Snow Driving with AWD - Ford Forums

Cheech · 12-19-2004, 16:49

Anyone do any driving in this years blizzards ?

Unfortunately, I didn't pick mine up untill after the season had finished.

I'm interested to know how well the AWD with the SUV biased tires aquitted itself when 2WD were fitting chains.

Being from NSW and skiing in NSW, chains are optional on my Terri AWD.

johnydep · 12-19-2004, 17:58

Quote:

We were blessed with 25cm of the white stuff (snow) the night before??
Particularly worthy of comment was the Territory ? as well as going everywhere we pointed it, its dynamic stability control system (standard on AWD) could not be fooled, even with borderline stupid, heavy handed steering and braking.

This was from: AUSTRALIAN 4WD MONTHLY November 2004

KLUGER VS ADVENTRA VS TERRITORY VS OUTBACK

From memory the Adventra was the worse, once they stopped it on a hill the Adventra could not move off again, whereas the Territory was fine.
Teritory off road

Cheech · 12-19-2004, 18:50

Thanks JD. Musta missed this one.

Territory · 12-20-2004, 04:33

The DSC was tuned and refined on ice lakes (and gravel roads). Anyway, it works a treat on ice and snow. There is a heap of detail about it in the Wheels Territory 'behind the scenes' reprint available from dealerships.

chevypower · 12-21-2004, 03:17

I think they still need a rear and centre diff lock though... there's always aftermarket stuff I guess. They say 4wd on most SUVs but they tend to drive a maximum of two at the most crucial moments. (even ones with front locking hubs and low range)

RAPTOR · 12-21-2004, 04:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevypower

I think they still need a rear and centre diff lock though...

No thanks. I'll take the DSC and traction control.
Think of them as electronic diff locks, but better.

It's not a tractor.

Territory · 12-22-2004, 05:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevypower

I think they still need a rear and centre diff lock though... there's always aftermarket stuff I guess. They say 4wd on most SUVs but they tend to drive a maximum of two at the most crucial moments. (even ones with front locking hubs and low range)

Hi chevypower. There is permanent drive to front and rear on Territory. For traction through a slippery environment, and maximum torque to the wheels, yes I'd agree with your suggested mechanical extras. But those items make very little difference to your direction once you start to 'lose it', they just assist with grip and propulsion and it comes down to skill and luck as to whether you can get it back under control.
DSC delivers the electronic equivalent those mechanical features (in a fraction of a second) but the real benefit comes in DSC's main purpose - it literally helps straighten the vehicle toward the direction you are TRYING to go (estimated from steering wheel angle, lateral forces etc etc). It works to regain grip and 'twist' the vehicle automatically toward the direction you intend.

I personally believe it's safety benefits will far outstrip ABS over time.