everyone who replied to my first post, thanks! by the way, that was also my first post EVER. so, i was wondering, when you guys go wheeling, how often do you use your 4wd? my dad mght sell me his 88 jeep cherokee (if not, he will sell me his 86 dodge caravan. nice rig, but still, a minivan? not what i really want), but it only has 2wd. i have heard that some people only use 4wd when they get int "situations", but before i start putting money into a lift kit and all that other stuff, i need to know: is it worth it? please consider that i probably wont be doing any rock crawling, or anything extreme.
also, i know that this might sound like a stupid question, but, anyway.

 

........Moved.........hope this helps

no stupid questions, evryone learns by asking ...keep typing

 

thanks tim. kinda hopin that all i need to do is lift it and put some tires one it. of course, i wont stop there...i have big plans.

 

Are you talking about the Caravan?

Welcome! I prefer to shift into 4wd before I hit nasty stuff. I'd rather not get stuck at all then get stuck and then fight with getting out. I know a lot of guys would rather wait until they need it but "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" . . . or whatever that means.

 

If you are just lifting for looks and won't be doing much more than drivin down a gravel road, then I'd say go for it.

If you are lifting because you need clearance for terrain, then odds are pretty high that 4WD is going to be needed sooner or later and you'll be hating life unless you've got friends in other vehicles to help tug you out of the spot.

I can get through quite a lot in 2WD, but in a truck with nothing in the rear it can be really easy to get into something where you need to back out and then find that you can't do it for lack of traction on the rear end.

 

Forgot to add that of course it's a bit different with a minivan as the weight distribution is better, but the idea is still the same. Also, I forget whether or not the Carravan is a front wheel drive or rear wheel drive.

I do see a lot of folks in 2WD sedans and minivans driving up and down the washes out in the Borrego springs desert area. They are fairly smooth and reasonably well packed as long as you stay on them and don't get off into the soft stuff - then you're done

 

Welcome to the forum!

It mostly depends on where you want to go fishing!

I'd take the Jeep my-self, but that's because I really like the outdoors. Once you get the "feel" of a four wheeler, new possibilitys open up:

Like driving across the lawn without tearing up the turf, very handy skill on moving day.

Driving in blizzard conditions without using brakes, that extra mass that rotates when you're in 4wd helps slow you down also.

Extra capacity, put the owner manuals side by side. look up payload capacity, towing capacity. The numbers speak for themselves. I have a half ton truck, 3/4 ton trailer, and have yet to borrow or rent anything bigger. Remember the moving day comment?

The list could go on, but I think I've already stated my bias.

Good equipment makes a difference, but the loose nut behind the wheel makes all the difference.
If you decide on the Jeep, put a good set of tires on it and start driving. If that takes you where you want to go, fine. If not, ask more questions before you start building. You just might sell it for a different truck to build up, Like a Ford maybe !

Most of all, have fun- Mike

ps, thanks for the link Ivan, the page is saved in my documents- Mike

 

4 wheelin is so much more than just some aggressive tires and a tall truck! i suggest you hang around here, do lots of reading sit back and watch us bicker, visit other more 'wild' 4x4 sites and really just take it all in before you just dive in. there are literally millions of ways to go and it's better to be prepared the first time around.

as for using your 4x4, my front end is welded so it makes it hard for me to turn when both of my hubs are locked so i usually just lock one hub so i can still turn and when i get to the really mucky stuff or i am unsure of the bottom i will lock both in. i use 4x4 everytime i get my white truck out!

-cutts-

 

caravans are front wheel drive. who had the picture of the aerostar on the 4x4 chasis, i think it was from ebay. personally, i go into 4wd as soon as a get near the trails. like ivan said about the ouces and pounds.

 

You have the argument about when to go from 2x to 4x, and then tehre's also the debate on when to go 4hi to 4lo.

I'm in 4x as soon as I hit the dirt. Not gravel roads and stuff like that, but once i'm off a designated road. Some wait until they start sliding, but once you start sliding, you're tearing the trail up more than need be. Not good.

I rarely use 4HI since in my case 4 low is good to about 25 mph (YMMV). If i can go faster, then traction is good and it just goes into 2x. Figure if i'm already in 4lo i can always grab a lower gear to get out. If you can avoid getting stuck in the first place, you're miles ahead. But if you're already in 4lo and get stuck, you're screwed.

Then you have others that say 4hi to get into trouble and 4lo to get out. There's some merit to this, but it's easier to get stuck in the first place in hi range. If you lose forward momentum you're screwed. Alot of times if you come to a complete stop 4lo won't even help that much. (but you'll get stuck sooner so it'll be more likely that someone else can pull you out). This applies mainly to stock powered vehicles with "standard ratio" transmissions. If you have decent power and a granny gear 4lo/lo is an AWESOME combination (hell, even w/o decent power it'll do some amazing things)

Justin

 

I save 4-low for steep hills, trails where I need to keep my speed down and DEEP mud. Other than that I stick to high gear.

 

The only time I use 4lo in the '73 is when I've been crawling up steep, rock climbs. Everything else I leave it in high and floor it. Thats why you build big axles, a big motor, and use big tires. Going slow is boring

 

except on the rocks when you are doing a 70* climb on slick rock with a boulder next to you the size of a Kenworth and a bunch of narly redwoods on the other side dubbed The Mirror Eaters!

-cutts-

 

When your rig is your daily driver, alot of times "slow" is WAAY too fast. I have a new bed and plenty of new glass to prove that

If i played in the mud i'd probably be in 4hi 99% of the time, but for trails it's 99% in low.

Plus you gotta love when your 1hi is as low as most people's 1lo. the compound low does make high range ALOT more viable of an option. More new 4x4's need a granny gear. . .

Justin

 

I'd say that sums it up right there I totally agree, that new stuff needs the old granny low...