2WD vent post

#badlinesgoodtimes

 

Lighter, quicker, better fuel economy. Less shit to go wrong. What’s not to love? I was looking for a 2wd a/c but my 4x4 4 banger was the only new truck on the lot. My truck sat on the lot for 5 months with 5 miles on it. Nobody wanted it so that’s the way it went. You’re gonna love that thing a little more every day. You’ll look back and realize you actually bought the perfect machine. Now, get modding!

 

I drove a 2wd for 23 years including through Wisconsin winters. Sure it was troublesome at times but I loved that truck and it was my first new vehicle as well. Enjoy what you got and pay no attention to the haters.

 

I don't get it either. I had a 1996 Tacoma Xtracab for 23 years before I sold it and bought my 2019 Tacoma TRD Sport 4-door 2WD. I have never needed a 4WD and don't need one now. Insurance is higher on a 4wd, and there is much more to go wrong with it, than a 2wd. Tire wear is higher on a 4wd too. It you lived in mountainous areas with lots of snow, etc, then a 4wd is almost mandatory, or if you live in areas with high floodwaters, then again, almost mandatory. But unless you are driving offroad a lot, which you said you aren't, then I see no need for a 4wd either. For me, the biggest thing I got out of this post is the fact that you are actually able to GET a new tacoma, because the local dealers here don't seem to be able to get new vehicles at all, and I am in the San Francisco Bay area with tons of toyota dealers!

 

I never bought a 4wd truck until I needed it. None of the Tacomas are bad trucks.

 

WTF just happened

 

A 2WD SR5 V6 double cab is the same price as a 4WD SR V6 double cab.

https://www.toyota.com/tacoma/2023/features/mpg_other_price/7594/7146/7582

I think SR5 has the following over SR:

Fog lights
Fender flares
Aluminum wheels
Power sliding rear window
Smart key instead of conventional key
Auto dimming rear view mirror
Power driver seat
8" (instead of 7") crappy radio
Leather steering wheel

Mileage is 18/22 on 4wd vs 19/24 on 2wd.
Resale will probably be a good bit better on 4wd.

If you plan to customize it (e.g. wheels and tires and radio) the SR5 package has a lot of wasted value.

But get the truck that suits you best. I live in a place where I had to use 4wd to get up my driveway today (winter won't stop here). But I don't think that happens much in Florida. The Auto-LSD mode which all trucks have works very well, I can sometimes make it up the snowy driveway just with that.

 

I'm a couple of hours south of you, also in Florida, and I have a 2WD as well. I moved here 12 years ago after living in Vermont for 10 years. Up there a 4x4 was basically mandatory with the amount of snow in the winter and mud on dirt roads in the spring. Here I really don't think the extra expense is necessary. I do dirt, grass, and gravel with no issues and never plan on doing any heavy duty trails. I think if you stick to hard packed beaches (think Daytona) you will be fine. Enjoy your truck and tell your GF that if she really wants a 4x4 next time she can pony up the extra $3k

 

Look at the date,man

 

Riley, you’re well ahead of 3/4 of the US population in realizing what you can comfortably afford and living within those means. Bravo to you for that! Enjoy your truck and try not to worry so much about other people’s opinions. Thick skin will serve you well in life and especially on this forum. There are a lot of great people on here, but there are a lot of jackasses too. Just have to wade thru the garbage posts. You’re on the right track, so do your thing and enjoy the new wheels!

Edit: HAHA…April Fools Day! The wording was rearranged but the point remains.

 

There’s nothing wrong with 2wd. Think about it, the overwhelming majority of vehicle owners have 2wd all across the country. I have a 4x4 because there’s about 10 times a year I absolutely need it. If I lived back in South Georgia I’d get the 2wd all the way. Less weight, less parts to break, and less maintenance. Oh, you also get a bulletproof 2.7. I had a 2wd s10 for years and did most of what I needed even with its low ground clearance. The cool thing about tacomas is the 2wd has the same ground clearance as a 4x4.

The only thing I can’t shake is how the new market has distorted prices to where 2wd trucks are mostly over 30gs. But that’s the market. Enjoy your truck dude and you won’t need a new one until you hit your 30s.

 

Nothing wrong with a 2WD Tacoma, I live in Michigan,we get snow,I need 4WD. Wife has an AWD Subrau, it runs circles around my Tacoma in the snow. Enjoy your truck, and try and keep your wallet in your pocket.

 

I personally will always have at least one 4WD vehicle sitting in the driveway, but that's just me. I'm kinda a closet prepper and believe in more capabilities not less. But I guess as long as the zombies don't attack Florida, you should be fine with your 2WD Taco.

Congrats young man, you are doing great!

 

I started to hate 2WD when I took a locked Pre Runner to Hungry Valley OHV and it couldn’t crawl up a steep hill. So I took the step into the 4WD world.

The ALSD button will be your off road button. It will get you to a lot of places, but with limitations. However, it is very capable in 2WD. That will be your adrenaline button as well. It’s fun to use on the trails.

The trails you describe will not be a problem. Sand might. That’s where 4WD takes control. But there’s only one way to find out!

 

You got bigger things to worry about than 2WD vs 4WD. You're taking your truck to the beech often. Salt corrosion will be your biggest problem. Can you get stuck? Sure. Can you air down for more traction? Sure can. You could even swap out the diff for a locking or limited slip diff and make it a true 2WD. I would recommend get yourself a large plastic or metal box that fits in the bed that doesn't go above the bed lip, fill it with things like an air pump, recovery straps, traction boards, a shovel, oil, coolant, jumper cables (real ones not the aluminum booster cables that are common), tie down straps, something to remove bugs and dirt, towels, and pretty much anything else you might think you'd want if you're stuck somewhere and you have to recover your truck yourself for the kind of terrain you'll be driving on. Your cab won't have much storage space anyway. Save that space for things like work gloves, flash lights, rain ponchos, etc.

I would also recommend getting a Tonneua cover to hide the contents of the bed. It won't stop criminals from breaking or cutting into it but, in my experience, they tend not to bother even when it's trivial to open. Think out of site, out of mind. They aren't waterproof so don't store things under it that don't react well to water. Since you're going the beech often, you might consider a bed mat like bedrug. Protects your bed from scratches and makes it more comfortable to sit/lay in. Easy to install. Easy on the knees.

Good luck and welcome to the family.

 

No hate. My Tacoma is 2WD

 

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the new truck!

Also congratulations on using your head on making a sensible rather than ego driven purchase.
With good care your Tacoma should give reliable service for a long time.

 

It was a 1978 Olds Cutlass. The driver skill is always most important except when you wreck. Anyone can do that.

 

I prefer a 2wd truck less things to service and less things to fail. I always think I need the traction of 4wd, if I was somewhere where the temps didn't drop below freezing I would go 2wd. Tacoma Prerunners and Ranger FX2s are nice packages. Toyota does not build a Prerunner any longer since all 3rd gens went to 6 lugs. I guess the TRD OR RWD still has a locker that can be used in 2wd.

 

If you want to take it off-road, I’d get some traction boards.