannum Caravan Park, Barossa Caravan Park, Lake Albert Caravan Park, or Nutt Bush Retreat Caravan Park and enjoy all the thrills of a 4WD truck in a 4WD car. The world around Australia is filled with magnificent natural wonders. They patiently wait to be experienced by adventuresome mates who jump off the ledge of 2WD limitations, and enter the free falling, but safe world of 4WD car excitement.
About the Author
Hugh McInnes really enjoys driving an off road car because of the adventure sensation it can provide. After trying many four wheel drive cars, Hugh has been researching about its background, high-performance and safety.
Drive Shaft: “You All Everybody”
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03 YAMAHA BIG BEAR 400 USED DRIVE SHAFT $59.95 |
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Arctic Cat El Tigre 5000 1979 front track drive shaft sprockets snowmobile $24.95 |
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Front Driver Side 1993-2002 Ford Mazda V-6 Non-ABS CV Axle Drive Shaft -USA Made $49.99 |
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97 98 99 00 01 FORD EXPLORER REAR DRIVE SHAFT $150.00 |
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04 Honda VT1100 C2 VT 1100 C2 Sabre Drive Shaft w/ Knuckle $95.00 |
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honda sc550 nighthawk 1983 drive shaft #04753 $22.50 |
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honda sc550 nighthawk universal u joint boot drive shaft boot #04752 $9.00 |
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CORVETTE DRIVE SHAFT 1975 – 1978 NOS $150.00 |
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Jeep cj8 Scrambler rear drive shaft $49.99 |
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Farmall M Super M Driveshaft $9.99 |
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POLARIS Track Drive Shaft Driveshaft Indy 500 Trail XCF 440 Classic 1997 1590250 $125.00 |
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Arctic Cat Crossfire 600 700 Driveshaft drive cogs $50.00 |
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NEW! Hot Bodies Drive Shaft 42mm (2) 61244 NIB $8.39 |
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79? 80 81? 82? ARCTIC CAT ELTIGRE 500 EL TIGRE 6000 TRACK DRIVE AXLE COGS SHAFT $45.00 |
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86 1986 KAWASAKI ZG1200 ZG 1200 VOYAGER DRIVE SHAFT $30.00 |
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JEEP FRONT AXLE SHAFT 10 SPLINE DRIVE FLANGE DANA 25 27 EACH $28.99 |
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ARP 154-7906 – ARP Oil Pump Driveshaft Kits $15.00 |
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ARP 154-7902 – ARP Oil Pump Driveshaft Kits $15.00 |
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ARP 154-7901 – ARP Oil Pump Driveshaft Kits $15.00 |
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94 95 96 97 98 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY FRONT DRIVE SHAFT $100.00 |
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94 95 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP REAR DRIVE SHAFT $110.00 |
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MERCURY Upper Drive Shaft Cover Trim Housing 1974 85hp $39.00 |
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NEW! Thunder Tiger Drive Shaft Set Mini Titan E325v2 FBL PV1277 NIB $5.99 |
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NEW! Traxxas Steel Drive Shaft Kit Jato 5551X NIB $39.99 |
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91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 LAND CRUISER FRONT DRIVE SHAFT $75.00 |
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Willys Jeep CJ2A CJ3A Rear Drive Shaft $47.00 |
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99-01 02 03 04 05 06 07 SILVERADO 1500 REAR DRIVE SHAFT $150.00 |
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93 94 95 96 97 98 LAND CRUISER REAR DRIVE SHAFT $90.00 |
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88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 FORD F150 FRONT DRIVE SHAFT $100.00 |
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94-97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 S10 PICKUP FRONT DRIVE SHAFT $85.00 |
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89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 FORD E250 REAR DRIVE SHAFT $175.00 |
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90-96 300zx Z32 REBUILT REMAN DRIVESHAFT 5 SPEED NA 2+0 VG30DE NON-TURBO $99.99 |
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96-98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 S10 BLAZER REAR DRIVE SHAFT $85.00 |
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Drive Shaft Center Support Meyle 42706019500 $64.65 |
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4T65E GM Transmission Pump / Turbine Drive Shaft with teflon seal ring $10.00 |
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Drive Shaft Center Support Meyle 42706018500 $35.53 |
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98 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY REAR DRIVE SHAFT DISCOVERY $100.00 |
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OEM DRIVE SHAFT GSX-R600W 92-93 GSX-R750W 93-95 RF600R 94-96 24131-17E10 $89.99 |
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USED 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Drive Shaft Assembly $80.00 |
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89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 TRACKER FRONT DRIVE SHAFT $110.00 |
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Used Ariens 10ML60 7-10M drive spindle shaft bearing housing 10267 01026700 $53.10 |
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Rear Drive Shaft XJ6 wo/Supercharged Option 1995 96 $150.00 |
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Front Driver Side 1993-2002 Mazda 4-Cyl Manual Trans Non-ABS CV Axle Drive Shaft $49.99 |
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Used Ariens 10ML60 7-10M splined drive shaft 10223 54039 30310 30850 01022300 $22.50 |
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2003 POLARIS SPORTSMAN 500 HO FRONT DRIVE SHAFT $25.00 |
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02 YAMAHA XLT 800 MID SHAFT COUPLER drive shaft xl gp stock oem XLT800 #9 $129.99 |
