Back in the truck market. Have seen a couple of options. One looks good but is RWD. My last truck and SUV were both 4x4 and I swore I'd always get 4x4s. But I want to get out of my car and not spend 50-60K right now for a new truck, so its what pops up that is available in what I want to spend.

I'm not planning on a lot of off roading but consider the following scenarios that do happen:

-- have to leave a highway to go to service road across grass/dip to bypass accident
-- end up on a steeper incline dirt road than planned
-- road is worse than imagined and turns muddy
-- LOW water that isn't moving (say, a hydrant leak) on a street

How does the RWD handle these types of conditions? My RWD Tahoes did OK but there was more weight back there.

I found out during an ice storm about a decade ago that a 4x4 wasn't necessarily a good thing driving on ice, but it CAN help when you're going up a hill in a pickup. My FWD car spun a little on a slight incline back in February. Do you think the same thing would have happened in a RWD truck with, say, BFG ATs (or the next level down) on it?

Reality is most of us only need 4wd in a Truck probably less than 5 times per year….but it absolutely sucks when you need it and don't have it.

2WD rides better, gets better gpm, and costs less and you use it 98% of the time.

I say keep getting the 4wd still.

Question - how many times have you used 4WD in the past few years for those conditions? Based on what you described, I'd personally be fine with 2WD.

A big part of the answer also depends on where you're living. I'm in the Panhandle where we get regular ice and snow. I have a long commute out in areas that aren't snowplowed or salted like the interstates. I drive a 2WD pick-up, but my wife's car has been front-wheel-drive, which better for icy conditions. We did go 4WD when we upgraded hers to a RWD vehicle, so that at least one of our vehicles was suited for ice. But honestly, if I was in DFW or Houston, I wouldn't worry a bit about it. How often are conditions that icy, and is it work the $5k?

91AggieLawyer said:

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Do you think the same thing would have happened in a RWD truck with, say, BFG ATs (or the next level down) on it?

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February 2021 I spent 5 days iced in on the Riverwalk in San Antonio.

My 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon had no issues but once I got to SATX in the winter storm (driving to Houston from Loa Angeles), I had a couple close calls with idiots in 2WD vehicles, especially the guy in the Dodge RAM who spun out across 3 lanes of traffic right in front of me... I decided to hang it up and not risk going any further.

While walking around the Riverwalk area, I captured a great video of 4 guys trying to push a 2WD F-150 through an intersection as he was spinning his tires at high speed. It was priceless. And that was essentially on level ground. Of course a couple of the guys were wearing cowboy boots with leather soles so they weren't getting a lot of traction either.

That little bit of extra traction makes a huge difference when you need it.

Also, don't forget that your 4WD pickup will also have a transfer case which is going to give you access to 4 Wheel LO. That will come in handy when you're pulling your friends out of the ditch.

As far as your future vehicle needs, who knows when you travel, if you have to move for work.

I've had many travel situations where I was really glad I had the 4WD. Tennessee & Kentucky during the January 1994, MLK Day Weekend storm. San Antonio, Feb. 2021. Numerous trips to Lake Tahoe and of course skiing in Colorado. Even summer of 2020 when I got caught in a torrential rain storm in West Virginia. Being able to put the vehicle in 4WD gave me peace of mind. Also, November 2018 taking a road trip from Lexington, VA to Pittsburgh, PA to NYC and back to Lexington. Probably could have made it with 2WD and chains but 4WD was way easier.

One of my best move stories was the guy I knew who bought a 2WD Dodge Durango in Dallas and then took a job in Denver. Bought the same Dodge Durango in 4WD in Denver. Took a bath on the trade - who is going to buy a used 2WD Dodge Durango in Denver? And of course the 4WD cost $3,000 more than the 2WD anyway. That guy lasted one year in Denver before he moved back to Dallas. Traded in his 4WD Durango for a Mustang GT.

My experience wasn't a truck but rather a front drive SUV. Bought it brand new 3 years ago thinking we wouldn't be in a position to buy a boat anytime soon. Fast forward to early this year and buying a boat we always wanted made financial sense but who wants to pull a boat out of the water with front drive. Ended up selling the vehicle and buying the exact same one with AWD. Same color and everything. Fortunately with strong car values I only lost a couple grand in taxes to do the deal but now I can't ever see not having AWD/4wd on future cars.

You can somewhat mitigate the traction issues with a more aggressive tire.

Also not sure if the trucks you are considering have a locker or at least a limited slip style diff.

I face same situations as yourself frequently and in remote areas of W. Texas with no cell, and no towing options, or even winch options. Thus I opt for 4wd and the system that has best features and reliability.

