Leejohn
Elite Member
I would like to see a big old V8 turned side ways. Sure wouldn't like to have one. Cost you $5000.00 to change the spark plugs. I like the trucks the way they use to be.(simple)
Why no front wheel drive trucks?
- Thread starter Piston
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alchemysa
Veteran Member
Depends what you call a truck I guess. Theres a few front wheel drive large vans and cab/chassis offerings. These are popular for motor homes among other things.
Fiat Professional Ducato | The All New Fiat Professional Ducato
Scroll down the page for the cab/chassis.
Fiat Professional Ducato | The All New Fiat Professional Ducato
Scroll down the page for the cab/chassis.
Garandman
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The RAM Promaster van - which is actually a version of the FIAT Ducato made in Mexico - is front wheel drive. They've sold hundreds of thousands of them all over Europe. It is kind of a hybrid, with a ladder frame behind a unibody cab. The load floor is low and they have a lot of room. But as mentioned trucks of a certain size nnneed ladder frames for rigidity.
If you've ever tried to tow anything with a FWD vehicle you'll know why interest is limited. I towed a 3,000+ lb sailboat trailer with a Dodge Intrepid a few times. Even though the Intrepid had plenty of power, a long wheelbase, etc, it was pretty nerve-wracking over bumps and around corners.
If you've ever tried to tow anything with a FWD vehicle you'll know why interest is limited. I towed a 3,000+ lb sailboat trailer with a Dodge Intrepid a few times. Even though the Intrepid had plenty of power, a long wheelbase, etc, it was pretty nerve-wracking over bumps and around corners.
Toyboy
Platinum Member
I think the Honda Ridgeline is front wheel drive. Not my idea of a truck though.
aczlan
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Look no farther than the 1985 and up Cadillacs (specifically, the Cadillac de Ville series - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ). They were FWD with a transverse mounted 4.1L V8.
Aaron Z
930ck
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Long time ago saw a picture of a stock trailer that had been attached to the front half of a 4 wheel drive pickup, making it a front wheel drive. Made it more maneuverable and easy to load, but seems it would be hard on front drive system.
cockeyedMFer
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The Toronado/Eldorado platform would be perfect for a truck. Lots of HP and torque but it takes a really long hood to pack it under.
MossRoad
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2006 Impalla SS, I believe the V8 engine is sideways.
Dr_Zinj
Veteran Member
What everyone said already.
Point is, front wheel drive trucks would be viable if you placed the rear axle at the very end of the truck, rather than mounted halfway back. That way the load would be more (but not totally) evenly distributed over the front and back axles.
Personally, I'd like to see Toyota slap their Prius hybrid drive system under their Tacoma 1/4 ton pickup line, if only as an experiment. Electric driven wheels have greater torque than gasoline engine driven, their system is all wheel drive, and cruise control actually works going downhill. What it doesn't have is massive acceleration, so scooting out into the traffic flow can be rough when hauling a load; but then that's a problem even with gasoline rear wheel drive trucks too.
Point is, front wheel drive trucks would be viable if you placed the rear axle at the very end of the truck, rather than mounted halfway back. That way the load would be more (but not totally) evenly distributed over the front and back axles.
Personally, I'd like to see Toyota slap their Prius hybrid drive system under their Tacoma 1/4 ton pickup line, if only as an experiment. Electric driven wheels have greater torque than gasoline engine driven, their system is all wheel drive, and cruise control actually works going downhill. What it doesn't have is massive acceleration, so scooting out into the traffic flow can be rough when hauling a load; but then that's a problem even with gasoline rear wheel drive trucks too.
