4WD vs. AWD. What's the Difference?

Re:4WD vs. AWD. What's the Difference? by anexprogrammer on Saturday August 27, 2016 @02:14PM (#12373465)

That doesn't seem that bad for normal traffic, conditions permitting - unless the steeper gradients are markedly so. I'm sure they have their reasons for 4wd only though - picking too many tourists out of the ditches or whatever.

There's quite a few roads in the UK with 1:4 gradient, and one just down the road from me at 1:3 whose only restriction is no trucks and vans. Going downhill on the motorbike makes it feel like you're falling off! :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardknott_Pass

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Re:4WD vs. AWD. What's the Difference? by abraae on Saturday August 27, 2016 @04:44PM (#12374084)

Here in New Zealand we lay claim to the steepest street in the world at 1:2.86 gradient https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Street.

There's an annual charity event that involves the rolling of over 30,000 Jaffas (spherical confectionery-coated chocolate confectionery) down the hill.

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Re:4WD vs. AWD. What's the Difference? by markdown on Sunday August 28, 2016 @05:02AM (#12375864)

How have I not heard of this event? Sounds similar to (and less dangerous than) cheese rolling.

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Re:4WD vs. AWD. What's the Difference? by Doctor_Fegg on Saturday August 27, 2016 @03:46PM (#12373858)

There are roads in Spain with 1:4 gradient, too. 200 of the world's best cyclists rode up some of them in today's stage of the Vuelta a Espana. I'm no slouch cycling up hills but my jaw dropped seeing today's footage...

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