Braking on snow w/ 4wd
 

A guy on another forum I frequent claims that engaging 4wd on his dakota allows him to brake better and slip less while on snow. Many users have tried to teach him some physics but he cannot comprehend science. He continues to claim engaging his 4wd system helps him brake better on snow, and that if we all dont notice it with our 4wd vehicles, it must be because we aren't driving a dakota. So dakota owners... settle the debate:

Does engaging your 4wd system help you brake more effectively on snow?

RE: Braking on snow w/ 4wd
 

Thats pretty much one of the dumbest things Ive ever heard..

Almost sounds like this guy is just trying to rile people up on purpose....who knows though.

RE: Braking on snow w/ 4wd
 

Yes, he's an idiot. He really believes it and tells us we don't know because we don't have dakotas. Anyone else want to tell him he's a moron? I'll link the other forum here once a few more people respond.

RE: Braking on snow w/ 4wd
 

The olny way I could see that helping while braking is if you downshift and engine brake so tranny helps you brake at both axles.

RE: Braking on snow w/ 4wd
 

He probley thinks when 4WD is engaged all 4 wheels are driving wheels, so better traction but only 2Wd are driving but I still think thats ridiculous.

RE: Braking on snow w/ 4wd
 

I'll give him a little credit but only because with 4WD engaged your wheels generally stay pointed in the direction you intended, and since brakes and tires only apply force against the road surface and work against momentum when the wheels are pointed in the right direction (the direction that makes them roll and not slide sideways) then it does give you some advantage at least when compared to jamming the brakes and not staying straight in line with your momentum.

--Matt

RE: Braking on snow w/ 4wd
 

wow, so some of you actually agree with him?

he doesnt try to make any explanations, he just says i notice it brakes better on snow when in 4wd. we tried to explain to him that the coefficient of friction between the tires and the snow doesnt change when 4wd is engaged, so he tells us it must be a dakota thing.

RE: Braking on snow w/ 4wd
 

lol does this mean he stops better in mud too?

RE: Braking on snow w/ 4wd
 

This guy is a complete idiot, anyone that lives in a snowy state should know that while 4wd will help you get going better it does NOT change how your brakes work. I'm from Maine and when you take driver's ed there they hammer that into you because many people get false confidence from the 4wd and go too fast for conditions. They don't realize their mistake till they need to stop...

Ask him to explain how 4wd works, if he actually gets it correct then ask him how the brakes are tied into it. Either he'll figure it out or (far more likely) just make himself seem like a b***er idiot...

Edited for clarity.

RE: Braking on snow w/ 4wd
 

^ we have tried that. he says "i dont know or care how it works. i just know that when i put it in 4wd i brake better on snow. it must be a dakota thing."


that's why im looking to see what dakota owners say. i know hes wrong, i just want him to read from another source.