Why no front wheel drive trucks?

[Xfaxman]

Since this Thread has drifted to favorite trucks, here is one that I drove back in the 1980's.
Pictures from May 1985, of my 1962 Willys FC150.

 

[dfkrug]

My first PU was a 1970 Datsun PL521, the first year they put the 1600cc Datsun 510 engine in the PU. I drove that
truck for about ten years and sold it to my brother. He still has it (along with many other deceased vehicles), though
it finally stopped working at least ten years ago. It was a pretty reliable truck, if underpowered and with limited
braking ability when loaded.

My first truck was also a Datsun PL521, a 1971 model with 1600cc engine, drum brakes, and 2000# weight. I bought it in
MI, so it already had rusted-thru floorboards, even tho is was only a few years old. I put over 1500# in the bed
a few times, which I dare not do anymore with my current '04 Tacoma. No front-wheel-drive in that model, either.

 

[wmonroe]

Since this Thread has drifted to favorite trucks, here is one that I drove back in the 1980's. Pictures from May 1985, of my 1962 Willys FC150. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/trailers-transportation/402192-why-no-front-wheel-drive-bear-jinx-jpg"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/trailers-transportation/402193-why-no-front-wheel-drive-may-1985-jpg"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/trailers-transportation/402194-why-no-front-wheel-drive-scan003-jpg"/>

Very cool. Pictures of old vehicles always remind me how the majority of vehicles today have no character, most are very similar. There are a few exceptions now but those old vehicles had some interesting looks.

 

[Winmac]

This is the only reference to the front wheel drive dodge truck conversion I mentioned earlier
FARM SHOW - "Powerbed" Pickup Now On Market

 

[ultrarunner]

Since this Thread has drifted to favorite trucks, here is one that I drove back in the 1980's.
Pictures from May 1985, of my 1962 Willys FC150.

View attachment 402192

View attachment 402193

View attachment 402194

Very Cool Truck!!!

Might as well post a picture of my F Series Pickup... 500 pound box capacity although I've had 720 pounds of sack concrete sacks in the bed.

 

[DT86]

This is the only reference to the front wheel drive dodge truck conversion I mentioned earlier

I remember reading this article when it came out.

 

[Xfaxman]

Very Cool Truck!!!

Might as well post a picture of my F Series Pickup... 500 pound box capacity although I've had 720 pounds of sack concrete sacks in the bed.

Neat, brings back memories of my first car, a 1929 Model A ford. :thumbsup:

 

[Xfaxman]

This is the only reference to the front wheel drive dodge truck conversion I mentioned earlier
FARM SHOW - "Powerbed" Pickup Now On Market

I remember reading this article when it came out.

I would rather keep my 4WD truck and get a trailer that does the same thing.

 

[DT86]

I would rather keep my 4WD truck and get a trailer that does the same thing.

Neither would be anything I'm interested in. For a very specific purpose each would be great, just not sure what that purpose would be.

 

[Xfaxman]

Neither would be anything I'm interested in. For a very specific purpose each would be great, just not sure what that purpose would be.

For this.

Or any low ground clearance machine.

 

[ultrarunner]

Neat, brings back memories of my first car, a 1929 Model A ford. :thumbsup:

There are a few of us Model A people here... I was the youngest member of the local Model A chapter and I think I'm still the youngest... just got my 40 year membership pin!

The pickup was a total basket case with rusted out body... did all the mechanicals, body and paint out in the driveway about 25 years ago... I sure do miss Dupont Centari Acrylic Enamels... a great product that even made me look good!

 

[ultrarunner]

For this.
View attachment 402309
View attachment 402310

Or any low ground clearance machine.
View attachment 402311

Been looking for one local used for a long time... sure do come in handy and not having to rent each time would be a nice plus.

Great for moving heavy Operating Room tables and similar items... the older I get, the more practical a low-boy is!

 

[rd_macgregor]

I'd love to have one of the Japanese mini-trucks, but by the time they get imported here, they are usually 15-20 years old and still cost an awful lot! I think the majority of the ones I've seen (if not all) are 4WD, not front WD, and, of course, nearly all are right hand drive.

 

[RalphVa]

We had a 1980ish Dodge Rampage for about 6 or 8 years until we had to sell it when we moved to Singapore (didn't think it worth storing). It was our most favorite pickup. Drove like a sports car. Was room enough behind the seats to put 6 bags of groceries. Carried almost as much in the bed as our later Ranger and Tacomas and got 28 mpg with a carbureted engine, same as our big beast of a Tacoma now gets with fuel injection and some other tweaks.

To my mind, the perfect pickup would be to cut out the back seat and trunk of our VW TDI and slap a pickup bed back there.

Ralph

 

[SandburRanch]

What percent of trucks on the road would you suspect have less that 50# of weight in the bed ? I'd guess a strong 99 percent.

 

[dodge man]

Truth is 99% of the time I could be driving a car instead of a truck, but during the 1%, you either have one or you don't.

 

[IgroRockwell]

Personally, I have always wanted a heavy four wheel drive with a transfer case that allowed front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, or both. I like the way a front drive vehicle steers in the snow, with the wheels pulling you into the corner rather than just preventing you from going straight, if you know what I mean. Then switch to rear when loaded, or both when needed. I'm sure someone will think this is a crazy idea due to some safety issue, but I've always been a little crazy anyway.

 

[Oaktree]

Everyone's ideal truck is probably made somewhere in the world but not available in the US. For example, I recently ran across this Subaru pickup on the internet.

View attachment 402181

Looks like it could take quite a nose dive if you had to hit the brakes hard.

 

[Renze]

Why no front wheel drive trucks ???

Well for you Americans, you guys are just too conservative. Nobody would buy it because it aint what youre used to !!

For us here in Europe, Mercedes had a 1 ton minivan, the Vito, which was the successor of the old line of Hanomag-Henschel rear wheel drive light vans that were taken over by MB in the 70's.
The first generation, and its facelifted version, had front wheel drive but lots of problems with the CV joints. There was a little too much torque on them, with a 2800kg GVW and a 2 tonne trailer.
The 2nd generation was rear wheel drive again, with the same CV joints but because of the rear wheel drive they didnt have to cope with extreme steering angle.

At a previous employer we built 5th wheel trailers on Merc Sprinters, and some Fiat dealer wanted us to build one behind a Ducato (Ram Promaster) even though the 3 liter 176hp diesel was the same as the one in the Iveco Daily 3.5 to 6.5 ton series of trucks, we told the customer our worries about the CV joints in this heavy application.


So why no front wheel drive trucks ? theres nothing stronger than a straight floating axle driven by a U joint driveshaft with minimal angles...

 

[xring100]

2006 Impalla SS, I believe the V8 engine is sideways.

Correct both the impalla ss and pontiac grand prix gxp had a transverse fwd 5.3 v8. Lots of torque steer on these wrong whell drive cars. They could have definetly benefited from a Hiper Strut suspension.