I've always wondered why Polaris calls their 2wd atv's a 2x4. Wouldn't that be a dirtbike with 4wd? It doesn't make sense to me. Isn't a 2x4 a piece of lumber? I guess I'm wondering if there is a reason why they don't call it a 4x2 or if they just messed up. It's not a BIG deal but it just annoys me 'cause it doesn't make sense.

 

2x4 means 2 wheel drive with 4 wheels 4x4 means 4 wheel drive with 4 wheels. The last time I looked the dirtbikes only had 2 wheels.

 

I know dirtbikes only have two wheels but to me 4x2 means 4 wheels powered by 2. Therefore a 2x4 would be a machine that has 2 wheels powered by 4 - obviously that wouldn't make sense which is my point. John Deere calls their six wheel gator a 6x4 not a 4x6. It has six wheels and four of them have power. I'm aware that a Polaris 2x4 has four wheels and the rear two provide the power. I'll clarify my question- Why does Polaris reverse the order and call it a 2x4 when everyone else calls an equivalently configured machine a 4x2?

 

4x2 has traditionally been used in the automotive world to distinguish 2wd trucks from 4wd vehicles. You are correct, it should be 4x2 and not 2x4 but many people dont understand/remember/know that its traditionally been 4x2 so they dont see anything out of whack with 2x4.

 

ive never heard of anyone calling a 2-wheel drive vehicle a 4x2..look at it this way, 2x4=2 wheels drive 4
not 4x2=4 wheels drive 2..

 

Think about it this way; you are saying how many wheels the vehicle has, then how many drive the vehicle. It makes more sense to go from a broader description (how many wheels), to a narrower description (how many of those wheels drive the vehicle).

Unless you subscribe to chaos theory or try to use oratory entropy.

 

Thanks Maddog for the explanations. I still have a hard time thinking of it as a 2 drives 4 because it's not it's a 4 BY 2. That's 4 powered BY 2. Oh well I will admit that 2x4 rolls off the tongue a little nicer- probably because of the common lumber size.

 

does it really matter 2x4 4x2 its all the same.

 

I knew someone would say that which is why I said it wasn't really big deal when I started the thread. Like I said before it just kinda bugs me and I wondered if anyone else had any input. Thanks eveyone!

 

Chuck1, I agree with you. I've taken the stupid 2X4 stickers off my quad. I got tired of people commenting about it as a piece of wood. With the 2X4 stickers on it, people DID comment. I think Polaris screwed this detail up - you make a good point, and it needed to be said. I think Polaris just has to accept the smack on this one.