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JOHNSON EVINRUDE OMC DRIVESHAFT HOUSING BEARING 322018 $7.19 |
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TRACTOR PART NO: 960-0234. Bearing support kit for AB3 & AB4 series drive shaft. $16.20 |
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Rear Drive Shaft Montero Sport 3.0 4X4 2001 02 03 $100.00 |
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TRACTOR PART NO: 960-0101. Bearing support kit for AB1 series drive shaft. $13.82 |
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VW Polo Mk 6 1.2 Driveshaft Passenger Side 2002 $63.15 |
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E FLITE BLADE 400 TAIL ROTOR SHAFT AND DRIVE PULLEY (2) $5.20 |
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Jensen Healey – Driveshaft $55.00 |
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Tecumseh BVS143 Auto Drive Shaft from Crankshaft $15.73 |
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POLARIS SPORTSMAN 500 COMPLETE LEFT REAR CV AXLE DRIVE SHAFT 4X4 $119.95 |
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John Deere BM17628 Drive Shaft Counter Balance Wheel $649.00 |
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DODGE REAR DRIVE SPEEDO DRIVEN GEAR 1.5″ SHAFT 35 TOOTH ORANGE – ELECTRIC TYPE $25.00 |
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Polaris Fusion 900 700 Driveshaft Cogs $69.00 |
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Kohler KT17QS 17HP Engine Flywheel Drive Shaft Driveshaft Cup Coupler Hub M83040 $80.00 |
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Cub Cadet clutch drive shaft coupler pulling tractor 4 1/2″ long $10.50 |
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ARCTIC CAT TRACK DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY 0728-028 NEW! $147.99 |
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PROTON COUPE DRIVESHAFT BOOT KIT GAITER (STRETCH) $5.52 |
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Quicksilver Mercury 402 40 50 70 Boat Long Drive Shaft 77389A2 $279.99 |
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Traxxas 5459 Drive Shaft Rubber Boots (2) NEW E-Revo Brushless $1.93 |
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#32 LEXUS IS300 42340-30120 REAR DRIVE SHAFT AXLE DRIVER L SIDE 2001-2005 OEM $80.00 |
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84 Honda Nighthawk CB700 CB 700 SC Rear Shaft Drive E8 1984 $29.99 |
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84 Honda Nighthawk CB700 700 Shaft Drive Bevel Gear C6 CB 1984 $24.99 |
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02 YAMAHA XLT 800 JET PUMP impeller DRIVE SHAFT xl gp stock oem XLT800 #9 $199.99 |
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BMW 528i 525i 530i 99 00 01 02 03 DRIVESHAFT SUPPORT AT $14.25 |
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05 06 GMC ENVOY Factory Rear Drive Shaft Assembly (113″ WB), 4×2, 4.2L V-6 $250.00 |
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1100 Honda Shadow AERO VT1100C3 chrome driveshaft cover $42.95 |
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Can Am Outlander 650 HO EFI 07 Front Drive Shaft U Joint $94.99 |
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_2003-to-2006_MDX_Front_LEFT_Driveshaft__nEw__Acura__CV_Axle_Shaft__Driver_side $99.95 |
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DRIVE Shaft Gearbox for 150cc GY6 Engine $32.99 |
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HP INDIGO DRIVE SHAFT ASSY CA245-12530 $149.99 |
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MERCEDES BENZ W211 E350 DRIVE SHAFT E550 OEM $280.00 |
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03-06 DODGE RAM 1500 2500 NEW DRIVESHAFT CARRIER CENTER BEARING MOPAR OEM $143.86 |
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KAWASAKI 1500 DRIFTER DRIVE SHAFT COVER $84.95 |
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Citroen CX RH driveshaft $18.97 |
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1995 suzuki king quad front diff drive shaft u joint $99.99 |
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HONDA BIG RED ATC 250 ES REAR DRIVE SHAFT GOOD SHAPE $45.00 |
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BOTH Front 1993-2002 Ford Mazda 4-Cyl Manual Trans Non-ABS CV Axle Drive Shaft $94.99 |
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Rear DriveShaft Axle CV 98-04 Audi A6 quattro drive $49.99 |
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CUB CADET 2185 18HP KOHLER DRIVE SHAFT MOUNT $24.99 |
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Vintage Glenwood prop shaft strut v-drive boat $15.00 |
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1965-1972 CHEVELLE DRIVESHAFT W/ FINE SPLINE YOKE $50.00 |
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Volvo New Aft Drive Shaft Center Carrier Brg Support 740 760 780 940 960 1340501 $15.99 |
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Volvo NOS Driveshaft Center Carrier Bearing Support 1800 122 140 675367 $10.99 |
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03 NISSAN 350Z G35 REAR DRIVE SHAFT 04 05 06 $119.99 |
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Driveshaft Support MERCEDES 300CE 300D 300E 300SDL 300SE 300SEL 300TD 300TE E320 $25.99 |
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CUB CADET 2185 DRIVE SHAFT FAN $14.99 |
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OEM NOS DRIVE SHAFT GSF 1200S 1997 2000 GSX-R1100 1989 1992 24131-40C11 $119.99 |
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CUB CADET 2185 DRIVE SHAFT CUPPLER $14.99 |
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96-00 TOYOTA RAV 4 DRIVER SIDE CV AXLE DRIVESHAFT $59.99 |
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YAMAHA YMF 350,400 KODIAK REAR DRIVESHAFT #2HR-46172-01 87-98 $30.00 |
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NOS HONDA FINAL DRIVE SHAFT OIL SEAL 1979 GL1000 GL 1000 35x52x8 91263-371-006 $24.95 |
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Mercedes Front Drive Shaft Center Support $27.09 |
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NEW Jeep TJ Wrangler Rear drive shaft 97-02 2.5 Auto 4. $200.00 |
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2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Rear Driveshaft $105.00 |
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88-92 Ford Probe 626 MX6 NEW CV Drive Shaft Axle $49.95 |