I got stuck this morning (Lots of Ice in Portland)

I'm going to go ahead and jump on the "4x4 or GTFO" bandwagon. I've owned two-wheel-drive pickups, and other than lower upfront cost, they offer zero benefit. Never again.

 

Yea im going to have to agree with him 4X4 all the way could not justify buying a 2wd pickup

 

I've seen ice like plenty o times here in Northern Vermont.
Usually it is a flash freeze, on bridges or the parts of the road that gets no sunlight.
It sucks. It is absolutely impossible to buy a prerunner off a lot here in the New England.
Not happening.
Most come by relocation.
We do have many five luggers with beefy snow tires doing parts runs for all auto stores.
Studs by far are your best bet & a good tow strap or a winch for sliding off into the ditch.
I have not seen those new traction boards though pretty darn cool.
Personally I run a good set of quality snow tires and use 4WD but that can put you off the road too.
Nothing more pucker factor than 360s on the highway in unison with other unfortunates.
Best to wait it out and stay off the road to it can get treated or it warms up.
A lot less hassle and money imo.

 

I don't need 4x4. I live in the city. I commute to work sometimes. I considered gas milage - yes, it's still shit mpg, but it's better. I put less than 10k miles a year on things. This tuck looks rad, fits my kids nicely, easier to haul things than on my Surly and is comfortable. I'll take it off road when I can, but generally don't have time for that kinda stuff. If I get stuck, cool. It'll probably still be fun.

I have a hard time justifying the 4x4. Just don't need it.

 

Ultimately that's what I did. School was closed and I can work from home. Other than wishing I had beer, there wasn't a reason to go anywhere.

 

If Top Gear has taught us anything its that 2wd will get you a lot of places, remember the mazda miata driving through the desert looking for the baby Jesus? Enjoy your truck !

 

One day when you get a 4x4 you're going to realize how shitty 2wd trucks are, and you'll never consider buying a 2wd truck again.

Instead of buying a bunch of wenches and bumpers and stuff, I really think you would be much happier and more satisfied putting that money towards a 4x4.

Unless your really upside down on the truck with negative equity, and if you are upside down on the loan.. I would suggest paying off the negative equity instead of buying "cool" stuff.

We aren't trying to trash talk your pre runner ( they have their place ), we are just speaking to you from personal experience.

Owning a 2wd truck was a dangerous choice that put my life in danger, and I ended up in someone's front yard once from a little ice too.
I'll never own a 2wd truck again.

 

Don't waste your money on a winch for a two wheel drive truck.

4x4, decent tires, and some experience will solve your ice problems.

 

I lived in Portland for a few years and used 4x4 pretty often. It pours rain there every other day, shitty road conditions are pretty common. Iced over roads aren't as common, but slick roads and bad conditions are very common in that area.

Having 4x4 would be safer for the kiddos in the back as well.

Buying a wench might help someone get unstuck, but having 4x4 will prevent someone from getting stuck or losing control in the first place.

Btw, those bridges made out of metal grates that go over the williamette, very dangerous when wet with 2wd, I almost ended up in the river with a ranger.
I'd kick it into 4wd any time it's raining and you cross that bridge.

I'll leave it be though because

 

Those maxtracks look fancy.

Sometimes I carry a few 2 by 10s cut down to 4' long. They work good on a budget or if your handy a cooler lid, a floor mat. I make due with what I got. Studded snow tires work great on ice, but black ice is unpredictable, and if your in a area where ice is rare then studded tires and chains are pretty much pointless.

Just don't hoss your truck down the road and drive like your great great grandma I'm greatful for a manual transmission. I'll put it a gear higher putting less torque to the tire and slip little to none, but that's what my old man taught me.

 

Oh I get it. I would never ride my sportster more than 100 miles, or try to make it comfortable to do so, because that's dumb. I have a Cavalcade for that.. hell, if I put a catheter in, I could ride the Cavalcade until I had to shit or stop for gas. It's a highway couch. I still want the sporty to look cool tho. I'll still mod things to make it more functional - flashing brake light, better headlight, good saddle for when I am pushing the miles on it. Sure as shit wont see knobbies or a fairing on it. I have a bobbed out shadow for tooling around town. I'm a right tool for the job kinda guy.

That said, I think the pre-runner fits my needs exactly - thus, it's place. I'm not going to run out and try driving over boulders and shit a 2x4 simply can't handle. Will I learn what those limits are, probably the hard way? Shit yeah I will.

Getting into/on any vehicle is effectively putting putting my life in danger. It's a risk. I don't want a bunch of bumpers or winches, but maybe just one of each

Why wouldn't I buy a winch? Legit curious about that... What am I missing?

 

Winter tires, a few sandbags over the rear axle, and a set of chains for the rear as needed would solve this nicely - and far cheaper than winches, trade-ins on 4x4's... ...blah, blah, blah. And you'd have a hope of stopping when you got going.

I bet most of the guys with 4x4's here would slide down that driveway too. LOL It looks phuking slick.

 

Dang have enought maxtrax? lol oh by the way nice wraith. I just got done working on mine.

 

ha, one of the things that bugs the shit out of me about Portland is the studded tires... people out in the burbs putting them on the day they're legal and leaving them on until the day they're not. Sure, maybe they're headed out to the mountains - but I think the reality is they just want to be ready for the one or two days a year they're needed, like today.

 

Stay the fuck in Portland

 

Putting a winch on a two wheel drive is cute and all, but it's lipstick on a pig.

If getting stuck is a recurring issue, then you need a front diff and a transfer case. If it's not an issue, then don't waste your money on a 90 pound bumper ornament.

 

I can always count on a Canadian to have my back, crack an Alexander Keith's for me
But yeah - I'd be super impressed if a 4x4 would have done a damn thing different.

 

Guess what bugs the shit out of those sort of people? Unprepared motorists who are scattered all over the roadways stuck or crashed and impeding their travel. Take this lightly, I'm at least partly joking.

 

I am a guy who would never buy a 2wd pickup. I just know 4wd is not the be-all end-all. Especially on ice like that.

 

Why ya being a dick man? I'm sorry my truck isn't as holy as yours...

Well, since it's only been once, then I don't really need one, do I?

Damn guys, sorry I'm excited about my truck.