4wheel drive

DOGMAN · June 5, 2004

Would you ever buy a 2wheel drive truck? How often do you use 4wheel drive?

budhayes3 · June 5, 2004

Hi Dogman. Here in Jersey I use it in the winter when it snows. The last couple winters we've had a bit of snow, it's been a hoot! Also, if you ever go to Dragstrips, or Fairgrounds, or places where you might get stuck in mud. I have friends who go through the woods and stuff with their trucks too.

GlennRMK · June 5, 2004

I agree.

A 2wd truck in Montana is worthless.

jankemi · June 5, 2004

5-10 times per year. But in MN we get snow. I usually start out on snowy morning in 2wd - then after I'm done having fun spinning donuts & clowning around I put it in 4wd & drive to work.

--Mike

Supurban · June 5, 2004

Being originally from Texas and prone to overkill equipment, I had to have 4wd. Would I seriously take a 130" wheelbase Sub four-wheeling?...No, but some 2WD drive guy always needs to be pulled out of somewhere . I have many memories growing up where my dad pulled his stuck buddies' trucks out with his 74 4WD Sub.

Now that I am in California, the only place I would make good used of 4WD is at Tahoe or elsewhere in the Sierra for skiing. Beats putting on chains and makes my recreational trips easier. I have to admit I don't need 4WD for my daily commute.

But unless you are freaking rich and freaking retired, you probably spend more time in your truck going to work than vacationing anyway. If you drive to work in snowy conditions or really rainy (which usually means muddy too) areas, then 4WD is a good call.

bartlanz · June 5, 2004

4WD ALL THE WAY, as you can guess from the pic of my truck, I am on a Fire Department, and it is key that when I am snowed in that I be able to get over the snow banks made by the plow trucks at the end of my drive way,wit h out needing to shuvvell myself out. That just doesn't happen with out 4WD. Also it is nice for pulling people out and around.

But if you notice, there is a constant in all of the posts. SNOW I will get 1 to 3 foot snow piles at the front of my drive way, and when it's time to leave, it is time to leave.

maroonsilverado · June 5, 2004

where i live we haven't gotten enough snow in the past few years to amount to enough to actually need 4WD lol. so actually it's pretty well worthless around here, but i like to play in the mud and go 4wheeling, so i used it when i had it. but i'd say 85% of the people around here that buy a 4WD never engage it.

XTOAK · June 5, 2004

In Alaska? Naw, overkill.....

Seriously, up here you can't trade a 2 wheel drive in without being mauled, mugged, raped and assulted as they just don't sell. A two wheel drive will usually sit on the lot forever and if it's used, ends up being shipped to Seattle to the auction.

We have a reason to drive 4 wheel drives up here and as you can imagine, it's all that white fluffy stuff.

Now when we were on vacation in Florida last month, I had to scratch my head when I'd see one driving down the freeway in Orlando. Then again, they might need them for driving over the top of those slow, sunday driving tourists .

robsawatsky · June 5, 2004

I didn't really want 4x4 but it was all I could find with everything else that I had to have. Was fairly pleased with the result though because of:

1. Gravel roads up to in-law's cabin - 4x4 probably saved me from sliding off into the ditch when the back-end got out a bit after an evasive manouver where the front pulling helped straighten it back out.

2. We don't get much snow here, but it is usually nasty wet stuff, just around freezing temp, that packs and turns into instant ice. Couldn't get it moving without 4x4.

JamesB · June 5, 2004

Do I really need a 4wd? No. Did I REALLY want a 4wd? YES! I don't use it all that much, but it does come in handy when out at our hunting spots or out at the in-laws ranch. I used to get by in a '91 2wd suburban, but now, I don't think that either me or the wife would trade our 4wds in for a 2wd.

James.

GF7PE · June 5, 2004

I would buy a 2wd truck if I had enough cash for both. I use 4wd every weekend from May to October. And we do get some snow too but our snow removal crew has no idea what they are doing. When we go riding (snowmobiles) up in maine, you can get a foot or so on the roads before they remove it

snoman · June 5, 2004

If you drive to work in snowy conditions or really rainy (which usually means muddy too) areas, then 4WD is a good call.

Not really, a front wheel drive is the best call here. When it 4x4 if you spin out you are screwed unless you have the presence of mind and quickness of hand to take it out of 4wd and THEN try to steer out of it. I lived in Montana for a while where there was snow on roads for 6 months or so and when coditions were bad (very slick) we left the 4x4 burb at home and took the front wheel drive toyota on long trips out of town. Nothing beats a front wheel drive on ice except studded tires. I have seen a lot of fancy 4x4 in the ditch because their new owners though their 4x4 made them invincible. I have a few 4x4 plow trucks and I do not even use 4x4 on them when transporting from site to site and sometime not even plowing when conditions are not very bad.

AZ-Z71 · June 5, 2004

4 wheel drive here is great! No snow unless you run up to Flagstaff or areas north. Done that and it is great. It really comes in handy in the desert though with areas of real loose sand. Also I take mine off road in the Sedona area and climb over some rock. 4 wheel drive is great for getting into areas that are not seen by the average public. Plenty of trails and forest roads to ride on. This truck is also my daily commuter and on some job sites you need a 4 wheel drive. So mine get used pretty regularly, most on weekend leisure.

robsawatsky · June 6, 2004

If you drive to work in snowy conditions or really rainy (which usually means muddy too) areas, then 4WD is a good call.

Not really, a front wheel drive is the best call here.

You've got to be kidding. I've driven front-wheel drive and 4WD vehicles - the front driver is not even close to being useful compared to the 4WD in slippery, snow, loose gravel and other similar conditions. You must be relating this from the perspective of those that are poor drivers in poor road conditions. Once you get spinning on ice, neither front, rear or 4WD will help without studded tires.

XTOAK · June 6, 2004

Oh jeez, he brought up the S word. Don't ya know those things tear up the roads and only those folks from the lower 48 who don't know how to drive in snow need those in Alaska?

Seriously, I've driven rear, front and 4 wheel drives throughout my life here in Alaska, and can state that all four of them do fantastic on snow and ice...provided the moron behind the wheel understands physics, rudimentary physics. Best site in the world is the fool who came up here from the lower 48 in his 4 wheel drive truck or (even better) just bought his brand spanking new 4x4, takes it out on the highway, pumps her up to 55 or 60, and finds himself doing 360's before he settles down in the ditch for a moment of reflection and/or prayer. This is usually followed by a change of underwear, a $100 tow, and then the dumbest comment you'll ever hear "I thought 4 wheel drive and/or studs helped in this type of driving conditions." Then you just look at them and say, "Bet cha thought that shop class was gonna be a little handier than the physics class you ducked out of back in high school, eh?" You get that deer in the headlights look everytime...

Rear wheel drive, front wheel drive, 4x4, studs, drag hook, it doesn't matter if you're going too fast for conditions.