When I use my 4X4 in the snow, you can claim to be the BEST driver ever. You aren't going ANYWHERE til the chains are on. That's per the nice CHP guy waiting to let you go on up the road. So, while you're putting on chains or cables, I'm getting fresh tracks. Nice generalization, though.

 

I had two 4X2 trucks before I got my first 4X4. It is true that you can go through alot of stuff with 4X2 if you know how to drive. But.... I noticed that with my 4X4 I can go slower and be more careful than I could with my 4X2. With my 4X2 I had to go faster and keep heavier on the throttle to get through certain areas. With 4X4 I can be more carefull and easier and not risk going too fast and tearing something up or losing control. And regardless of "experience" there are just times when 4X4 is a must and 4x2 absolutely will not work. But there is validity to both sides. 4X4 is a must for me and always will be if it's my money.

 

Hah!

4x2's are for wusses and 4x4's are for wusses too!

Woohoo!

 

No offense but you are off base here and frankly sound ignorant. Sounds to me like you live in an urban or suburban area and don't go on county stage 2 roads (maybe you dont know what this is or have them by you?). True most of us use ou trucks as commuters as I do 95% of the time. But when I go to extreme rural Iowa, I need to travel down unmaintained dirt roads through mud to get to my destination, unless I want to carry my family a mile down the road on my back to get to the house. Or maybe help my in laws get to his animal on the farm in the snow/mud with anything of size (if its just us or a small tool, we use an ATV 4x4).

But unless you have these circumstances, or live in an area with lots of snow/sand/mud, you can get by w/o 4x4.

 

i thought so.

 

spoken like a true 4x2 owner.

 

Ignorant? I live in such an urban area that our largest town is the county seat with almost 6,000 residents. My house is at a opne of the lower valleys between the mountains and is at a little over 2,500 ' elevation. I grew up on a farm in the late 50's and 60's and we farmed with 1/2 ton 6 cylinder 4 speed (granny gear) two wheel drive trucks. I don't have to go to the country, I just go outside as I am surrounded by farms and can't even see another house from my house in the summer. You know you're in the country when the paved roads are referred to as the hard road. I live deep in the mountains where it snows. Isn't Iowa a little flat?

 

Let me add my $.02 to the heated debate.. lol

I've owned a '99 F-150, that I learned to drive with. It was a 4x2. I live in the snowbelt and I just threw 10 80lb sandbags in the back. Never got stuck, slided, or had any types of issues.

I've owned a '03 Ford Escape 4x4. Wrecked it cause I went too fast in 4x4 thinking I was invincible. I admit it. I got rid of it because I almost died going into a 60' deep ditch.

I now own the '07, and I have those 10 80lbs bags in the back... no issues, and drives even better than the '99. Never got stuck even going through snow up to my underbody. The key is to keep the throttle right, and keep it in the right gear.

However, manual versus automatic... auto 4x2 stink in the winter... manual 4x2s are excellent.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not putting down 4x4. 4x4 is great, I loved it on the Escape to go tearing up some mud and snow. But I got it stuck badly a lot.

4x2 just keeps you outta trouble in my eyes.

Now if I could have gotten 4x4 with the manual tranny... ohh lala... I would have taken it in an instant. A stick with 4x4 and a short bed is the best combo out there because you can really play tricks with the gears.

But it's still up to you, the buyer, as to what you want. Asking us will only give you suggestions and information. Personally, if I had the money, I'd rather go with the 4x4... but since I am a manual tranny fanatic, I chose to go with less. My perogative.. lol

 

I did say "no offense"...

So you do have experience (many of us don't). Iowa - flat in some areas very hilly in others.... Them thar stage 2 roads can get kind of hairy....

 

Yea, I guess they would be little hills. Iowa has a 1,190 difference in elevation from the lowest to highest points in the state. My parents are buried in the next county 3,000 feet higher than the 2,500 elevation I live at. Of course this is nothing compared to the Rockies. My wife has relatives that live in Iowa and they have great difficulty handling the curves and mountains when they visit.