Any thoughts on 4wd vs 2wd in a pickup.

[todpod]

I am kinda torn. Live in NW PA so we get our share of snow, but I walk to work and it won't be a daily driver and we have an awd pacifica. Its seems that I will trade about 2 model years and 40000 miles to get 4wd. I might put 5000 miles on this a year. Just debating if the trade off is worth it. Gonna spend about 17000 for the truck. Any thoughts. We will use this to pull our trailer for camping no off roading. May not be able to get it out of the driveway in the winter. Its on a slope thats my big concern with the 2wd, and if I ever really need to get some where. i just can't make up my mind. Thanks

 

[thedarkwolf]

If you aren't worried about being stuck in the snow or off roading I wouldn't worry about it then. 4wd is more maintenance, worse gas mileage, and in some cases a worse ride. I've had a 2wd truck and did a bad winter in Wv with it while living at the top of a steep hill and did ok. I had studded snow tires on the back and it wasn't easy getting to my house but I managed. The other 99% of the year I never had any issues with it being 2wd only.

 

[spaceman]

well tbh its one of those thing u wont use 85% of the time prolly,but will wish u had it when u need it
id spring for it fwiw.
esp with what u plan on spending

 

[thedarkwolf]

Wouldn't hurt to get a limited slip/locker rearend if you go 2wd. One other thing to consider is resale. You may have a harder time getting rid of a 2wd in PA when you do go to sell it.

 

[todpod]

not really worried about resale, planning on running the wheels off of it for the most part. Thinking maybe snow tires for winter time.

 

[skyking]

I've needed an assist twice, once at the beach where I should have parked and walked, the other time bringing my 10,000 pound 5th wheel out of the lower yard when it was totally saturated. Other than that I have not missed 4wd in the least. No way would I get the fuel economy I do now with a 4WD.

 

[Jumpem]

I would never buy a 2WD pickup. But for snow, I would prefer something AWD over 4WD anyway.

 

[Bartman39]

I mulled this over quite a bit when I bought my 2500HD Duramax but ended up going with a 2WD mainly because I very very seldom go off road and well snow down here is uh rather scarce...:biggrin: Also the cost was a big consideration besides the maintenance and the difference in fuel economy...

Just a thought but if your possibly worried about getting stuck then consider a good quality winch...? Even 4WD's get stuck and I learned this from the past the hard way... When I did put a winch on my truck we went to the beach right after and I made $75 and a case of beer just pulling people out (all of it was offered not asked for) so it paid for itself pretty quick...

 

[waggy]

I had both.

IF i was to get another truck i would NOT get anything but a 4x4. then again i live in the country and sometimes the road's suck.

if you live in town and don't haul much or go out side of town get a 4x2.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

If I was paying that much money I wouldn't touch a 2x4. But I like mud and going off road some.

 

[todpod]

so how much does the 4x4 stuff break. That concerns me as much as anything, I gonna have to trade a bunch of miles to stay in the same price range, which more stuff ready to break.

 

[thedarkwolf]

If I was paying that much money I wouldn't touch a 2x4. But I like mud and going off road some.

I wouldn't spend that much period on something I was only going to drive 5k miles a year . I'd spend about half that much and get a nice 2wd truck and keep that other $7,000 in the bank.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

You guys 17k in a truck is not much at all. It is nothing for someone to spend 40k on a truck.

 

[Bignate603]

You guys 17k in a truck is not much at all. It is nothing for someone to spend 40k on a truck.

Just because insanely expensive trucks exist that doesn't mean that everyone has to buy them.

The OP is looking at used trucks and he can get a reasonable one for the price range that he's looking at.

 

[DVad3r]

I'd never get a 2WD pickup unless it was for summer and show only, like those lowered Tacoma's ppl have etc.

I used to ride in my friends Ford Ranger with 2WD rear and it was terrible, even in the rain!

If there's snow in your region, and I know northern NY/PA get a lot of it, I would def get 4x4.

Also get one with non upgraded wheels, the less width it has the better it will do in weather, not to mention cost less to replace tires etc.

 

[speedy2]

Most 2WD trucks are worthless in a poor traction situation. Low weight, combined with open diff, usually means you're not going anywhere. We went up to N. Carolina last year. Took the Grand Prix(FWD) and parents had a Trailblazer. They didn't move that truck for the first 2 days we were there. I drove every day we were there. Like others said, this isn't an everyday situation, but when you don't have it, you really wish you did. Have to decide if it's worth it to you. I doubt I would buy a truck without 4WD.

 

[jlee]

I wouldn't, just on principle But if all you really want is the ability to haul stuff and don't need the additional traction, 2wd should do you fine.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I used to ride in my friends Ford Ranger with 2WD rear and it was terrible, even in the rain!

Did he have bald tires and drive like an idiot? I never had any problems in the rain with any car including my little 2wd truck unless I was doing something stupid. Nobody drives around in their 4wd truck with it in 4wd while it is raining either.

 

[Throckmorton]

How about 2WD with all terrain tires on the back?

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

Dad's 2WD truck has a limited-slip differential and he's driven it in the winter before. All the frothing at the mouth with 4WD is overrated - good tires are more important. Limited-slip diff's will help with towing too.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

If you truly are never going to drive in snow or mud then 4wd is useless. With 4wd everything is more expensive - balljoints, bushings, extra transfer case and drivetrain parts to deal with, etc etc etc.

Also many 4wd 'beater trucks' are truly beat to hell and back. I went through this and ultimately discovered that I'd have to pay +20% to get 4wd but +40% to get 4wd in decent condition that wasn't a work truck and that just wasn't worth it to me.


I ended up with 2wd, and I still drive the thing in snow (granted I live in the southeast so we have a different definition down here) and had no issues with a set of chains combined with a mediocrity of intelligence. That being said, in any sort of real snow situation 2wd is a joke compared to anything with 4wd. Basically you're right, that awd pacifica will do better than most 2wd trucks. You're probably not going to go camping in snow/ice so it sounds like that hill won't be an issue.


It might be worth looking into what the pacifica can safely tow. I doubt it's much, but it would probably be ok with a popup camper.



All of this being said, you live in PA. If I were in your shoes I would probably invest (careful word choice) in a decent 4wd 4 door truck or SUV that I'd have for a long, long time and then you wouldn't have to worry about 4wd when you sell the pacifica.

 

[WackyDan]

I just picked up my new F-150... Went 2WD... Never had one living up north, certainly don't need one here in NC...

That said, I did option in the electric locking rear axle for when I'm towing on gravel inclines or dirt roads in campgrounds....

To me, unless you are really planning on putting a lot of miles on it in the snow, plowing, or actually using it off road, you don't general need 4WD, and if you have a selectable locking rear axle you end up with the best of both worlds... Just lock up the axle when you need it, otherwise it is a hazard in a turn.

 

[T2urtle]

on the subject of trucks, are those switchable 4x4 things still around? Like the whole 4hi/4lo 2wd. I haven't seen them in the newer trucks but i'm not in many.

are all 4wd trucks equiped with this?

 

[Safeway]

4WD. In Texas, we get wet snow and ice. A 4WD truck can weave in and out of stalled vehicles. Before this 4WD truck, I used to get stuck at our boat storage facility. Post-4WD, never get stuck.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

otherwise it is a hazard in a turn.

Hazard?! Thats when a locking rear is the most fun, when turning.