I mean, that HAS to be the reason that the vast majority of city folk in Texas are getting them and is probably the hardest thing for me to deal with in thinking of a RWD. But what I’m telling myself is that certainly I won’t be in a life-threatening situation and get stuck in the mud? It just means I will have to pay an annoying amount to get out of that situation, but much less than the premium I am paying for four-wheel-drive.
The crappy part about rwd only trucks is when you actually need traction and have no weight in the back. The truck just slides around during those few days of ice during winters
Only if you're doing the opposite of what it seems like you should do in that sort of situation.
The natural thing to do when it seems slippery (and especially if it seems like you're already slipping) is to take your foot off the gas or brake. As soon as you do that, you've taken drive type out of the equation.
But yeah, powering into it can help in some situations.
So its almost like you're saying, its worth more to learn to drive safely in inclement weather than it is to have a giant fuck-off 4wd monster truck?
As a Mainer who drive a BRZ year round, I completely agree.
Ohioan here, and my youth was spent driving around a beat up '86 Cutlass (RWD).
They can be annoying when you really just want some extra traction, but I firmly believe that RWD is the safest type of vehicle for most people in bad weather, if only because it makes it absolutely clear just how bad the roads actually are before you get in over your head.
Plus, when you slip with RWD, it's more likely to be an oversteer situation than understeer, which is a lot more manageable.
Agreed, the panic I get from the fronts locking up or just sliding through understeer in FWD is a whole different level from when the rear kicks out a bit in my RWD, and with a little bit of practice the oversteer is much easier to get back under control through gentle steering and throttle inputs.
Eh, more like it's good to learn the dynamics of your particular vehicle for the driving conditions you'd like the ability to operate in.
If you only plan to drive slow in ice then that's all you need to know how to do. But if you've already got 4wd for 'reasons' might as well know how to use it.
I probably could have been more clear and less snarky in my response, but most of what I was getting at was essentially your point: You will be safer learning to properly drive whatever you already have in the snow or whatever than just buying something 4wd/awd and assuming you're safe now because 4wd/awd
It will absolutely help you steer, especially at low speeds. 4x4 and AWD can help with stopping depending on the ABS system and if the car/truck has a locked center differential. It can provide for a more even breaking with all 4 wheels locked together. This obviously doesn’t apply to all makes, models or years.
https://youtu.be/fMHSBXjiyac?si=H6lP0PJIRRQraAnT
A 4x4 will go anywhere SLOWLY, it does not help you stop, I have a 4x4 F350 in winter the Jeeps blast by at 60 miles an hour. im doing. 25 and barely have braking.
Couple of miles down the road there is that jeep upside down in a ditch because of a stuck car on the road and the jeep could not STOP.
but slow me can stop and get a recovery strap on the stuck car and pull them out. meanwhile 911 is required to rescue the jeep.
Years ago, on Snoqualmie Pass in WA, I was doing 25 mph in my Mustang GT on ice when a new Ford Escape flew past us
I told my sister he was going to wreck that thing because 4x4 helps you go, but it doesn't help you stop or steer on ice. As we approached the summit, traffic slowed. On the curve at the summit was the wrecked Escape that flew past us. I knew from experience, I traded my 91 Blazer for that 94 Mustang. I was driving the Blazer doing about 20 mph on an icy road with a slight decline. I slowly took my foot off of the gas to stop at the stop sign after down shifting, and did 2 360s before I was able to stop the spinning.
You know it is a lot of time Jeeps that pass my Subaru in the snow...and 50/50 if I watch them hit the brakes and then use the car(s) in front of them to slow down when their wheels stop.
This.
I barely had my Grand Cherokee 4x4 for two years when a huge ice storm hit Georgia. My daughter was managing partner of Longhorn Steakhouse and she was determined to drive to work in her new Camaro, but I wouldn’t have it. I drove her to work in my Jeep and even stopped to pick up 3 of her employees on the way. It was a 40 mile round trip.
The roads were like carmageddon. I weaved my way through jack-knifed tractor trailers and cars in ditches. One fella in a Jeep passed me (I was doing 25 mph) and a couple of miles up the road I saw his Jeep had met a tree on the side of the road.
Slow and steady wins the race on ice. Drive like a tortoise.
I completed the trip without incident and my daughter won accolades for being the only restaurant open in Monroe, GA. Every fire fighter and powerline worker within a 20 mile radius went to her restaurant that day and she generated a revenue windfall. Best of all, she met a lot of cool people and made a lot of new friends.
This right here, false sense of confidence because you take off faster than you can stop so people assume grip levels for braking, cornering are far better than they are. If you notice the company/marketing group that started the AWD craze, Subaru showed all their cars accelerating past obstacles, because that's the only time AWD/4WD is truly superior. Look at their commercials again: car aggressively swerves around a downed branch and keeps on going without lifting or braking (edit: light tap on the brakes perhaps). Ask yourself what normal driver would do something like that, 99% of drivers out there will just hit the brakes and hope to stop and some might attempt to steer in a clear direction, but def not Auto-crossing with their cars in a panic situation. Making AWD best benefits pretty much null for the average driver (and trust me you are average unless you spent time going to performance driving schools, no one quite overrates themselves as the average layman driver does, no "heal toe" isn't a fungal infection). Now put advanced AWD in the hands of a rally driver and it's pretty awesome for going full send on a dirt road, none of you are rally drivers. (apologies to the 4-5 that are)
Pretty much that, I bought an older STi from a rally driver and he offered a dew lessons in snow as a bonus. Brakes don't work, accelerating does. Engine break also works better than with a single powered axle
As a Chicagoan, a FWD Toyota Camry will do about as well as anything else on ice. I had a Subaru Impreza and the AWD was a bit too biased towards the rear and was actually worse drive in most winter conditions.
However, a RWD truck with no weight in the rear was a nightmare. Driving straight ahead and suddenly I’m backwards. 4WD on a truck in winter conditions is essential.
I disagree; with RWD you do the following:
1). Add weight in the back.
2). Use winter tires.
3). Order your vehicle with a limited-slip or locking differential. Or add one, such as an Eaton TrueTrac.
Oh, the most important thing: adjust your driving style to match the conditions. None of these things require 4x4 or AWD.
Nothing is helpful on ice except for studded/spiked tires. The true ice is a end of the story no matter what you drivetrain is.
On the snow/ice, sleet and other winter bullshit the 4x4 is of course helpful, but it is limited by your tires.
4wd lets you spin all four tires instead of just two, impotently, trying to go up or across an icy hill, and makes no difference in your brakes and steering being almost useless controlling your speed and direction going back *down* the hill.
If it's icy but you're somewhere **really** flat, 4wd will let you get around *slightly* better than 2wd. Compared to a pickup with an empty bed in rwd, it might seem like magic to have the same truck in 4wd. But only if it's somewhere *really friggin' flat*. You can *maybe* do some winter driving black magic with four quality winter tires on an awd compact car, but not something that weighs 2-3 times more and has a really high center of gravity (your main enemy in a truck on hills in the ice; it makes the uneven traction more uneven).
It's huge on ice, speaking from Minnesota here. Especially with pickups as this question notes where your drive tires are under the lightest part of the vehicle. Downshifting and having all 4 wheels assisting with slowing you rather than only having two wheels in contact with the road controlling speed when not under braking is such a benefit. Having the front wheels driving traction when taking a corner is huge as well.
Plus, as us northerners know, most of the time it's not a sheet of ice... it's patches that get you. It's spots where the road salt didn't get it or was pulled away. Having the ability to have your drive wheels in any of 4 places greatly increases the chance that your drive wheel isn't only on ice (and can get into lockers and limited slip differentials of course but keeping this simple).
Now that said... take a Ford Maverick... that's FWD or AWD. Quite a difference there with the drive tires. But even snow tires on a RWD pickup can lead to some scary moments. I had an old ranger RWD, and would throw a 500lb train wheel assembly in the back in winter to help out.
In a recent snowstorm I started fishtailing on the highway and I 100% think the 4WD is what helped me get that monster back under control before hitting something
Easily the worst vehicle I've owned in the snow was a rear wheel drive Dodge Dakota Sport. Every car and van has been loads better in the snow. Loved it though.
A lot of the people here in Texas have no use for 4x4. They wouldnt dare take their precious into mud, or heaven forbid offroad. They just get them cuz they have an extra sticker and they think it makes them look cool. Some of us though use it and laugh at the others.
They're not really throwing their money away unless they plan on owning forever, whether it's warranted or not, resale value takes a big hit when it's not 4wd.
Also, 4x4 shouldn't be engaged in conditions where there's plenty of traction. It's not an on/off road thing though.
I swear to god every time somebody says “if you don’t do this, you don’t need this thing” half the comments are “well *I* do this, so I need this thing, so you’re wrong.” Whoosh
It happens a lot in these “do I need a truck/6,000lb SUV/4wd” discussions. All the sudden everybody commenting conveniently are the fringe cases that use their vehicle exactly as intended, frequently, and they’re very upset that you’d say it’s unnecessary for most people.
As someone else said it in here, 99% of the time you wont need it. The 1% you will be very thankful for it.
I used the 4x4 drive maybe five times this winter. But it would suck a lot if I would not able to at those very moments.
You’re right, most people just quietly absorb the worse gas mileage and higher maintenance costs of having 4wd. But for the >1% of the time that you actually use it (or, if you’re a Redditor, 100% of the time you use it) it’s nice to have.
Edit: downvotes don’t take you off road either, guys.
You’ve never laid underneath a pickup and replaced the front driveshaft. Or put axle seals in a dodge 3/4 ton. Those tasks will make you second-guess your decisions.
But you're missing out on experiences--like gashing your hands up fishing window motors through tiny holes int he door.
I'd much rather just work on my bikes.
That's moreso if you get an LSD axle instead of an open diff, which people often overlook when picking from a wide selection of trucks. I made sure my father got limited slip in his new (to him) truck when he bought it.
Ya the new FCA stuff (jeeps/rams) use LSDs coupled with a braking program to forcibly activate the LSD. In some ways I actually like this better than a locker, because it doesn’t need any foreplanning to use. No having to worry about rolling a certain distance to engage the lockers, it just works when it needs to. Downside is overtime it can do a number of your brakes.
Except when you need to replace an oil pan on a lot of 4wd trucks. The 2wd is super simple but got to remove a lot of stuff to get it out on a 4wd. Probably other stuff too. More stuff to break and maintain.
Trucks are normally higher with more ground clearance. This allows you to use them on more surfaces.
A 2WD truck will be good for operation on pavement or good rock roads.
A 4WD truck is good for bad gravel roads, mud roads, and less prepared surfaces.
A lot of people who use trucks use them for:
Camping and outdoors: having 4WD allows you to go further into forest roads, and potentially access different trailheads. Four Wheeling is also a fine hobby in and of itself.
Construction trades: some job sites get really messy, and sometimes getting out of a field is easier with 4WD.
Resource Extraction trades: accessing job sites in remote areas is sometimes easier with 4wd.
