4x4 is over rated

Nice truck. I didn't know they made a "TRD Off-Road" in 2WD.

I definitely NEED 4x4 on a regular basis.

 

Yeah they make a TRD Off Road in 2WD Prerunner, but the question is "WHY"? Bottom line, for my money, I want those front tires pulling.

 

For people who don't want the gas mileage, and maintenence of 4x4. Also most people just don't need it.

Honestly, a locked 2wd with good tires and driver will go anywhere a stock 4x4 will. I'm not just saying that because I have a 2wd, I'm saying it from experience. The locker works wonders for the PreRunner.

 

Dude, do you realize what you just said? There's no 2WD truck that can compete with 4WD,,,it's simple mathmatics, and it does not happen. Yeah I've gone off-road with a Prerunner too, and had fun, but it's in a class of it's own. There's no debate here. All I'm saying is that if you're going to drive a truck that goes off-road, sooner or later you will wish you had bought the 4WD, hands down. Fuel mileage; heck I get 20 mpg city with my V6 and BFG's and that works for me. Sorry man, I mean no disrespect, but the facts are the facts, and trust me, I've been there, done that and got the T-shirt.

 

you call that mud? send pics of mud and water over the hood and we will talk about 4wd being over-rated (my old 89 4x4 yota)

 

Does a 4x4 running 4x2 really get different gas mileage than a standard 4x2? I would think not but......?

 

I couldn't agree more. I agree that many times 4x2 is under rated, and taht a good 4x2 with a locker and tires can be very capable, but to say that a 4x2 can do all the things a 4x4 can do is just plain wrong. there could not be a more innacurate statement. like you say, its mathmatics, what has better traction, 4 wheels turning ro 2? its common sense

alot of people say the 4x4 gets worse mileage because of the weight but i dont buy it. its only a couple hundred pounds extra. i get the same mileage or better than other people on the site with 2 wheel drive. Although i will say that the 4x2 is faster, it doesnt get better mileage.

 

I don't need 4WD, but I would rather "have it and not need it" than "not have it and need it"...

My next truck will definitely be 4WD, but the PreRunners are still awesome trucks!

 

couldn't agree more. Especially on hill climbs. With a 4x2 you have to keep up momentum to carry you forward because if you lose traction and slow down, it's over. With a 4x4 you can put it low range and creep up slowly with more torque. Less chance of wheel spin, AND less chance of damaging the truck because you're going slower and more controlled.

And 4x2, even with locker and good tires, needs to use momentum to compensate for the front end not pulling. Whereas a 4x4 can use brute strength in low range to use all 4 tires to crawl out.

Sort of extreme, but there's no way in HELL a 4x2 could even come close to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pxWndrseGg

 

bah.... 4WD wannabe's!!

 

How does one go about getting 'god' tires? I bet they are amazing!

 

That's probably the only way a 4x2 would compete with a 4x4!

 

I think this debate is pretty much over, done, finished, closed and that's a wrap.........I'm going to eat dinner now. Later men.

 

well you guys have not been into anything good where you actually need 4x4 to even begin to go through . . . its all about momentum . . . . if your in 2wd going into something and you get stuck, 4x4 may help you if its light stuff, but if your in the thick of it your screwed . . .

also lets go do some rocky trail riding with that 2wd of yours and see how overrated 4x4 is when you have one wheel off the ground

4x4 do get worse gas milage, beside the fact that there are more weight in parts, you also have more MOVING parts, which in turn are an enemy when trying to get good MPG . . . .

you go drive around with an extra 400 lbs (just a guesstimate) in your truck and see how your gas milage does . . .

luckily i have manual hubs so i can go unlock them and my cv's don't rotate with my truck as i travel . . .

 

One time i was driving a 98 chevy malibu (suckass car btw) i was driving from chihuahua to el paso tx, in juarez, there was road work so they send us trough the desert, the road was shitty as hell, lots of holes and sand bumps, it felt like driving a buggy in the dunes, i had to drive it without slowing down, or losing momentum, because i almost got stuck a couple of times, so, its true you can get by w/2wd, but for sure if i had stopped i would been stuck there for a couple of hours, also maybe the front traction helped.

 

Thank you. Great Point.

 

Long before there were remotes to change channels for the TV, there were also almost all 2wd trucks sold and used in everyday situations. The 4wd revolution made it easier for the farmers and contractors but it was not by any means a necessity. Now before I get flamed by someone stating that no one ever took their trucks rock climbing or mudding back in the day. You are correct. People the age of most of your grandparents worked very hard for a whole lot less money and had more respect for their personal purchases than to recklessly go out and inflict any sort of damage on them. Most of our grandparents did not own 2 or 3 vehicles at one time and could not be productive if they had one down, awaiting an axle. I'm not anti off road, just making it known that before there was 4wd there was the daily driven, hard worked 2wd trucks that built this country's foundation. And with that in mind, there were far less snow plows used and people still managed to get around and go to work..

 

Agreed! I use my 4wd as a recovery option. Sure, it may not be "needed" per say, but it's either that or a winch. Without a winch I'm left with my Hi-Lift jack and whatever local debris I can find for traction aids. So 4wd is just easier to turn on before getting out of the truck to start digging, or stuffing things under the rear tires. Because without all that work my truck wouldn't go many of the places I do. And I've still gotten stuck in 4wd so it's not an end-all, be-all solution. It's just easier to turn the knob, wait a few seconds, and go than to spend half an hour or more trying to give the rear tires enough traction.

Then again I almost always wheel alone since no one around me has a truck or jeep capable of following me. So I take extra caution to ensure I can extract myself without outside help.

Oh, and my grandfather tells stories like that all the time! lol Too much snow for the buses to make it out? Bring in the team of horses and a sleigh. They used to have snow up the second floor windows when he was a kid.

 

Try some NY sand............you will be down to the frame within six feet of comming off solid ground. I have pulled many snobs in their Hummers out of the sand with my Tacoma that is half thier size...
Sounds great that the Tacoma has surpased your expectations....
I used my 2002 a year a go to pull down part of my house while doing a major renovation...the trucks are small, but very impressive in performance..

 

I dont or wouldnt flame anyone for having a 2WD..its just a preference of mine to have 4WD after owning 3 trucks before that were only 2WD..I found a great sense of joy being able to go off road and actually go places that I can gurantee no 2WD truck can go..but in regards to that..people can spend their hard earned money anyway that they so choose..and I respect that 100%. That is what makes this a free country..

But also..the cool thing about 2WD is that if you have no intentions of ever going off road and wheelin' whatsoever..then a 2WD is great for you..less money out of your pocket and less monthly payment right!

My whole point was that there are some people..and im not saying that they are on this forum..but there are the ones who will be dead serious and say that their 2WD can go ANYWHERE a 4WD can..that i just disagree with..totally. In my opinion, people like that need more education on trucks.

That being said..I wanted to apologize to anyone if I sounded rude or offended anyone with a previous post...

Thanks