Is it worth it?

[BoarderDave]

Hey everyone.. So I've found that Im having a bit of a run trying to find a decent 4x4 full size in the low price range I have allotted for a second vehicle, so Im considering the 2WD option as they tend to run a little less costly. :aniteef:

But I've never owned a 2WD truck.. So I ask you 2WD enthusiasts, can you still thoroughly enjoy some offroading in a 2WD truck as one could do in 4WD?

I dont do anything very crazy, but I did enjoy some occasional mud slingin, dunes, and trips to the snow for snowboarding. Any helpful advice? Is a 2WD going to work just as well for me?

Sorry if you think its a lame question. But I figured I'd ask since I've never owned a 2WD truck.

:D :D

[xxdabroxx]

i haven't taken mine to the dunes yet, but it works perfect in the local river bed. its coarser sand, but i didn't even air down my tires.

[sortasuave]

Long story short, A 4x4 will always be able to get in and out of situations a 4X2 can't. That being said, I think a lot of your success depends on how you outfit the truck. For example, my 90 GMC, does not do well on ice or snow. I attribute most of that to the fact that it has highway tires on it, which for my use and where I live are "the best". However, if I moved to a place that had more inclement weather, I'd be inclined to put a more aggressive of a tire on it and load the bed with some weight to get around better.

[BoarderDave]

Good point. That was another thing I was thinking. It probably depends on the setup you put on it. :D Thanks for the input so far.

[chevycoonazz]

Honestly if I could have gotten a 4x4 I would have but it was either get a new crew cab 2wd or an obs z71. I got the new truck because I figure i could still lift it and make it very capable and when i absolutely NEED 4wd i'll use my 4 wheeler. I've been through a lot of things that people betted me i couldn't make it through. I've also had to pull out 2 4wd trucks before and plenty of other cars and trucks. My friends always call me first when they're stuck because somehow i just power my way out of evrything. Right now I have 5 inches of lift and 33 in all terrains.

sorry so long but I just wanted to help as much as i could. haha

[BoarderDave]

haha. No, that wasnt too long. No worries.

Thanks for the info. I think Im still just going to keep an open eye to either 2WD or 4WD.. whatever I feel is a good deal when I come across one that I cant live without. :)

Any more info is helpful. :D

[Joseph K]

A lifted 2wd with some good mud terrains, regear, and a good locker in the rear can make it through a lot of stuff... you'd be surprised.

[chevyspeed]

And Pre-runners are just really cool :lol:

[the moose]

And Pre-runners are just really cool :lol:

I second that , prerunner style is so sexy...

im also in a similar bind with picking a vehicle to replace my GTO...

what kind of mileage are you guys on 33-35s getting out of your trucks ?

[mikeyman]

about 14 mixed highway/city, with 33's and 4.3l

[the moose]

how is it driving with the 4.3? I guess youre still on stock gearing also?

[mikeyman]

4.10's actually, seems to wander between OD and 4th alot on the highway but its not a big deal, pulls/tows what i need to just fine. . eventually i will be getting 315's (34-35's) and 4.56's.

[K5blazerguy]

4 wheel drive is always a great thing to have to pull yourself out of a pickle...i used to have a K5 that could go anywhere, and when it came to buying a new truck, i had to get the most for my money...i needed an extended cab longbed truck, and the 2wd's were a hell of alot cheaper than the 4's...

as for offroad capability, you can go pretty far with a 2wd, but when it comes to loose stuff, like deep sand or sloppy mud, chances are you'll get stuck if you stop...i know i do...but then again, if you bag your tires to about 10 psi, you can get out of some nasty stuff

but if you go trailriding along forest roads, splashing through creeks and go wheeling with a friend that has a 4x4, you got nothing to worry about...

as for snow, i lived in maryland before moving to florida, and all i can say is with weight over the rear axle and a light foot, you can get anywhere so long as youre not looking for trouble (like cruising into a mound of snow on the side of the road...i did that once not knowing that there was re-frozen snow under the fresh snow on top of it...so it was pretty much like crashing into a boulder...cost me three hours reshaping a part of my bumper with a hammer and a new lower valence lol)

[beater truck]

go out to Glamis sand dunes sometime and check out all of the pre-runners and buggies/sand rails out there, they are all 2wd and do very well. Just like a few others have told you, a good limited slip unit in the rear axle will make a night and day difference in how well the truck does off road.