# 4x4 Meaning **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [April 23, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/4x4-meaning/199965 "2025-04-23T20:03:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/4x4-meaning/199965/1 "2025-04-23T20:03:44Z")
Originally I thought it meant a 4 speed transmission and 4 wheel drive, back in the older days. Now I guess it means 4 wheels and 4 wheel drive. Could a dually be a 6x4 or 6x6 maybe even a 6x2(front wheel drive)? Could a 3 wheel car be a 3x1 or a 3x3? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/4x4-meaning/199965/2 "2025-04-23T20:09:41Z")
I thought that it meant **16**. That’s what they taught us in elementary school. 😏 ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/4x4-meaning/199965/3 "2025-04-23T20:10:09Z")
4x4 means 4 wheels, all driven, don’t think a dually counts as 6. Most vehicles are 4x2. There are 6x6 vehicles, I had this Matchbox as a kid: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/f/5/f56825bf7715c0bc127ff10bfa0dfad30e9fe7e1.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/4x4-meaning/199965/4 "2025-04-23T22:21:44Z")
> [@texases](#): > > 4x4 means 4 wheels, all driven, Of course, since so many are open differentials, it often still means just 2 wheels driven. Just not on the same end of the vehicle! (Unless I’m mistaken…) ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 10:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/4x4-meaning/199965/5 "2025-04-23T22:40:49Z")
> [@cigroller](#): > > Just not on the same end of the vehicle! (Unless I’m mistaken…) You are not mistaken! Part time 4wd has no center differential so when tires slip, one at each end of the truck will slip. The 4x4 term usually does not refer to full time all wheel drive which requires a center differential. When an AWD system slips a tire, it slips just one! ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/4x4-meaning/199965/6 "2025-04-24T01:55:12Z")
The (2016-2023) Tacoma RWD & 4x4 trucks all have Auto LSD (automatic limited-slip diff), meaning electronic locking rear diffs, so with the 4x4s at least 3 are driven when the 4x4 and Auto LSD are both engaged, I can assure you the Auto LSD works great.. lol With todays technology, I am sure many 4x4 trucks have some form of locking rear diffs now a days… ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 1:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/4x4-meaning/199965/7 "2025-04-24T13:38:21Z")
Yes my 4X4 has an e-lock rear diff, but it is not automatic, I have to engage it. Now a blast from the past. Olds 442 4 speed 4 barrel dual exhaust ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/4x4-meaning/199965/8 "2025-04-24T13:54:58Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > Yes my 4X4 has an e-lock rear diff, but it is not automatic, I have to engage it. Not sure why they call mine auto, cause you have to push the VSC button (turning off the VSC and the Pedestrian collision thingy) in order to engage it… lol ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/4x4-meaning/199965/9 "2025-04-24T14:00:38Z")
Mine is a 2013 F150. E-locker can be engaged in either 4X2 or 4X4 modes. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/4x4-meaning/199965/10 "2025-04-24T16:30:56Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > Mine is a 2013 F150. E-locker can be engaged in either 4X2 or 4X4 modes. Same with the 3rd gen (I’m sure 4th gen also) 4x4 Tacoma’s…