Do you REALLY NEED 4×4?

[tony72cutlass's']

I use 4WD almost every day in the winter to plough myself out of my inclined spot I park on

this is Canada though, and I could probably use the locker and ease myself out, but why not throw it in 4H and mash the gas?

meanwhile in Canada a guy up the road from me mashes the gas too hard going DOWNHILL

guess the engineers didn’t design the 4A transfer case to get into ditches - ‘eh

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[Bossharp]

I'm in Florida so no issues with snow. Budget IS..I'm a 100% disabled Navy vet, 69 years old and buying a new truck to drive off into the sunset lolol! I built and priced the identical XL short bed and the difference in MSRP is about 5 grand. I'm not sure that is worth it that's why I posted this thread. Sure I guess it's better to have it and not need it but in the last few years inflation has absolutely had a impact on my pension. I know I can make the payment either way but it would make some difference. To many folks here I know it doesn't. More than anything I wanted to ask the opinion of folks who actually own,drive and use what I'm getting.
Having good off road tires and the locker will probably suffice in my situation. No boat,dont tow and actually don't drive many miles period. I'm going to look at a front winch as a option but I have the feeling some recovery gear on the truck will probably do.

 

[Old Hat]

My father in law used to take his two wheel drive pickup into back country upper p. Michigan for hunting. One time some surprised 4 wheelers they came across asked "You brought your 2 wheel drive truck BACK HERE?" His answer: Yep, and we got the bumps on our heads to prove it!

Save your money, you'll be fine without it and have plenty of fun.

 

[amschind]

With this truck, the one time that I've gotten stuck, I got out with the locker and an impromptu traction board. Big question: if you got stuck, could you get someone to pull you out? Farmers have more need for 4WD than the vast majority of us, but commonly have 2WD trucks because 1)it's easy/necessary for them to weigh the back down and 2) they can unstick the truck with the tractor at a cost of 15 minutes in $2.50 of diesel.

 

[tony72cutlass's']

I'm in Florida so no issues with snow. Budget IS..I'm a 100% disabled Navy vet, 69 years old and buying a new truck to drive off into the sunset lolol! I built and priced the identical XL short bed and the difference in MSRP is about 5 grand. I'm not sure that is worth it that's why I posted this thread. Sure I guess it's better to have it and not need it but in the last few years inflation has absolutely had a impact on my pension. I know I can make the payment either way but it would make some difference. To many folks here I know it doesn't. More than anything I wanted to ask the opinion of folks who actually own,drive and use what I'm getting.
Having good off road tires and the locker will probably suffice in my situation. No boat,dont tow and actually don't drive many miles period. I'm going to look at a front winch as a option but I have the feeling some recovery gear on the truck will probably do.

Other than in snow I have zero use for 4x4, I would save my money and not think twice

 

[JExpedition07]

I use 4WD almost every day in the winter to plough myself out of my inclined spot I park on

this is Canada though, and I could probably use the locker and ease myself out, but why not throw it in 4H and mash the gas?

meanwhile in Canada a guy up the road from me mashes the gas too hard going DOWNHILL

guess the engineers didn’t design the 4A transfer case to get into ditches - ‘eh

2 weeks ago me and my cousin were driving back up to Buffalo from DC. We were in her Edge. The highway was covered in snow and it was coming down insanely hard. I told her to slow down. She said “I have it in AWD I do this all the time”

3 minutes later she lost control, and rammed my side of the car into the guardrail at 50 MPH. We jumped the guardrail, spun around 3-4 times, and ended up down in a huge ravine. We sat there for 4 hours waiting for my uncle to come rescue, tow trucks were booked. There’s you invincible AWD/4WD for you. People drive like idiots and have no clue what it even does.

My Expedition EL had 4A. When you come off the gas or brake those clutch packs let the front disengage, it does nothing to help you stop or turn when coasting etc. I love when a Tahoe or big Super Duty blows by at 70 MPH in a snow storm, they are always in the ditch a mile up.

 

[powerboatr]

YES ...even when we lived in fl...4x4 made pulling boat out of water a breeze

 

[Spiffers]

I always fall on the "better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it". For 99% of what I use a truck for I don't need 4x4 but the times I'm driving in the field or up around the barn early of the mornings when the grass can be slick it's a life saver.

 

[air2mag]

With the OP’s additional info, I would say you don’t need it.

 

[Bossharp]

I bought a new 1995 XL Super Cab in 'Desert Copper Clearcoat Metallic'. I put a set of wide Dunlop Sport Rovers on 10" rims..and got stuck on wet grass in my front yard.

