Up until 2 years ago I'd be on here saying you don't need 4 wheel drive to get around in the winter, hell if you wanna get real technical I'd argue you don't need fuel injection or abs brakes either.

For the first 4 or so years of my winter driving life in northern Iowa I got around in a 2wd 82 F100 with a 3.08 open diff, and whatever tires I happened to find in the pile behind our high school shop that had a bit of tread left on them. That combo got me through a foot of snow on more then one occasion. It was rather nerve racking driving the damn thing but it would get through.

After that came a 2wd 86 F150 for a few winters. I had 4.10 gears and a trutrac locker and a set of cooper weathermasters, that truck sucked in the snow every bit as much as the one it replaced. I found myself up at 5am with the snow blower every time it snowed just to get to work. With the locker that truck had the similar side stepping problem that you mentioned. I'd go to take off from a red light and she'd spin and start sliding the rear end to the right while the front stayed where it was.

After that came my 94 F150 4x4. In stock form with stock tires it wasn't much better, instead of getting stuck in a snow pile spinning both the rears now I'd get stuck and spin one front and one rear. That was with 3.55 gears, open diffs, and janky little firestones. Now days shes sporting 4.10s, lockright locker in the rear, aussie locker up front, and 33x12.50 BFG ATs. I'm a mechanic at a car dealership, over the years I've driven various other trucks and suvs, I've driven AWD Subarus, Volvos, ect ect. I've never felt as confident in anything else as I do in my 4x4 F150, I just aim it where I wanna go and it goes there, doesn't matter if its through a field, ditch, over another car, it'll get there. My girlfriend lovingly refers to the transfer case shifter as the "retard lever", because she knows we're probably bout to do something stupid when I reach down for it

Like many have said before 4wd isn't necessarily a need for most people, I got around okay without it, but after owning both 2wd and 4wd trucks for years I'll never be without a 4x4 in the winter again. Its a luxury that I rather enjoy.

 

For me I cant stand having a 2wd truck, I had one and lived with it for a long time but when I got another truck I bought a 4wd. I was lucky I had a posi rear inline 6 5 speed F250, but my 4x4 F250 and even my toyota will run circles around it in the snow. I can do 40mph with ease quite a bit and often find myself passing people who can barely drive 10mph.

For people who dont get snow or even go off the road if you want 2wd thats cool, but for me I cant live without it. Between going offroad, the snow and weather here in NJ its needed. a 2wd even with weight can get stuck in wet grass...thats always fun lol.

 

This thread is definitely a fun read. A lot of stories for sure. You might also go to a local tire place and see if they could sipe your tires. That may also improve your snow traction.

I noticed a few pages back just after I explained why a 4x4 may be better at stopping (especially in a non 4 wheel ABS vehcile), I saw that there were comments that 4x4 didn't help stopping, but due to gearing.

Anyone disagree that 4x4 will help prevent locking up the front wheels while you still could be applying more braking force on the rear?

 

Personally I think it boils down to the driver. Those of us that understand the dynamics of a vehicle can make them perform and handle beyond what most think are the limits.

I have driven for over 20 years and never owned a 4x4 and have had little to no trouble getting around or even stuck. But I bought an AWD vehicle for my wife, because she hated winter driving and almost wouldn't go anywhere. Now she turns the key and goes everywhere and loves it.

I just bought my 1st 4x4 truck this year and the added abilities, safety and just all around stability on and off the road is great.

The place I have found 4x4 especially helpful is in towing.... once you hook up to the trailer sometimes even in just wet grass 2wd was hard to get the load moving, but w/ 4wd it just goes...

I run 285 70 17's Firestone Discovery MT's on my truck and so far they have "gripped" the road and dug through the snow without fail.

 

Want/Need... Who cares.

Why I drive a 4x4 in the winter...

• No waiting to get plowed/snowblowed out.
• Don't have to worry about blind intersections or holding up traffic waiting for a large enough gap in the cars to get out and up to speed.
• I like to be able to help others if they end up in the ditch (pulled out 4 so far this winter)
• In the unlikely event that I have to avoid hitting another car, I can intentionally shoot for the ditch to avoid a collision.
• Makes it much easier to get past the driver that is going 10mph quickly & safely.

and, as I read on another forum "Less than 1% of the Earth is paved, it just makes sense to have 4 wheel drive"

 

70 percent of it is water so I guess we should all have boats too

Yes a 4wd is a nice thing to have (I do have one myself) but for 2 years without one I made do with what I had and I know alot of people do the same.

 

agreed.
the debate is never ending. those of us who have 4wd love it and at times need it, those who have 2wd love it and in some cases have no need for a 4wd. the saying is to each there own. i love my 4wd's, i can operate a 2wd the same as anyone else, its just a preference. living in A state mired with snow 5 months out of the year, it definetly helps having a 4wd.

