ok 4x4 may not be 100% necessary, especially on a tow rig in a place where it never snows, but you will never catch me w/o one. I live in northern IN and the snow in the winters can be pretty bad. That being said my dad had a 91 2wd F150 w/ a straight six and that thing was hard to stop in the snow, so i can see living w/ a 2wd w/ good tires, but I wouldn't wanna do it.

One thing I want to address is the Locked rear end = unlocked 4x4......this it TOTAL BS, there is no reason to lock a diff on a 2x4 unless you drag race it. If you lock the diff on an icy road your an idiot (no offense i understand that a lot of people haven't been taught what i'm about to try to explain.). First off a locked 2x4 will probably not get you any extra traction. If one wheel on an axle is in a spot where it has no traction chances are the other tire doesn't have any traction. secondly, w/ a locked 2x4 you are trying to push the front axle through the snow(or whatever else has you stuck) where as w/ a 4x4 you are pushing and pulling which makes things MUCH easier. Thirdly a locked 2wd w/ poor traction is DANGEROUS, when you have one tire spinning that means that the other tire is providing lateral traction (keeping you from going sideways) when both tires on one axle are spinning you have no traction laterally and there for you will slide side ways and get in some NASTY situations. I dunno if I explained that very well (especially the traction part) because the technical reasoning can be very lengthy. I just want to make sure you all realize that just because two tires are spinning doesn't mean its a the same a 4 wheel drive. (oh yea just to drive the pt home I got stuck in 2 inches of sloppy mud in my 79 f150 w/ 35 inch mud tires and LS, put it in 4wd and couldn't tell the mud was even there)

 

I would kindly like to remind those of us who know the Boy Scout Motto, and inform those of you who don't - "Be Prepared"

Call that an excuse, call it paranoia, but in a weather related emergency - call me smart.

-Kerry

 

I have both a 4x4 SUV AWD with Low 4x4 locked front & rear and a 2x4 RWD with LSD not locking - Ranger. Living in Gatineau Quebec Canada I get to drive and see alot of weather conditions driving on everything from a flat straight Highway to hilly mountain dirt roads up at the cottage.

The 4x4 simply goes where the 2x4 cannot in the worst conditions, regardless of the type of road. However, if the tires are the same quality, Good winter tires on all fours for winter. Both trucks stop, slide, etc., close to the same.

I have used the 4x4 Low three times in the last two years, other than for Fun of course. And truth be told I should probably have stayed home each time. Twice even the plows where not out!

If you are a poor driver, or make a mistake, or misjudge the conditions you can end up stuck in the ditch, or worse no matter what you drive.

I believe for my driving conditions and skill.
4x4 goes places 2x4 should not. Notice I did not say can not!
Good Snow Tires are better then Weight in the bed for winter driving, both if you need it. Secure any load! I dont' care if you can or can't stop. I am behind you and I have seen the lousy shape your tailgate is in!
LSD or Locked diff., if you know how to drive with a locked diff., or LSD I find either is better in poor conditions than an open differential, 2 or 4 wheel drive. How someone can attempt to claim that open diff. 1 wheel (2x4) or 2 driving (4x4) the vehicle gives the same or more traction than LSD or locked diff. 2 (2x4) or 4 (4x4) if you have any driving skill at all is beyond me!

Know the vehicle, know the conditions, know your skill and hopefully we will all arrive at our destination safely.
Of course as I took the 4x4 I will be there ahead of you!

 

I use mine to get to the back side of my poperty, but most other times including light snow, I can get around just fine in 4x2 without anything in the bed. It just takes brains; something people can run short of at times.

 

I know how to drive but I GUARANTEE YOU 100% that 4 wheel drive....open will get you farther than two wheel drive locked, I've seen it many, many, many times. I'm guessing that you've never been offroading and seen someone w/ a broke axle/driveshaft try to limp off of a trail before. The pres of my club has a competition cj5 that will walk over almost anything, but he couldn't keep up w/ me in a bone stock TJ when he broke his front ds. Yes he's locked.....no he couldn't make it. I put a LS in my truck, I could get WAY farther in the snow in 4wd before I put the LS in than I can in 2wd W/ the LS. On the road you may not see much improvement I guess but the 4wd is much easier to control and get moving then a locked 2wd. I'm not trying to make you mad or anything but that sentence is just totally wrong. This is the kind of stuff I've done my whole life and I KNOW that a 4wd will get better traction then a locked 2wd........as long as the tires and such are comparable.

 

There's a common misconception that an open differential only puts power to one wheel at all times, and that's just not true. When both wheels have traction, the amount of power sent to both wheels is darn near the same. The amount of power sent to one wheel is inversely proportionate to the amount of traction the other wheel has.

A 4x4 with two open differentials gets a LOT better traction than a 2wd with a locker. The 4x4 with open diffs, unless two wheels are in the air, is putting power to the ground, and getting traction, at all four corners - something a 4x2 can never do.

