4x2 vs 4x4

Thanks again for all the advise. A dealer about 70 miles away emailed me an offer I couldn't refuse, 1500 under invoice. Picked up an Inferno TRD Sport 4x2 last night. It's a little cramped headroom wise compared to the CR-V I traded in but overall I really like it. Now begins the search for a Tonneau Cover and a quality but lightweight bed extender so I can securely carry two kayaks.

 

that's a fantastic deal!

 

After reading everyone's thoughts on this, and giving due respect to everyone's opinions, I decided to try out my 4WD Taco in different situations using all of the TRDOR goodies. Stock TRDOR tires.

(Troll disclaimer: Yes, I am sure you're a better driver than I am and you can do anything in 1WD that I cannot do in 8WD)

Here's my breakdown:

MUD: I'm talking horse pasture mud where the tires sink in 6-12 inches.

Regular 2WD mode empty bed: One tire spinning just slings mud everywhere and the truck bogs down quickly. No steering control.

Regular 2WD mode with 200 lbs in bed: Goes a little bit farther, but still bogs down eventually. No steering control and mud all over four bags of horse feed.

2WD with Auto LSD: Performed the same with full and empty bed but much better than regular 2WD mode. Both back wheels spin and get the truck much farther, but there is a lot of rear slide to both sides. It didn't bog down but I had to engage 4WD to navigate the truck safely into the barn. I tried in 2WD, but the side to side slippage made it too hairy and I didn't want to risk hitting the barn.

2WD with Trac Off: Same as with Auto LSD.

Regular 4HI: Ehh, not too impressed. Coming from a locked rear 4WD Jeep, the computer really wanted to bog me down. Granted, I had more steering control, but the computer really retarded the power and the truck felt weak.

4Hi with Trac Off: Now we're talking. Both back wheels spin, I had full power and a lot of steering control. Didn't get bogged down at all and maneuvered easily.

4Lo Regular: Really the same as 4Hi with Trac Off. The engine just revs higher (obviously).

4Lo Rear Diff Locked: The truck pulled like a mule. Very strong and, in my opinion, this is the way to tackle mud.

4Lo MTS set to mud: Good stuff. The truck seemed to do pretty well here and I didn't really notice the mud. All side to side slippage felt controlled by the computer and the truck stayed in line wherever I pointed it.

4Low crawl control: This is undoubtedly a cool feature but you'd better have a foot close to the brake! A horse decided to walk right in front of the truck (not 6 feet away, RIGHT up against the truck) and I had to brake. The crawl control continued to function for a split second but enough to push the horse out of the way (no injury). I think the mare was trying to figure out what was under the hood because crawl control makes a lot of noise! However, CC did well with no bogging down and total steering control.


SNOW: 6-18 inches:

Regular 2WD mode empty bed: I got stuck on my paved driveway in 12" of snow. Very little steering control at that depth and the tail end kicks out requiring regular steering correction to stay on target. On ice, forget about acceleration on a turn. Yes, very light acceleration is fine, but if I'm trying to get out on to a thoroughfare safely, the rear consistently kicks out. Does this truck actually have traction control? If so, it sucks because the rear wheels spin like crazy until the computer starts clicking at my feet at which point they continue to spin but with a little more control.

2WD with Auto LSD: I can go quite a bit farther in deeper snow. Both rear wheels spin giving much more forward power. However, with both rear wheels spinning, the side to side slippage is worse than in regular mode. I can keep in in line with a lot of steering correction, but it's really a pain in the tail and wouldn't be too safe on the highway (IMHO).

2WD with Trac Off: Same as with Auto LSD.

Regular 4HI: This is where the rubber meets the snow. I found this to be the best setting for me on the road. The bed always stayed in line and the truck handled turns really well. This is also the mode that I switched to when I got stuck on my driveway in 12" of snow. The truck pulled out like a champ. I am very comfortable driving down the road in this mode. Also, the ABS works very nicely keeping the truck on target.

4Hi with Trac Off: At slow speeds in deep snow off road, this is my favorite mode. I have total control over the truck and it does what I ask.

4Lo Regular: Really the same as 4Hi with Trac Off. The engine just revs higher (obviously).

4Lo Rear Diff Locked: This is how to do donuts! Seriously the best, most controlled donuts ever! That aside, the truck doesn't even notice the snow in this mode. Goes exactly where it is supposed to go.

4Lo MTS set to sand (why is there no snow mode?): About the same as 4Lo. Other than some increased feedback from the brake pedal, I didn't notice much difference.

4Low crawl control: I used this mode to climb an icy hill. Not that I needed it, but I am trying to figure out the best modes. The truck did very well. The noise makes me worry that an angry gorrilla is hanging onto my manifold, but the truck does very well in this mode. It's really similar to 4Lo diff locked mode. I did have the "delay" in CC disabling when I hit the brake though. I have to measurements, but I feel the truck goes 6-12" further in CC when I hit the brake than it does in any other mode.

