Is 2WD any less of a Tacoma?

TW Family, first off, Happy Thanksgiving. I hope ya’ll have had a memorable one.

Now, on to business. I wanted to get some consensus for any who care to chime in. I have had my ‘21 TRD Sport for a year now and am wondering if I should go ahead and build it out (truck camping, shooting, trail exploring, daily driver) or if I will be limited by not going 4WD. Not looking to overland per se, but wondering if there are experiences out there where 2WD shined like a champ or more often than not, left one wanting.

 

You can go anywhere you can go, just like the rest of us. We all have limitations and as long as we stay within those we are usually OK. Take a shovel, and some provisions for Justin and enjoy the journey. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

as mentioned above. Before i converted my pre runner to 4x4 i did a lot camping and explored many trails with no issues. Shovel, traction boards, some good AT tires will get you very far. Just know your limitations. Best thing to do is get some gear and hit some back country roads. You'll get a good idea of what your limitations are and what gear you'll really need. Also always good to go with someone else in case you get stuck. Good luck

 

Yes you will be more limited than someone in a 4wd truck. Want to go north in the winter? You can do it but it will suck more than it needs to. You can go off road, but if it is much more than mild, you'll need to be much more careful on line, and use momentum to do things that a 4wd can walk up and momentum breaks things.

Every time I've bought a 2wd truck I've though nah it will be ok...every time I end up vowing never to do that again, selling it and buying something that won't get stuck on a slightly inclined driveway.

 

All depends on what sort of terrain you're looking to tackle. Very first outing with my Tacoma I was impressed to see the traction I had on some muddy trails. I then realized I was still in 2HI lol. My Taco is better in 2HI than my Titan was in 4HI.

 

I’ve never understood the point of a 2WD truck other than for hauling things on non snow or ice covered, paved roads. That’s just me though.

 

2wd… 4wd… It’s all good until you get stuck. How that happens is anyone’s guess.

 

No, go buy a 4x4

 

According to many the Tacoma is a very capable truck. For me personally I only really do mostly trail stuff maybe once a year so I didn't see the sense in buying a 4x4 for once a year when you figure the added cost of owning a 4x4 in comparison. My truck is also my daily. If anything take it out and see how it does. If anything a good set of tires will get you to most places you want to go.

 

I would go 4wd for those activities. I find that even on forest roads where a 2wd can make it, putting it in 4x4 is easier on the truck and tears up the road less by reducing slippage.

You also get 4lo, which makes a lot of dirt oriented stuff more controlled at low speeds.

 

Not trailering.
No snow in FL.
No need for 4 X 4 for me.
Just wanted an easy way to move my bikes and kayaks.

 

I don't let my 2WD slow me down. It's seen more dirt than the average 4WD mall-crawler. Will it win the TW calendar contest? No. Will it shrug off giant boulders as it crawls the Rubicon? Also no. But it does haul my little trailer across this great country and still has the capability to go explore any points-of-interest that I have wanted to see along the way. It goes where I point it and it'll do it without complaint. And for that, it has been a greater, more capable adventure vehicle than any of my previous 4WDs. For some reason I didn't want to scratch the paint on those.





https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/big-bend-to-terlingua-you-took-a-trailer-where.783725/

 

The sound of branches scratching on paint sustains me.

 

the sound of branches scratching the paint is music to my ears

 

Used to call those scratches, “Arizona kisses”

 

When I first got my 4x4 I was backing up a 30deg incline in 2WD in the desert. Not a serious incline at all. Small, loose rocks/sand, - spinning, going nowhere. Rocked it, etc. and still couldn't get up. Turned on 4x4 and it effortless crawled up without spinning wheels.

If you are with a friend with a 4x4 you can push harder than on your own.

 

Girlfriend has left similar marks on me…

 

Backing up a steep incline with loose surface with a 2WD is a recipe for failure, weight is shifted toward the front. Forward my man, with weight in the bed, gives much more weight in the back going UP an incline.

 

The short answer is no, don't build out the 2wd. Sell it and get a 4x4. This is the line up of capability from least to most.

1.) 2wd open dif
2.) 2wd limited slip
3.) 2wd locker
4.) 4x4 open dif
5.) 4x4 limited slip
6.) 4x4 locker

You are at a 2, if the things you want to do are off gravel roads, you should get a 6. As you add all the things you want to your 2wd it will get heavier and lose off road capability.