4x4
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 528
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From: Indy
Here's another piece of advice - if you do decide to get 4 wd (which doens't sound like you need it), make sure it has the limited slip. It's an additional 'option'. If it doesn't say limited slip rear end on the window sticker, it has an open differential (even if it is 4wd)
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,144
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It all depends on what you want. If you want 4x4 get 4x4. If you dont want 4x4 dont get 4x4.
Personally, if I were to get a truck and keep it all stock I would get a 4x4. They look better in my opinion. If you were going to lower a truck, 2x4 is better, but I"m guessing you prolly wont lower the truck.
I would go 4x4. It looks better, you can drive it many more places as well. Saying this, all the vehicles in my family that are 4x4 get used HARD as 4x4's. We've had the sporttrac on 2 wheels on black bear pass in colorado. Been in deep mud on the farm with the PSD 250. Drove much saffer in the snow with the Tahoe and Expy in the snow-icy conditions. Its not to say you cant make it in the snow/ice with a 2x4, you can. BUT, its so much nicer/easier with a 4x4.
This past winter the weather got really bad for Oklahoma, and Instead of taking my truck on the road used the sporttrac, and it was much better to drive. Many of the 2x4's were getting stuck in parking lots, I just backed out and had at it. No problems.
Get the 4x4, it doesn't cost that much more if you can afford it!
Personally, if I were to get a truck and keep it all stock I would get a 4x4. They look better in my opinion. If you were going to lower a truck, 2x4 is better, but I"m guessing you prolly wont lower the truck.
I would go 4x4. It looks better, you can drive it many more places as well. Saying this, all the vehicles in my family that are 4x4 get used HARD as 4x4's. We've had the sporttrac on 2 wheels on black bear pass in colorado. Been in deep mud on the farm with the PSD 250. Drove much saffer in the snow with the Tahoe and Expy in the snow-icy conditions. Its not to say you cant make it in the snow/ice with a 2x4, you can. BUT, its so much nicer/easier with a 4x4.
This past winter the weather got really bad for Oklahoma, and Instead of taking my truck on the road used the sporttrac, and it was much better to drive. Many of the 2x4's were getting stuck in parking lots, I just backed out and had at it. No problems.
Get the 4x4, it doesn't cost that much more if you can afford it!
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 749
Likes: 0
From: Lakeville, Minnesota, USA
My previous truck was a '97 2x4, current '99 is a 4x4.
If I was paying again, I'd NOT get the 4x4. Is it nice to have? Yes. Necessary, no (for me anyways). I never got my '97 2wd stuck in seven winters around here. Just not an issue if you are half way competent driver. Good tires and sand in the bed help out nicely.
My 4x4 is more sluggish due to the extra weight of the 4x4 gear (and thats even with the 3.55's - the 2wd had 3:08's!), and gets 1.5 mpg worse fuel mileage than the 2wd did (15.5mpg vs 17 mpg).
Is it nice to have? Sure. Do I need it? Not really. Save yourself the cash.
If I was paying again, I'd NOT get the 4x4. Is it nice to have? Yes. Necessary, no (for me anyways). I never got my '97 2wd stuck in seven winters around here. Just not an issue if you are half way competent driver. Good tires and sand in the bed help out nicely.
My 4x4 is more sluggish due to the extra weight of the 4x4 gear (and thats even with the 3.55's - the 2wd had 3:08's!), and gets 1.5 mpg worse fuel mileage than the 2wd did (15.5mpg vs 17 mpg).
Is it nice to have? Sure. Do I need it? Not really. Save yourself the cash.