It's certainly not scientific and it only pertains to my driving style, but these are my thoughts on 2WD vs. 4WD.

Peace,

Jim

 

Nice write up - although I would have thought the 2WD with with Trac Off would have been the worst performance of ALL cases... maybe I misunderstand what this mode is. I thought it was the best way to get only one tire spinning.

 

Thanks. You may be correct. Under different circumstances, it may be the worst of all options. But for me, there was no difference in performance. If anyone else wants to give it a "spin" and compare results, I'm all ears!

 

I had 2wd truck once.... Never again, it was 3500 Cummins got stuck at the boat ramp trying to pull my boat out. The truck was a beast sounded amazing, great mpg for the size of it, 12valve with 0 fuel plate and torque converter lock out switch. It huffed and puffed and I was very embarrassed as some ladies and gents were watching me struggle. No one could help because only cars were there. I had to call a friend to bring his Jeep over to pull me out. 4x4 is always great to have! Later down the road when we sell this trucks people will want 4x4 100 times over 4x2, there are going to be a lot of aftermarket parts to make them lifted and more power just like right now for 1st and 2nd gens.

 

How big of a boat?

 

It was a jet drive 18ft boat, nothing big at all. It was a shallow V haul with small block ford engine, jet out drive and 5 passenger.

 

Isnt the Tacoma Limited starting at 34k? You can get the TRD OR Auto for 30k-34k depending on the model. Why not just get the 4x4 as it is a more capable truck? I guess it does depend on your situation and activity level though.

I have a 4x4 but I am a pretty active person. I go shooting in the desert, rock climb at the crags, and enjoy nature under the stars. I need the 4x4, if you don't, get the limited. 4x4 changes your life. Opens more opportunity and your not limited to just going from point A to B. You can adventure to point C, haha.

 

I'd be shocked if my Prerunner could not pull that up the ramp. But, it has been said many times 4x4 is the way to go for boat ramps. My next Taco is likely going to be 4 by.

 

Thor your are right. I thin even a Geo metro could of gave me a pull and helped my Cummins out of the problem. That's why ever since then I promised that I will never buy a 2wd truck. Most of my friends told me 4x4 is worthless and I can get through everything in rwd in North Carolina. NOT, never again, 4x4 or it's a waste of money! It's a 36"5k truck already why not and couple of grand and make it a tank so it can go anywhere!

 

All this talk of I will never ever need a 4x4 and if I do I'll just call a tow truck cracks me up! Also all the talk of with enough skill and speed I can get my 4x2 up anything! Not saying driving skill isn't worth a lot but there are times when 4x4 is necessary or you're just stuck! I live in So Cal and we NEVER get bad weather! (That last sentence was sarcasm BTW) Twice now in about 10 years I have seen two feet or more of snow in my area! I had a little car at the time and was stuck for the better part of a week! When I finally did get out it was because a buddy came and got me with his Range Rover. I burned all my vacation time and a little more unpaid. Not a big deal to me, but what if I or someone in my family had a medical emergency and needed to go to the hospital! 4×4 could literally be a lifesaver!

 

Didn't know you could get a 2x Limited

 

For those of you who really think you can go anywhere with a 4x4 let me let you in on a bit of sage advice. All 4x4 will do is allow you to get stuck further from a decent road and deeper. After a 2' snow fall up here I used 4x4 to get out of the sub division to a main plowed cross road. I could just have easily got out with my wife's Avalon if it had decent snow tires on it. It has All Seasons which are ok for packed snow but not for the deep stuff.
Too, I should add if the snow is deep and packed you will just get high centered, been that done that. Lesson learned.

Take Care

Bob

 

If I only get snow twice in ten years I'd keep snow chains in the garage and put them on those two times. But yeah if you live in an area that snows a lot I'd get 4x4 for sure. Heck, I live in Long Beach and still want 4x for the Peace of mind on trips.

 

I see OP already got a 4x2. From his description, I think a 4x4 would have been a better option. If you have any inclination to go into mud or sand, 4wd is essential. Lockers are nice, I have front and rear and the rear locker serves great when one tire looses traction but the other one still has some, but nothing replaces 4wd. The front tires have more traction then the rear, and a rear locker cannot replace low gear. A 4wd Tacoma will run circles around a locked 2wd in almost every scenario EXCEPT when the 4wd has 2 tires off the ground.

 

I made it through the 20th winter in Boulder CO with a 5-lug.

10 years before that in Sioux City IA.

Do the impossible, they said it couldn't be done.

 

impressive. i think a lot of it has to do with the driver.