4WD vs 2WD

Coming from a rwd, I will tell you now that getting the 4x4 was the best extra few thousands of dollars that I’ve ever spent. It saved me from a snowstorm a few weeks ago here in Virginia... kept me safe to keep going to work to pay off those extra few thousand bucks..

 

4 x 4 is hands down better, WHEN YOU NEED IT. I happen to have a 2 wheel drive for 6 years now, and I solely bought it to tow cars and other things, and at $1,500 for a work truck was all I was interested in. I drove my Lexus daily and my 240z in the summer. Now after extensive rebuilding my truck, I drive it daily and the Lexus just sits there. So I haven't got stuck yet. Of course I don't go in situations were 4x4's can go. I also live in Rhode Island, and not alot snow, but I am from New York, and I never had a 4x4. I guess some people know how to drive in the snow. I drove a Datsun 280zx in NY. Well at least my truck is Lighter, Less Moving parts and things to go wrong. At the time I bought mine the cheapest 4x4 was $3,500 and no recalled frame. I got a brand new frame, and I had $1,500 cash in my pocket. BTW, if I really feel a need for 4x4, I can start gathering up the parts from the junk yards and install it. So the big thing is, do you need it or not, or like said, better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it.

 

2X4 =Mall Crawler,
4X4 =Rock Crawler,

You can use both to catch women looking for a date for Valentines

 

Crawling on rocks or around the mall sounds lame... hauling ass is much more fun.

 

If I were the OP I would stick with a 2wd. Don't believe the higher resale either. When you look at resale as a percentage of purchase price the 2 are very similar. Granted it may be easier to sell a 4x4 because of demand. I would be willing to bet that 50% or more of the 4x4s on the streets of DFW have never seen a situation where 4x4 is required. I wouild also bet that a large percentage have never even engaged 4wd.

 

A 2wd is almost always enough for most folks unless you need winter traction or actually wheel it. Even in my tacoma launching a 3500 boat I only used 4wd once while launching and that was in freezing rain, I threw two 5 gallon buckets of sand over the ice before I backed down, 4wd just because/Incase. Most folks don’t do that. I probably shouldn’t have. But a lot of greenheads died that day.

For street driving I’d rather have real snow tires on a 2wd than MT’s or AT’s on a 4wd. Way safer.

Mine is a 4wd but I tend to need it. At least 0.01% of the time.

 

Like I said , in Texas for open or conceal carry, if you qualify with a semi you can carry both a semi and a revolver!

If you qualify with a revolver you can only carry a revolver!

I like the option so I got my CCW with a semi!

I like the option to crawl on rock or dirt if needed!

 

There was a post just the other day about a CV joint going out. Not a 2wheeler problem.

 

Launching a boat seems to be the most common reason to own 4WD mentioned here.

 

To me comparing 2x4 to 4x4 is like comparing a F350 or a GMC HD to our Tundra. It's a different type of truck with different capabilities that we have to weigh when we're buying.

Personally I've only been in a situation where I needed 4x4 and that was in my own back yard (long story), ended up getting pulled out by another 2x4 (GMC Jimmy at that!).

 

No longer true. You can qualify with any gun with a caliber no smaller than .32, and carry either pistol or revolver with your LTC. They changed that at least 4 years ago. And there's no snow in San Antonio. Then again, no one in San Antonio even knows how to drive on just wet roads. But a 4x4 won't protect you from bad drivers. Unless you're going off road, get the 4x2.

 

This may be true. I used to tow and launch my boat with a 4x4 Jeep Comanche. The boat outweighed the truck by 500-600 lbs. I was a little concerned about the ability of my 2wd CrewMax launching the boat, but have not had any problems with that anywhere on the TX coast.


Geez.....I'm gettin' old.....quoted the wrong post from @Rex Kramer. Meant to quote the post about launching a boat

 

It all depends on where you live and what you plan to do with it. Ive got my 2wd and there has only been 1 time i wanted 4×4, traveling up the sierras. I also really didnt need it, but enforcement of chains can be very annoying sometimes. I live in California and it never snows and is flat for miles around me. 4x2 does the job. I got my truck for towing, that little exta payload helps. Some say trucks are for crawling and mudding. Im more in the crowd of trucks are for hauling and towing. Its a great thing we have options. Just get what suits your needs and your wallet.

