2wd vs 4wd

ford truck guy wrote:
quote - -
Good thing your "circle" never lived 30 or 20 years ago when 4x4 was pretty rare..

BTW... been driving STUFF for over 35 years... I believe that falls in the 20-30 category... driven 2 wheel drive trucks... 4x4 trucks.. big one stack macks... freight shakers.. Nobody will convince me that a 2 wheel drive truck will go the same places as a 4x4...

I agree with GdeTrailer.

But them I'm an old geezer, who has been driving for 50 + years.

I'm guessing you're too young to understand what it was like driving back in the 1960's and earlier, as you indicated you've been driving for 35 years. Not being negative...just a case of me and other old guys have been driving ....some of us for 50-60 years or more. Things, vehicles were different back then. Maybe not as good as newer vehicles, but that's what was available. :)

Driving for 35 years take you only back to 1979/80.

Back in the '60's< I was driving 2WD farm trucks and pickups in heavy country snow, down farm roads and in the farm fields.

Back then, I also drove commercial trucks in heavy ice and snow, Western Canadian winters. Similar conditions to what some Northern states like Montana and North Dakota experience.

Where I live we get winters that go to around 5/12 months long and the snow doesn't melt. It comes late October, early November and it's still here early April, sometimes late March.

Very few 4WD vehicles available back then (1960's and before) in either the USA or Canada. Mostly 2WD and you had to learn how to drive in traction limited terrain, with what was available.

In fact, in 1963, the only 4WD I recall seeing in my area was an older Dodge Power Wagon, which was used by a gas station. Other gas station trucks then were things like older '50's Fargo (Canadian Dodge), '50's Chevy/ Fords one ton pickups, with shop built wrecker units in them. Except for the Power Wagon, all 2WD,

In difficult snowy terrain, would I rather be in a 4wd with a Limited slip or locker on the rear drive axle ?

Sure.

But if it's really dicey, then give me a tracked vehicle.;)

But 2WD, with extra weight over the drive axle, good ground clearance, with the right tires, locker or limited slip on the drive axle, lot's of experience and an 'educated' foot ....you'd be surprised how well 2WD will do.

Up here, we have many ice roads that are used for transportation of goods to isolated communities. All the trucks are class 8 tractors. Some have rear tandem drive axles. Some just have tandem axles with drive to only one rear axle. They make it through difficult traction conditions.