4X4 Vs 4X2
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: South Georgia
Originally Posted by thorseshoeing
I've told the owners of many 2wd Powerstrokes that their truck is worthless.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
Likes: 9
From: iowa
Originally Posted by biggreentank
"Powerstroke" and "worthless" don't belong in the same sentence. If you think they do, why are you on FTE?
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: South Georgia
Why do some of you think that if a truck is 2wd and you take it on grass you're just automatically stuck? My old truck was 2wd and I being young(er) and stupid I took it through all kinds of soupy stuff with just a pair of 31 AT's. It wasn't anything ridiculous and I would have to be pulled out of some stuff but it was way more than wet grass.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
Likes: 9
From: iowa
I will tell you why, when I was still farming I had one field that led to my timber and people were always pulling into that field to hunt (usually without my permission but thats another story)they just pulled in far enough to get off the gravel road through the gate, the drive was grass as I didn't run through it alot and had a light grade up to the road, I pulled a lot of 2wd pickups out of hat field, and yes some were even powerstrokes, dodges, chevies duallies some with open diffs some with posi's. Granted most had street tires on them, and some even had trailers but not one singel 4x4 ever got stuck in that drive and most didn't have to tear anything up to get out, yet I averaged 3 or 4 2wd trucks a year that would walk up to the house asking to be pulled out. I have also pulled people pulling trailers out of camping spots that had no more than a heavy dew on the grass and couldn't move no matter what even with the added wait of a 5ver on the back. I had a 2wd dually with a detroit locker and very good mud/snow tires on it and even though it would go places a lot of 4x4s had trouble in 4wd getting into I also pulled it a lot of times coming out of my fields with a load of hay on a trailer.
So a 2wd can and does very often get stuck on wet grass and is worthless... JMHO but it comes from a lot and I do mean a LOT of experience.
So a 2wd can and does very often get stuck on wet grass and is worthless... JMHO but it comes from a lot and I do mean a LOT of experience.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: South Georgia
Oh ok. 2wds have their place. It doesn't snow everywhere and not everyone bogs the crap out of their truck. Maybe one day I can afford a 4x4 to replace my totally worthless 2wd F-150 that never sees snow or dirt.
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
Ive had alot of 2wd trucks that have had crappy tires on them that got stuck alot, but never on wet grass. Hell I even put a set of winter grips on my 2 wd grand prix one time back in the day and it went through a ton of stuff. If youve seen alot of 2wds get stuck on wet grass, its gotta be mainly tires. Dont get me wrong though I know 4x4's can go through alot more though. But stuck on wet grass with a 2wd sounds unlikely... unless theres a woman driver 
...... j/k ladies
...... j/k ladies
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,958
Likes: 0
From: Southeastern Indiana
Here's my $.02. If we get alot of snow and the roads don't get cleared I use a sick day. If I am driving a 4X4 or 4X2 at the time I still use a sick day. Why risk your premiums to go up? I mainly buy 4X2's because they are alot cheaper and If it is snowing or freezing rain out I don't need to be out in it. It's that easy. And one more thing, I've never been stuck in grass either.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,038
Likes: 3
From: South Kitsap County, WA
For some reason, my truck enjoys spinning the rear wheels on grass.
The ability to spin is directly proportional to the lack of weight in the rear and a square relation to the amount of torque the rigs got...
Ok, ok, I'm just messin', but the point is if your truck is empty and you have a torquey output, you spin them in the wet stuff quite easily. I put into 4HI and that problem resolves itself. Hence why empty 2WD PSDs do what they do in wet grass.
Another point is the narrower the tire the more weight on the contact patch, the harder it is to spin. Spread the weight out, get a fatter tire with a high air pressure and you can spin them easily that way too.
-Kerry
The ability to spin is directly proportional to the lack of weight in the rear and a square relation to the amount of torque the rigs got...
Ok, ok, I'm just messin', but the point is if your truck is empty and you have a torquey output, you spin them in the wet stuff quite easily. I put into 4HI and that problem resolves itself. Hence why empty 2WD PSDs do what they do in wet grass.
Another point is the narrower the tire the more weight on the contact patch, the harder it is to spin. Spread the weight out, get a fatter tire with a high air pressure and you can spin them easily that way too.
-Kerry
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
From: Hewitt, Minnesota
4X4 wheel drive is not the be all either. My father got his 1500 stuck on dry grass 4 Wheel Low. Heaven forbid he or anyone else spend a little more for decent treads. Buy street tires and wonder why it has no traction. (roll eyes) If 4X4 is so superior why is that almost all farm tractors are only 4X2? If a tractor can develope enough traction with only two drive wheels (and open diff.) Why can't the same be said of a properly equiped truck?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 303
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From: Purdue
Because those farm tractors have huge tires w/ tread that would vibrate every panel off of a truck. They also tend to run those two wheel drive tractors in fairly stable conditions (I know I know fields get crazy muddy but if its really bad very often then you'd get a 4 wheel drive or at least front wheel assist). And I've also gotten my truck into situations where tractors completely sank trying to get out to me. Basically it still boils down to if you need it get a 4 wheel drive. If not then dont. But when I come out in a 4wheel drive to pull your *** out don't expect me to not make fun of you haha.
decadent and depraved
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,703
Likes: 6
From: Right Behind You
Originally Posted by Old Rust Bucket
If 4X4 is so superior why is that almost all farm tractors are only 4X2? If a tractor can develope enough traction with only two drive wheels (and open diff.) Why can't the same be said of a properly equiped truck?
I've gotten many of 2wd tractors stuck, and pulled them out with a 4wd tractor, then finished the job up with the 4wd easily.
4X2 is usless on anything.
Tim
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
From: Hewitt, Minnesota
Your right, there is alot of difference between a tractor and a truck. 4X4 tractors are a very recent trend. (post 1980's) and even at that they didn't realy take off until well into the 90's with the advent of the "compact." But if big (or quality) tires work for a tractor why not for a truck? The only truck I ever got stuck was a 4X4 and father was right. I had no business being out there with a truck.
May I ask why you where in such a place that a tractor sank trying to recover your truck? As for your offer to pull me out. No thanks I do not go places where getting stuck is ineviditable. If a 4X2 won't go somewhere you probably should not be there. At least, in a civilian world. This isn't the army where your life depends on wether or not your truck can get out. Now if you just like to have fun 4 wheeling that's fine, no hard feelings. But when a person tries to claim that 4X4 is a requirement for transportaton that's where my pet peave lies. Ford did not offer 4X4 on a pickup until the 50's (1959 I believe) so if 4X4 if such a requirement why did the human race not die off before this date?
As I said before Is 4X4 nice? Yes. Is it a requirement? Not by a long shot. If the roads you take are that dang bad get a 4 wheeler/snowmobile.
May I ask why you where in such a place that a tractor sank trying to recover your truck? As for your offer to pull me out. No thanks I do not go places where getting stuck is ineviditable. If a 4X2 won't go somewhere you probably should not be there. At least, in a civilian world. This isn't the army where your life depends on wether or not your truck can get out. Now if you just like to have fun 4 wheeling that's fine, no hard feelings. But when a person tries to claim that 4X4 is a requirement for transportaton that's where my pet peave lies. Ford did not offer 4X4 on a pickup until the 50's (1959 I believe) so if 4X4 if such a requirement why did the human race not die off before this date?
As I said before Is 4X4 nice? Yes. Is it a requirement? Not by a long shot. If the roads you take are that dang bad get a 4 wheeler/snowmobile.
Last edited by Old Rust Bucket; Oct 9, 2006 at 10:15 PM.
