When they come out I'm buying but....... 4x4 or no???

I've always had the 4x4 option in every truck I've had and have had them for 20+ years
but I never knew WHY I was getting 4 wheel drive other than I wanted to lift it a bit and
put bigger wheels and tires on it and liked having the option to use it in case of in-climate
weather but here, I don't even use it 5x a year, ever. Other than the option of switching into 4 wheel
drive, what's the downside of going 2 wheel drive?

Before the Taco I had a couple Titans, both 4x4 and after spending allot of time on the
Titan forums I found that many of them that were baha'n out in the desert and such
were all 2 wheel drives, that's when I thought whythefuk do I keep doing this!?

Is there a noticeable mpg increase between the two, when not using the 4x4 mode?

 

For a towing rig 2wheel is good for better mpg for off roading not that good, unless you are on dry roads with 35s. I can say with 32" I have needed 4wheel drive almost every time I'm off road and on winter trips... 2 wheel will work sometimes but you're spinning and fishtailing a lot or in 4wheel drive you may not even spin the tires, much more controlled..... I have thought about just a 2wheel drive truck but it's not practical unless you are doing a ton of towing and don't drive on wet grass... the new truck will get much better mpg so just get 4 wheel drive no advantage for 2wheel....

 

resale

 

Almost all high speed desert trucks out west are 2wd and long travel suspension. But since we're talking about daily drivers while living on the east coast. I wouldn't go without 4wd due to 2 reasons: snow and off road conditions usually consist of mud holes or low speed tight trails through the woods requiring 4lo range and LSD/lockers. If you never off roadyou could get away with a 2wd prerunner since you live in a milder climate than me.

 

If you rarely use it, you don't need it. Lots of people told me "you should have gotten 4wd, you will wish you had it when the times comes that you need it" or "what if you want to go offroading" and finally "the resale it better." Well, of course it would be nice to have it "when I need it"...but I would need it MAYBE once a year. Why pay thousands more for something I may use 3-5 times in the next 5 years? What if I go offroading? I'm not an offroad guy...and if I was I would get a beater, not a brand new truck. Finally...resale? Of course the resale will be a bit higher, but I would also be paying ~3000-4000 more for the truck. Factor that in and I'm not putting any more money in my pocket when I sell it.

If you won't use it, why pay more for it and more for insurance?

 

That was one advantage to manual lockable hubs.
Less mpg hit.

 

True on the cost of resale, won't give you much more for the resale based on the price of it. But it also sticks you in another market. I've seen trucks sit on craigslist sit around for a year with 2wd, and then 4wd will be on and off in a week.

I off-road in my truck and I use it every few weeks even if driving around in a muddy area. It gives me a piece of mind. Sure, I probably dont HAVE to use it day to day but a few times a year. But I do. Why? Keeps me to the roads, let's me take off at stop lights in adverse conditions better, turns more evenly, etc. Again, these are in adverse conditions for the pluses, but if I have it, I'm going to use it and not worry about going off the road. That one time I end off in the creek (which happened in one of my 2wd trucks) I will sure have wished I had that 4wd to keep me stuck on the road.

 

Get 2wd with the locker!

 

As I said, if you use it often it is worth it. It sounds like you make use of it. I live in southern California, I get rain every once in a great while. If I ever use 4x4 it would be on a snowboarding trip, where theres still only a slight chance the roads aren't clear lol.

 

Not in all cases. There's alot of different factors. If I was shopping for a 2004 DC TRD OR, I'm not paying more just because its 4x4 vs 4x2. Condition matters most. And there are PLENTY of buyers looking specifically for 2wds trucks especially Tacomas.

OP, I'm in the same boat. Here's how I see it. I've had 4wd trucks in the past (05 DC Tundra, 06 DCSB Tacoma). Rarely used the 4 wheel drive. My next truck will be a 2wd because I don't really need 4wd and don't "wheel" or "offroad". Plus the 2wd trucks weighs less, less drive train drag, less maintenance, better mpg which appeals to me. If I change my mind and having trouble with the 2wd truck Ill just sell it and get something else, it really is that simple.

I'd rather off road my 98 Grizzly 600. 30-50 miles out on the trails gives you a workout, more so than sitting in an air conditioned cab lol.

 

Since you don't have a specific need for four wheel drive I would frame the question as the downside of going with a 4x4. On well maintained roadways they are functionally equivalent. I'm not sure there is anything you can do on a road in a 4x2 that you can't also do in a 4x4 in 4x2 mode. I think most of the other posters covered all the downsides already. More expensive upfront (by about 3k for 2015 models), but offset by retaining that value. Slightly higher weight translating to slightly reduced fuel economy. And slightly higher cost of ownership due to the reduced fuel economy, more parts to maintain, and possibly higher insurance.

Rock Lobster covered my feelings on the matter. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. There is value to me in having the option of extra capability all the time even if I never actually have to use it.

 

That's my dilemma, I use it 2x a year max. It's my daily/only driver so it's not going off road, I can't risk screwing it up
and having no way to work for a weekend of muddin!

I've just heard mpg is "better" but have seen nothing solid.

 

My little old mother bought a 4x4 Tacoma. Just in case. You never know. Most of the people I know that have prerunners will all be buying a 4x4 next.

 

I am going with 4X4, if you don't go off road with the vehicle you probably will only use it a few times a year, but, if you need it, you need it.

It is nice to have when you wake up in the morning and there is 12 inches of snow on the ground...

 

I like what Rock Lobster had to say.My Tacoma isn't a 4X4.Ive done plenty of offroading in my 4X2 though and its just common sense knowing what you can and can not do terrain wise.As far as gas mileage and towing i haven't heard much in there being a significant difference.Insurance and registration is more money for a 4X4.Sounds like your leaning towards a 4X2.Good luck!

 

I'm an RN and my wife and I do elder care.
I'd have missed beaucoup work and not been able to help folks dependent on us this winter for sure.

 

I had a PreRunner and several times per year, wished I had gone 4x4. There were places in the desert I just wasn't comfortable going solo without 4wd. I had no trouble selling the PreRunner (it was in pristine condition), but if I get another Tacoma, it will be 4wd.

It all depends on what you use it for. And if you will use 4wd. If you never use it, then it is a waste of money.

 

I bought my first tacoma as a 14 dclb pre runner. I traded in a year later for a 15 access cab 4wd trd OR.

 

I've never had one(4x2), the increased MPG was a factor as well as "using it enough" to keep everything in
working order.

 

I Have had both if you need or do activities that need 4x4 get it. If you think you may some day thing you may want 4X4 get it . The cost over the life of the vehicle is minimal the service cost is minimal . Then you wont be like the dodos that buy a new truck then trade in after a year and loose their behinds[ they can't tell though because it will be financed over the next 72 months]