These are some simple little scenarios that we've come across while overlanding, and since camp spots were brought up, I've included the corresponding camp spots. While it may be debate able wether or not I could thrash a 2wd hi range w/locker and get through, it certainly doesn't mean it's the safe way or the right way. Little margin for error in 2wd, really could complicate things, but routinely simple in 4wd.
Here you can see the havoc a little rain can have on an otherwise benign two-track. This is easily navigated with 2wd when dry, but very hazardous with some rain. The slightest off camber can easily make the rear of a 2wd difficult to manage. In this scenario, a locker can even be worse.
You can see both rear wheels are spinning. Yes , he locks in the front hubs, but then doesn't shift into 4 wd until he gives it a few more tries in 2wd. Finally shifts into 4wd around 1:30 mark of video, and easily crawls back up onto the muddy two track.
That is the route you have to take to camp here.
This 8 mile long trail, rated "easy 4x4", has incredible camping at and near the top. This is a good illustration of when you want to crawl in low range 4wd. The only time I've seen a guy on this trail not in low range, he overheated 1/2 way up, and had to pull off the side and pop the hood of his 2nd Gen 4Runner.
Example of popular 4x4 trail with camping for full size van.
That is the only route that leads to camping at this mountain lake.
It's local knowledge that this particular creek crossing is deceptively soft and nobody makes it in 2wd. We were not locals. I didn't mention it to my buddy,
but I was in 4wd. He didn't think much about it and hit it in 2wd and got stuck. He was able to back out, then it was no problem in 4wd.
This is the only route that leads to this camp spot.
On a particular Memorial Day weekend we took FS roads from one town over a mountain pass to another town. All was warm and clear until we hit this snow covered incline section of shelf road , which was super easy and relatively safe in 4wd. A 2wd , even with a locker, would be a lot easier to break lose on the snowy incline and start sliding sideways. Maybe could have made it, but margin of error is that much less.
Then we encountered a bit of an icey, snowy, mud bog, most of which is around the corner before the van drives into camera view. Again, I could have thrashed it in 2wd, but that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.
With 4wd on this trip, I was able to maneuver to a nice little vista for the night.
Same trip.
These examples are not gnarly at all, and that's the point. As simple as they are in 4wd, a 2wd van could really get immobilized quite easily in any one of these common overlanding scenarios. While it's debatable wether or not you could thrash your locked, winched, 2wheeler through them, it's not debatable that thrashing vans can more easily cause breakage, and people to get stranded. All was routinely stress free in 4wd.