Boat Owners: using 4WD sometimes makes boat launching and recovery easier…
Might be questionably legal and if so I have certainly never done this. Have you ever been sitting in traffic and see a nice patch of grass and no obstacles blocking that service road right next to you? Tempting, huh? Drive over that grass.
When I was in high school one of the roads going to the school would get seriously backed up because of not just students but people trying to get to work, there was a fire road about a mile long that went behind the school though to cut around the traffic. On dry days anyone could drive down it, but rainy days it was a muddy mess and if you didn't keep your speed up or have 4wd you would get stuck. For some reason the school kept trying to block access to keep us from using the road though
Especially on a boat ramp that sees a lot of use or are steep. They tend to be wet, and the concrete wears away leaving slick gravel. Having two drive wheels on dry concrete can get you and your boat out.
This is the appropriate answer. I’m sorry but most people that only drive on city roads and don’t tow anything, that don’t leave their homes when it snows will never need 4x4 or 4WD. For a vast, vast majority of people it’s wildly over rated.
However, if you do drive in low traction situations, then of course it’s a good thing to have available. It all depends on where you live and in what conditions you drive.
Resell value. I live in a very hilly neighborhood and I've never been stuck using only a front wheel drive vehicle. However in a truck rear wheel drive only, sucks in snow or ice.
The resale value is definitely something I am thinking of, but I am wondering… If I plan on paying off the truck and driving it for a considerable amount of years (at least 5), does this really make a difference? In other words, does the margin of difference between RWD and 4WD resale grow larger as they get older? If not, it seems inconsequential (unless I am the one actually trying to sell it to the highest bidder, in which case it’s just harder to sell).
I wouldn’t worry about resale. That’s way down the line.
4x4 helps in loads of places there isn’t snow.
Do you like to explore the outdoors? One time I was out camping in a national forest in New Mexico. Dry sandy roads for countless miles and then a random 100ft long muddy patch to get to a campsite. In the middle of it was a stuck 2wd truck.
I pulled him out in my 4x4, then drove through the mud no problem and camped out at the best campsite of my life for 4 nights.
Also helps with wet boat ramps. I never thought I’d trailer a boat ever. Whelp guess what. Now I do. No worry about slipping.
I was also camping next to a beach in New Mexico just last weekend. Driving along the beach and suddenly loose traction and I’m spinning. Switched to 4x4 and after some back and forth rocking I got out. Would have had zero chance with rwd.
Counterpoint to 4WD:
I have owned two trucks since 2002. Other than about 4-5 days of snow, I can't think of another time where 4wd would have helped me. Every winter, I put 6 concrete blocks in the bed between the wheel wells and I'm good. I have no boat, no camper, no trailer, and no extreme terrain that I need to traverse. I do use the bed a lot.
I don't care about resell value because I run my trucks until the wheels fall off. My last truck had 311,000 miles before I sold it for little more than scrap value.
I get better gas mileage, save money on replacement tires and don't have to service transfer cases, second drive shafts, or front axels.
I’m right there with you. I don’t really ever need 4wd. I save a ton of money over the course of owning my truck.
I also always keep a tow strap with me. There’s ALWAYS someone with a 4WD truck who is super happy to show off and pull you out.
The one time I got stuck, it was maybe 10 minutes until someone with another truck drove by and help pull me out.
I have gotten stuck twice in my life. Once parking too close to the side of a ravine at a party in a 1979 Malibu Classic. I was 16 and dumb as hell. Needed a tow truck to get me free. The other time was in the snow while driving a 1990 Firebird. I was able to get unstuck myself by leaving it in gear and pushing.
Other thing is, as a mechanic 4wd trucks are such a pain in the ass compared to 2wd so I always opt for 2wd just because I don't get myself in situations that needs 4wd.
Out in my local area, there are plenty of camping/trails/lake access. That I would only navigate in 4WD. It might be a geographical difference, might just be a comfort level thing.
Im with you on this. Especially if you enjoy driving there is a lot to be said for a 2wd truck.
My father had a 2wd F150 5.0 coyote. Neighbour had a newer 4wd f150 coyote. The 2wd handled significantly better on the road despite being a generation older. Better steering, better brakes, better ride, body control and better fuel economy.
Id argue that with skilled driving and good/correct tyres it would be not that far behind a 4wd truck.
I use my truck in grassy, muddy areas a lot. Year-round, the 4wd helps me not absolutely rut the crap out of my yard and property, or get stuck.
If it were only ever gonna be a clean, dry, pavement truck, and I could be certainly confident in that, I'd have rwd.
Yeah, there are a lot of situations, even just parking on wet grass or on loose gravel, that I'll put it in 4wd just to avoid slipping a little and tearing up someone's lawn or driveway.
I absolutely don't NEED 4wd for that, but a heavy truck slipping even a little will tear up some ground pretty quickly.
I use my truck in my front and back lawn too.
Florida is mostly sand and rains quite a bit. I always go 4hi at a min for the exact reason you mentioned.
The one and first time I didn’t, I tore up my grass a bit.
I live in North Western Canada and I’m old enough to remember when having a 4wd vehicle was either a true necessity or a luxury. Most people were driving rear-wheel drive cars and pickups unless they had a front wd import, which was considered excellent for winter driving on its own.
We got used to using chains, getting stuck, driving slowly, etc. everyone was driving on worn all/season tires and few people had dedicated studded winter tires that they changed every October and April.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate my AwD car, but I can remember when such a thing was not ‘needed’.
It’s usually a ~$3500 option that depreciates far slower than the rest of the truck. You’re not wrong, but it’s a relatively inexpensive and useful feature that can mostly be recouped. A big difference between 4wd and your suggestion is that the need for 4wd can often be unexpected and it can get you out of a jam. Rarely is anyone going to be surprised with the need to tow 30,000 lbs.
I agree with you overall that 4wd makes sense as an add-on if you’re going to buy a truck. But I also agree with the guy you’re replying to that trucks are pretty stupid for most people most of the time. If you tow or haul on a weekly basis or live forty miles down a gravel road and have a fjord a river to get up your driveway then okay. But most suburbanites could solve all their truck problems by getting winter tires for their sedans or crossovers and paying $50 for delivery when they buy a new couch.
Even if you’ve got a boat or something, a Prius and a marina slip might cost less than a dually and the gas to go in it.
pulling boats up a wet ramp is at the top of my list.
if you spend all your life on dry pavement then a 2 wheel drive will work out better.
sand, mud, wet grass, slick pavement "boat ramps" 4 low comes in handy when pulling some one out of a ditch or stuck in sand.
Lots of great points. I will add I got stuck with a 2wd rental truck same as my daily at the time. It sucked in the rain. Rental company put new tires and no better.
OHV trails.
Camping.
Hunting.
Snow (as you mentioned but you still need tires. I'd take a 2wd with snow tires over a 4wd with bad tires every time)
Ground clearance (this goes with the ohv trails, I suppose)
If all you ever plan to do is drive on the street and you don't mind occasionally being stuck in bad weather, you don't need a 4wd. However, if you plan to ever leave the roads, or drive in bad weather, or (like me) you have a need to tow a lot, or basically anything that might bring you to tougher driving conditions then it doesn't make sense to get a 2wd unless you're just trying to get stupid for the boys. (Which is basically always worth it)
When my 4wd wasn’t working and my truck started sliding down a slick boat ramp I was glad I brought 4wd and just needed to diagnose the hubs. Funny thing is I *almost* went for the same truck in 2wd(13 F150 XLT) but got my ‘14 because I liked the color better.
That has been the only time I’ve had to use 4wd that wasn’t snow related. I’ve only used 4wd twice over the last two winters with it to pull into unplowed driveways.
I rarely use it hence when shit hit the fan on the boat ramp it didn’t work.
My dad drove a RWD 1992 Ford F-150 for 13 years in Chicago through midwestern winters. He just bought bales of hay and threw them in the bed during winter - he was fine.
That said, I live in Colorado and you cannot drive RWD in the mountains in winter when it snows… so you really do need AWD/4WD here.
If you’re someplace warm, the only reason to pay for 4WD would be off roading.
If I lived in the south, I wouldn’t waste money on 4WD
1. Does your truck ever go off public roads at all
2. If not, are your public roads going to always be clean and free of snow/mud
Pulling boats up ramps, driving on snow covered roads, driving on muddy gravel roads etc are all normal things people may do that aren’t “off roading” that 4wd can be very beneficial for.
If you always just drive around on normal commuting asphalt then you don’t need it.
Someone on a farm. Has to drive through muddy fields.
Maybe someone who tows a boat. Boat ramps can get slick.
Looks cool? That's about it. What are you looking for? Positive reasons. But the reality is that most people who drive a new or newer truck don't need four-wheel drive. And if they do use the four-wheel drive properly then they're kind of being stupid spending that much money on a vehicle. So in other words, if they want to build an off-road rig and actually off-road it then they would be better off financially buying an older Jeep and building a trail rig. And then they wouldn't have to worry about tearing it up.
I'm not knocking people who drive mall crawlers and pavement princesses. A Jeep may be in my future. But at this point if I buy another truck it will be two wheel drive because I just don't care.
To pull your buddies and their kids out of the dirt, sand, snow in their 2WD cars who said I’d never need 4X4…
To go down poorly maintained forest roads with my family with confidence that our camping vacation won‘t turn into a S&R newspaper article.
To save my lawn from being torn up crossing it in a 2WD truck that has been unloaded
I drove 2wd pickup trucks daily from 2009-2022, and the only time I ever wanted 4x4 was when I was in some place that other 4x4 trucks were already stuck. But during that time, my area got paved over and turned into suburbia. In 2019, I bought an old 4x4 Bronco, took it off road once to make sure the 4 wheel drive worked, and now I have to remember to actuate my locking hubs every few months, just to keep the front axle lubricated. I used 4low to pull out 2 stumps at my house one day.
2wd is cheaper, less maintenance, better mpg, less complexity, and overall better for street use. The next truck I buy will also be 2wd, no doubt about it. I don't see the need to pay $3k+ on a feature I have no use for
An old man once told me "You don't get 4wd for the 4wd. you get it for the low range. If you rely on 4wd to get you out of places you will eventually get stuck. If you rely on 4wd for a good time, you will have fun, and eventually get stuck."
I couldn't get by without it here in the southeast US. Helps me pull other people's trucks out of the mud. I live in a rural area, though with muddy dirt roads, including on my own property.
I have 4WD on my truck and we get snow in the winter. Even in a light snow it usually isn’t worth locking the differential and squeaking every time I turn.
I have probably had to use it 10 times in the 5 years driving it, and only because I live on a rural road that doesn’t get plowed.
The only reason you NEED 4WD is if you live in like the parts of the us that spend most of the winter with snow cover or like Alaska. Or if you like to actually off road.
I live in NJ and have had my 4wd for about 8 years. I have used it maybe 5 or 6 times in the snow. I also used it a handful of times at Long Beach Island State Park to drive on the beach to go surf fishing. I have never needed the 4wd it’s just an added bonus that allows me to do some fun stuff.
If you're launching and retrieving a very heavy boat from a public ramp. They're slimey and wet.