 

[WhiteLightningnshitshadow]

The issue w/ 2WD in trucks has always been the lighter rear end that can limit traction when you need it. Lots of mass sitting on the front wheels and when you need it it's priceless. 2WD trucks are at a great disadvantage than FWD vehicles that have sufficient mass on the drive axle.

If you're in FL and don't leave the road, you probably won't miss it. Do any trail riding or sand and you're just looking for a pull-out. For most applications the TOD is a better transfer case and you can swap them out for ~$1200 or so depending on new/used parts availability.

Most people don't ask this, and that's a mistake. I wanted another 2wd after selling my 2004 2wd f150. Its simple, lighter, more efficient, and probably going to give me less problems down the line than a 4x4. 4wd is frankly useless unless there's really sufficient snow on the ground or sandy/muddy trails. I basically never got stuck in my LSD 2wd, but having a locker out back would've made it even better.

Colorado has snow and ice plus some pretty difficult trails around the great sand dunes. My wife talked me into 4wd and I'll admit Ive already used it once more just to say I used it, but I really don't think it was super necessary. Getting stuck is half the fun. It would've been nice saving 5k on omitting the system. I do like some of the stuff the 4wd option comes with though like thicker the sway bar and tow hooks.

 

[parkerdog]

I'm ordering a 2024 F-150 XL single cab and wanted to ask yall do you really need or use 4 wheel drive for most of your back country adventures? The basic truck is a 5.0 with a 3.73 locker that I imagine is fairly capable with quality all terrain tires but I have no first hand experience. I bought 2 new 4×4 SUV's (Kia Sportage 1998 and 2002) and never actually had to use it! But I did NOT venture into really bad or muddy territory. We had family in West Virginia and snow could have been a issue but never actually was. I'm in Florida and most of the family up there moved down here so not really a factor now.
I've never owned a single cab short bed truck before but but what little I have heard is that for most back county adventures it is a great platform!
So what has been your experience? Do you find you can get around in 2 wheel drive just fine or do you engage the 4×4 as a matter of course when you leave the pavement? My thoughts were quality tires made a big difference with a rear locker and if I really got worried about getting stuck a small front bumper winch might be a viable option..But I have no real experience. Mom always said ask someone who knows lolol!

If I could have ordered my 22 single cab in 2wd with the 3.73 I would have. I've outgrown the must go out and play in the snow and mud. When the weather is bad I stay home.

I had to order 4wd to get the 3.73 with the 5.0 for 22.

Less to go wrong with a 2wd and if the rear of the truck is lighter then all the better for roasting the tires. (haven't outgrown that yet)

 

[Bossharp]

To make a Super Cab XLT from 2 wheel drive to 4×4 is just over $3,800.00 to make the single cab a 4×4 is $5,005.00..and a single cab is the only way to get a 8' bed. Things I guess really changed for 2024. Content for the XL single cab really went up too.

 

[sts90]

Do you need it, no. Father and I only had 2wd trucks until the price became more reasonable. So now, I would not own one with out it. Basically, drive it like a fearless 2wd drive truck and when you are stuck 4wd works 100% of the time. It beats the hell out of shoveling, using boards/ other items, or old school walking the truck with strap/ chain. That rear locker and airing down will get you out of a lot bad but that plus 4wd it hard to beat. I have seen 2wd drive trucks get stuck on wet grass in the morning because it is so light in the rear. However nothing will save you from bad common sense like “that mud does not look that deep” choices.

 

[tony72cutlass's']

2 weeks ago me and my cousin were driving back up to Buffalo from DC. We were in her Edge. The highway was covered in snow and it was coming down insanely hard. I told her to slow down. She said “I have it in AWD I do this all the time”

3 minutes later she lost control, and rammed my side of the car into the guardrail at 50 MPH. We jumped the guardrail, spun around 3-4 times, and ended up down in a huge ravine. We sat there for 4 hours waiting for my uncle to come rescue, tow trucks were booked. There’s you invincible AWD/4WD for you. People drive like idiots and have no clue what it even does.

My Expedition EL had 4A. When you come off the gas or brake those clutch packs let the front disengage, it does nothing to help you stop or turn when coasting etc. I love when a Tahoe or big Super Duty blows by at 70 MPH in a snow storm, they are always in the ditch a mile up.

Man that is wicked dude, I feel the same way I just take it easy

how do you like the expo? I’m looking for something a bit bigger for the wife she’s got a civic right now but it’s not cutting it for hauling all the stuff we’ve got

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