4wd drive vs 2wd w/locker

[T.Low]

A locker + quality tires + ground clearance + driver's skill = go as you please

That's some seriously fuzzy math there, friend.

 

[JHa6av8r]

I have a 1 ton with a pop-up camper loaded. The truck is a 4x4 with rear locker. Been on dirt roads where 4-wheel drive wasn't really needed but the truck just handled better with it selected. Someone above said you can do things slower putting less stress on things. Another vote for rather have it and not use it.

 

[Mr. Leary]

The other thing that 4wd usually gets you is a low range - which allows going over difficult areas at slower speeds - which results in less damage to the vehicle and less wheel spin - doing the same obstacle in a 2wd without low range often requires more speed which results in damage to the vehicle, wheel spin and getting stuck. I've thought about putting just a transfer case in a 2wd truck just to add the low range to the rear wheels.

Snow is a big deal here in the west as they often require tire chains on non 4wd vehicle - sometimes when it is not really required but in order to slow down drivers it seems. It only takes a couple of times putting chains on and driving with them on for you to wish you had 4wd.

Sand is a different problem - my sprinter is nose heavy and the front wheels plow in and then the rear wheels spin and dig in - and I am stuck... happens quickly and so often that I am reluctant to stop and explore lots of places where I would go if I was in a 4wd vehicle - so it ends up affecting me in more subtle ways.

Bumpers, anti-lock brakes and airbags aren't needed either for 99% of the time...

Good post. IMO the low range gears are more important than the extra powered wheels. Having power to the front also allows you to dig up from the front, which makes larger obstacles much easier on your truck.

YMMV. Where you take the truck will be the true indicator of whether 4wd with low range is necessary. Be responsible, but don't let 2wd keep you from going out and having fun. Just understand that in technical terrain, you will do more damage to your rig and the environment if you are in 2wd. Stick to the milder stuff. I promise, there is plenty of fun to be had without technical terrain. People travel all over the world in 2wd vehicles. I'm personally getting quite the reputation for taking short overland jaunts in rental cars. Beautiful places don't seem to care whether you got there on pavement, on trails, by foot, or by truck.

Go forth and have fun!

 

[deserteagle56]

I would never consider going much off-pavement without 4x4. Unless maybe I had something like the old VW bugs with the engine weight hanging out behind the rear tires for traction! I've just found myself in too many situations where locking the hubs got me unstuck quickly. Pretty much all of our vehicles have much more weight over the front tires than over the back. Driving down a desert road that suddenly becomes mostly soft blow sand - or "bug dust". The front wheels sink down immediately and no way just the back tires could power me through or pull me back out. Same with mud - the front tires sink down and the back tires, with little weight on them, are helpless. Lockers are a help if your rig is twisted up with no weight on one of the rear tires but if both rear tires have equal traction, not so much.
I also agree with the need for low range, especially with an automatic transmission. Work that tranny hard at slow speeds and the temperatures climb alarmingly. Many of today's automatics have, for whatever reason, very high geared reverse gears. You can easily back up at 30 mph. I've talked to people who burned up their automatics in their pickups while trying to back their big camp trailers into their driveways or into camping spots. Problem easily solved by using low range in the transfer case and increasing the useable gear ratio by a factor of 2.72!

 

[mdmead]

Back in the 80s I amazed several 4x4s with the places I could take my 2wd (lifted w/30" off-road tires) Toyota pickup. Picking the right line and a heavy throttle foot got me through many a mudhole in the South Georgia swamps. I later installed a Warn winch on the front which allowed me to get in and out of worse places. But this only worked when I needed to get through short sections...
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Personally, I'll take a 4x4 now. A 2wd is of limited use in deep snow even with chains. Same with muddy climbs. As mentioned, the option of 4-low to let you slog slowly through more technical sections helps preserve your vehicle. I certainly don't use 4wd on every trip out, but it's important to me to know I have the capability for when I do need it.
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A 2wd can make a great exploration vehicle, but it will never be in the same league as a similar vehicle with 4wd. You just have to determine if the added expense and upkeep of 4wd is worth it to you.

 

[jbob]

OP: what about an incremental approach? Get an E350, put some 33s and a locker on it, invest in some recovery gear, and get out there and *use* it. You'll be able to refine your requirements, and there's nothing keeping you from doing the 4wd conversion later.

Sent from my Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet using Tapatalk

 

[Jb1rd]

OP: what about an incremental approach? Get an E350, put some 33s and a locker on it, invest in some recovery gear, and get out there and *use* it. You'll be able to refine your requirements, and there's nothing keeping you from doing the 4wd conversion later.

Sent from my Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet using Tapatalk

Just started thinking more seriously about this approach seeing how much of a premium they put on the Quigley conversions and then further reading through a lot of posts here where people change them out due to high maintenance costs, inconsistent part availability ect

 

[McZippie]

Just started thinking more seriously about this approach seeing how much of a premium they put on the Quigley conversions and then further reading through a lot of posts here where people change them out due to high maintenance costs, inconsistent part availability ect

Yep... Where are all these 4wd trails you people speak of, that someone would likely want to take a full size van on?