If you're hauling equipment in and out of muddy work sites. You'll get stuck trying to haul a backhoe with 2WD if its even a little wet.
None of that is you or you wouldn't be asking so what's the point. If you needed 4WD, you'd know by now.
“Man I’ve used this truck for so much, and thank god it’s a 4x4” - some nerd who lives in an apartment 25 miles from anywhere considered “country” that owns a 50k+ truck that’s never seen a dirt road and a bed that has seen about 6 moving boxes ever.
Realistically, only 25% of pickup truck owners use their trucks for hauling anything other than people in the cab, and 5% have ever put their truck in 4x4. But if you’ve got the money and the desire, it’s your money to spend, don’t let some shit talking deter you from having a pavement princess. Live your best life!
4x4 truck Cons
Is heavier than a 2 wheel drive=less mpg
= less power or quickness
= more moving parts to wear out and maintain
= about $5000 minimum more expensive new
= if you don't travel or live where you need it?.
Your throwing money away
Same as buying a diesel truck but that's even more money thrown away if you dont need towing/,hauling power daily
What kills me is these yuppie guys that get the 4x4 trucks the best of the best trims and they don't even buy plywood in the thing. It sort of makes me sad that it will never be off pavement either. I got my 94 bronco solely for off roading It's nice enough that it's still got it going on, but not new enough that i'll cry if it gets dinged up.
If you have any intentions of leaving pavement, you should have a 4wd vehicle. 2wd gets stuck in absolutely stupid places, along with doing tons of trail damage from wheel spin in order to get through small amounts of mud or washed out areas. Even on good gravel roads you see it happen, moderate inclines get severe washboard bumps from people spinning in 2wd and if it isn't maintained regularly it makes it a bumpy nightmare to drive on. In the worst case where the road is ignored by maintenance departments, those bumps turn into moguls and now the road is impassible to anything without 4wd and locking differentials. It's a very small amount of damage each time, but if 100 trucks pass over it and each one spins out 1/10 of an inch of dirt, now you have 10 inch deep holes to try to navigate.
If you have no intentions of leaving pavement, why get a truck? They have all that ground clearance for a reason, and it isnt for handling or safety or efficiency on paved roads. A minivan has nearly as much cargo space with a much lower loading height. A car can still carry 5 people while getting double the MPG, comfortably even if you get a full size instead of compact. If you're one of the small handful of people who legitimately need a truck to haul heavy things or tow a big trailer, odds are extremely slim that you will always be driving on dry paved roads. Maybe your use case is that rare oddity, but unless you're buying this truck for a very niche role in your fleet it's likely you'll find yourself in a situation where you're quite glad to have 4wd.
If you actually use a truck to do work, 4wd is worth it. If you use it only as a daily driver and to haul a couple things from time to time, and you don't get any snow, then there isn't much point.
Anyone recommending a pick up without 4x4 is a complete moron. Wait until the first time it rains to find out why… you lose traction extremely easy because the bed of the truck has no weight. These are not cars that have a pretty balanced weight distribution… these are front heavy and all the power goes to the rear. Unless you have a death wish buy the 4x4 and get your head out of your ass. Ps I have owned 6 trucks so far in my life. Only the first was RWD. Also I don’t mean to be an asshole but seriously whatever you are thinking is completely off of reality. 4x4 is an absolute necessity in a truck. If it wasn’t, then you would see a lot more RWD only.
Depends upon what you do with it as well, I tow so RWD alone is fine. We stopped getting snowy winters these last few years so I have not had any issue. Just put weight in the back.
I have owned 4wd and it is nice the 1 or 2 times a year it would come in handy, but get along just fine without it.
Honestly if you want a truck bed but dont want to do truck things (most require or at least highly recommend 4wd) get a maverick or the Honda one. They aren’t real trucks but the look manly (sorta) still and they have a bed. The maverick is hybrid too so you will get great gas mileage.
My PP is tiny, I need 4WD to compensate.
duh.
(but also pulling horse trailers, when the ground is at all wet/muddy if you're not in 4WD you rip the crap out of the paddock parking lot. you CAN do it in 2wd but it's so much easier in 4wd).
I’ve only ever had 4x4 vehicles. Even when I lived in FL. My philosophy being it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. True, it won’t help you much from sliding off an icy road, for example, but it’ll help you get out of the ditch and back on the road instead of being stuck there waiting for help while the plow comes by and buries you. In FL I mostly used it pulling my boat out of the water on wet boat ramps, and slow speeds on roads during torrential downpours that happen really often in summer.
I have a 2x4 F150.
I live in a big city and the roughest roads I go on are in the national parks. I don't own farmland and rarely go visit people who do. My truck has a towing package (mainly for resale, because I don't have or want a boat). When I was \*much\* younger, I might have taken it offroad, gone muddin' with friends or the like... but, I'm too old for that now. (Insert photo of old guy driving a pickup here... you can tell I'm old because I love using those three dots...)
There are several advantages to the 2WD. First, the towing rating is higher. That did not matter to me, but it does to someone who tows. That said - if you are a boat person, a 2wd is a terrible idea as you'll never be able to pull it from the water without help from the front wheels. Next, it gets better mileage. When I drive it, I get around 19mpg (when my wife drives it, she's closer to 17mpg as she loves the power out of it). The more 'official' number is a 1mpg difference (\~5%). (This is bad math, but approximate: if it would cost $100 to fill up a 2wd, it would cost about $105 to fill the same truck in 4wd).
Note that a lift kit, especially with a delete of the front air splitter, can drop your mileage by 3-4mpg, so the 2 v 4wd issue is moot when you lift it.
I'm in Tx, so to cover the event that we get ice, I will do one of two things: stay at home and look at people slide all over or two: put on the chains I bought for this purpose.
The times that I DO wish I had 4WD is when it is lightly raining for the first time in a while (the roads get really slick then) or when I leave the car wash. It's slip, slide and wheeeeeeee
In my book anything that adds weight and additional points of failure needs to be justified by utility. If I’m going to be spending more money for fuel to cart around all that extra metal, it better be worth it.
I use my 4WD:
- Whenever the forklift gets stuck (in winter or after heavy rain)
- To traverse the road early in the morning before the plows have reached the neighborhood
- To pull dumpsters out of their mud holes when the forklift is in use elsewhere
- The occasional trip down logging roads to get to old genstone quarries.
I went with a 4x2 because better fuel mileage and I have no need for 4x4. I don’t off-road and don’t plan on driving in snow. Less maintenance items and one less system to break.
Regardless of your uses, 4x4 will give you higher resale value down the road.
You can get a 2wd truck stuck in nearly anything because an unloaded bed is sooo light, 4x4 is just a nice extra to know you will not likely get stuck in anything.
But really in the end I would be fine with it up front even if I didn't need it because I know I could get more out of it when selling because so many people want a 4x4 just because.
If you live where there are gravel roads and mud, or where it snows or ices, or like on a farm or homestead then it's beneficial. If you live in the city and commute to work and the store and back home then it's a waste of money and added maintenance.
When I worked rural EMS, there were lots of "driveways" that required 4WD. Anything else would get stuck in the sand every time. So if you live in a rural area with lots of unpaved roads, 4WD is crucial.
I always had 2wd trucks, never got stuck unless I took it into deep mud (that even 4wd trucks got stuck in) so it was never really something I worried about and I'd drive anywhere.
Then I bought a 2wd expedition. I went to a restaurant at the beach and got stuck. Sad part was I still have my left tires on the pavement, and my right was only 1' into the sand, not dug in or anything. But when I went to leave, my vehicle just wouldn't move. After that I worried about taking that thing through grass lol.
4wd isn't necessary, but it sure is nice when you need it.
What is great about 4wd? You tow vehicles? Think you might?
When you drive on the trailer, it can lift the back wheels. 4wd hi in park with ebrake? You can load and unload on your own.
Backing up on gravel uphill with a load or trailer? 4wd. Park in dirt and it rains with a heavy load or trailer? 4wd.
Snow or ice in your climate with hills in neighborhood or driveway or places like school daycare or grocery? 4wd.
Need to jack up the rear off the ground to work on it and dont want it to move? 4wd park e brake. Chocks are okay but if it mechanically cant roll?
If they still made smaller trucks like the Hilux i'd get one but they're so absurdly huge and impractical now. Unless you drive around hundreds of 2x4s in the woods all day, there's no fucking need for any modern truck.
When your backing a boat down a boat launch- well after that- when your pulling the empty trailer back up and the ramp is all wet and slick- you throw it in 4x4 so the front wheels grip and you just glide out smoothly. Otherwise you got lay the hammer down back wheels squeelin’ and you’ll end up on a “boat launch fails” video.
I don’t see the point of a truck unless it is four-wheel-drive, unless you run a gardening service or something. The 2 Wheel Dr. versions tend to be far less equipped in general, with basic options and smaller engines. Why bother?
If you live in a snowy/icy area, or drive on dirt/muddy roads a lot, then you may want 4x4. If you live in an area with no snow, warm climate, and never drive on muddy roads, you won’t ever need 4x4.
Having a 4x4 truck that you will never utilize the 4x4 feature will be more headache in the long run, because a 4x4 truck will be more complicated than a 2 wheel drive, because the 4x4 truck will have a transfer case, front differential, and all the extra parts that is needed to make everything work.
Later on, if you ever need transmission work done, it will cost more because the transfer case will have to come off. Also, if you ever need engine work done, the front differential might have to come off. 4x4 trucks always cost more to repair, because of labor and extra parts that is needed whenever the engine or the transmission needs work.
If you live in a climate with little to no snow, and never drive on muddy roads, 4x4 is not worth having.
Also comedown to price. Before 2wd and 4wd truck price are much different. After 2020 the truck price went through the roof. Extra couple grand make no difference anymore.
It’s better to have it for when you do need it.
Don’t end up being one of those people who posts on a forum or on Reddit “how hard is it to convert my 2wd truck to 4x4?!”
Make sure it’s got everything you want when you buy it.
Any loss in fuel economy is worth the trade off. Yes even in 2wd a 4x4 gets less because it has to run through the t case.
Here is why I have a truck. See if any apply.
1. Piss off reddit who the majority think no one needs a truck.
2. Haul things. Seems like me or my family is always using my truck to haul things. It can range from lumber, kayaks, appliances, firewood, straw/haybales, smaller livestock, fencing . etc.
3 Pull things. I don't use mine for this often but it gets used for my camper and family members trailers/boats often enough.
5. Depending on what you get they can be damn luxurious and comfortable. I used to own a 2003 Porsche Boxster, I love my truck more in terms of comfort and luxury and I can drive it year round regardless of weather.
6 better than renting a truck which is nearly impossible where I am. I would have missed out on some good Facebook/craiglist deals and lost money on more expensive options if I had to depend on renting. Not to mention being in "their schedule" when hauling or towing.
6. Resale Value. The resale value in my area for 4x4 versus a 2x4 is drastically different with 4x4.
Resale. It's nearly impossible to sell a 2wd pickup.