 

Have a 4wd 4Runner and a 2wd tundra. Never use the 4wd. And I wheel the tundra. Only time I wish I had 4wd is at the boat ramp on occasion when it’s busy and the ramp stays wet.

That being said I live in Tx. If you live in ice and snow get 4wd.

 

Man you guys must launching some big boats!

 

I plan on a 4runner being my next buy but its about 7 years out, as long as they dont change too much.

 

I think it really comes down to need and want or a combination. Only you can decide what is best for you. I have owned 2wd and 4wd trucks. 9 times out of 10 the 2wd truck was all I needed. The one time I needed the 4wd, I didn't have it. So, for me, I now only buy 4wd. I'd rather have and not need it than need it and not have it. However, that is my personal choice and it suits my needs. Others have different needs and wants and no one on this board or anywhere else should sway you from getting what you want or need because it is their opinion that you are getting and that is all that it is...an opinion. Get what you want and/or need. Period.

 

I have the one every body is afraid to purchase. 4.6l and 2wd SR5. Crewmax. In my part of the world there is no snow and no dirt. I am in traffic enjoying the extra space of my Crewmax. Los Angeles has some dirt roads but most I dare to go on do not require 4WD. I had a Tacoma 4WD gone offroad 1 time in snow thats it. It is nice to have only if you are in middle of no-where.

 

Ok,

Yeah last time I did it was years back, you had to go 2 day to the class and shoot!

Now I hear its simple to get a CCW!

 

LMAO,

No snow, yepper! Years back we had 2" on the ground and they shut the entire city down, I went doing donuts in a parking lot! I'm originally from Massachusetts and I was used to 3-4 feet and at that we still had to go to school!

 

Go 2wd.

My son has a prerunner with LSD. This week we got about 6 inches of snow and ice and it did just fine.

He did get stupid one day and put it in the ditch, nose down. It got itself out within a few minutes, you just need to be smart about things.

 

I've had my license for a number of years, too. From what I've read in the latest revisions (since "open carry" was allowed) not much has changed. Still have to take the class (now shortened to 4-6 hours), or now you can do it online and take an online test. Still have qualify on the range (1-2 hours), but range qualification is still disturbingly easy LOL.

 

Nothing would be worse than having to call your best friend with a 1997 f150 4x4 to pull you out of a ditch...that was a bad day, dont have that day... get a 4x4

 

Been there...its very embarrassing

 

Come to the city where everyone has balls and dick and we got girls here too.

 

Reading this made me remember years ago, mid 90’s was working on a grass seed farm for a few years in high school. I was shocked that the farm didn’t run 4wd pickups. Was a century family farm, three brothers, two old men and one or two other pickups driven by the hired men. The family each got a brand new pickup every 10 years. Out of all of them not a single 4wd. I asked why? Waste of money and not needed they said. They drive around grass seed fields day in and day out, in the Oregon Willamette Valley where it rains a lot.

I’m sure they had to pull each other out of the mud once in a while, but basically wasn’t needed for their operation which included a large percentage of dirt/two track road and field driving. These farmers were frugal for sure, were amazing at fixing old combines to keep them running, etc., but were not poor and certainly could afford any kind of pickup they wanted.

Kind of puts it in perspective , how often does a 99% pavement pounder really need 4wd?

 

Dick is all thats really needed to have fun, the balls end up costing you financial ruin if not careful, sort of like 4wd.

 

19 foot ranger. Steep ramps, and here in Texas there’s algae on em in the summer. Really it’s just the steep and wet. I probably should try the auto lsd thing.

 

This thread is like

1) Yeah, I remember when there were a lot of 2WD work trucks: we loaded them up with weight in the back in the winter, sometimes took a little air out of the tires, learned how to drive, even put people on the back bumper to get the damn thing moving. Then again, my coach used to drive his CJ-5 down the road in winter and we would take turns jumping off the front bumper into snowbanks. Until that time a kid bounced back into the road, got run over, and broke his arm. So yea, you can do crap.

2) Totally get it. If you don't NEED 4WD, you don't need it. I'm good with that.

3) I can't get up my drive way in the winter without 4WD. Impossible without it.

So yea, in summation, if you hate technological advances and the convenience of gaining increased traction and pulling power at the twist of a wrist from inside the cab, definitely stay away from 4WD.

 

i had a 2wd silverado, and with the amount i spent on sandbags i might as well started with a 4x4