4wd vs. 2wd with limited-slip

A

A&J's Crew

New member
I am looking at buying a used truck and I cannot decide if I really need 4wd. I have had both and seldom used the 4wd, but think I could have got out with a limited slip. Additionally, I can buy a 2wd truck for about $5,000 less then a similar 4x4.

How often do you really need 4wd when you are out bird hunting?
 
4x4

for years i drove 2wd pickups but never again! 4x4 is here to stay! don't get me wrong i still get stuck but i have a lot more fun getting there:laugh:. :cheers:
 
4WDs are not get-out-of-jail free cards...in fact they can be passes to jail if one believes in them too strongly or is unfamilar with them.
It's indeed likely that most folks can get by with good tires, LS and judgement.
But, if lands in a bad patch, whether thru bad luck or a bad decision, then nothing else will help as easily as a 4WD, properly tired.

Backed up and turned around in the U.P. once this season; decided not to go down a road last season in Kansas, did not dare slow down in crossing a stream once in WVa; ran into increasing mud also in WVa many times and more examples elsewhere thru the decades...all in a 4WD.
Would not spend the lucre for a truck w/o 4WD unless I was delivering papers in Paducah or never left a gravel berm.

Penny-wise and pound-foolish has stranded many folks.
I prefer the odds in my favor.
YMMV
 
I think a lot of people have misconceptions regarding LS vs. locker. LS are made for the street and lockers are for off road. A LS will no doubt let you down when you need it the most, say if one tire has all the traction and one has none (one tire on the road and one on a slick shoulder). A 2wd with a locker (either selectable or automatic) will do well on and off road but maybe scetchy on an icy raod. Its a toss up but a 4wd with no traction aid and a 2wd with a locker will spin the same amount of tires.
 
Been using 4wd when it was a nasty old jeep overland wagoneer, the willys kind, the stearing was so bad you bouced between the white lines running 50 mph. I had a friend had to go to the hospital from the "iron burrow" CJ2a, from bouncing around the hiway. Still I was younger, went to places where there was nearly no one. Get in and get out on your own. Heaven I miss it! Now I still have nearly everything in 4x4, 2 Suburbans. there so luxurious it makes hunting in them seem sacriligious. There are still roads I will avoid no matter what, and I have a winch, out here on the great plains you have to have something to winch too that is better than where you are currently!
 
I bump into a few 4WD moments each year while trying to reach hunting areas. It's nice to have no dout. With that said, it does give one beer muscles if you will.

I seem to get into trouble each year due to having 4WD. Taking my chances comes a bit easier knowing all 4 tires are working for me.

Still, I'd say 4WD is well worth the extra $ if you can swing it.

P.S.--if anyone's engine seems to be shaking more than normal after spending some time of-road this season, try removing the skid plate and cleaning it out by removing mud, dirt, gravel, small rocks, sticks, etc. This may save you some $ trying to figure out why your vehicle shakes so much. Just talking from experience. lol;)
 
A&J's Crew said:
I am looking at buying a used truck and I cannot decide if I really need 4wd. I have had both and seldom used the 4wd, but think I could have got out with a limited slip. Additionally, I can buy a 2wd truck for about $5,000 less then a similar 4x4.

How often do you really need 4wd when you are out bird hunting?
Click to expand...

A&J, what part of the country to yo live in? That would make a big difference too.
 
Worth the investment

I grew up driving them so I too would never own a truck w/o 4wd. Don't always use it, but it's nice to know I have it in case I need it. Keep in mind though that a 4wd vehicle is worthless unless you have good tires on it. I think it's definitely worth the extra investment to get 4wd. But like some others have said, having 4wd doesn't make the vehicle invincible, you still need to know your limitations and always carry a shovel with you.:)
 
I live just south of Wichita so the majority of the time it would stay on solid roads. I was just thinking of how many times I truly have needed 4wd. I think the key it I went with 2wd is to insure I did not put myself in that situation.
 