A lot of your concerned scenarios can be handled in a 2wd truck with confidence, momentum, and some smarts. Wouldn't be a great idea to go plowing over to the access road if you see standing water/mud followed by a steep incline even with 4x4.

A good limited slip diff and tires would be sufficient.

ATs aren't ice tires, HTH.

Had a 2WD Tahoe for many years. Many trips to/from and 2 ski bum seasons in Crested Butte & Steamboat, deep or blowing snow, driving across the iced over panhandle or northern NM. Yanked a center console and a V-drive Nautique out of a dirt boat ramp countless times. Cobblestone ice in DFW 2013/2014. Locking rear diff with Michelin LTX M/S is where it's at.

I had just as much confidence with that than a 4x4 pickup with ATs in those situations. Factory/dealer installed ATs get changed to M/S pretty quickly in my household.

2wd fine if the price is right. If you will travelling tricky terrain on the reg, keep a strap/chain under the back seat & and have roadside asst on your insurance (or aaa.) If realllly in a pinch, use a little brake & gas together.

91AggieLawyer said:

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Back in the truck market. Have seen a couple of options. One looks good but is RWD. My last truck and SUV were both 4x4 and I swore I'd always get 4x4s. But I want to get out of my car and not spend 50-60K right now for a new truck, so its what pops up that is available in what I want to spend.

I'm not planning on a lot of off roading but consider the following scenarios that do happen:

-- have to leave a highway to go to service road across grass/dip to bypass accident
-- end up on a steeper incline dirt road than planned
-- road is worse than imagined and turns muddy
-- LOW water that isn't moving (say, a hydrant leak) on a street

How does the RWD handle these types of conditions? My RWD Tahoes did OK but there was more weight back there.

I found out during an ice storm about a decade ago that a 4x4 wasn't necessarily a good thing driving on ice, but it CAN help when you're going up a hill in a pickup. My FWD car spun a little on a slight incline back in February. Do you think the same thing would have happened in a RWD truck with, say, BFG ATs (or the next level down) on it?

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Get one with an e locker and should be fine for the scenarios you listed. Resale is where you will wish you had a 4x4.

4x4 in my experience only gets you further off road and stuck deeper than RWD. A little discretion and a decent set of AT tires should suffice.

A little common sense and good AT tires go a long way.
A shovel, tow strap and come a long are 3 tools that every truck owner should have onboard if they drive off-road at times.

You'll never regret having 4wd. You may regret not having it.

Ogre09 said:

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You'll never regret having 4wd. You may regret not having it.

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This!

Nothing wrong with a 2wd, I've drove one for 10 years and never once have been stuck or needed 4wd. Truck stays on the streets and since I have a good set of A/T tires even some wet grass/etc it has no issues..

I'm not worried about "resale" as if I sell my truck a few extra thousand isn't going to matter much with the price of trucks these days.

Find the best deal regardless of 2wd or 4wd and get that!

If you're staying in road in the south you can do with a 2wd fine.

It makes a major difference in ice and snow and cwertain offroad conditions.

Live in Utah, watched 2wd vehicles sliding down the hill the other day while it was snowing and I easily climbed up and made it home safely. Reminded me why I sold my 2wd f150 8 years ago and swore I'd always own a vehicle with a full time 4wd option.

Currently 2020 1500 AT4

Drove a 2wd truck for 19 years. 3 of those in a small Texas town where we would take our trucks "mudding" at any chance. Never got stuck. Had to work the reverse/drive for a good 2 minutes once but I made it. 2wd will work fine in 99% of your driving.

All that said. Get a 4wd.

If you are commuting in Houston rain the 4wd is worth it!

Build It said:

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If you are commuting in Houston rain the 4wd is worth it!

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You turn on 4x4 when it rains??

I do and it works. I also like the added height in our flooded ass streets.

HvilleAggie said:

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Build It said:

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If you are commuting in Houston rain the 4wd is worth it!

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You turn on 4x4 when it rains??

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In heavy rain, definitely.
Also useful on country dirt roads.

I lived in and around the panhandle in my early days. The road conditions never quite required having four wheel drive. When working in the oilfield, most trucks in those days were two wheel drive. On occasion they would get stuck, but by in large, we were able to get to our location without 4WD.

I would say for your use, 4WD isn't necessary. You should know how to drive in various weather conditions, so 2WD should meet your needs.

I got my poser lifted/leveled 2wd TRD stuck in the Crosby rodeo parking lot last year and my wife's 4x4 QX80 was a lifesaver last week in Colorado. I'm going 4wd with any truck/suv in the future.

Don't lie, you got stuck at one of those Crosby off-road parks

silverado_lover said:

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Don't lie, you got stuck at one of those Crosby off-road parks

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Haha, I'm not 'that' white trash.