4WD vs 2WD

I bought the 4x4 because I wanted the most broadly capable version.

However, there is certainly a use case for 2WD.
My folks have always had a truck for utility purposes such as moving furniture or other large junk and yardwork (getting pavers, mulch, whatever). They don't own a boat, don't drive it off road, nor daily drive it at all as far as that goes. In my 41 years, they have never been stuck anywhere as far as I know. They would literally never put it into 4wd if they had it, and it would just be a liability for them in every way. They get regular cab shortbeds.

Personally I've "needed" the 4wd twice so far. Once, turning around at night on a road I'm not familiar with, three point turning out of someone's driveway. Backed a little too far and put the rear wheels down a slight grassy hill I didn't know was there. Was just spinning. Pop it into 4wd, came right out as the fronts were still on pavement anyway.

We don't get much snow in SC, but when we do, only the major roads are salted, so if it sticks at all, any kind of side road can turn into a packed sheet of ice quickly as people drive on them. I went out once in those conditions, and had no issues, definitely far more stable traction in 4wd. Otherwise I would have just waited the day or two for it to melt, which is about all it usually takes here.

I also think that full size, extended cab trucks are more susceptible to having less weight on the normal rear drive wheels than shorter, lighter, or FWD vehicles and therefore may be more apt to "need" it in standard slicker driving conditions that don't include intentional offroading.

 

I live in sunny California, don’t even need 4x4, I got a 4x4 in case for ski trips.

 

I’ve been looking at Tundras a lot lately because I just bought one. The resale value of a 4x4 is sooooo much higher!

 

My truck will punch your truck in the face.

 

Along with the price new

 

Okay, why don't you tell me exactly why I need 4WD? I have had a 2006 2WD Tundra for 225,000 miles and 12 years and a 2018 2WD for 78,000 miles and 5 1/2 years.

NOT ONCE have I needed 4WD AT ALL. I don't go into situations where I cannot manage the traction that I have. Thousands of mile on dirt roads (National Forest, etc.).

Both of my Tundras were much less expensive, get much better gas mileage, are much lighter, less maintenance, have a smaller turning radius and are perfect for my needs. I DO NOT drive in snow or mud or any terrain that requires 4WD.

So, why the hell should I have 4WD when it would be completely useless to me? Be specific.

Dan

 

Obviously you should not have 4WD. Don’t get in a twist about it. If it’s not useful for you then forget about it. Most people occasionally get in a spot where it’s helpful.

 

The 4x4 people all sound like Gingerbilly to me.

 

Ignoring

 

Much better gas mileage is stretching it. Other then that I agree with you. Too many people spend the extra money on something they don't need.

 

I consistently get 17-18 mpg on freeway long trips (measured, not guessed by the computer) unladen, not towing. I consider that pretty good since I hear complaints about lousy mileage on Tundras all the time. I rarely tow and if I do it is a 12' aluminum stock trailer. We don't show our animals anymore so the trailer stays parked next to the barn. 2018 has 78k miles so far.

My 2018 Tundra with the 5.7 gets about the same mileage I got with my 2006 with the 4.7. One liter larger engine with 110 more horsepower. That's pretty good in my book.

Dan

 

My 2019 CM 5.7 4x4 gets 17-18mpg on the highway too. I get 15.8mpg overall mixed. Even better than my 2000 AC 4.7 4x4.

 

I took a trip up to Amboy from Brush Prairie, then took NE Cedar Creek Rd to Woodland and back down 5 to Battle Ground. 24mpg when I got home. Had it on cruise control most of the time.

 

Drove down to LA got like 19.2mpg and coming home only got 17 cause of wind. (Before lift and bigger tires)

 

Even 2wd with actual snow/ice tires is better than a 4wd with mud or AT tires. If I lived somewhere at high elevation and further north where it's winter half the year and the roads are ice and hardpack, I'd probably want a 4wd with 4 snow tires.
I live somewhere that has about 3 solid months of snow/ice. I'll be fine with 2wd and snow tires. Driving for 35 winters and probably close to 20 vehicles,....only 2 of them where 4wd and I rarely used it.

 

2wd trucks are nothing more than glorified Ranchero's I had a 4x2 for 20 years. Was it really a truck? Hmm, now that I have a 4x4 and drive in the sand and not fret about winter weather, I say no.

 

4X4 is more capable, it's been covered if you want to read the last 140 posts.

 

What is a truck? What makes a truck, a truck?

 

Its 2023. My trucks identity is a little fluid

 

Prolly Trans fluid

 

Last thanksgiving, we visited our families house and parked on the side of the road in their neighborhood. We took our 2WD Sequoia. It’s not exactly in the country, but just has some shallow bar ditches.

We absolutely buried it in mud and had to get pulled out by a Ram 3500. Could have took our 4WD Tundra or F-150. Why is it that every time I get in a situation where I actually need 4WD, I’m in our 2WD?

If I could do it all over again, the Sequoia would be 4WD.

 

4x4 has more parts that can break.

I have a 4x4 for off-road, and a 2wd as my daily/home depot/dump run/hauler, and I can put my motorsicle in the back and take it to the track. I also use the 2wd truck when my 4x4 is down for repairs or upgrades.
There's a shit-ton uses for a 2wd truck.

 

Looks like Gingerbilly has the answer

 

We just purchased a new car and went with fwd. It was actually hard to locate one, most cars are awd here in Wisconsin. Good tires and fwd and you'll be fine in the snow. I feel 4wd is a good idea in a truck, if you use it as one. I only use 4wd maybe 6 times a year, but without it I'd be screwed.

 

I'm close to Florida. We have a family farm with big tractors and miles of dirt roads and we all have 2WD. If you drive a 4WD down a dirt road here if they are in bad shape it will destroy the road. When 4WD guys go off roading they eventually get stuck for the same reason, the holes just keep getting bigger and bigger, until you can't drive a tractor down them. I'll never live in North East and don't snow ski. If I did I would get a 4WD, but for my entire live have never needed it. That's why everyone is moving to the South East. 4WD looks cool, but man I hate maintenance and more crap to break if I don't need it. Resale value? I'll invest the 3K in the stock market and will double every 5 years. Just pointing out that not everyone needs 4WD. I'll get a AAA membership and they will pull you out or any other break down. I also get out quite lot on trails but park at trail head.