A&J's Crew said:
I live just south of Wichita so the majority of the time it would stay on solid roads. I was just thinking of how many times I truly have needed 4wd. I think the key it I went with 2wd is to insure I did not put myself in that situation.
Click to expand...

Just because you have a 4wd vehicle doesn't mean you shouldn't exercise some common sense. If you're not comfortable driving into something, then you probably shouldn't do it. There have been a lot of times I've gotten out of the truck to look closer at the situation before deciding whether I could make it or not. It definitely takes experience in deciding what you and your truck can do. Couple things to keep in mind, just because you have it doesn't mean you have to use it and you would hate to get into a situation when you wish you would have had it and didn't. There can be times when you come across something unexpected.
 
A&J's Crew said:
I live just south of Wichita so the majority of the time it would stay on solid roads. I was just thinking of how many times I truly have needed 4wd. I think the key it I went with 2wd is to insure I did not put myself in that situation.
Click to expand...

How do you get home on the hiway in a snow storm? That's why I use 4 x 4. I use it in town where there is no snow removal for days, as much as hunting trips. I might ad I think I could get by with a large SVU, with traction control, but if you are using a pickup, they are pigs in snow, mud, or ice, no rear weight! I sure would use chains, but I have those too.
 
No low range with two-wheel drive.
 
BritChaser said:
No low range with two-wheel drive.
Click to expand...

I have never seen "low range" as much of an issue. I've had 4x4's for about 40 years and can probably count on one hand the number of times I ever used low range. Now if you live in the mountains and do much off roading I can see it. As much for the braking power as anything.
 
Being from Wichita myself, one thing I remember my dad always telling me, " it's better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it" so many times headed out to Cheney we would carry some random thing that I was against bringing, but so glad we did. If you can afford it my recommendation is to get 4wd!
 
Dakotazeb said:
I have never seen "low range" as much of an issue. I've had 4x4's for about 40 years and can probably count on one hand the number of times I ever used low range. Now if you live in the mountains and do much off roading I can see it. As much for the braking power as anything.
Click to expand...

i never used the low range on my 4x4s till i bought my ford ranger. now i use it all the time pulling my boat out of the water and up steep boat ramps.most of the time i'm on concrete ramps so traction isn't the problem i just like the extra power it gives the lil truck:thumbsup: :cheers:
 
I was taught to not rely on 4WD to get into a place. If you get stuck in 2WD you can always use the 4WD to try to get out, but if you are stuck in 4WD you are stuck.
I never lock in the 4WD unless I have dismounted and walked an area to see just how bad it gets. I still get overconfident (and stuck) on occasion. I few years ago I started carrying an anchor and a come-along. I buy all of my vehicles with 4 wheel drive, just in case.
 
Thrasher said:
I was taught to not rely on 4WD to get into a place. If you get stuck in 2WD you can always use the 4WD to try to get out, but if you are stuck in 4WD you are stuck.
I never lock in the 4WD unless I have dismounted and walked an area to see just how bad it gets. I still get overconfident (and stuck) on occasion. I few years ago I started carrying an anchor and a come-along. I buy all of my vehicles with 4 wheel drive, just in case.
Click to expand...

How well does the anchor work. Can you post a picture, or describe. Thanks, Aaron.

As far as 4 wheel drive goes....I use it all the time.Doesn't streak wet grass. Doesn't tear up the roads. On a bad road you can drive through it and not risk getting stuck turning around.:eek: Snow!!!!!! Ditches.
You don't need it but sure makes life easier.
 
A few years ago while in the Army, I came across a 3 foot bar of 3 inch steel. The bar has a head on one end that accepts a clevis. Had a mechanic grind the other end down to a point. I have only used it a few times, but it got me out of a snow bank and back on the road.

I pound it in until just a few inches are showing and hook up the come-along. I used a bumper jack to get the bar out when I was done.

I have heard of using a large fluked boat anchor, but have never seen it in action.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top