If you don't off-road, but you live in a place that snows..

Do you really need 4x4?

I've always wondered this. Like if you live in the northeast or Colorado or wherever it snows a lot, and use your truck as a daily driver (pavement) for the most part do you really need 4x4? Or are the roads plowed enough where you don't really? You see cars all over the place obviously and they don't have 4wd....

Was just curious on this....

 

4x4 in snow is safer. It's that simple.

 

No argument there, but what about the thousands of regular cars that live in those areas?

 

Front wheel drive > rear wheel drive

 

Well having at least front wheel drive would be essential. Maybe get a Subaru? Anything with all wheel drive (that's the onroad variety of 4WD).

A 2WD truck is rear wheel drive and usually just one wheel drive actually. Add to that the truck has almost no weight ove those drive wheels and it's not ideal.

 

I'd rather drive a car in the snow than a truck in 2wd. The backend is just too light and tends to break loose if you get on the gas. That being said, most of it is just knowing how to drive in the snow. Go easy on the throttle and give yourself plenty of room to stop.

 

Rear wheel drive pickups can be the absolute worse in snow. Got mine before last winter after having RWD for 13 years, one day I was the only one that made it into the office. A few other days I left early to avoid all the other non drivers though.

Apparently didn't help this guy!

 

Most cars these days are front wheel drive. Which, for the average person, is safer and easier to drive in snow and ice. Most weight on the drive axle, no oversteer, electronic traction control to prevent most cars from getting out of control in the first place.

Also people in those climates are usually smart enough to run dedicated winter tires with softer compounds. Rear wheel drive trucks are about the worst, with little weight over the drive tires they don't get much traction and easily oversteer. However with a decent driver, some weight in back and good tires it is doable in a lot of situations.

 

Gotcha. Ok, what about a 2wd truck with a camper shell and locker. Would that cancel out the "Subaru" argument in that situation?

 

Ha.... Come up here and try to get anywhere in a foot of snow without 4x4. You either have front wheel drive , 4 wheel drive , all wheel drive or you miss a week of work each season. A rwd or bad tires and you have issues in western new York.

 

I own a 4x4 truck mainly because of snow, not mud. That's a big reason why my tires aren't going to be any wider than stock (and I'm actually considering 215x85R16 for snow tires).

 

4x4 all the way even on the recently sold car. Not sure the new one will be 4x4 because I'm keeping the 4x4 4Runner. In my area it doesn't snow or even freeze often however, there's little snow/de-ice capability so roads are bad when it does occur.

 

You learn something every day. Thanks. If I ever live in those areas obviously I'd need to ditch my 2wd

 

You'd need a 4WD truck - 2WD won't cut it. And put some weight in the back. I always buy a few bags (4 or 5) of sand at Home Depot and leave then in my bed all winter. Do that and you'll have no need for a Subaru

 

This past winter in Wisconsin was one of the worst on record with snow, cold temps and icy roads. I purchased my first Tacoma a 2011 PreRunner MGM Access Cab in January, and thought I'd be ok. Even with 4 x 80 lb sand bags in the back end, I had a challenge in the snow and on icy inclines. In early July, I traded the PreRunner for a 2013 TRD Off Road MGM. Since they are both the same color, I don't even think any of my neighbors noticed. For 2015 winter and beyond - I'm all set!

 

If you live in a area with snow you know how to drive in snow, that is the number problem is when people don't know to slow down, coast into stops, and take corners really slow. I live in Maine always have always will, my first car was a fwd saturn. It was great in the snow (also a lot of fun), my second vehicle is my single cab 5 lug. I am running it stock with 215/75/15 radial tires no studs. This will be my fourth winter with this truck, the first few storms took a little getting used to. But after putting weight in the bed of the truck I find it to be perfectly fine as a daily driver. Now that is if you stay on maintained roads, charge hills, don't stop on hills, avoid idiots doing 70 in a storm, and never brake when you start to skid or you might as well just throw yourself in the ditch.
Now I will need new tires this winter(will not be studded) and I now have a cap so I will not have to put weight in the bed and or shovel it out
So imho it is not necessary and if you don't feel confident driving in a storm then call out of work and take a day off win win

 

Yup. I've got 6 40-50 pound sags of salt in the garage that I can put over the axle in the crappy weather.

Knowing how to drive in winter + having patience > any number of drive wheels, front or back or both

 

yes

 

I've got a 2nd set of wheels with dedicated snows - Firestone WinterForece, so should be good.

 

If you have a 4x4 then you are invincible in the snow so feel free to drive as if it were dry pavement.
And when you crash it is because the tires/truck/other driver is a piece of crap.

Serious chat you don't NEED it but it makes it easier and gives you another tool to compensate for mistaken judgement.