For decades now, we have take'in 2wd full size vans to all kinds of remote areas. The size of the Rig is offen the deciding factor as to how remote you can go. For example we've been on 90+ percent of trails in the Maze District of Cayonland NP with a full size 2wd lifted van. With a smaller 2wd high ground clearance SUV we could of done most of the other trails. 4wd is only needed for a few areas and doubt if any full size van with 4wd would make it through these knarlyer trails.

 

[T.Low]

Yep... Where are all these 4wd trails you people speak of, that someone would likely want to take a full size van on?

For decades now, we have take'in 2wd full size vans to all kinds of remote areas. The size of the Rig is offen the deciding factor as to how remote you can go. For example we've been on 90+ percent of trails in the Maze District of Cayonland NP with a full size 2wd lifted van. With a smaller 2wd high ground clearance SUV we could of done most of the other trails. 4wd is only needed for a few areas and doubt if any full size van with 4wd would make it through these knarlyer trails.

Here with the Cascade Mtn range, some of my favorite destinations are at the top of steep, often wet, rocky, rooty, and rutty mtn trails. And while personally, yes, that played a major part in acquiring an awd Astro to build rather than a full size, you can certainly run EBs on many of them also.

 

[arlon]

I have an Astro with AWD and G80 rear locker, 3.73 gears and have wished for that low range a few times already. Swapping in a 4x4 t-case would probably let me get stuck even further from the main road! I've been stuck a few times (mostly beaches) in 2wd vehicles and 20 or so years ago I vowed never to be without a 4wd something (have had wagoneer, suburban, 2 troopers, Dodge Ramcharger, Xterra, Bronco). Astro is my favorite of the bunch (I can sleep in it when I get stuck). I have a 2wd (limited slip) dodge/cummins that's my favorite highway cruiser, AWD Astro van and a 4x4 X-Terra. Since getting the Astro 2 years ago, I haven't used the X-terra off the pavement a single time. The Astro has been in a lot of places I would even consider in my truck. I'd vote for at least AWD and 4x4 if you can afford it.

 

[Cole]

Yep... Where are all these 4wd trails you people speak of, that someone would likely want to take a full size van on?

For decades now, we have take'in 2wd full size vans to all kinds of remote areas. The size of the Rig is offen the deciding factor as to how remote you can go. For example we've been on 90+ percent of trails in the Maze District of Cayonland NP with a full size 2wd lifted van. With a smaller 2wd high ground clearance SUV we could of done most of the other trails. 4wd is only needed for a few areas and doubt if any full size van with 4wd would make it through these knarlyer trails.

I tend to agree with this to a point. I've built all sorts of "hard core" 4x4s over the last 25 years. Explored most of Colorado, Utah's hard core stuff and most of western North America's back roads. (Jeeps with 37s dual lockers, etc)

Its important to distinguish between the camp spots and the wheeling. 95% of the "wheeling" is usually recreational while the real camp spots are easily accessible by 2wd. The only real exception I can think of is soft sandy beaches, where 4wd vs. 2wd is kinda hit/miss. Obviously, if the beach is too soft you camp 50 feet further back on the hard stuff in. 90% of the situations.

Having a 2wd van now I've realized that most of the cool spots I want to go to are 2wd accessible. Strangely, the cooler the spot usually the better the access these days. Certainly doesn't feel as manly or cool as having 4wd, but the reality is odd sometimes!

 

[BajaSportsmobile]

The way I look at it, if you can afford 4X4, you should have it, if you can't, you should claim you don't need it.

Face it, with 2WD you are limited much more than you are with 4WD. Places I like to go, you would never even consider without 4WD. My favorite camping spot is not 2WD accessible, you couldn't get in, and if you did you would never get out.

If you limit your travels to unimproved roads, 2WD will get you there - right up until it gets soft or slick (mud, sand, snow or low range rocks) then you be where you were going because you won't go any farther.

4X4 doesn't have to cost that much more and you will always get your money out of it later.

 

[Bbasso]

I might have been misunderstood...
My statement was aimed at the OP's Needs based on what type of driving was mentioned.
Of course 4x4 would be tits! But if we could all afford it Chris would be driving a ... Chris, what would you be driving? Lol

 

[Gregz]

How about your 2wd van, and tow a cheap small 4x4 . My amigo was only $500 and very capable on the trails
Leave the van at basecamp, and you have a spare vehicle if needed

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[toylandcruiser]

I'm in the the boat that a 2wd with locker will outperform an open 4wd. There will be few instances that an open 4wd will outperform. Once a tire on the front and one on the rear are off the ground. You're stopped. But a locked 2wd will keep going. It's like saying an m-35 will out perform a Unimog. Just because the m-35 has 3 powered axles. It's not the case. A Unimog will out do the m-35 in every off road situation.


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