2wd vs 4wd

[Rosco862003]

I have tried looking around for a comparison of how valuable 4wd really is in the real world over 2wd. Right now I am in school and planning a summer road trip which will probably span 2 months or so. My intention is to live out of the van with one other person and a 30lb dog. My ultimate goal is to head to Alaska, with many a detour scheduled. As of right now I am looking at a used 6.5L suburban 2500, an e350 7.3L eb, and an awd astro. I know those are quite different animals. If I were to get the astro or burb Id probably look into a small 6x10 trailer to tow behind it for a extra space. This however cuts down on my main reason at looking at an astro though which is gas mileage, and the other being its AWD.

I don't plan to go rock crawling by any means and really don't plan on a lift, etc, etc. This is going to be a fairly budget friendly trip so in place of a locker will be a shovel and sand mats, and instead of a winch, a hi lift will suffice. I will be travelling i imagine 80% paved road and 20% off road. I only intend to do light trails. What worries me about having 2wd is beach driving and the occasional muddy trail. From my understanding beach driving is where 4wd really becomes advantageous and especially when looking at a vehicle as heavy as a Econoline. My first choice is an econoline for space and the fact that they blend in so very easily with the city setting, which means I can stealth camp if need be.

I understand that this isn't exactly Sportsmobile specific but I figured some of you might have a 2wd sportsmobile that has seen the beaten path and can chime in on if you ever found yourself REALLY wanting 4wd. Also if it really is worth it I could possibly budget a locker in. Thanks

 

[ujoint]

If 4wd wasn't needed, it wouldn't have been invented

I'm partial, but the 7.3 van is the best choice. I got 18mpg in one on a trip from Asheville to Fayetville last summer. Pretty damn good for such a big vehicle if you ask me!

 

[rockbender]

My vote would be econoline. Once you experience the space in a full size van it is hard to want to travel in anything else. As Chris mentioned, it's hard to beat the 7.3L too (you're talking 1994.5+, right? That would be powerstroke vs. the older IDI) as a generalization; not sure what condition things are in and mileage.

Buy a small compressor as part of your shovel and sand mat recovery program. Airing down will go a long ways in getting you out.

 

[Rosco862003]

I completely agree wih you chris and love 4wd for that matter but am curious as to how essential it really is. I think I'm leaning towards the Ford. I figure I'm only going to risk breaking more by going anywhere I don't need to and if I feel like going further, God blessed me with two legs and..get ready folks! A sweet 21 speed huffy.

After having gone down to the local pull a part its hard to argue against all that extra space the e class offers over the others. I figure I can get a decent one for less than $4k. Ps thanks for the heads up about the 1994.5+ having a different motor, I learn something new everyday .

 

[rockbender]

Couple other things to consider:
The van will likely offer better ground clearance than the other two options (except where the short wheelbase of the Astro may prevail).

Good heavy duty tire chains will also go a long way towards getting you some extra traction if needed.

The only thing that would sway me towards the AWD astro is if it was going to be spending a considerable amount of time doing snow travel duty.

As a general rule, econoline parts are fairly easy to come by due to minimal changes over the years.

Do some research in the 4x4 Vans section and you'll find this is a topic that has been discussed before. Also consider doing some research on sportsmobile forum too.

 

[/dev/ram]

Some "oh, that's why I needed 4wd" moments:
.
- you pull off the pristine highway to <insert need here> and find the berm is 6" of much - you're stuck.
- a mere 1/4" of snow falls on the smooth asphalt streets and then freezes - you're stuck.
- you drive out on the beach where everybody says they do it in 2wd all the time - you're stuck.
- that gravel road gets a little steep - you're in trouble as you slide towards the edge.
- somebody else sides into the muck/snow drift/etc. and you come along as the only savior - and can't help.
- etc.
.
4wd isn't something you need all the time, but when you need it and don't have it... I've lived too many moments of "let's see if I can make it without it" only to learn that by the time I learned the answer - it's too late. The alternative is a conservative approach that leaves you turning around because of a 4" pile of snow in your way, and you go home disappointed. Safe, granted, but never knowing the joy of going where others can't or won't.
.
YMMV
.
-ralph
.
I can't speak to the van or any of your other issues, so the specific tradeoffs related to 4wd may not be the deciding factor.

 

[GreginSocal]

I have a F250 with the 7.3 and Chris is right that you can get 18 mpg. The 7.3 is bulletproof. Buy the van and have Chris put 4x4 on for you. Work overtime if you have to to pay for it. Your ford van will stay with you for a long time. If you are going to Alaska and on the beach, you will need this. I have seen the tide come in and swallow up vehicles that were stuck on the beach. Alaska's beach is sticky mud. I went clam digging and got quite a workout. Even in a 4x4 (no lockers) the suv got worked. I do like the Astro van,(i rented one in Alaska) but the clearance is a little low and a little small on the inside. I think it was on this site that someone said "all rental cars are four wheel drive". Read Chris's thread, I was really impressed with his work. I have a truck camper and as soon as my son is in college, I will have him build one for me. Good luck.

 

[AbleGuy]

Alaska travel and 4wd

Re: is 4wd a necessary option?

I have spent several summers traveling in Alaska , the Yukon and B.C. Because there are not that many miles of paved roads up there, if you go up there you will be very tempted to travel off of the main routes and explore the areas by going off on forest roads and other dirt/gravel tracks.

I have always been lucky enough to have a 4wd truck and camper combo on my trips to the far north.

