4 wheel drive vs just traction control

I started with an '09 Prerunner with the Offroad package and gave it back (see link in sig) but while I had it I was able to drive it in the snow. That truck had the locking rear diff, but still couldn't make it up a little incline in the parking lot at work. My original thoughts were same as yours; I wanted some better gas mileage, less up front cost, less to maintain.

The next truck was a '10 4WD Sport. I don't regret that choice at all. I don't use it much here in VA but I've never not been able to get to or from work and I've had a great time running some trails with it. When the plow trucks come and pile snow in the parking spaces at my crowded apartment I put it in 4Lo and I always have a space

 

I'm not sure exactly how much snow you get where you are but for the 5 or 6 times we get any considerable amount of snow here in OK my prerunner has done just fine. Only time I had a real issue was getting out of the driveway once when we got almost a foot of snow all of a sudden and the truck was completely buried, but with a bit of digging I got it out. That said, this is the first winter I've had a proper set of tires and tried putting some weight in the bed, and I never felt like I would encounter anything on the normal roads I couldn't handle. It's actually pretty fun/satisfying when you realize what these trucks, even in 2wd, can do. Most importantly, common sense goes a long way.

 

The 4WD Tacomas have traction control, and the difference between 2WD and 4WD is substantial, not to mention we had so much snow last winter, I was thankful for the 9" ground clearance.

Years ago, I traded my 1999 Ford Escort wagon for a 2006 Ford Focus wagon. The Focus had anti-lock brakes, which made a big difference, and traction control, which only made a small difference.

The problem with traction control is that it only helps when one of the driven wheels has much less traction than the other. If both driven wheels have the same amount of traction, there is no advantage. A conventional differential already splits power equally to both wheels when they have the same amount of traction.

 

Another advantage of the 4WD Tacoma is that it comes with Mud & Snow rated tires, while the 2WD Tacomas come with All Season tires.

I realize these differences are not as important in Virginia as they are in Northeast Ohio, land of unrelenting bitter cold and snow.

 

LOL, i would take the street tires that come on a base prerunner (the 245/75/16's) over the rugged fails ANY DAY. the BFG rugged trails are about the worst tire i have EVER experienced in snow and ice. Previous truck with Michelin MS2's i would see how far i could get to the ski resort before putting it in 4wd.... i rarely had to put it in 4wd.... these rugged trails 4wd is NECESSARY!

also 4wd does not designate mud and snow rated tires.... only the TRD off road comes with an "all terrain tire" regardless of prerunner or 4wd.



EITHER WAY, OP if you are even questioning getting 4wd... get it

 

Also consider if planning on lifting your truck. When you lift a 4x2 you penis shrinks, when you own a 4x4 your penis grows by %25, not to mention your woman's tits increase a cup size.

 

I live in Ohio and I owned a 1st gen PreRunner for ten years. I never really had a problem getting around in the winter here, but I traded it in for a 2012 Off-Road 4x4. I always regretted two things about my prerunner:

1) It wasn't 4x4
2) It was a 4cyl

I got along just fine with the prerunner, but I'm much happier with the OR....

 

I have a DC 13 prerunner 2wd and live in north Texas; we have one or two ice storms a year, I've driven in the ice with 300 lbs of sand in the bed over the wheels and this thing is dangerous - much worse than my corolla; no control whatsoever and not much help from the LSD when stuck- no traction at all... I wish id gone with the 4x4 but the cost difference here is more than 5k, my truck is a daily driver (70+ miles a day) and the mileage is poor already but none of that matters when you're sliding sideways toward a ditch and can't move in any direction. One thing I will be doing before next winter is getting some new tires google these dulops- not good. Also ordering a set of traction cables so I can stop and maybe get some traction next time.

That being said, I've done well with a 2wd silverado ( no traction control, mechanical LSD and only RW abs) in the same area for 8 years before the tacoma- it handled much better so I am hoping tires will help but next truck will be 4wd because I need to be able to get to work in one piece.

I love the tacoma but if you have doubt, go with the 4wd.