 

OMG, that's brilliant! I'm going to go buy a boat right now. That or find a way to make my truck float! I feel a project thread coming on...

 

2 boats AND 2 4x4's!! LOL


As for the braking, compression braking, etc.

Yes, 4x4 CAN help with braking to a degree. With the drivetrain locked together, if a wheel with less traction is trying to lock up, the drivetrain will force that wheel to roll instead of locking up (remember, there is less traction with a wheel sliding vs. rolling) the flip side is too hard of a brake application and the drivetrain can help lock up the wheel that does have traction. As for compression braking, if the converter is locked up, or you have a stick, at idle, the vehicle also has to pull the rotating assembly over at a certain rpms. This resistance will help slow the vehicle to a degree... obviously at lower speeds where the converter is unlocked the amount of drag is limited to just rotating the internals in the T-case/transmission.

 

I live in a state that on average gets one big storm (12"+) and a couple little storms a year. Jan and Feb are the real big trouble months, with Dec and Mar being second. I don't need to drive in the heat of the snow and the streets get plowed out fairly quickly.

My daily driver for many years was a 93 Mustang and with snow tires it went better then some FWD cars. It even got me out of a small ditch after I slid off the road "playing"...

When I bought my last work truck money was an issue and I didn't want something real old - my limit was 3yr old or newer. For what I paid, including a second set of rims and snow tires there's no way I could have gotten a 3yr old 4x4 for the same money or anywhere close. That truck stops frighteningly well on snow covered roads and it gets up and goes. I went up a very steep driveway (~30-35* angle) from a dead stop at the bottom with no problems.

I'm extremely happy with it's snow performance and based on how well it does, I have no need for a 4x4. There just isn't enough snow here and the truck handles the snow we get so...

Is it as good as a 4x4? No way. Is it nice to have 4x4? That's a tougher question. I don't have the extra weight of a front axle, don't have a transfer case to worry about, don't have to worry about maintenance, etc...

There's no right or wrong answer for 2wd vs 4wd and whether or not you get snow doesn't even make a difference. You balance the pros and cons for your personal situation.

Without getting into 2wd vs 4wd, the right tires and weight over the rear wheels makes a big difference. I've gone though quite a few tires on my Mustang. I had some summer tires that worked in the snow (Goodyear GS-C, BFG KDWS) and some that wouldn't go anywhere with a dusting of snow... (Goodyear Eagle F1).

 

I tell you one thing, for a boy who grew up in Southeast Texas, I need 4x4. I just have no idea how to handle this white sky poop. Every time I think I get a handle for it I find myself in a sticky situation.

I'm stuck with a two wheeler for now so I reckon I better learn fast!

 

Yeah, but all the important places are within that 1%, so you could argue you don't need 4x4 :-P

And as 70torino said, by your logic, you should immediately replace that 4x4 truck with a boat!

4x4 is just a characteristic like any other... to some it might be essential or very important, for others, not. For example in my case "mandatory" is supercab, diesel, cruise control while "nice to have" is manual tranny, 4x4, A/C. Everyone's list differs depending on what they're doing with their trucks...

 

Did you have a chance to put good winter tires in the back?

 

Here in NJ a 4x4 isnt a must but its very helpful. Sure they come plow us out-when they feel like it, unless there is advanced warning its gonna be a big storm, I couldnt even get out of my driveway without 4wd unless I cleaned the snow out, driving around without 4x4 is your not overly careful and go to make a turn your vehicle can and will slide. Since a 4x4 has more traction it doesnt happen nearly as easily.

Finally, without a 4x4 and if it was snowing there is NO WAY I would make it up my street-the hill even with snow tires is just impossible. The only reason I made it up in my 2wd work van I used to have was the massive 3000lbs of weight in it and HD all terrain tires and even then it was a struggle.

Those who dont want 4x4 thats cool, Ill take it happily.

 

wow, my answer to 2x4 v.s. 4x4 is the same as my answer to lowering a truck v.s. lifting a truck.

with one option, you can go to less places, with the other option you can go to more places and do more things.

4x4 is not essential, and the majority of folks with it don't generally use it enough to justify the cost, but guess what? when you actually do need it and its already there, it saves you huge headaches. but as stated previously, 4x4 and open diffs isn't that much better than a 2x4, and tires are a huge factor. hell, i got stuck in a flat yard on wet grass in my old f350. two reasons, open diffs and crappy tires.

i will tell you that living in rural illinois it is always better to opt for a 4x4 or fwd vehicle. there is a lot of farm land all around and without any crops growing in winter time there is nothing to stop the drifting. they can plow all they want, the roads are still crap.