How much off-road capability is enough?

[charlieaarons]

getting a little contrived I think....

Charlie

 

[UK4X4]

Most of the world is covered by roads..
yep a few pot holes and a few missing sections of tarmac

The rest can be quite comfortably transited by a 3 wheel Tuk tuk

Alaska to as far south as you want can be driven in any 2 wheel drive vehicle

want to visit some of the more remote areas and odd desert - yes 4x4 would be nice

Africa- hell they drive peugeut 405's from europe down as far as South africa

realisticly yep better in a 4x4 due to the average road conditions being a tad worse - but saying that, a gravel track can be traversed by either vehicle.

Personally I like 4x4 and the option of visiting the more remote areas- does it cost me more - yes - but I still like the independance of being able to negotiate the muddy tracks often found on the remote beaches,mountains or deserts.

I prefer the empty beach rather than the full one.

 

[RoosterBooster]

The speed reduction with a transfer case is an enormous safety factor and traction enhancer.


Charlie

your right ; that is a little contrived :ylsmoke:
never seen a T-case reduction gear that enhances traction :Wow1: (unless you throw the gears under the tires when they are slipping lol )

kidding aside ; this would be a interesting feature for a overlander rig ; http://eztracawd.weebly.com/features.html

hydraulic driven front hubs for the occasional use without the high ride and a lot of extra weigth ...
need to find out how much $$ that setup would be

 

[Ray Hyland]

My wife doesn't like to get out and push.

So we have 4WD.

 

[charlieaarons]

your right ; that is a little contrived :ylsmoke:
never seen a T-case reduction gear that enhances traction :Wow1: (unless you throw the gears under the tires when they are slipping lol )

Never seen a transfer case that enhances traction? What about the 4WD part of the contraption?
I'm done with you and your sarcasm.

Charlie

 

[dzzz]

Most of the world is covered by roads..
.............

.........which are sometimes covered in snow.
But I do agree that 4x4 is overemphasized here in larger vehicle. Not that it's not potentially useful of course. Just that in North America there are so few choices. On a lower cost build of a bigger vehicle many people would do just fine with 2wd.
That said, I've been in situations several times in the Rockies where 2wd would have meant going no further in bad conditions. I don't like winter travel much, but winter can sometimes arrive unexpectedly.
I like sitting up high too, which is generally a 4x4 characteristic.

 

[dzzz]

what IF there is a sidehill and you tip your high roller on its side trying to get to that campside :ylsmoke:

I bet a unicat is less tippy than a shorter raised homebuilt.

 

[westyss]

This topic is again one of those "personal decision" items, where depending on what you ask of your vehicle and what kind of terrain you travel and many more factors. The simple fact is that you (who ever it may be ) will want a vehicle suited to you! Not someone else, I selected the vehicle of 'my' choice for 'me' and 'my' family!
For 'me', I got a little tired of getting stuck when I tried to get to those places I like to get to, even if it was at the end of 99,9% pavement, now I get to that spot without worry, easy decision for me, cost, well that is all relative, save money, dont go any where!

 

[762X39]

Well I guess I'll wade into the the discussion and controversy with my views...:ylsmoke:
I typically travel about 60,000km per year (average since I have been keeping track in 2002). Some of it is work related (and I get to go to places I want to visit ) and some of it is for pleasure.
Mostly, a 2wd pickup is enough to get everywhere reasonable. Both of my pickups have rear lockers or limited slips and I know enough to say when.
For the difficult times, 4wd and a transfer case come in handy.The transfer case gives you the option of control (low range can be helpful) while a driven front axle gives you a bit more traction (although decent LT tires help too). I also happen to own a Unimog for those times that a nice slow drive down secondary roads and trips to the end of the road are in my plans.
I think a selectable rear locker and skid-plates should be mandatory but everything else is optional...

 

[Ray Hyland]

For the sake of discussion, I am going to be deliberately obtuse, and ask a question.

Why doesn't anyone (other than the guys who work for the phone company) have a winch on a 2WD vehicle?

 

[762X39]

Why doesn't anyone (other than the guys who work for the phone company) have a winch on a 2WD vehicle?

This is an excellent question!
I have seriously considered a winch on my 2wd trucks but found that a locker or limited slip, skid plates as required, good tires, good sense and recovery points as well as a shovel and jackall have negated my need for a winch (always know when to say when). Loosing the "give er" or "git er done" attitude is also essential.

 

[RoosterBooster]

This is an excellent question!
I have seriously considered a winch on my 2wd trucks but found that a locker or limited slip, skid plates as required, good tires, good sense and recovery points as well as a shovel and jackall have negated my need for a winch (always know when to say when). Loosing the "give er" or "git er done" attitude is also essential.

X2

in my jeep touring/rock crawling days i strictly refused to ever use/carry a winch. in my opinion it is against the purpose (or challenge) of 4-wheeling; if i cant make it with finesse, skill and 4 wheels i dont want a gadget doing it for me.
maybe you could argue that it is good insurance to "be prepared" and have a winch ...
but i believe in "if i fail (judgement, driving skill, ...) and get stuck i may as well pay for it and work to get back out"
again; my opinion ...

 

[762X39]

X2

i strictly refused to ever use/carry a winch. in my opinion it is against the purpose
again; my opinion ...

You have an interesting viewpoint.
I don't believe that carrying and or using a winch is cheating in any way shape or form on an overland vehicle.Since the original question was "how much...is enough" we are all posting our opinions on how much is enough for us.
If my travels are at the time of year when getting stuck means dying, I temper my adventures to make survival 99% likely (100% is not possible). If I am spending a week in the bush with Katherine and our 70's vintage trailer (we just got back from a week in Temagami where she learned to fish and likes it), there will be no unspoken boundaries crossed and the adventure will be pleasant for all occupants of the truck. "How much... is enough" is a moving target that has no room for arbitrary choices but must be based on need, financial ability and your personal reality.

 

[RoosterBooster]

lol... yes, your right; pleasure crawling and overlanding are two different things (however, i mixed them more then just a couple times)
i agree that a winch is not always cheating ... but in my case it would need to be a really big winch to be useful (MDTruck)...
a heavy big winch.... or maybe two :Wow1: (a 20klbs winch is not easy to moved from the front to the rear) ...with heavy big power leads to the front and rear ...or a second battery bank in the rear ...or a heavy hydro pump and lines ... or a pulley system ... or...
where do you stop ???

so for me it comes down to picking between being as light and nimble as possible (and may not get stuck as easy as a heavy loaded rig ) or carrying recovery gear for every occasion.

i agree; $$ is a huge factor as well... i rather travel and enjoy a simple & affordable rig then sitting at home and figure out how i can afford the diesel after paying for all the gadgets (been there, tired of that )

after discovering that some peeps on this forum have a thin skin i may add this (again) ;
"Warning; this post is MY personal opinion, others may vary "

 

[westyss]

I mounted a 2" hitch reciever for a winch on my westy, complicated install and never used it, before I put it on I got stuck and missed an important appointment, its like carrying an umbrella so that it doesn't rain!