4X4 for moving?

i live not that far from where you are moving to. i have 4 wheel drive + an extra set of wheels with studded snow tires mounted. I also have a simple box I place between the wheel wells with 3 sand bags. for winter driving, if I had to choose between 4x4 and the tires, I'd choose the tires. In Oregon, if you take up skiing or other mountain sports, you'll often be required to have tires with the snowflake on the side, regardless of 2 or 4 wheel drive. The combo of studded snows, 4x4 and bags makes the Taco slay any Oregon road.

4x2 plus winter tires would be more than adequate for your needs, but once you get the Taco, you may find your needs and interests change.

 

Lol, yeah km, close enough. The million mile tundra was south of the border, that's what I'm aiming for!

 

I have been stuck on wet grass in an empty 2wd pickup with highway tires.

I live in the Willamette valley. If you never leave the valley, 2wd with extra weight in bed and good tires you'll get by. However if you plan on going over the pass between November and April, 4x4 is so much nicer. With 2wd you'll probably be required to put chains on. For me 4x4 was a no-brainer since I use my truck for hunting, fishing, going to the mountains...

 

Guys, I think most of you are missing a key reason why the OP is considering 4WD: others might depend on it. Yes, you can tell him "get snow tires, put some weight in the back, etc." But there are 3 other cars that might need him to pull THEM out of a sticky situation. What 3 vehicles are his parents driving? What are their driving styles? Where are they driving? Will they make it down the muddy road when it rains? His Tacoma might, but their Jetta might not. See my point? If if was only about the OP's needs, then no, 4WD isn't necessary. But if 3 other drivers might need it, then yes, get the 4WD.

 

I'm on the coast. Last year we had one snowfall, 1" in total. Our snow is more of the liquid type. Sometimes measured in feet during a season.

 

You make a good point Benz.

I have a question for the OP.

If you choose the 4x4 route so you can be the rescue vehicle...do you have any experience rescuing vehicles? It sounds like a good idea to get a 4x4 so you can do that, but do you want to be responsible for possible vehicle damage, snapping lines, and muddy midnight recoveries? What if they are in a ditch and your truck isn't enough?

I'd personally leave the recoveries to a professional for the $100 a shot it might cost, and just get what you want.

 

I would 100% agree if he needs to cross the Siskiyou Pass, but where he's landing I think he's ok.

 

Yeah, but your story would have been way more interesting if it was a 2wd.


Plenty of 2wd trucks up in Montana, Wyoming..... etc places where it snows a lot. You aren't required to have it. Just be smart about driving and 2wd will be fine for 99.9% of the OPs driving.

That being said, 4x4s hold their value stupid well here.... I got my 2wd truck and car stuck around the deer camp more than once... and I want to do some more adventure type trips in my truck.... I went 4x4 and am happy. I understand if $3000 worth of 4x4 ain't worth it though. Nothing wrong with that and you should be fine.

 

Yup. Just everyone be smart about driving and $3000 buys a few recoveries. 4x4 is not necessary, but would be nice to have for the OP.

 

That is indeed a good question, I currently would say I have limited experience rescuing vehicles with my old Taco but that was in California where it is much easier lol. My old Taco was also just a 4 cyl 4x2 and the only time I needed to help anyone was to help tow them somewhere by street which is a much different situation.

Good question, thank you. The other cars are a 1999 Camry, a 2016 Avalon, and a 2WD Honda Crosstour. I think the Crosstour would fair much better then the other two vehicles.

 

I couldn't imagine owning a pickup without 4x4/4WD/AWD. Even if I lived in Oregon, I'd get the option just so I could park or pull off the side of a road on wet grass.

My buddy had a '97 2WD GMC Sierra long bed, and I can't tell you how many times he got stuck on saturated grass. I've jumped up and down on that bumper many times while enduring the ensuing rooster tails of mud. The Tacoma might be much better in this situation, but that anecdote has stuck with me. (plus, plenty of snow in my area all but forces the option).

 

His par

What did he have on it for sneakers? good tread tends to take care of these issues

 

Early on they were highway tires for sure, but he did move to a more aggressive tread in the later years. It was better, but still pretty terrible. We were roommates in those later years. On move day ... unloading furniture from the courtyard of our horseshoe shaped apartment building proved to be a costly mistake. I warned him of past situations, but luckily he didn't expect me to help pay the fine for tearing up the grass.

His truck sat there for 3 days until he could move it.

 

Don't do it!! There's no going back after you buy a 4x4. You'll never again want a vehicle that isn't 4WD.