I'm new here and have been absorbing as much info as I can, but I had a few questions.  1. Is a 2wd version the same as a 4wd minus an axle and transfer case, with a longer  drive shaft?  Has anyone put a 4wd drivetrain in their 2wd?  2. Is the 2wd version as "rugged" as a 4wd version underneath.  I deliver newspapers and I used to drive a minivan and would cringe anytime I accidentally ran over a tree limb for dropped a wheel in a ditch, thinking what did I break now.  Am I right in thinking this tracker is kinda like a jeep, built to have rocks and crap hitting its undersides without destroying things, or is it only the 4wd version meant for harsh terrain?  I'm not talking about driving it through the woods, but I have some "unimproved" roads that I used to think would destroy the minivan.  Thanks in advance for any information anyone can provide.

Andrew Strouse
( kittstr|removethispart|@kittstr.com )

The vehicles are the same, apart from the parts you mentioned, and some electronics and an air pump to work the air-operated clutch in the front axle.  Not sure whether all the mounts for the TC and front diff are present in the 2WD.  (And I expect the transmission casing is different if it has no TC bolted to it).

It is possible to fit a front diff from a 1st gen into the 2nd gen - needs some bracketry and swapping around of front driveshaft parts, but eliminates the air-operated clutch (just fit hand-operated freewheel units).  This gives greater reliability.

Important point - must have same ratio diffs front and back.