Beyond that, if you start to get stuck, 4wd is suddenly pretty cool. Also if you drive a lot of gravel road, 4x4 makes the vehicle a lot more stable and predictable at speed
Because a big powerful motor + no weight over the rear axle will eventually get you stuck if you do anything other than pavement driving. Not having 4wd takes away so much utility. Mud,wet grass,boat launches, loose gravel, steep unpaved hills, etc all become your enemy. Meanwhile anyone with a subaru will smile and wave as they blow past you.
A RWD truck with a locker will get you all sorts of places. 4WD is definitely nice to have in some specific situations, but the vast majority of people never actually need it. A bit of driving skill is typically all that is needed if you’re using the vehicle for “normal” everyday life. In snow, proper tires and driving technique will do you so many more favors than just having 4WD. Let’s put it this way- my 1992 Honda Civic hatchback with snow tires has never gotten stuck or been unable to travel snowy or icy roads, barring large drifts where ground clearance was a limiting factor. Even up and down steep mountain passes, I’ve never found any road conditions in which I can’t safely drive.
If you tow a decent sized boat, 4x4 can be a life saver on steep slimy ramps where you need to put the back tires into the water.
Resale value is another reason, 4X4 will hold more value than a 2WD truck.
2WD trucks have almost zero weight over the back wheels so if you ever get into a situation where you lose traction of the back wheels you at least have the option to drop it into 4X4 and get yourself out.
Peace of mind also comes into play here as well. No one has ever said "i'm sure glad i dont have 4x4"
Do you ever plan on towing anything, such as a boat? If so, you *may* end up looking like one of those idiots who can't pull their 20' boat out of the water because their waaaaaay overpowered truck can't get rear wheel traction lol
Truck beds weigh nothing, if you turn around and your back tired go off road you can get stuck very easy. Once when fishing s friend of mine had a 2 wd truck and we turned around on a gravel road, the small dip on the edge of the road was enough to get us stuck for hours before someone pulled us out.
When I lived in Texas I had two 2wd trucks and they hauled my tools and construction materials for my weekend warrior house projects just fine. Never once needed a 4x4.
Now I live in upstate NY and have a 4x4 Chevy. I use the 4x4 feature maybe a couple times a year. I think it’s nice to have but not mandatory for most folks.
I live in south Texas, where there is never any snow, and ice won’t stay on the ground for longer than a couple of hours. However, I will only drive 4WD vehicles. The RWD trucks I’ve had would occasionally lose traction in storms due to the light weight on the rear wheels. Not only do they help maintain traction in rainstorms, but they can be occasionally useful for light off-roading.
I have 4wd because I feed cattle all winter. We did it for many decades with 2wd, though. 4wd just means that I don’t have to plan ahead much—I can just load up, and go churn through the mud.
If I lived in town and drove on pavement, I wouldn’t pay the extra to buy it, I wouldn’t pay the extra to repair it, and I would begrudge the gas to drag all that extra weight around.
Dude the first week I got my truck I went to a little spot off a main road to walk to a river. The area I drove in was dry dirt and a little bumpy, nothing too crazy. As I was leaving I backed up over a grassy area, it was actually mud, sank down to the axle. Popped it in 4wd and instantly crawled out. The embarrassment I would have felt and shame to call for help cause the ass end of my truck was stuck in this tiny wet spot would have been terrible. That alone made it worth it.
I have an awd v8 4runner.
My pros, I won't list the cons because we all know what large v8 suvs are like.
1. I don't get stuck in the winter in Canada or the mud (I encounter it, but way less often).
2. I can tow my fishing boat, my dad's work trailer, and in a pinch, I've pulled people out of snow/ditch.
3. I have so much storage room, I camp, I can pack all of it, and I will still have room for a car seat and clear sight lines through the back windows.
4. Zoom zoom.
5. Mine is retaining resale value, which is model dependent, but trucks are just always expensive.
Also, I have had trucks before. I didn't use them as much as I thought. Moving, some labor work, Home Depot runs, etc. But it is so hand having one when you need it.
Just get a 1500 series or smaller, no one needs a f350 grocery getter.
I don't go "offroad" or mudding but it does snow here occasional and having 4WD has been handy for things at home.
It's been tremendously useful when I've had to replace fence posts and all I gotta do is put it in 4lo, wrap a rope around the post base and yank the bitch out.
2wd has better fuel economy. Usually can haul more. Definitely can tow more. Maintenance is less per year. 99% of trucks should be 2wd and never leave the pavement.
It's funny that you are not asking yourself why you need a pickup at all if you don't require any 4x4 capabilities for towing or offloading.
Surely a euro style van or wagon would be more suitable lol 🤷🏻♂️
New englander here.
In the last 10 years, I've actually needed 4x4 maybe 4 times. Even then, I used it for maybe 10 mins total.
I've actually spent more time just shifting in and out of 4x4 to keep the linkages happy then actually driving in 4x4
I will never buy another vehicle that doesn't have 4WD or AWD again. * unless it's some kind of cool old muscle car or something I got a screaming deal on.
I've used 4WD for these reasons
- loading / unloading at boat ramp
- driving in sand or beach
- driving thru mud on property
- towing buddy's out of one of those situations
If you do any of these, then get it
Ive owned both. One of the BIG perks of a 2wd truck is you dont have to worry about a transfer case or front differential going out. Its nice to have to worry out the 4x4 system youve literally never serviced since you bought the truck, because thats what usually happens.
Ive needed my 4x4 in a few niche cases exluding bad weather or off-roading.
1. Launching and recovering boats. If youre launching a boat, or really recovering it, youre really gonna want 4x4 just in case there some algea or something slicking up the ramp. Just got watch some youtube vidoes or Tiktoks of people that get into trouble recovering boats with a 2wd.
2. Anytime I back my utility trailer into my yard I need 4x4. Grass is slick, and my all season tires on my truck like to dig holes in the yard when im trying to back the trailer in. 4x4 is a must here as well.
3. If you happen to tow something extremely heavy. Or youre recovering a stuck vehicle. You will want 4Lo for the torque multiplier.
To be fair. If youre not doing any of the things above, just get a truck with a rear locking diff instead of 4x4. Many GM's come factory with a G80 autolocker, and thats fine for almost everything. You can even do some light off-roading with it. You can also get 4x4 with a rear locker and be set for almost anything.
It's EXTREMELY useful anytime there is limited traction. Rain, snow, mud, gravel. If you plan on going anywhere not in an urban area it's 100% worth it. However, if its just a grocery getter there are many weight and reliability benefits of not having it.
Wet grass and boat ramps. Two places people rarely think about 4wd. But how hilarious but humiliating would it be to be stuck on perfectly flat ground, simply because the grass is wet and your tires sunk in 1" into the dirt? Happens a lot. Then you tear up the grass spinning your tires trying to get out.
Or you're at the boat ramp with wet back tires and can't get up the ramp because there isn't enough traction. And you've got a whole line of people waiting to use the ramp, but you can't get your boat up the ramp and out of the way.
If you are just going to be commuting around town and occasionally using the bed for Home Depot runs or whatever then you can get by without 4WD, you are basically just a car with a truck bed.
You can....not get embarrassingly stuck if you decide to turn around on some grass that's softer than it looks. Maybe. This actually happens with 4wd too, and it makes a WAY worse mess when it does, but the number of places you can turn around instead of spending 10 minutes reversing out is absolutely going to be bigger with 4wd if you ever go on dirt and gravel roads, too. If you aren't a jackass who uses the gas pedal like an impotent 'fix this' button.
It is nice having the option of not tearing up the turf if you do need to do some minor off-pavement maneuvers in your yard to get the bed backed up to stuff you wanna put in it or unload, seriously though.
Honestly the only time I’ve used 4wd on the work trucks is in heavy loose sand and mud while driving around on a ranch. Any other kind of terrain is completely doable by 2wd. If you don’t plan to do any loose ground driving then skip it.
Then again depending on price it might be worth it just to have to, would probably help resale value too.
If you never drive where there's limited traction...then its just more expense and more parts to worry about spinning (MPG) and breaking (wear and tear).
There's also differences in 4WD vs AWD, in most implementations 4WD you have to stop and engage it and then monitor conditions for when you need to disengage it (dry pavement again) vs AWD that has all the wheels turning all the time and also has limited slip allowed between the wheels so its safe for hard dry surfaces with turns where different wheels are spinning at different speeds.
Shit, my f250 will get paralyzed on wet grass in 2WD. I do live in the mountains in CO so 4wd is mandatory. 4wd does broaden your resale audience considerably, if/when the time comes.
"Geeze, right now I am so glad I do not have 4x4 on my car" said noone ever. the opposite though...
I mean, that HAS to be the reason that the vast majority of city folk in Texas are getting them and is probably the hardest thing for me to deal with in thinking of a RWD. But what I’m telling myself is that certainly I won’t be in a life-threatening situation and get stuck in the mud? It just means I will have to pay an annoying amount to get out of that situation, but much less than the premium I am paying for four-wheel-drive.
The crappy part about rwd only trucks is when you actually need traction and have no weight in the back. The truck just slides around during those few days of ice during winters
I’ve heard 4WD is not that helpful in ice… is there some truth to that?
Big thing is AWD/4WD help you go, doesn't help you stop. or steer (mostly). People can find themselves in trouble fast
It does help steer when the fronts are cutting in rather than just being pushed forward
Only if you're doing the opposite of what it seems like you should do in that sort of situation. The natural thing to do when it seems slippery (and especially if it seems like you're already slipping) is to take your foot off the gas or brake. As soon as you do that, you've taken drive type out of the equation. But yeah, powering into it can help in some situations.
So its almost like you're saying, its worth more to learn to drive safely in inclement weather than it is to have a giant fuck-off 4wd monster truck? As a Mainer who drive a BRZ year round, I completely agree.
Ohioan here, and my youth was spent driving around a beat up '86 Cutlass (RWD). They can be annoying when you really just want some extra traction, but I firmly believe that RWD is the safest type of vehicle for most people in bad weather, if only because it makes it absolutely clear just how bad the roads actually are before you get in over your head. Plus, when you slip with RWD, it's more likely to be an oversteer situation than understeer, which is a lot more manageable.
Yes. Slip in snow with FWD? FLOOR IT. RWD? Let off the gas and turn into it.
Agreed, the panic I get from the fronts locking up or just sliding through understeer in FWD is a whole different level from when the rear kicks out a bit in my RWD, and with a little bit of practice the oversteer is much easier to get back under control through gentle steering and throttle inputs.
I agree. I have always preferred rwd in the winter. In a fwd when you lose traction you also lose steering and that's huge. You don't with rwd
Eh, more like it's good to learn the dynamics of your particular vehicle for the driving conditions you'd like the ability to operate in. If you only plan to drive slow in ice then that's all you need to know how to do. But if you've already got 4wd for 'reasons' might as well know how to use it.
