Who needs four-wheel drive? Offroading in the Golden Era.

[David Conwill]

Studebakers on the Rubicon Trail, c. 1920:

Cut-down ‘34 Ford in the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, c. 1940s-50s.

1929 Ford touring car in Great Britain, present day

Cut-down mid-1920s Ford roadster at the same event

Restored Ford Model A mail truck/snowmobile

Similar Ford Model T

Somewhere, I’ve also seen numerous images of hard-tail Harley-Davidsons in the woods, taken in the early 1950s (one of the bikes is a Hydra-glide), but its reminiscent of many stories from the earliest days of motorcycling right through the introduction of the specialized “dirt bike” in the late-1950s. Unfortunately, I don’t appear to have saved those pictures.

-Dave

 

[Atterbury Dodd]

So cool. I have heard that in the 70's near where I live some crazy hippies had an old flivver down in this hollow with a very rough road. In whet season the old model T was the only car that could get in and out. Must be those narrow wheels...

 

[StraightEight]

Not to diminish the accomplishments of those old cars, but the Rubicon was a much more developed trail in those days, to service the trappers and the Rubicon Springs Hotel.

 

[Paisley]

I've gotten along for over 20 years in Colorado without 4WD (however, I drive only on paved roads and in the alley).

Not a few people don't realize that four-wheel drive doesn't help you stop.

 

[Chasseur]

Not a few people don't realize that four-wheel drive doesn't help you stop.

Having grown up in Alaska I totally agree with that statement, seen it a thousand times...

 

[MPicciotto]

Also most cars now have open differentials. Therefore "4-wheel drive" is really 2 wheel, one in front, one in back. But a locked differential on a car with a good driver can go a lot of places that a "4-wheel drive" can go.

Still cool pics! Love the Dune Scooter

Matt

 

[David Conwill]

Not to diminish the accomplishments of those old cars, but the Rubicon was a much more developed trail in those days, to service the trappers and the Rubicon Springs Hotel.

I did not know that. I'd love to know more.

-Dave

 

[adamjaskie]

My Jeep Cherokee has 4wd but I find it really isn't needed most of the time. I don't do much off-roading but when I do, I tend to leave it in 2wd mode (rear-wheel drive) unless I get stuck. I figure driving around in four just means that when I get stuck, I'll be further into trouble.

 

[NelsAnderson]

Those old cars look so fragile. It's amazing that they held up to that kind of punishment. Though I guess back in the day many of the regular roads were pretty rough too so the cars are apparently tougher than they look.

It's also interesting that they used very little power back in those days. The people who rock crawl today put huge engines in their trucks, but an old Model T Ford only had 20 hp, just as one example.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Up in Northern Maine you'll still find stripped-down Model A's being used as skidders to drag newly-cut logs out of the woods. They're a lot of things, but fragile isn't one of them.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I've gotten along for over 20 years in Colorado without 4WD (however, I drive only on paved roads and in the alley).

I seem do do jsut fine in winter for the most part in my neck of the woods by putting snow tires on my truck. I do have a limited slip in the rear diff though...

 

[Paisley]

I think the 4WD fad has more to do with the tax deduction for vehicles over a certain weight than traction and control. I really do prefer my sedan over an SUV: I can lock up my shopping bags out of sight in the trunk, there's a smaller cabin to heat and cool, it goes very well in the snow, and it's not likely to tip over.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I think the 4WD fad has more to do with the tax deduction for vehicles over a certain weight than traction and control.

In my neck of the woods you see big ol Escalades with 24's wtih car plates instead of truck plates. :eusa_doh:

 

[Chainsaw]

Most of the old model A's T's et-cetera did the job of an off road vehicle or tractor. Not even Main street in most towns was paved back then. The majority of present day 4x4s, including jeeps couldn't have even made it down main street back then. Look at the ground clearance of the model T's, there's plenty of room under the pumpkins.

And that dune scooters awesome!

 

[Mike1973]

Me and some good mates love 'green laning' in our old buses.

Pretty much stock, engines are little (30hp) but ground clearance is high. Being 2WD we know our limitations but it's always a surprise what these tough old vehicles can do.









And some 'back in the day' photos of the D'Leteren promotional expedition to Africa -

 

[MPicciotto]

Mike 1973. Your pictures reminded me of a recent (sorry not vintage) experience with 2wd and reaching it's limits:

That's me in the blue shirt and red hat. Not visible are my Red Wing ankle high brown boots.

Sorry no pictures of our adventures but a friend had a 1997 Jeep Wrangler and I a 1970 2wd Postal Jeep and we would go "4-wheeling" together. Never got the Postal stuck. Posi-rear and interesting driving.

Matt

 

[up196]

Off road in a Model A

Up in Northern Maine you'll still find stripped-down Model A's being used as skidders to drag newly-cut logs out of the woods. They're a lot of things, but fragile isn't one of them.

My car, a 1931 Ford Sedan, was rented for a movie and the production crew wanted to film it driving along a road on top of the Mississippi River levee. The big concern was how they were going to get it up there, with their best plan being to load it on a trailer and find a road to the top where they could get it up there and then unload it for filming. They asked me what I thought and I asked them where they wanted it for the shot. They showed me and I got in and drove it up the side of the levee, no road, just the embankment. Tough car, the Model A.

 

[David Conwill]

Okay, maybe one four-wheel drive:

-Dave

 

[Mike1973]

Mike 1973. Your pictures reminded me of a recent (sorry not vintage) experience with 2wd and reaching it's limits:

Matt

Lined up just right for the rooster tail that must have been imminent there Matt! We found a huge puddle recently, a good 3 or 4 bus lengths long, and of unknown depth... We gave it a miss and backed up

Ardennes, March this year.



Arnold getting a push out...



I'm not enough of an off roader to know exactly what the problem was, but Arnold has a modified bus. Bigger 1700cc motor, taller gearing. Seemed he bogged down easy and no amount of heavy right foot was going to get him out without assistance lol
We coped fine with our stock 1192cc motors, and original low geared reduction boxes. Our knobbly tyres helped too We just chucked through this.

 

[Grant Fan]

I agree with who needs 4 wheel drive, I like others have seen all too many big truck 4 wheel drive types spin out our cause accidents. I have a 2000 VW Bug and Daisy (yes my car has a name) is a little yellow snow beast, more often then not my car is better in the snow then bigger vehicles providing that the snow is low enough to clear. That being said I know Daisy's limits and don't push it, mud is one thing she can't handle it is just bad bad new in mud.