My dad always say's that once you go 4WD you never go back. I on the other hand never listened to those words of wisdom. All three of my trucks (87 S10, 93 Ranger and 07 Screw) have always been 4X2's. I'm also from Northern Ohio but not in the snow belt. We usually only see 1 to 3 bad snowfalls a season. I have found that 300 lbs over the rear wheels works really well and have never had any problems. If your on ice, it doesn't matter if your in a 4X4 or 4X2, your going to slide. I usually drive my trucks until they are only worth 5 or 6 hundred bucks on trade so resale doesn't concern me. For me, the possible more maintenance, the poorer gas mileage and less towing capacity, doesn't warrant the extra cost. I have to admit that 4X4 does have big boner appeal. Alas maybe my next truck. But like said before, it's going to be your truck and the choice is totally up to you.

 

I most cases I have found it is better to have a 2wd with limited slip than an open diff. 4wd. I have proven that time and time again with my truck. As a matter of fact last weekend a buddy of mine with a tahoe all jacked up with tera grapplers open diff. 4wd got stuck out in nearly dryed up pond nothing to winch to, So i went to pull him out and yes I went around the stickin pond and pulled him out. I no ur thinking "What did that prove". But, on the way out I made it through the off camber terrain and he had to use his whinch almost the whole way through. If I were you and if you can afford it I would go with the 4wd and LS. Thats what I would have but I found a deal I couldnt pass up on this truck.(and i cant realy afford one) Plus you never know when your chevy buddy might get stuck. Like it was said earlier its beter to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

 

Living out west, You will find several things that makes 4WD handy.

Now I am 55, and I drove for the first 25 years of my life without 4WD here in the west. I live in the mountians, so snow is a given after about Sept. 12th. Mountians beg and say upgrades of 5% to 12%. On dry pavement even a 12% grade can be negotiated with 2WD. Unless you are pulling.


Now add gravel and or snow or ice, and 4WD is the only way you can move period. Snow + ice + steep up grade = disaster for 2WD, and a mess for 4Wd not equipped properly!

 

I didn't get 4wd and I really don't need it in TN, however I wish I had and I probably should have. There has been several occasions where working around the yard the truck got hung up and I had to back it out because the 2wd couldn't make it by something.

 

This is my second 4wd truck, and IMO, when it comes to pick-ups, just based on the light rearends alone, the 4wd is a very nice option. I live in Ontario, and in an area that normally see's a fair bit of snow. I enjoy ice fishing, and when conditions permit, I love being able to drive out on the the ice directly to my fishing location. I also own a boat, and some of the places I fish require 4wd just to be able to get the boat into and out of the water.

Now, without my extracirricular activities, would 4wd be a must? Not really. I could get by with the snowfalls we get, although I'd probably see maybe 1 or 2 times a season that driving would not be much of a possibilty with a 2wd pickup.

 

We have 4x4s because that's what you need to get to our house in the winter. That, or chains and 500lbs. over the rear wheels and some luck. That being said, growing up in the snowbelt, we never had a 4x4 and never needed it. If I didn't need it, I would have gone 4x2 and saved a lot of money, althought I doubt there is much difference in fuel economy now, but there is a lot of difference in purchase price.

 

Basically I don't beleive in 2WD trucks, that is why I bought my 4WD. I may never need it living in MO, I don't Off Road. But the 1 or 2 times may need it will be well worth it in my mind. I live in town, go home (rural home town) and mayby, just maybe need it to get to my dads camp, but that is 2-3 times year and most of the time you can take a car or van back there the road is so nice. Hell, I was dropping lumber off in my back yard in town, my house is on a hill, and I put it in 4WD just so I didn't tear up the grass trying to back up the hill. I probably could have done it w/out 4WD but why risk tearing my grass up.

 

so to answer question 7mag get 4x4 if you don't wanna tear up your grass otherwise a 2wd truck will suit your purposes. LOL

 

For at least 90% of the 4X4 owners, there was only one reason to justify the purchase. Even though they claim all kinds of reasons to need one, it is really BECAUSE THEY WANTED ONE!

 

I also have had nothing but 2wd trucks. I've been just about everywhere most of the guys that I know that have 4X4's.

I've alway thought 4X4 were only for serious off-roaders but a lot of people like them mostly for show with big lift kits and tires.

To each his own I guess. I had rather have a truck that rides nice and gets decent fuel mileage.

 

Yeppers; for the most part, one can't argue with that.

 

I've had both and will not buy another 4x4 until they get rid of the push-button crap for a reliable manual shifter. I've had nothing but bad luck with the push button stuff. I call it pseudo4x4 with the electronic button shifters.

 

As several other folks have said... it depends on what you want the truck to do.

I grew up in the northeast Ohio snowbelt and we saw plenty of snow. My folks have lived there for 35+ years (and the old man is still a Senior Master Mechanic for Ford) and they have not owned one 4x4 vehicle that entire time. I have plowed my way through 1.5 feet of snow in my old 4x2 ranger with 300# in the bed and a good set of snow tires. Launching a small aluminium boat on wet & slimey boat ramps was a different story, but it gave me a place to dispose of my winter traction sand that had busted out of its bags.

When my wife & I upgraded to our 06 F150, we elected to get the 4x4 for one reason... her! She had never driven a rear wheel drive vehicle before and the road crews in Topeka, KS are not known for their snow removal skills. (I think they wait until everyone drives over the snow and packs it before even thinking of putting the plow to the pavement!) The 4x4 will give her a little more piece of mind come winter. We also get to use it on occasion when we're over at her parent's farm. Getting the trailer with a full load of hay moving in a field sometimes requires a little more bite than just the rear wheels could provide.

I agree with tomclem about the electronic shift 4x4... we scoured all the dealerships within 400 miles to find one with the manual shift on the floor. It still has the vacuum hubs, but once those go, I will be replacing them with good ole' locking hubs.

 

I have both a 2wd truck..my first vehicle I bought on my own which was a 97' 4.3L V6 S10. It was great but I live in South Texas and see a lot of ranch roads, as well as rain to make them slick. It took me 2 months before I had an Electronic Locker Installed. Flip of a switch and I had both tires spinning. Four years later I bought a 4wd...my 04' SCAB FX4. My average use of my 4x4HI is maybe somewhere around twice a month and 4x4 LO maybe somewhere in the 10+ a year.

As mentioned various times it depends what you need the truck for. If you need it for a daily driver on pavement 90% of the time there is really no need; the LS option or a locker will get the job done.

The question I asked myself when I was going to buy my truck was:
"How many situations was I in a Recovery Situation?" Meaning how many times was I stuck, or detained. I mean you can get yourself out by rocking....but its no fun.

Anyways good luck on your shopping!

 

The XLT and under is available with the manual 4X4. I got it because you can simply put the transfer case in neutral and tow it with the wheels on the ground. You can't do that with the push buttons.