Are there any other 2WD overlanders here?

[Mr. Moore]

Title states the main question, but I was also wondering what types of terrain other two wheel drivers have gone through? I have a 2WD truck that I am hopefully going to have the money to start building up a bit and was just curious what people have been able to tackle. I know 2WD isn't Ideal, but it is what I have to work with and I nalso fuigure it has less drivetrain components to break/fail, hench less parts to carry with me while ont a trip. I look forward to hearing people's input....and yes i am looking for a bit of reassurance that I can have some fun trips out in the middle of nowhere...

Regards,

Scott

 

[XJINTX]

Just a few short years ago I did my travels with a 4x2. What helped me is when traveling unknown or unfamiliar trips I did not venture out alone. Always had a 4x4 with recovery gear close Secondly, I had a winch and recovery gear of my own.

I learned what a 4x2 could do and that was pretty awesome and always impressed me. However, I learned also that I wanted and needed 4x4 and have never thought about going back for my excursions.

 

[Desert Dan]

Bring a highlift jack and a shovel and use common sense.

I would say sand would be your biggest problem speaking from experience.
Try to stay on graded roads and you should be fine.

 

[rcintx]

I have been exploring this same idea. I think as long as you bring another vehicle, or the right gear to get you out a jam you will be ok. Also, as others have said common sense goes a long way!

To some of you that have been doing this a while; what would you suggest a 4x2 carry as necessary recovery gear? Highlift and shovel for starters...

 

[ExplorerExplorer]

I'm 2wd and go solo alot (though most of those don't venture off a gravel road at the most)...

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Do like a bunch of rednecks down here do.... put 2 mud tires on the back (or all) and buy a winch.

Mostly just use your common sense and be careful and have fun.

I almost rarely lock into 4x4 in most conditions, but when i needed it i needed it bad.

 

[Mr. Moore]

Mud terrain tires all around is going to be one of my first mods. At a minimum if I can't afford and electric winch, i am going to get a heavy duty manual winch(not a comealong), and a highlift and other basic recovery gear. If I am going solo, I probably won't venture much off of FS roads anyway. I strongly dislike mud, and If a person is careful, sand can be navigated with 2WD. I am glad I am not alone in the 2wd world of overland/expedition travel!

I also am wondering what the more experienced people would suggest for "basic" recover gear.

 

[mhiscox]

My Sprinter camper is 2WD, 'cuz that's how they come in North America and the conversion to 4WD costs about the same amount as the van itself. It does just fine when the terrain and weather conditions are decent. No problems on NFS and BLM roads, which is what it was built for unless you get unexpected snow or mud. There's a lot of stuff that goes along to self-recover, including a winch that can mount to the front or rear.

Pictures here with descriptions of the setup:

http://http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19224

http://http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20079

http://http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26415

You can do a lot with 2WD. I often relate the experience of going out to Central Oregon with an expert Unimogger when I owned the extremely capable AdventureDuo LC80 and looking all over the place, with no real success, to find difficult-to-travel roads. Never got into 4WD in a couple hundred miles of Forest Service and BLM roads. No problem finding hardcore trails to run, but when it comes to actually overlanding and expeditioning, the roads that actually go someplace are good candidates for a well-equipped 2WD truck in good weather.

Note that this bullish attitude has its limits. For example, the game changes in snow or mud. I pay good attention to the weather, carry a SPOT and, when traveling alone, a satelite phone. Plus there's never a time someone at home doesn't know the expected route and the check-in procedures.

(And there is a great comfort in knowing that if you do get irrevocably stuck, your vehicle has heat, 50 gals of water, a week's worth of food, much battery power and some good books. "They" would have a good long time to find you. You'll likely not have things so plush. :sombrero

 

[ExplorerExplorer]

Mud terrain tires all around is going to be one of my first mods. At a minimum if I can't afford and electric winch, i am going to get a heavy duty manual winch(not a comealong), and a highlift and other basic recovery gear. If I am going solo, I probably won't venture much off of FS roads anyway. I strongly dislike mud, and If a person is careful, sand can be navigated with 2WD. I am glad I am not alone in the 2wd world of overland/expedition travel!

I also am wondering what the more experienced people would suggest for "basic" recover gear.

Really, I just bring very basic stuff, a good shovel will get you out of most of what you can get into with 2WD... Remember, 4x4 gets you farther, but it also gets you stuck worse... I haven't been in anything a shovel and a few rocks didn't get me out of, and the one big stuck I did have I was on my property and was able to pull out with the snatch strap I always bring along...

 

[Nick02]

I have a 2wd with a winch, 4.88's, locked and on 35" km2's.
poser shot!

I completely disagree with the sand/Mud theory thing. Sand sucks period... loose momentum and you'll sink; reverse is useless, shoveling gets you 2 ft at a time.
Mud on the other hand is easy, just need a heavy right foot and lots of patience. I've never been stuck in mud, and I was up to the LCA's in it with muddy water pouring into the cab. Tough off-camber uphill situations are kinda iffy, If you loose momentum the truck will hop/bounce sideways off the trail.
Snow and ice sucks, I loose the back-end and go sideways.....

Wished I had a 4x4 one day.... ONE DAY...

 

[stimpy13]

I had a 98 2wd XJ that was awsome. It could go almost anywhere. It had a 3.5" lift with 33" M/Ts. Very fun wish I would have keep it.

 

[Mr. Moore]

I have a 2wd with a winch, 4.88's, locked and on 35" km2's.
poser shot!

I completely disagree with the sand/Mud theory thing. Sand sucks period... loose momentum and you'll sink; reverse is useless, shoveling gets you 2 ft at a time.
Mud on the other hand is easy, just need a heavy right foot and lots of patience. I've never been stuck in mud, and I was up to the LCA's in it with muddy water pouring into the cab. Tough off-camber uphill situations are kinda iffy, If you loose momentum the truck will hop/bounce sideways off the trail.
Snow and ice sucks, I loose the back-end and go sideways.....

Wished I had a 4x4 one day.... ONE DAY...

Nick02, going on a tangent, I love your truck! I would love my ram to look like that!

 

[Jeep]

I grew up in the far northern part of Alberta. There is not a lot up there, and all we had were 2wd 3/4 ton trucks. Throw a locker in the rear and grab a good quality set of tire chains, think v-bar style, and you will be amazed at how much snow and mud you can get through if you have to deal with a sudden weather change. We used to chain up just to get places!

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

We started exploring the deserts in Oz before 4x4s existed (for the masses).

This is 1967 on our honeymoon.
This bit of "road" was 1,600km (1,000 miles) between towns with 20 people, or more, with one exception of about 2,000 people half way.

Similar area in 1974. Slightly different road conditions.

A set of snow chains was the answer here, and lots of walking to pick the best route.

The "trick" is to do what you can with what you have got.

Cheers,
Peter

 

[Mr. Moore]

Do the best with what I have got is the plan! that pic with the VW bus looks like it was a fun day!