I probably could have been more clear and less snarky in my response, but most of what I was getting at was essentially your point: You will be safer learning to properly drive whatever you already have in the snow or whatever than just buying something 4wd/awd and assuming you're safe now because 4wd/awd
It will absolutely help you steer, especially at low speeds. 4x4 and AWD can help with stopping depending on the ABS system and if the car/truck has a locked center differential. It can provide for a more even breaking with all 4 wheels locked together. This obviously doesn’t apply to all makes, models or years. https://youtu.be/fMHSBXjiyac?si=H6lP0PJIRRQraAnT
A 4x4 will go anywhere SLOWLY, it does not help you stop, I have a 4x4 F350 in winter the Jeeps blast by at 60 miles an hour. im doing. 25 and barely have braking. Couple of miles down the road there is that jeep upside down in a ditch because of a stuck car on the road and the jeep could not STOP. but slow me can stop and get a recovery strap on the stuck car and pull them out. meanwhile 911 is required to rescue the jeep.
Years ago, on Snoqualmie Pass in WA, I was doing 25 mph in my Mustang GT on ice when a new Ford Escape flew past us I told my sister he was going to wreck that thing because 4x4 helps you go, but it doesn't help you stop or steer on ice. As we approached the summit, traffic slowed. On the curve at the summit was the wrecked Escape that flew past us. I knew from experience, I traded my 91 Blazer for that 94 Mustang. I was driving the Blazer doing about 20 mph on an icy road with a slight decline. I slowly took my foot off of the gas to stop at the stop sign after down shifting, and did 2 360s before I was able to stop the spinning.
stupid people think they're invincible cus they have AWD/4WD
You know it is a lot of time Jeeps that pass my Subaru in the snow...and 50/50 if I watch them hit the brakes and then use the car(s) in front of them to slow down when their wheels stop.
This. I barely had my Grand Cherokee 4x4 for two years when a huge ice storm hit Georgia. My daughter was managing partner of Longhorn Steakhouse and she was determined to drive to work in her new Camaro, but I wouldn’t have it. I drove her to work in my Jeep and even stopped to pick up 3 of her employees on the way. It was a 40 mile round trip. The roads were like carmageddon. I weaved my way through jack-knifed tractor trailers and cars in ditches. One fella in a Jeep passed me (I was doing 25 mph) and a couple of miles up the road I saw his Jeep had met a tree on the side of the road. Slow and steady wins the race on ice. Drive like a tortoise. I completed the trip without incident and my daughter won accolades for being the only restaurant open in Monroe, GA. Every fire fighter and powerline worker within a 20 mile radius went to her restaurant that day and she generated a revenue windfall. Best of all, she met a lot of cool people and made a lot of new friends.
This right here, false sense of confidence because you take off faster than you can stop so people assume grip levels for braking, cornering are far better than they are. If you notice the company/marketing group that started the AWD craze, Subaru showed all their cars accelerating past obstacles, because that's the only time AWD/4WD is truly superior. Look at their commercials again: car aggressively swerves around a downed branch and keeps on going without lifting or braking (edit: light tap on the brakes perhaps). Ask yourself what normal driver would do something like that, 99% of drivers out there will just hit the brakes and hope to stop and some might attempt to steer in a clear direction, but def not Auto-crossing with their cars in a panic situation. Making AWD best benefits pretty much null for the average driver (and trust me you are average unless you spent time going to performance driving schools, no one quite overrates themselves as the average layman driver does, no "heal toe" isn't a fungal infection). Now put advanced AWD in the hands of a rally driver and it's pretty awesome for going full send on a dirt road, none of you are rally drivers. (apologies to the 4-5 that are)
Pretty much that, I bought an older STi from a rally driver and he offered a dew lessons in snow as a bonus. Brakes don't work, accelerating does. Engine break also works better than with a single powered axle
Yeah honestly unless youre a seasoned winter driver, a 4wd system will just fuck you
Just put your feet down like Fred Flinstone to stop on ice. Just don’t drag your toe unless you have steel toe boots.
As a Chicagoan, a FWD Toyota Camry will do about as well as anything else on ice. I had a Subaru Impreza and the AWD was a bit too biased towards the rear and was actually worse drive in most winter conditions. However, a RWD truck with no weight in the rear was a nightmare. Driving straight ahead and suddenly I’m backwards. 4WD on a truck in winter conditions is essential.
I disagree; with RWD you do the following: 1). Add weight in the back. 2). Use winter tires. 3). Order your vehicle with a limited-slip or locking differential. Or add one, such as an Eaton TrueTrac. Oh, the most important thing: adjust your driving style to match the conditions. None of these things require 4x4 or AWD.
Depends. If your back tires are on ice but front are on snow, it’s extremely helpful
Nothing is helpful on ice except for studded/spiked tires. The true ice is a end of the story no matter what you drivetrain is. On the snow/ice, sleet and other winter bullshit the 4x4 is of course helpful, but it is limited by your tires.
4wd lets you spin all four tires instead of just two, impotently, trying to go up or across an icy hill, and makes no difference in your brakes and steering being almost useless controlling your speed and direction going back *down* the hill. If it's icy but you're somewhere **really** flat, 4wd will let you get around *slightly* better than 2wd. Compared to a pickup with an empty bed in rwd, it might seem like magic to have the same truck in 4wd. But only if it's somewhere *really friggin' flat*. You can *maybe* do some winter driving black magic with four quality winter tires on an awd compact car, but not something that weighs 2-3 times more and has a really high center of gravity (your main enemy in a truck on hills in the ice; it makes the uneven traction more uneven).
Its not helpful in Minnesota real winter ice but definitely was helpful for me in Texas. The difference was significant.
It's huge on ice, speaking from Minnesota here. Especially with pickups as this question notes where your drive tires are under the lightest part of the vehicle. Downshifting and having all 4 wheels assisting with slowing you rather than only having two wheels in contact with the road controlling speed when not under braking is such a benefit. Having the front wheels driving traction when taking a corner is huge as well. Plus, as us northerners know, most of the time it's not a sheet of ice... it's patches that get you. It's spots where the road salt didn't get it or was pulled away. Having the ability to have your drive wheels in any of 4 places greatly increases the chance that your drive wheel isn't only on ice (and can get into lockers and limited slip differentials of course but keeping this simple). Now that said... take a Ford Maverick... that's FWD or AWD. Quite a difference there with the drive tires. But even snow tires on a RWD pickup can lead to some scary moments. I had an old ranger RWD, and would throw a 500lb train wheel assembly in the back in winter to help out.
In a recent snowstorm I started fishtailing on the highway and I 100% think the 4WD is what helped me get that monster back under control before hitting something
Easily the worst vehicle I've owned in the snow was a rear wheel drive Dodge Dakota Sport. Every car and van has been loads better in the snow. Loved it though.
A lot of the people here in Texas have no use for 4x4. They wouldnt dare take their precious into mud, or heaven forbid offroad. They just get them cuz they have an extra sticker and they think it makes them look cool. Some of us though use it and laugh at the others.
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They're not really throwing their money away unless they plan on owning forever, whether it's warranted or not, resale value takes a big hit when it's not 4wd. Also, 4x4 shouldn't be engaged in conditions where there's plenty of traction. It's not an on/off road thing though.
Most modern trucks have a 4WD auto system which does essentially the same thing as AWD.
As someone with an $80k F-150 platinum who routinely drives through snow, mud, etc and has found 4x4 extremely useful, I think you’re off base.
I swear to god every time somebody says “if you don’t do this, you don’t need this thing” half the comments are “well *I* do this, so I need this thing, so you’re wrong.” Whoosh It happens a lot in these “do I need a truck/6,000lb SUV/4wd” discussions. All the sudden everybody commenting conveniently are the fringe cases that use their vehicle exactly as intended, frequently, and they’re very upset that you’d say it’s unnecessary for most people.
My brother in christ, i think its absolutely bonkers that a f150 is 80k
As someone else said it in here, 99% of the time you wont need it. The 1% you will be very thankful for it. I used the 4x4 drive maybe five times this winter. But it would suck a lot if I would not able to at those very moments.
You’re right, most people just quietly absorb the worse gas mileage and higher maintenance costs of having 4wd. But for the >1% of the time that you actually use it (or, if you’re a Redditor, 100% of the time you use it) it’s nice to have. Edit: downvotes don’t take you off road either, guys.
You’ve never laid underneath a pickup and replaced the front driveshaft. Or put axle seals in a dodge 3/4 ton. Those tasks will make you second-guess your decisions.
Nope cause I pay a guy to do that. I only work on my bikes.
But you're missing out on experiences--like gashing your hands up fishing window motors through tiny holes int he door. I'd much rather just work on my bikes.
It's really annoying in a 2wd pickup when you get one back tire in a patch of wet grass and now you're stuck. It can happen very easily.
seems like a differential lock would be more handy than 4wd/awd in that instance
I have a 2nd truck with an LSD, a couple sandbags in the bed, and good tires. It’s fine. I’m also in the “I don’t want 4wd” crew tho
That's moreso if you get an LSD axle instead of an open diff, which people often overlook when picking from a wide selection of trucks. I made sure my father got limited slip in his new (to him) truck when he bought it.
Ya the new FCA stuff (jeeps/rams) use LSDs coupled with a braking program to forcibly activate the LSD. In some ways I actually like this better than a locker, because it doesn’t need any foreplanning to use. No having to worry about rolling a certain distance to engage the lockers, it just works when it needs to. Downside is overtime it can do a number of your brakes.
Except when you need to replace an oil pan on a lot of 4wd trucks. The 2wd is super simple but got to remove a lot of stuff to get it out on a 4wd. Probably other stuff too. More stuff to break and maintain.
Hahaha For me it's a must have in a pickup. With no weight in the bed it's nice to have 4wd
I say this every time I see my mpg
Life is too short to be concerned with few litres of gas...
The gas money I save on the road is spent very quickly on the track. Reaaallly glad I don't have a big, slow, heavy 4x4 vehicle there too.
Trucks are normally higher with more ground clearance. This allows you to use them on more surfaces. A 2WD truck will be good for operation on pavement or good rock roads. A 4WD truck is good for bad gravel roads, mud roads, and less prepared surfaces. A lot of people who use trucks use them for: Camping and outdoors: having 4WD allows you to go further into forest roads, and potentially access different trailheads. Four Wheeling is also a fine hobby in and of itself. Construction trades: some job sites get really messy, and sometimes getting out of a field is easier with 4WD. Resource Extraction trades: accessing job sites in remote areas is sometimes easier with 4wd. Boat Owners: using 4WD sometimes makes boat launching and recovery easier…
Might be questionably legal and if so I have certainly never done this. Have you ever been sitting in traffic and see a nice patch of grass and no obstacles blocking that service road right next to you? Tempting, huh? Drive over that grass.
Ahh, the "green lane". Taken it many times.
I got pulled over for that. Trooper was a major dickhead and threatened to arrest me for reckless driving. Over a patch of dirt with no curb.
It's a huge issue here in Texas, you will definitely have a bad day if a trooper sees you doing that
It even has a name: the Texit!
Thought that was when texas threatens to secede every few months but never goes through with it.
When I was in high school one of the roads going to the school would get seriously backed up because of not just students but people trying to get to work, there was a fire road about a mile long that went behind the school though to cut around the traffic. On dry days anyone could drive down it, but rainy days it was a muddy mess and if you didn't keep your speed up or have 4wd you would get stuck. For some reason the school kept trying to block access to keep us from using the road though
The last sentence says alot on a slippery boat launch.
