2WD or 4x4??

[TerryMiller]

Oddly enough, when we lived for 20 months in Colorado, the wife wanted to trade for a 4WD so we wouldn't have any issues getting around.

That said, the most that I've used 4WD in our vehicles has been in Oklahoma during some of the ice storms.

Going back to the late '70's and '80's, 4WD was used a lot on the farm/ranch, but I still remember the caution given by one of the oil and gas company guys. He said that 4WD could get one stuck in the ditch faster than what a 2WD could, especially so if one forgot which way their steering wheels were pointed when they suddenly gained traction.

I've seen many a 4WD in the ditches or center medium here in the OKC area after snow or ice has arrived.

 

[cjjtulsa]

I've seen many a 4WD in the ditches or center medium here in the OKC area after snow or ice has arrived.

Probably more from uneducated dolts thinking they can drive 70 on ice "because I gots a four by four". Lots of guys around here running around in lifted 4x4s as a status symbol, not knowing the limitations or capabilities of their vehicles.

 

[SlugSlinger]

I’ve never owned a 2wd truck or suv. All have been manual operated to shift the tranfercase into true 4wd.
In fact, my dd jku has an automatic rear locker in the rear corporate 14 and an air locker in the front Dana 60.

So unless you have lockers your awd or “4wd” is in fact a 2wd.

 

[Ready_fire_aim]

I’ve never owned a 2wd truck or suv. All have been manual operated to shift the tranfercase into true 4wd.
In fact, my dd jku has an automatic rear locker in the rear corporate 14 and an air locker in the front Dana 60.

So unless you have lockers your awd or “4wd” is in fact a 2wd.

Yup. I often try to explain how differentials work to people. My Tacoma with rear locker is technically 3wd lol

 

[AKguy1985]

I haven't had any issues getting around in my '04 Impala. My neighbor struggled to get out yesterday, I had no issues as long as I turned the traction control off.

 

[montesa]

I engage my 4x4 regularly. Steep/slick boat ramp? 4x4… backing a trailer up a grassy incline? 4x4… Raining at a construction site with no grass? 4x4… Bank fishing around lakes finding the good spots? Doing work in pastures? Explore old logging trails in SE OK? Etc

Snow doesn’t even come to my mind as one of my reasons to need 4x4. We don’t get enough of it in Oklahoma to matter.

But I often hear guys with lifted trucks talking about how they literally only engage 4x4 once a year when there’s some snow on the Buffalo Wild Wings parking lot

I don't know what it is about older Toyota 4x4s but there's magic when shifting into 4 wheel drive. The feel of the 1st gen Tacoma manual transfer case is so high quality.

 

[PBramble]

Truth! ARBs and Detroits are big time game changers!

Meh, lockers on ice are a death penalty waiting to happen. Sure you have true 4x4, but turning corners at lights and stop signs gets you a turned wheel and a straight ahead push until traction. The myth that 4x4 is better on ice is just that. There is no traction on ice without tire modification or a medium put down to allow for traction.

4x4s are more expensive to own (don't believe me, price tires) than 2wds in every way. Most people should have 2wd vehicles and just stay home when the weather is that bad. The way most folks drive, they endanger themselves and everyone else on the road when they go out. Especially the ones in the 4wd trucks doing double everyone else's speed.

 

[Ready_fire_aim]

Meh, lockers on ice are a death penalty waiting to happen. Sure you have true 4x4, but turning corners at lights and stop signs gets you a turned wheel and a straight ahead push until traction. The myth that 4x4 is better on ice is just that. There is no traction on ice without tire modification or a medium put down to allow for traction.

4x4s are more expensive to own (don't believe me, price tires) than 2wds in every way. Most people should have 2wd vehicles and just stay home when the weather is that bad. The way most folks drive, they endanger themselves and everyone else on the road when they go out. Especially the ones in the 4wd trucks doing double everyone else's speed.

I don’t think he was implying to use the lockers on ice…. We’re just talking general 4x4 stuff here

Like I said in a previous post. Not everyone just has a 4x4 for occasional weather lol. Some of us do actually use it regularly.

 

[Camo]

I use mine often, favorite fishing hole requires it

 

[PBramble]

Yeah, I get that, but MOST people think that 4wd means they can go anywhere anytime and it's not true. Like winches. They exist to pull you further from the road so you are a little more unrecoverable when something happens. And I get the use it regularly thing. Of the seven vehicles I own, only the Subaru is AWD. The rest are 4x4.