One year, late in the day, my wife and I decided to turn down a dirt road in AK to try to get close to a river where we wanted to fish. As we drove further and further down that turn off, the roadway got worse and worse.....basically, more narrow and more muddy.

We finally hit a point where I realized that we needed to turn around and head back out the way we came, due to the terrible road condition. It was almost impossible to turn around on this narrow, muddy track though......and doing so caused me to back up a bit too far, putting the rear wheels in to the muddy drainage ditch along the side of the road.

We could not rock our way ou tof the ditch in 2wd. I shifted into 4wd and we easily climbed out of the slick mud. If we had gotten stuck there because we had only 2wd, we would have had a horrible time trying to find help since we were so far off of the beaten path.

That one incident alone made me feel it was worth the extra cost of buying a truck with 4wd.

In short, I would say that the main benefit of having a 4wd rig is that it does encourage you to explore more remote, scenic areas, with more confidence. But then again, having 4wd also can encourage you to get stuck furher away from help!

 

[Rosco862003]

Working overtime unfortunately isn't an option as I'm a full time student. I have a Miata that has become my new baby and obsession. I love it to death but at this point want to travel that much more, its like a drug. I'm tired of hearing people say they don't have the money to travel...Its that they don't want to travel bad enough. That being said, I will be selling my car which I expect to get around $3000 for. Therefore I will be looking for a van for around $3k-$4k, unless someone trades me. If like you say Greg, that I'll have this van for a long time, then I can save up for 4wd later down the road. But right now I'll have to sacrifice and just practice self control when I see a dusty trail calling my name. Unless of course Chris is wanting to trade his van so he can cruise Deals Gap instead!

I guess I pretty much answered my own question with this and feel that I'd rather sacrifice where I can go with comfort level...comfort winning out. 2wd will have less parts to go out while on the road, won't tempt me to get muddy (I hate mud) and the Econoline will provide all the space I need in one compartment as opposed to an Astro. This trip will be an exercise in frugalness with the main objective being to see the North American continent.

I appreciate all your help in answering my questions but I think that I've made the decision to have the ***** end of a 3.5 ton vehicle peg leg everywhere! Hopefully Ill have a build thread up here soon, and hope to see you all at Overland Expo in May!

 

[ujoint]

Did you say Miata????????

How did you know that one of my obsessions is a V8 Miata????

we may have to talk, send me some pics.

 

[dsw4x4]

I to am a big fan of 4wd and would not think of going to ak without it. It sounds like your budget is calling for the burb or astro. I would give up the 2wd and extra space to have 4wd if budget is the deciding factor. I had a friend that camped out of his suburban with two people for long periods of time and it worked fine. Just have more of a backpacker mentality when packing for a long trip instead of a RV family mentality. Be creative when you outfit the truck or van you use with nets on the ceiling and stuff like that. Remember 4wd does not make you super man and when you stick a 4wd way back in the wilderness be prepared to dig out for hours or even days if you do not make wise decisions when driving especially at night. (ask me how I know) Help could be a long ways of and even if you have sweet 21 sped huffy help could still be a t least a day or two away.
Derek

 

[adi]

We've been having some snowstorms here in Seattle, and I've also been looking at vans locally to start my slow 2+ year project with.

One van had issues getting out of the apartment complex. We had to get a few running start to get up the slight incline with snow on the ground. Tires and LSD would help, but it really made me re-consider pushing my 4x4 conversion plans a lot sooner than I had originally planned. This is compared to my Land Cruiser, which had zero slip going up the same incline (nothing locked, just normal unlocked center 4wd).

Granted, both of them eventually got out, and a shovel is a lot cheaper than a 4x4 conversion, but one way to look at things is use the 4x4 to get you out of trouble, not in trouble, or deeper in trouble.

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

2WD van in snow = no fun.

If you are going to go Econoline, which to me makes the most sense...engine and space are a win win, then why not look at a few things to make your 2WD that much better? Pick up a good set of All Terrain tires with as much sidewall as you can fit. Something like the BFG AT's, lots out there used and lots of options for brands/makes etc. If you can afford it, and if it doesn't already have LSD, drop a locker in it? Aired down with a locker will get you a lot of places comfortably. You could also pop a front receiver on it and pick up a receiver mounted winch? I know you can get a 10K one here for in and around $399? Ok, not the greatest winch, but it might just save your ********? lol Receiver mount is great, put a hitch front and rear and carry it around and mount it as needed.

The Ford is a great van, but the Suburban is also a good vehicle. The Astro is a pretty good choice as well in AWD, but I hear they have relatively weak front ends, and can be expensive to fix? Tough call...but in my mind the Ford with a 7.3 and some add-ons is the winner!

Check out this van, used to run around Vancouver Island, best shuttle vehicle ever. Diesel, 4x4 custom setup by owner, custom bike racks and seating for 10. Ahh the good ole days.

 

[Rosco862003]

As far as pics go chris, I'll send some your way when I get to the casa, and I've toyed with the idea of a locker, but figured with install its close to $800 if not more..that amount of loot would go a long way towards gas and food, and I don't care too much about winter..this is just a summer trip and am thinking that I might sell it afterwards for a dd with good mpg. The reason I want 4wd is for sand not snow..the first leg of my trip is going to take me to the OBXand I would rather not have to park and walk to the beach when I can drive on it. Everywhere else though 2wd is ok by me. By the way sweet van in the above post!

 

[Creature]

http://asheville.craigslist.org/cto/2783692668.html I know this is the pre94.5 7.3 but it may be worth taking a look at.

Keep searching, they are out there...