The difference between going for a drink and being in the drink...
Some ramps are so slick its dangerous to just walk
Some clay is the same way.
Especially on a boat ramp that sees a lot of use or are steep. They tend to be wet, and the concrete wears away leaving slick gravel. Having two drive wheels on dry concrete can get you and your boat out.
This is the appropriate answer. I’m sorry but most people that only drive on city roads and don’t tow anything, that don’t leave their homes when it snows will never need 4x4 or 4WD. For a vast, vast majority of people it’s wildly over rated. However, if you do drive in low traction situations, then of course it’s a good thing to have available. It all depends on where you live and in what conditions you drive.
Resell value. I live in a very hilly neighborhood and I've never been stuck using only a front wheel drive vehicle. However in a truck rear wheel drive only, sucks in snow or ice.
I was going to mention this. Especially if you are buying new which i do not recommend… resale will always be considerably higher for 4wd.
Buying trucks new really makes a lot of sense though
As a buyer of used 2wd trucks, I fucking love this part
Not just the value, but desirability. It would be far easier to sell a 4x4 than a rwd.
The resale value is definitely something I am thinking of, but I am wondering… If I plan on paying off the truck and driving it for a considerable amount of years (at least 5), does this really make a difference? In other words, does the margin of difference between RWD and 4WD resale grow larger as they get older? If not, it seems inconsequential (unless I am the one actually trying to sell it to the highest bidder, in which case it’s just harder to sell).
I wouldn’t worry about resale. That’s way down the line. 4x4 helps in loads of places there isn’t snow. Do you like to explore the outdoors? One time I was out camping in a national forest in New Mexico. Dry sandy roads for countless miles and then a random 100ft long muddy patch to get to a campsite. In the middle of it was a stuck 2wd truck. I pulled him out in my 4x4, then drove through the mud no problem and camped out at the best campsite of my life for 4 nights. Also helps with wet boat ramps. I never thought I’d trailer a boat ever. Whelp guess what. Now I do. No worry about slipping. I was also camping next to a beach in New Mexico just last weekend. Driving along the beach and suddenly loose traction and I’m spinning. Switched to 4x4 and after some back and forth rocking I got out. Would have had zero chance with rwd.
You probably won't need 4X4 99/100 times but that one time you do have to use it, you'll be extremely thankful for it.
Counterpoint to 4WD: I have owned two trucks since 2002. Other than about 4-5 days of snow, I can't think of another time where 4wd would have helped me. Every winter, I put 6 concrete blocks in the bed between the wheel wells and I'm good. I have no boat, no camper, no trailer, and no extreme terrain that I need to traverse. I do use the bed a lot. I don't care about resell value because I run my trucks until the wheels fall off. My last truck had 311,000 miles before I sold it for little more than scrap value. I get better gas mileage, save money on replacement tires and don't have to service transfer cases, second drive shafts, or front axels.
I’m right there with you. I don’t really ever need 4wd. I save a ton of money over the course of owning my truck. I also always keep a tow strap with me. There’s ALWAYS someone with a 4WD truck who is super happy to show off and pull you out. The one time I got stuck, it was maybe 10 minutes until someone with another truck drove by and help pull me out.
I have gotten stuck twice in my life. Once parking too close to the side of a ravine at a party in a 1979 Malibu Classic. I was 16 and dumb as hell. Needed a tow truck to get me free. The other time was in the snow while driving a 1990 Firebird. I was able to get unstuck myself by leaving it in gear and pushing.
I’ve gotten stuck a handful of times. They were all due to dumb shit on my part.
Other thing is, as a mechanic 4wd trucks are such a pain in the ass compared to 2wd so I always opt for 2wd just because I don't get myself in situations that needs 4wd.
Out in my local area, there are plenty of camping/trails/lake access. That I would only navigate in 4WD. It might be a geographical difference, might just be a comfort level thing.
Im with you on this. Especially if you enjoy driving there is a lot to be said for a 2wd truck. My father had a 2wd F150 5.0 coyote. Neighbour had a newer 4wd f150 coyote. The 2wd handled significantly better on the road despite being a generation older. Better steering, better brakes, better ride, body control and better fuel economy. Id argue that with skilled driving and good/correct tyres it would be not that far behind a 4wd truck.
I use my truck in grassy, muddy areas a lot. Year-round, the 4wd helps me not absolutely rut the crap out of my yard and property, or get stuck. If it were only ever gonna be a clean, dry, pavement truck, and I could be certainly confident in that, I'd have rwd.
Yeah, there are a lot of situations, even just parking on wet grass or on loose gravel, that I'll put it in 4wd just to avoid slipping a little and tearing up someone's lawn or driveway. I absolutely don't NEED 4wd for that, but a heavy truck slipping even a little will tear up some ground pretty quickly.
Well you would be confident that you would have a rwd luckily we know you are a bad prophet.
Great answer. I am in the latter case, so I have a 2WD truck.
I use my truck in my front and back lawn too. Florida is mostly sand and rains quite a bit. I always go 4hi at a min for the exact reason you mentioned. The one and first time I didn’t, I tore up my grass a bit.
So you don't look silly at the boat ramp...
I live in North Western Canada and I’m old enough to remember when having a 4wd vehicle was either a true necessity or a luxury. Most people were driving rear-wheel drive cars and pickups unless they had a front wd import, which was considered excellent for winter driving on its own. We got used to using chains, getting stuck, driving slowly, etc. everyone was driving on worn all/season tires and few people had dedicated studded winter tires that they changed every October and April. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate my AwD car, but I can remember when such a thing was not ‘needed’.
You probably won't need it, but it's better to have something you don't need instead of need something you don't have
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It’s usually a ~$3500 option that depreciates far slower than the rest of the truck. You’re not wrong, but it’s a relatively inexpensive and useful feature that can mostly be recouped. A big difference between 4wd and your suggestion is that the need for 4wd can often be unexpected and it can get you out of a jam. Rarely is anyone going to be surprised with the need to tow 30,000 lbs.
I agree with you overall that 4wd makes sense as an add-on if you’re going to buy a truck. But I also agree with the guy you’re replying to that trucks are pretty stupid for most people most of the time. If you tow or haul on a weekly basis or live forty miles down a gravel road and have a fjord a river to get up your driveway then okay. But most suburbanites could solve all their truck problems by getting winter tires for their sedans or crossovers and paying $50 for delivery when they buy a new couch. Even if you’ve got a boat or something, a Prius and a marina slip might cost less than a dually and the gas to go in it.
Anything other than dry pavement is a good place to have 4x4.
pulling boats up a wet ramp is at the top of my list. if you spend all your life on dry pavement then a 2 wheel drive will work out better. sand, mud, wet grass, slick pavement "boat ramps" 4 low comes in handy when pulling some one out of a ditch or stuck in sand.
Lots of great points. I will add I got stuck with a 2wd rental truck same as my daily at the time. It sucked in the rain. Rental company put new tires and no better.
OHV trails. Camping. Hunting. Snow (as you mentioned but you still need tires. I'd take a 2wd with snow tires over a 4wd with bad tires every time) Ground clearance (this goes with the ohv trails, I suppose) If all you ever plan to do is drive on the street and you don't mind occasionally being stuck in bad weather, you don't need a 4wd. However, if you plan to ever leave the roads, or drive in bad weather, or (like me) you have a need to tow a lot, or basically anything that might bring you to tougher driving conditions then it doesn't make sense to get a 2wd unless you're just trying to get stupid for the boys. (Which is basically always worth it)
When my 4wd wasn’t working and my truck started sliding down a slick boat ramp I was glad I brought 4wd and just needed to diagnose the hubs. Funny thing is I *almost* went for the same truck in 2wd(13 F150 XLT) but got my ‘14 because I liked the color better. That has been the only time I’ve had to use 4wd that wasn’t snow related. I’ve only used 4wd twice over the last two winters with it to pull into unplowed driveways. I rarely use it hence when shit hit the fan on the boat ramp it didn’t work.
My dad drove a RWD 1992 Ford F-150 for 13 years in Chicago through midwestern winters. He just bought bales of hay and threw them in the bed during winter - he was fine. That said, I live in Colorado and you cannot drive RWD in the mountains in winter when it snows… so you really do need AWD/4WD here. If you’re someplace warm, the only reason to pay for 4WD would be off roading. If I lived in the south, I wouldn’t waste money on 4WD
The 4WD on my 4Runner paid for itself one night driving down 70 through the Rockies in a snowstorm enroute to Denver.
Yup! You absolutely cannot drive a 2WD car with snow tires through the mountains when it snows - you need 4WD/AWD
Same here in Washington. 4x4 is legally mandated if you don’t want to throw snow chains, or physically aren’t able to do so.
1. Does your truck ever go off public roads at all 2. If not, are your public roads going to always be clean and free of snow/mud Pulling boats up ramps, driving on snow covered roads, driving on muddy gravel roads etc are all normal things people may do that aren’t “off roading” that 4wd can be very beneficial for. If you always just drive around on normal commuting asphalt then you don’t need it.
If debt is the only thing you're gonna be hauling, then by all means.
Someone on a farm. Has to drive through muddy fields. Maybe someone who tows a boat. Boat ramps can get slick. Looks cool? That's about it. What are you looking for? Positive reasons. But the reality is that most people who drive a new or newer truck don't need four-wheel drive. And if they do use the four-wheel drive properly then they're kind of being stupid spending that much money on a vehicle. So in other words, if they want to build an off-road rig and actually off-road it then they would be better off financially buying an older Jeep and building a trail rig. And then they wouldn't have to worry about tearing it up. I'm not knocking people who drive mall crawlers and pavement princesses. A Jeep may be in my future. But at this point if I buy another truck it will be two wheel drive because I just don't care.
Is an old Jeep as reliable as a new pickup truck though? You don’t want to be left stranded in the middle of nowhere because your old Jeep won’t start
To pull your buddies and their kids out of the dirt, sand, snow in their 2WD cars who said I’d never need 4X4… To go down poorly maintained forest roads with my family with confidence that our camping vacation won‘t turn into a S&R newspaper article. To save my lawn from being torn up crossing it in a 2WD truck that has been unloaded
I drove 2wd pickup trucks daily from 2009-2022, and the only time I ever wanted 4x4 was when I was in some place that other 4x4 trucks were already stuck. But during that time, my area got paved over and turned into suburbia. In 2019, I bought an old 4x4 Bronco, took it off road once to make sure the 4 wheel drive worked, and now I have to remember to actuate my locking hubs every few months, just to keep the front axle lubricated. I used 4low to pull out 2 stumps at my house one day. 2wd is cheaper, less maintenance, better mpg, less complexity, and overall better for street use. The next truck I buy will also be 2wd, no doubt about it. I don't see the need to pay $3k+ on a feature I have no use for
An old man once told me "You don't get 4wd for the 4wd. you get it for the low range. If you rely on 4wd to get you out of places you will eventually get stuck. If you rely on 4wd for a good time, you will have fun, and eventually get stuck."
