First of all it seems to be a thing of the past unless I wanna drive a 6500lb. F-250, or do a SAS. I guess its all about what the market demands which is convenience. But, you would think with gas prices the way they are the marketing engineers would offer manual hubs. Maybe not enough people want them???? Maybe too many people complained about them (you know, now I gotta get out and turn that little knob)??? Like to hear others opinion on the subject. Wonder how much worse the MPG is with the front turning vs. unlocked hubs??

I think you answered your own question.

Most of the reason they are going to auto hubs and all-wheel drive is that the average consumer does not even read the owner's manual. They don't want to have to understand how/when to use it. I knew one guy who was complaining that four wheel drive sucked. Did not work any better than normal. Turned out he never locked his hubs... Of course, he never took the truck off road. Just snowy roads and such.



Just from my experience. Back in college a friend and I had nearly identical trucks except his had auto hubs and an extended cab, and open bed with tailgate net and I had manual hubs, standard cab, and cap. I routinely got two to three miles per gallon more than he did. Totally unscientific test, though.

The main reason I bought a pre-1990 truck was because I
WANTED manual x-fer and hubs, but for most mall wheeling
soccer moms this is too much trouble. The market demand
comment above hits the nail on the head. I just hope that
the aftermarket will continue to cater to those of us that
prefer our trucks equipped differently.

Regards,
Indy

I heard of one guy who bought a new 3rd gen 4Runner, had it in the snow and got stuck. Took it to his mechanic buddy to have a look at the 4WD, since it seemed to be broken and that's why he got stuck. Mechanic took one look and saw it was a 2WD truck (pre-runner) and busted out laughing.

I converted from live hubs to manual hubs and didn't notice any difference in fuel economy. BTW I do calculate my MPG at every fill up.

The reason you don't see manual hubs anymore is because everybody wants shift on the fly 4wd. You can't have shift on the fly 4wd with manual hubs.




Auto hubs and manual hubs do the same thing...they both unlock when in 2wd, it's just that with auto hubs you have to backup 20 feet to unlock them. Maybe you're talking about ADD (90 and newer)?

I can shift on the fly in and out of 4WD on the fly if I first have the hubs locked. When heading up to snow country, I'll lock the hubs at the last stop before hitting the snow, then you can pop back and forth between 2H and 4H any time you want. But it does take planning and the extra step to lock the hubs before you need 4WD.

With ADD, there is not a whole lot of front end parts moving, so its a pretty good compromise between efficiency and convenience.

As already stated, with ADD or similier devises, you can unlock the front end automaticly and still get better gas mileage.

The only advantage of having manual hubs is simplicity and a little bit of extra strength. But today, we regularly trade simplicity and strength for technology, convienence, and comfort.

That's why everything is electronicly controlled and solids axles are being replaced by IFS and IRS and brakes all have ABS, and transfer cases are controlled by computers and buttons instead of levers, and on and on.

Manufactures have to do this to stay competative with the other guy.

Frankly, of all things we've lost in recent years, solid axles, simple engines, ground clearance and approach angles, no manual hubs are the least of our problems.

A little different perspective: went wheeling with a newish 4Runner guy on a tough trail. He had no lockers, so I was not sure how he would do. He did great, with computer-controlled traction whatsit thingamabobby stuff. I was duly impressed, it worked.

Engines aren't as simple either- but they are wayyyyy more efficient, and cleaner, than my 22RE. Mind you, I drive an older truck and prefer it, but increased complexity (in some cases at least) is not the end of life as we know it.

I hope to do something about that non-current engine inefficiency this winter. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />