2wd vs 4wd

I bought a 4x2 while living down in CA, now I live up in WA. Though 4x4 would be a nice option just in case, I have yet to require it. I camp about 8 times a year with lots of unmaintained roads and forest roads.
Good tires, some decent recovery equipment, and a brain for staying away from trouble has kept me free and clear. I was never looking to wheel my truck hard because I hate breaking shit, but my 4x2 has allowed me to do everything I've wanted so far.

I can't see a damn reason that warrants 4x4 if you only do on highway driving. Even if it snows where you live.

 

Do you happen to have a rear locker? Great to hear someone with a 2wd is having fun! Mine is also a 2wd.

 

Sorry, should have clarified. No locker, just ALSD on my SR5. And it helped me through some spots where a fully open diff would stop.

 

I'm in an area with 2-3 blasts a winter - perhaps a foot or so lingering for 24-48 hours or so, maximum, before the shovels and salters clean it up. If it's really bad, screw work - that's what a snow-day is for - no one is going anywhere, 4x4 or 4x2..

I've not had a need for a 4x4 in 30 years of commuting or grocery-getting. I have had a consistent need to be able to load up shit in the back of a truck, and take it from point A to B. All of my trucks have done that handily, and never got me stuck on the black-top...

As my old man once said, for average use 4x4 only has the advantage of getting you deeper into the ditch, when you hit that black-ice on the highway..

 

Do you guys use chains in the snow? or Snow tires?

 

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I lived in Canada without a 4WD for a while ... was not easy away from the big cities ... especially when you got into the back roads & sticks..

Snow would cover the ground around Thanksgiving (US version) and you would not see the ground again until tax time (April 15).

After I got the CJ-7 4WD or the Subaru AWD ... life was soooo much easier. Got run off the black ice on Trans-Canada and went behind guard rail and down into a wet drainage ditch. Didn't think it was humanely possible for that Subaru wagon to pull itself out of there and up the hill and back on the Trans-Canada ... but it made it after several attempts.

I have a 2WD now ... but 4WD would be a must for me in bad weather or if I did any off roading.

A rear locker was a lot better ... but still not a 4WD ... just my past experiences.

4WD is the king of costs, king of gas and the king of off-roading too.

 

Chains or studs are verboten in Southern Ontario. They'd like to make Snows mandatory - I've just never seen the need... i've always just carried a shovel, and a bag of sand or two to lay down if needed, then pick a line and give 'er. It's rare that it gets to that point - and more or less works out well, without the additional expense of snows.

You still gotta use your best judgement on whether you really need to be on the roads, when the white shit really comes down. The biggest threat in adverse conditions isn't getting stuck - but getting hit by some numpty who panics at the sight of the first fat snow-flakes. I've been at a dead-stop, and had somebody panic-brake on black ice and head-on me... 4x2 or 4x4 was irrelevant, my F150 was having issues with coming out of reverse at the time... it was that frigging cold ... For myself, 4x4 simply isn't worth the ongoing increased insurance and maintenance costs over 4x2, given the very infrequent need that i'd have for it, in this region.

 

Pretty much - in built up, inter-urban regions of south-central Ontario where i am .. 4x4 is more prestige, than necessity - as long as you stick to this region. I entirely agree with you, when addressing other regions of Canada. I don't do much in the way of travelling outside of this region at all - certainly not during the winter 'hibernation' months when i'm sticking close to home anyway. If i'm going to an area more known for snow, it's in the summer with an ATV in the back of the truck.

I guess an answer for the OP, would be in the form of further questions - what is your purpose for the truck, what is your region like in terms of terrain, hilly, mountainous, flat - is 4x4 useful, are 4x4 off-road opportunities available, what's your regional weather like, how deep are your pockets, etc etc.. many questions you gotta answer for yourself.

 

...^^^... I was on the back roads between Montreal and Quebec City ... and remember some mornings when I could not even find the road due to blowing snow drifts ... really freaked me out seeing everything "flat & white" (with no road markers) ...

Even the Trans-Canada would look flat from the blowing snow at times before the plows got out.

My first winter in Canada, my gas froze while driving (about -25F) in a Chevy Impala (no LSD) and had to walk several miles in the snow wearing loafers and no socks and thin jacket ... that really woke me up fast ... after that I carried everything in a 4WD ... was driving from Florida to Montreal and got a surprise... welcome to Montreal ... I was not a winter driver my first winter there ... lol

Many people could make it in the city with a 2WD ... unless a snow plow socked them in their parking place or driveway.

 

In that case, if you worried about traction, if you get a 2WD, get Prerunner TRD Sport with true LSD or (if you can find one) a Prerunner with Off-Road package. I pulled my 18' boat for years with no issues what so ever and it was fiberglass, so even heavier.

... until it got stolen in 2010

 

2WD's have as much fun as 4WD's Just depends on what you want to do. Don't go rock crawling in a 2WD, that sucks (tried it)! Crevasse trails with a 2WD, that sucks (tried it)! But mud, sand, trails, a well planned 2WD is just as fun and capable. LOL, if your pre-running, 4WD sucks! When you jump a berm, the extra weight in the front makes for a rough front dive landing, where a 2WD is a little better (done it with 4WD 4Runner and Bronco setup as 2WD pre-runner)

 

Taken from my dash cam yesterday in Big Bear. Had to have either chains or 4x4. Chains are a pain in the ass. Having four wheel drive isn't just worth it, it's fun.

https://youtu.be/_eC0NHBoolM

 

Sweet! Only problem is, you bought a nice truck, why the hell aren't you running ICON's? Get rid of the BS blades man, "change your life man, I swear." (name the movie that quote came from you get 10 points! if your not a surfer, don't even try)

https://www.boschautoparts.com/en/auto/wiper-blades/icon-wiper-blades

http://www.autozone.com/ignition-tu...-wiper-blade-windshield-/761545_284744_25448/


ICON's do make a huge difference

 

Point break.

 

If you want 4wd buy it. The mileage difference between a Pre and 4wd is next to nothing.

 

So all those vehicles in front of you had chains or were 4wd? I have no idea about snow I'm from Fl. Just curious.

 

Correct. You had to pass through a Ca highway patrol checkpoint before getting to that point on the mountain. The elevation there was almost 8500 ft

 

Would they install the chains for a fee? I have been wanting to go to big bear but I have a 2wd, so I need chains/cables.

 

Yes, bring the chains with you and there are guys at the checkpoints who will put them on for you. I'm not sure if they charge a fee or work for tips.

 

Thanks for the info!