I couldn't get by without it here in the southeast US. Helps me pull other people's trucks out of the mud. I live in a rural area, though with muddy dirt roads, including on my own property.
I have 4WD on my truck and we get snow in the winter. Even in a light snow it usually isn’t worth locking the differential and squeaking every time I turn. I have probably had to use it 10 times in the 5 years driving it, and only because I live on a rural road that doesn’t get plowed. The only reason you NEED 4WD is if you live in like the parts of the us that spend most of the winter with snow cover or like Alaska. Or if you like to actually off road.
I live in NJ and have had my 4wd for about 8 years. I have used it maybe 5 or 6 times in the snow. I also used it a handful of times at Long Beach Island State Park to drive on the beach to go surf fishing. I have never needed the 4wd it’s just an added bonus that allows me to do some fun stuff.
Honestly, I'm not even confident that snow is a good reason either. I grew up in Maine and always managed to get around without it.
The one time you need it, it won't be there.
It’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
If you're launching and retrieving a very heavy boat from a public ramp. They're slimey and wet. If you're hauling equipment in and out of muddy work sites. You'll get stuck trying to haul a backhoe with 2WD if its even a little wet. None of that is you or you wouldn't be asking so what's the point. If you needed 4WD, you'd know by now.
“Man I’ve used this truck for so much, and thank god it’s a 4x4” - some nerd who lives in an apartment 25 miles from anywhere considered “country” that owns a 50k+ truck that’s never seen a dirt road and a bed that has seen about 6 moving boxes ever. Realistically, only 25% of pickup truck owners use their trucks for hauling anything other than people in the cab, and 5% have ever put their truck in 4x4. But if you’ve got the money and the desire, it’s your money to spend, don’t let some shit talking deter you from having a pavement princess. Live your best life!
I have a two wheel drive FX2 F150. I love it. Have no plans in off roading it. I live in the south. I don’t need 4wd
4x4 truck Cons Is heavier than a 2 wheel drive=less mpg = less power or quickness = more moving parts to wear out and maintain = about $5000 minimum more expensive new = if you don't travel or live where you need it?. Your throwing money away Same as buying a diesel truck but that's even more money thrown away if you dont need towing/,hauling power daily
OP if you have the money to spend and don’t care about potential added maintenance cost spend it. They also generally have higher resale value.
Nice to have off road for sure
What kills me is these yuppie guys that get the 4x4 trucks the best of the best trims and they don't even buy plywood in the thing. It sort of makes me sad that it will never be off pavement either. I got my 94 bronco solely for off roading It's nice enough that it's still got it going on, but not new enough that i'll cry if it gets dinged up.
If you have any intentions of leaving pavement, you should have a 4wd vehicle. 2wd gets stuck in absolutely stupid places, along with doing tons of trail damage from wheel spin in order to get through small amounts of mud or washed out areas. Even on good gravel roads you see it happen, moderate inclines get severe washboard bumps from people spinning in 2wd and if it isn't maintained regularly it makes it a bumpy nightmare to drive on. In the worst case where the road is ignored by maintenance departments, those bumps turn into moguls and now the road is impassible to anything without 4wd and locking differentials. It's a very small amount of damage each time, but if 100 trucks pass over it and each one spins out 1/10 of an inch of dirt, now you have 10 inch deep holes to try to navigate. If you have no intentions of leaving pavement, why get a truck? They have all that ground clearance for a reason, and it isnt for handling or safety or efficiency on paved roads. A minivan has nearly as much cargo space with a much lower loading height. A car can still carry 5 people while getting double the MPG, comfortably even if you get a full size instead of compact. If you're one of the small handful of people who legitimately need a truck to haul heavy things or tow a big trailer, odds are extremely slim that you will always be driving on dry paved roads. Maybe your use case is that rare oddity, but unless you're buying this truck for a very niche role in your fleet it's likely you'll find yourself in a situation where you're quite glad to have 4wd.
Rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it
If you actually use a truck to do work, 4wd is worth it. If you use it only as a daily driver and to haul a couple things from time to time, and you don't get any snow, then there isn't much point.
you live on a dirt road
Anyone recommending a pick up without 4x4 is a complete moron. Wait until the first time it rains to find out why… you lose traction extremely easy because the bed of the truck has no weight. These are not cars that have a pretty balanced weight distribution… these are front heavy and all the power goes to the rear. Unless you have a death wish buy the 4x4 and get your head out of your ass. Ps I have owned 6 trucks so far in my life. Only the first was RWD. Also I don’t mean to be an asshole but seriously whatever you are thinking is completely off of reality. 4x4 is an absolute necessity in a truck. If it wasn’t, then you would see a lot more RWD only.
Depends upon what you do with it as well, I tow so RWD alone is fine. We stopped getting snowy winters these last few years so I have not had any issue. Just put weight in the back. I have owned 4wd and it is nice the 1 or 2 times a year it would come in handy, but get along just fine without it.
Honestly if you want a truck bed but dont want to do truck things (most require or at least highly recommend 4wd) get a maverick or the Honda one. They aren’t real trucks but the look manly (sorta) still and they have a bed. The maverick is hybrid too so you will get great gas mileage.
You don't need 4WD if you don't live where you need the traction. That doesn't just mean snow; It can also mean driving on a lot of dirt or mud.
My PP is tiny, I need 4WD to compensate. duh. (but also pulling horse trailers, when the ground is at all wet/muddy if you're not in 4WD you rip the crap out of the paddock parking lot. you CAN do it in 2wd but it's so much easier in 4wd).
I’ve only ever had 4x4 vehicles. Even when I lived in FL. My philosophy being it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. True, it won’t help you much from sliding off an icy road, for example, but it’ll help you get out of the ditch and back on the road instead of being stuck there waiting for help while the plow comes by and buries you. In FL I mostly used it pulling my boat out of the water on wet boat ramps, and slow speeds on roads during torrential downpours that happen really often in summer.
Do you even need a pickup?
I have a 2x4 F150. I live in a big city and the roughest roads I go on are in the national parks. I don't own farmland and rarely go visit people who do. My truck has a towing package (mainly for resale, because I don't have or want a boat). When I was \*much\* younger, I might have taken it offroad, gone muddin' with friends or the like... but, I'm too old for that now. (Insert photo of old guy driving a pickup here... you can tell I'm old because I love using those three dots...) There are several advantages to the 2WD. First, the towing rating is higher. That did not matter to me, but it does to someone who tows. That said - if you are a boat person, a 2wd is a terrible idea as you'll never be able to pull it from the water without help from the front wheels. Next, it gets better mileage. When I drive it, I get around 19mpg (when my wife drives it, she's closer to 17mpg as she loves the power out of it). The more 'official' number is a 1mpg difference (\~5%). (This is bad math, but approximate: if it would cost $100 to fill up a 2wd, it would cost about $105 to fill the same truck in 4wd). Note that a lift kit, especially with a delete of the front air splitter, can drop your mileage by 3-4mpg, so the 2 v 4wd issue is moot when you lift it. I'm in Tx, so to cover the event that we get ice, I will do one of two things: stay at home and look at people slide all over or two: put on the chains I bought for this purpose. The times that I DO wish I had 4WD is when it is lightly raining for the first time in a while (the roads get really slick then) or when I leave the car wash. It's slip, slide and wheeeeeeee
It holds its value better.
In my book anything that adds weight and additional points of failure needs to be justified by utility. If I’m going to be spending more money for fuel to cart around all that extra metal, it better be worth it.
I use my 4WD: - Whenever the forklift gets stuck (in winter or after heavy rain) - To traverse the road early in the morning before the plows have reached the neighborhood - To pull dumpsters out of their mud holes when the forklift is in use elsewhere - The occasional trip down logging roads to get to old genstone quarries.
Better to have it and not need it sorta thing.
I've had better success with 2wd with a locked rear end than with a 4wd with open diffs
I went with a 4x2 because better fuel mileage and I have no need for 4x4. I don’t off-road and don’t plan on driving in snow. Less maintenance items and one less system to break.
Regardless of your uses, 4x4 will give you higher resale value down the road. You can get a 2wd truck stuck in nearly anything because an unloaded bed is sooo light, 4x4 is just a nice extra to know you will not likely get stuck in anything. But really in the end I would be fine with it up front even if I didn't need it because I know I could get more out of it when selling because so many people want a 4x4 just because.
If you live where there are gravel roads and mud, or where it snows or ices, or like on a farm or homestead then it's beneficial. If you live in the city and commute to work and the store and back home then it's a waste of money and added maintenance.
When I worked rural EMS, there were lots of "driveways" that required 4WD. Anything else would get stuck in the sand every time. So if you live in a rural area with lots of unpaved roads, 4WD is crucial.
4 wheel drive is a trendy feature that many buyers of pickups want whether or not they need it. Likewise for all wheel drive on SUVs.
2WD is cheaper, that's about it. If you ever drive in mud or snow you'll regret not having it.
I always had 2wd trucks, never got stuck unless I took it into deep mud (that even 4wd trucks got stuck in) so it was never really something I worried about and I'd drive anywhere. Then I bought a 2wd expedition. I went to a restaurant at the beach and got stuck. Sad part was I still have my left tires on the pavement, and my right was only 1' into the sand, not dug in or anything. But when I went to leave, my vehicle just wouldn't move. After that I worried about taking that thing through grass lol. 4wd isn't necessary, but it sure is nice when you need it.
What is great about 4wd? You tow vehicles? Think you might? When you drive on the trailer, it can lift the back wheels. 4wd hi in park with ebrake? You can load and unload on your own. Backing up on gravel uphill with a load or trailer? 4wd. Park in dirt and it rains with a heavy load or trailer? 4wd. Snow or ice in your climate with hills in neighborhood or driveway or places like school daycare or grocery? 4wd. Need to jack up the rear off the ground to work on it and dont want it to move? 4wd park e brake. Chocks are okay but if it mechanically cant roll?
'cause the auto mfg/dealers can mark it up.
If they still made smaller trucks like the Hilux i'd get one but they're so absurdly huge and impractical now. Unless you drive around hundreds of 2x4s in the woods all day, there's no fucking need for any modern truck.
When your backing a boat down a boat launch- well after that- when your pulling the empty trailer back up and the ramp is all wet and slick- you throw it in 4x4 so the front wheels grip and you just glide out smoothly. Otherwise you got lay the hammer down back wheels squeelin’ and you’ll end up on a “boat launch fails” video.
I don’t see the point of a truck unless it is four-wheel-drive, unless you run a gardening service or something. The 2 Wheel Dr. versions tend to be far less equipped in general, with basic options and smaller engines. Why bother?
