Control system for all-wheel drive vehicle

A drive system 10 for all-wheel drive vehicles is provided having separate front and rear transaxles 20,30 powered by a single engine 50 through a power transfer system 51. The transaxles 20,30 each include a transmission, preferably a hydraulic transmission 22,32 and an axle 24,34. The hydrostatic gearing system within the hydrostatic transmission 22,32 serves, in conventional manner, to transfer power from the engine 50 to the axle 24,34 and drive wheel or wheels 26,36. Thus, the front and rear transmissions 22,32 each may include driving shafts, lay shafts, gear wheels, differentials, and/or other drive train entities employed in the art. A single shifting mechanism associated with the gear systems within each transmission 22,32 is employed to operate the separate transmissions 22,32 in harmony.