2wd vs 4 wd?

Only if you are stupid.
Frank

4WD drive does not give any greater towing capacity. It does give better traction in certain situations. It also means when you do get stuck you get stuck deeper.

Various pickups reminded me many times I had forgotten to disengage the 4WD as I turned into my driveway. Often had been in 4WD for hundreds of miles at highway speeds. Luckily, never broke anything.

Not suggesting its OK, just my experience.

Winged One wrote:
I had a 1988 4x2 SRW. Towed a 5th and drove 15 Michigan winters with it (with rear wheel antilock only, designed to kill the driver).

I had a 2008 4x4 SRW. Towed a 5th and never needed the 4x4. Not used during the winter.

Now I have a 2013 2x4 DRW. Again, never needed it to be 4x4. Not used during the winter.

Depends on what you are going to do with it.

Somehow, me and millions of others survived endless winters with 2x4's because we knew how to drive.

And there's the difference. 4x2 drivers survive the winter and 4x4 drivers enjoy the winter.

first, understand why there is a differential (if you don't) and then they why
of the various things to then try to simulate a solid axle again...

If the axle is solidly connecting the two wheels for that axle...there is a large
chance the axle will break soon or over time trying to keep both tires spinning
at the same RMPs...going over the different circle radius shown in my above diagram

A differential will allow the two tires to rotate at different RPMS to save
braking the axle

But...the down side is that an 'open' differential will only spin ONE tire if
the vehicle is on slipper surface(s)

That can get you stuck in a hurry...even faster if that one spinning is allowed
to spin really FAST...it will dig a hole deeper...

LS (limited slip) differential has the two axle halves connected to a clutch or
some such mechanism to 'try' to keep both connected as if a solid axle. Again
the above diagram and the rear tires going at different radi...an LS will try
to get both at the same RPM, but will 'slip' because of the clutches (or whatever
that OEM employs to tie the axle halves together)

LS, locker, etc are just trying to keep the axle halves spining at the same
or similar RPMs to keep enough traction to keep going in slippery conditions

AWD or full time 4x4 is just that...there is a 3rd member in the transfer case
to allow the two drive shafts to spin at different RPMs (ref diagram again)_and
NOT break one of the drive shafts or their U-Joints, etc...

LS, locker, etc makes 4x4 even more effective...

BenK wrote:
Example of both asking and advisors on 4x4...vs my point that if you
have to ask...don't get it...you'll know when you need it...

We have 4WD and have never used it. We also have a LSD (4.10). Am curious if a LSD affects anything wrt driving on pavement with 4WD engaged?

Example of both asking and advisors on 4x4...vs my point that if you
have to ask...don't get it...you'll know when you need it...

On another forum, someone asked about both a 'vibration' and 'noise'
from underneath their 4x4 half ton pickup

Asked if they drove it in 4x4 on pavement....yes was their answer and
asked me why I'd ask that?

Told them that it should NOT be driven on pavement or any good traction
conditions. As 4x4 is for slippery/adverse/etc conditions.

Then asked if it was full time and they had no clue...clearly someone
who should NOT have bought a 4x4 until they bone up and know HOW2 use
his equipment

Asked how they shifted into 4x4...just push the button with the 4x4.
Asked if there was a 4x4 'low' button....yes...so it is a standard 4x4
with no 3rd member (diff in the transfer case) and two speed transfer case

Some guy then said I was full of it and it is OKAY to drive on pavement
with 4x4 engaged

After a couple cycles...in exasperation asked him to show us how it
is okay by going out to a large DRY asphalt parking lot with no cars
to get in the way and do this:

Put it in 4x4 lock (low even better), turn the steering wheel all the
way to the bump stops. Makes no difference left or right...just to
the bump stop and HOLD it there while giving enough throttle to keep
it rolling

Then drive in a circle all the while holding the steering wheel up
against the bump stop

Then told him it will break something...after 3 or more circles...

A few days later he came back threatening to sue me for breaking his
truck...

Someone reminded him that I warned him...and I reminded him that on these
freebie forums...there is no skin or liability in the advice game...

I do take providing advice seriously and have to sleep at nite



Here is a busted transfer case
bustedtransfercase transfercase



Here is the why of it while in 4x4 lock. All the tires take a different
track or radius. If out in the dirt/etc...the tires will scrub...if
on pavement with good traction...the tires most likely will NOT scrub
but bend/break/etc drive line stuff
4x4radius 4x4arc radius4x4

batavia02 wrote:
Not too toot my horn but I am op. And I am stunned my simple question has now, up to 6pages thanks gor all the answers .and help. .I will go back and reread all the answers.thanks everybody!

A search will find a similar lengthy discussion on 4WD vs 2WD every 6 to 8 weeks.

Not too toot my horn but I am op. And I am stunned my simple question has now, up to 6pages thanks gor all the answers .and help. .I will go back and reread all the answers.thanks everybody!

You proved my "flawed" point...

After several hundred words...did the OP get a 'yes' or 'no' answer??

I've been off-roading both 2WD & 4WD since the mid sixties

Used to advisecanyobe asking to get it...thinking more would reduce pricing via higher volumes and more parts

Turns out many were likewise advising YES...

Too many who didn't need nor should drove the OEMs to dumb down 4x4.

Dumbing it down has increased the complexity, cost and servicabilty

Floor levers were too confusing. So they are now generally in the dash with buttons...inter-locked so as to not have them used in the wrong sequence...the Transfer case shifter is now motorised...all requiring a tech to program new parts...min four hours to dial it in

How many times on this and other forums had some one ask of it is ok to drive in 4x4 on pavement??? Plus advisors saying it is ok...they have been and nothing wrong...

Know this for a fact...one of them is my real estate broker, property manager. I told him no...Too many others said yes...Plus he checked off ALL of the options boxes...many he still does not know what they are

Much more...those folks should not get it..they had to ask...