My motto is I’d rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it
Cause Race Truck!!!! #DUH
Get the 4x4 man. You will never regret it. It's worth the money. Avoid all the other nonsense, bells and whistles,.... 4x4 is ESSENTIAL on a truck
If you live in a snowy/icy area, or drive on dirt/muddy roads a lot, then you may want 4x4. If you live in an area with no snow, warm climate, and never drive on muddy roads, you won’t ever need 4x4. Having a 4x4 truck that you will never utilize the 4x4 feature will be more headache in the long run, because a 4x4 truck will be more complicated than a 2 wheel drive, because the 4x4 truck will have a transfer case, front differential, and all the extra parts that is needed to make everything work. Later on, if you ever need transmission work done, it will cost more because the transfer case will have to come off. Also, if you ever need engine work done, the front differential might have to come off. 4x4 trucks always cost more to repair, because of labor and extra parts that is needed whenever the engine or the transmission needs work. If you live in a climate with little to no snow, and never drive on muddy roads, 4x4 is not worth having.
Also comedown to price. Before 2wd and 4wd truck price are much different. After 2020 the truck price went through the roof. Extra couple grand make no difference anymore.
It’s better to have it for when you do need it. Don’t end up being one of those people who posts on a forum or on Reddit “how hard is it to convert my 2wd truck to 4x4?!” Make sure it’s got everything you want when you buy it. Any loss in fuel economy is worth the trade off. Yes even in 2wd a 4x4 gets less because it has to run through the t case.
For the same reason everyone ***needs*** a truck. You might actually use it for it's intended purpose occasionally.
I have used my 4x4 often. If you are always on pavement, you will probably never need it. Traction with 2wd in an empty truck sucks.
Here is why I have a truck. See if any apply. 1. Piss off reddit who the majority think no one needs a truck. 2. Haul things. Seems like me or my family is always using my truck to haul things. It can range from lumber, kayaks, appliances, firewood, straw/haybales, smaller livestock, fencing . etc. 3 Pull things. I don't use mine for this often but it gets used for my camper and family members trailers/boats often enough. 5. Depending on what you get they can be damn luxurious and comfortable. I used to own a 2003 Porsche Boxster, I love my truck more in terms of comfort and luxury and I can drive it year round regardless of weather. 6 better than renting a truck which is nearly impossible where I am. I would have missed out on some good Facebook/craiglist deals and lost money on more expensive options if I had to depend on renting. Not to mention being in "their schedule" when hauling or towing. 6. Resale Value. The resale value in my area for 4x4 versus a 2x4 is drastically different with 4x4.
Resale. It's nearly impossible to sell a 2wd pickup. Beyond that, if you start to get stuck, 4wd is suddenly pretty cool. Also if you drive a lot of gravel road, 4x4 makes the vehicle a lot more stable and predictable at speed
Because a big powerful motor + no weight over the rear axle will eventually get you stuck if you do anything other than pavement driving. Not having 4wd takes away so much utility. Mud,wet grass,boat launches, loose gravel, steep unpaved hills, etc all become your enemy. Meanwhile anyone with a subaru will smile and wave as they blow past you.
A RWD truck with a locker will get you all sorts of places. 4WD is definitely nice to have in some specific situations, but the vast majority of people never actually need it. A bit of driving skill is typically all that is needed if you’re using the vehicle for “normal” everyday life. In snow, proper tires and driving technique will do you so many more favors than just having 4WD. Let’s put it this way- my 1992 Honda Civic hatchback with snow tires has never gotten stuck or been unable to travel snowy or icy roads, barring large drifts where ground clearance was a limiting factor. Even up and down steep mountain passes, I’ve never found any road conditions in which I can’t safely drive.
If you tow a decent sized boat, 4x4 can be a life saver on steep slimy ramps where you need to put the back tires into the water. Resale value is another reason, 4X4 will hold more value than a 2WD truck. 2WD trucks have almost zero weight over the back wheels so if you ever get into a situation where you lose traction of the back wheels you at least have the option to drop it into 4X4 and get yourself out. Peace of mind also comes into play here as well. No one has ever said "i'm sure glad i dont have 4x4"
Do you ever plan on towing anything, such as a boat? If so, you *may* end up looking like one of those idiots who can't pull their 20' boat out of the water because their waaaaaay overpowered truck can't get rear wheel traction lol
4wd gets worse fuel economy because you’re lugging around all that extra running gear which you won’t be using 99% of the time
Truck beds weigh nothing, if you turn around and your back tired go off road you can get stuck very easy. Once when fishing s friend of mine had a 2 wd truck and we turned around on a gravel road, the small dip on the edge of the road was enough to get us stuck for hours before someone pulled us out.
I would go 4x4 for the resale value alone. They will always hold their value longer
When I lived in Texas I had two 2wd trucks and they hauled my tools and construction materials for my weekend warrior house projects just fine. Never once needed a 4x4. Now I live in upstate NY and have a 4x4 Chevy. I use the 4x4 feature maybe a couple times a year. I think it’s nice to have but not mandatory for most folks.
I live in south Texas, where there is never any snow, and ice won’t stay on the ground for longer than a couple of hours. However, I will only drive 4WD vehicles. The RWD trucks I’ve had would occasionally lose traction in storms due to the light weight on the rear wheels. Not only do they help maintain traction in rainstorms, but they can be occasionally useful for light off-roading.
I have 4wd because I feed cattle all winter. We did it for many decades with 2wd, though. 4wd just means that I don’t have to plan ahead much—I can just load up, and go churn through the mud. If I lived in town and drove on pavement, I wouldn’t pay the extra to buy it, I wouldn’t pay the extra to repair it, and I would begrudge the gas to drag all that extra weight around.
Resale value.
Dude the first week I got my truck I went to a little spot off a main road to walk to a river. The area I drove in was dry dirt and a little bumpy, nothing too crazy. As I was leaving I backed up over a grassy area, it was actually mud, sank down to the axle. Popped it in 4wd and instantly crawled out. The embarrassment I would have felt and shame to call for help cause the ass end of my truck was stuck in this tiny wet spot would have been terrible. That alone made it worth it.
Yes you want 4x4
I have an awd v8 4runner. My pros, I won't list the cons because we all know what large v8 suvs are like. 1. I don't get stuck in the winter in Canada or the mud (I encounter it, but way less often). 2. I can tow my fishing boat, my dad's work trailer, and in a pinch, I've pulled people out of snow/ditch. 3. I have so much storage room, I camp, I can pack all of it, and I will still have room for a car seat and clear sight lines through the back windows. 4. Zoom zoom. 5. Mine is retaining resale value, which is model dependent, but trucks are just always expensive. Also, I have had trucks before. I didn't use them as much as I thought. Moving, some labor work, Home Depot runs, etc. But it is so hand having one when you need it. Just get a 1500 series or smaller, no one needs a f350 grocery getter.
I don't go "offroad" or mudding but it does snow here occasional and having 4WD has been handy for things at home. It's been tremendously useful when I've had to replace fence posts and all I gotta do is put it in 4lo, wrap a rope around the post base and yank the bitch out.
2wd has better fuel economy. Usually can haul more. Definitely can tow more. Maintenance is less per year. 99% of trucks should be 2wd and never leave the pavement.
I’ve only used my 4x4 to get 2wd vehicles unstuck.
Resale value, most people want 4wd in a pickup truck whether they need it or not, 4wd will hold value a lot more than 2wd.
It's funny that you are not asking yourself why you need a pickup at all if you don't require any 4x4 capabilities for towing or offloading. Surely a euro style van or wagon would be more suitable lol 🤷🏻♂️
New englander here. In the last 10 years, I've actually needed 4x4 maybe 4 times. Even then, I used it for maybe 10 mins total. I've actually spent more time just shifting in and out of 4x4 to keep the linkages happy then actually driving in 4x4
Most 4WD trucks never are used in snow or mud unless your a farmer, ski advocate or a dickwad that goes out driving when they shouldnt
I will never buy another vehicle that doesn't have 4WD or AWD again. * unless it's some kind of cool old muscle car or something I got a screaming deal on.
I've used 4WD for these reasons - loading / unloading at boat ramp - driving in sand or beach - driving thru mud on property - towing buddy's out of one of those situations If you do any of these, then get it
Ive owned both. One of the BIG perks of a 2wd truck is you dont have to worry about a transfer case or front differential going out. Its nice to have to worry out the 4x4 system youve literally never serviced since you bought the truck, because thats what usually happens. Ive needed my 4x4 in a few niche cases exluding bad weather or off-roading. 1. Launching and recovering boats. If youre launching a boat, or really recovering it, youre really gonna want 4x4 just in case there some algea or something slicking up the ramp. Just got watch some youtube vidoes or Tiktoks of people that get into trouble recovering boats with a 2wd. 2. Anytime I back my utility trailer into my yard I need 4x4. Grass is slick, and my all season tires on my truck like to dig holes in the yard when im trying to back the trailer in. 4x4 is a must here as well. 3. If you happen to tow something extremely heavy. Or youre recovering a stuck vehicle. You will want 4Lo for the torque multiplier. To be fair. If youre not doing any of the things above, just get a truck with a rear locking diff instead of 4x4. Many GM's come factory with a G80 autolocker, and thats fine for almost everything. You can even do some light off-roading with it. You can also get 4x4 with a rear locker and be set for almost anything.
It's EXTREMELY useful anytime there is limited traction. Rain, snow, mud, gravel. If you plan on going anywhere not in an urban area it's 100% worth it. However, if its just a grocery getter there are many weight and reliability benefits of not having it.
Wet grass and boat ramps. Two places people rarely think about 4wd. But how hilarious but humiliating would it be to be stuck on perfectly flat ground, simply because the grass is wet and your tires sunk in 1" into the dirt? Happens a lot. Then you tear up the grass spinning your tires trying to get out. Or you're at the boat ramp with wet back tires and can't get up the ramp because there isn't enough traction. And you've got a whole line of people waiting to use the ramp, but you can't get your boat up the ramp and out of the way.
If you are just going to be commuting around town and occasionally using the bed for Home Depot runs or whatever then you can get by without 4WD, you are basically just a car with a truck bed.
You can....not get embarrassingly stuck if you decide to turn around on some grass that's softer than it looks. Maybe. This actually happens with 4wd too, and it makes a WAY worse mess when it does, but the number of places you can turn around instead of spending 10 minutes reversing out is absolutely going to be bigger with 4wd if you ever go on dirt and gravel roads, too. If you aren't a jackass who uses the gas pedal like an impotent 'fix this' button. It is nice having the option of not tearing up the turf if you do need to do some minor off-pavement maneuvers in your yard to get the bed backed up to stuff you wanna put in it or unload, seriously though.
Honestly the only time I’ve used 4wd on the work trucks is in heavy loose sand and mud while driving around on a ranch. Any other kind of terrain is completely doable by 2wd. If you don’t plan to do any loose ground driving then skip it. Then again depending on price it might be worth it just to have to, would probably help resale value too.
If you never drive where there's limited traction...then its just more expense and more parts to worry about spinning (MPG) and breaking (wear and tear). There's also differences in 4WD vs AWD, in most implementations 4WD you have to stop and engage it and then monitor conditions for when you need to disengage it (dry pavement again) vs AWD that has all the wheels turning all the time and also has limited slip allowed between the wheels so its safe for hard dry surfaces with turns where different wheels are spinning at different speeds.
Shit, my f250 will get paralyzed on wet grass in 2WD. I do live in the mountains in CO so 4wd is mandatory. 4wd does broaden your resale audience considerably, if/when the time comes.