Four Wheel Rear Axle

[eyemgh]

Glad to find this forum!

We are bidding on a 4WD 2008 Bongo van in Japan to use during ski season. We’re likely to get it, and can’t retract the bid. While insuring that it had the details we wanted, six seatbelts, a rack, etc, we completely overlooked the fact that it has a four wheel rear axle. It’ll be driven almost exclusively in the winter.

Other than the expense of six snow tires, and the pain of chaining a dually, what are the ramifications, good and bad, of a four wheel rear axle?

[g8dhe]

Welcome aboard!

What makes you think a 4- wheel drive Bongo has 6 wheels ?
It normally means that all 4 wheels (2 per axle) are driven via a Viscous clutch arrangement, such that if the normal rear wheel driven wheels start to slip then power is supplied to the front wheels. The Viscous clutch between rear and front axles doesn't operate until there is a speed difference between the two axles then the clutch causes all 4 -wheels to be driven. Be warned however, the viscous clutch can be damaged by overheating and spares are very rare! Google will give you more details on its operation https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=vosco ... heel+drive
mechanical details are here https://www.lushprojects.com/bongoparts ... Ctr.html#7
and here for the transfer/viscous clutch parts https://www.lushprojects.com/bongoparts ... Atr.html#5

[eyemgh]

Welcome aboard!

What makes you think a 4- wheel drive Bongo has 6 wheels ?

The photos show 4 rear wheels, six wheels total. I’m assuming it’s 4WD because the company acquiring it is only vetting 4WD options. It’s listed as 4WD in the auction.

[g8dhe]

If it has 6 wheels total with 4 wheels on the rear axle then its totally non-standard, not an option from the factory! I'm sure our old Russian friends would have loved a 4-wheel rear axle version given there climate and use of the Bongo!
Do you have a photo showing the 4 wheels on a rear axle ?

In Bongo parlance 4WD means 4-wheel drive i.e. both rear wheels and both front wheels a total of 4 wheels.

[eyemgh]

Do you have a photo showing the 4 wheels on a rear axle ?

[g8dhe]

Ah not a Mazda Bongo Friendee (Ford Freda) which is what this forum mainly covers, looks like something based on the Fourth-generation Mazda Bongo Van DX (SLP2V) with dual sliding door crossed with one of the vans Second generation Mazda Bongo or maybe the E2000 range non of which are the Friendee model. Take a look at the Wikipedia page for the various models and details https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Bongo

[eyemgh]

Ah not a Mazda Bongo Friendee (Ford Freda) which is what this forum mainly covers, looks like something based on the Fourth-generation Mazda Bongo Van DX (SLP2V) with dual sliding door crossed with one of the vans Second generation Mazda Bongo or maybe the E2000 range non of which are the Friendee model. Take a look at the Wikipedia page for the various models and details https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Bongo

AHHH, I didn't realize the forum was for the Friendee (cool configuration!).

It is a 4th Gen DX.

Back to the original question, which may not be answerable here given that the Friendee didn't have a four wheel rear axle, advantages/disadvantages to the rear axle setup, especially in light of it's almost exclusive use in the winter?

[Bob]

Just me, but unless you’re looking to carry seriously heavy loads I'd look for 4 wheel drive with single rear tyres.

Apart from the cost the inner rears are the devil to check, let alone change at the roadside. If one rear fails it will almost certainly take it’s friend out with it, and we don’t carry two spares.

[eyemgh]

Looks like it's all moot now anyway. We didn't win the auction. Thanks everyone!

[Bob]

Bad luck, you'll find one.