 

Ok guys. I have seen alot of mentions of Off roading is the past 5 pages. While I have no grudges of any kind against this sport (actauly it's fun...) my original question was centered on need. And while I do stand corrected on the locked diff 2wd quesion. I do not fore see the need to have lateral traction. Now for a truck that is often taken off the pavement I would not be with out 4X4. But my question is: For how many 4X4s is this actauly the case? Or how many of them never see dirt/off road. I have seen plenty of people go out and buy a 4X4 with the attitude of "Now I'm unstoppable." It is this attitude that inspired me to start this thread. My personal oppinion is that 4X4 would be darn nice here in the Ice Box. But with that said do I consider it to be a requirement? No.

ORB

 

no I agree its not a necessity, for most people. And people do need to understand that 4wheel drive doesn't make you unstoppable. Put some weight in the bed of a 2wheel drive and you'll probably be able to get anywhere you NEED to go, but I prefer to be able to get anywhere I WANT to go. My family does require that we have at least one old 4x4 because we heat w/ wood and when theres 3 feet of snow on the ground theres only one way your gettin wood from the wood pile in the woods to the stove. But thats just us....most people don't need it.

 

I live near Houston Texas. Flat, flat, flat. No hills or anything. I have a 4x4 and I will admit it, we don't need it really. We have used it a few times but not like we would if we still lived in Northern California or some other similar location.

 

How do I phrase this? My driveway is a dirt road... I grew up on a dirt road... Do you mean umimproved dirt - big boulders and gaping holes? Most forest service roads are considered improved dirt, meaning they have a road bed or are maintained. The question and owning a truck almost don't go together. How many people have sparingly driven their truck on dirt? Perhaps those that never leave the city? There's dirt roads, then there's offroading - two different ideas imo.

-Kerry

 

I have been driving since 1964, and did not own a 4X4 until 1978. But since getting my first one I have been hooked. I can say for sure I do things with my 4 wheel drive I could not do in a 4X2. I work in construction, and here in Las Vegas it is a different world. They (the developers) will open up a 10,000 acre parcel and you will have D-8's and huge scrapers on six centers cutting pads, and roads. I took my dailey driver (dog caravan) several times out to these places and unless I am damn careful I end up asking someone in a loader or cat to help pull me out of a situation. So when I do go to these places I usually take the F-150. I also am a snow skier, and getting to a 9000 ft. ski area from Las Vegas at 2100 ft. can be harrowing at best, especially on powder days (snowy roads). 4X4 eliminates the need for chains, and if I have to chain up my 4X4 it usually ain't worth the risk. Ok, yes I could live without 4 wheel drive, but why since I do use it quite often. Sorry for the long drivel. One more thing though, it bugs the hell out of me seeing all the people in Las Vegas in Hummers and Jacked up 4X4 trucks and the underside is as clean or cleaner than the top side. What is the point to that?

 

It could easily be noted that the point of this thread is that anybody who owns a four-by and don't use it is stupid, but given the reasons a lot of people that don't use 4wd at all, that may not be the case. Here's my point: Say your wife (possibly a soccer mom) simply wants it for the added protection and elevated view afforded by such a vehicle. Would you tell her she's being stupid? Another point is that said soccer mom is hauling your and possibly other people's kids; I'd want my kids to be as safe as I could make them. Besides, look at the pseudo-four wheelers and the choice becomes obvious: Pontiac Aztec? A tall vehicle on a 2wd S-10 chassis and ugly enough to shatter glass! Form only, no function, and as a result, less safe than a standard 4x4.

So that pretty much rules out women and children, let's move on to us guys. The only person I could think of who would be purchasing and driving a four wheel drive vehicle for no good reason si the testosterone challenged braggart. This guy has a corvette parked in the driveway and uses it to chase women he can't get with his looks or personality alone. Likewise, he sees his buddies driving trucks and wants to have that look as well. This guy never goes hunting, fishing or camping. He doesn't have a dirt road driveway and doesn't need it to get to his corner office. This fella couldn't show you a picture of a mule deer an a whole page of them! This gentleman has no inclement weather where he lives that would necessitate 4wd, and I could hop on a my huffy and pedal up the biggest hill in his neighborhood! THIS is the person who has no earthly need for a four wheel drive vehicle; am I right?

 

On another note, I finally got fed up with overhauling the original shift motor in my explorer and replaced it with a reman from Napa. $75 dollars later and I am back in business. Bring on the North Dakota winter!

 

To say a truck is a "car" because it isn't 4x4 is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Most people that don't live where it snows have 4x4s because it's a macho thing. And then they belittle other trucks because they aren't a big tough 4x4. People that have to look for used trucks and not brand new ones with all the options in the world take what they can get. I bought my 96 F-150 4x2 because it was it like new condition. Hard to find a 4x4 like that. I take offense when someone says that the only truck is a 4x4 truck. Tell that to a 4x2 Powerstroke.

 

Isnt that the truth!

I know I have two four wheel drives. I live in canada, and I just moved from where it snows a fair bit. Sure most of the time I use the four wheel drive on my truck is for play, but let me tell you, when we do get alot of snow, and you have to go somewhere, having that 4x4 is really nice, also if you slide into the ditch. Its worth all the extra maintenence and cost for that one time you get stuck and need it.
For my grand cherokee thats a different story. Its main use is by my woman, and we got it for her just for the added safety. You know, that time she backs up too far into the other side of a drift, and needs to get pushed out. Well not with the 4x4. No more shoveling either is nice!