How's your 2wd drive in the snow?

[hobigusn]

I got the money, the style and the years of truck i want but still need to figure out 2wd vs 4wd. I just test drove a 2004 2wd and a 4wd. 2 exact trucks on the same bad bumpy road. The 4wd jarred my back pretty good, but the 2wd was a nice ride. So i would like a 2wd if it can be driven in the snow. I thought i could just put wieght in the back and get a limited slip and be fine. But i hear alot of "if you live in Michigan you really want a 4wd". So how does your 2wd do in the snow? Any problems? Stories and experiences would be great.

 

[EnLjones]

I've owned 2 wheel trucks before... never again, 4 wheel is the only way to go if you plan on driving in bad weather, bad driving conditions or ever leave the black top. If you have a 4x4 you can always leave it in 2 wheel drive if you don't need it, but you can never put it in 4 wheel drive when you need it if all you drive is a 2x4.

 

[mrtrombley]

To answer your question in a word - terrible!

I have had 2 2wd's and now have a 4wd, what a difference. It's like anything else, if you are careful you can do pretty well. But there always seems to be one of those times!!!

I have driven my 2wd's in pretty bad winter driving and have always gotten through, but there were sure some white knuckle trips. I don' have that worry anymore with the 4wd. Believe me when I say that a 2wd can get stuck on flat ground. The dual rear wheels are like skates under you. Just wish my 4wd got as good mileage as the 2wd's.

 

[Bob Cochran]

I agree 2wd is not good if you drive in a lot of snowy/icy weather or mud. You have a lot of iron up front and no weight in the rear. Even adding weight in the real like I did with water in 55 gallon drums. It helps a lot and you can get by but not well. I have a jeep I use in the winter and pretty much keep the truck parked until days of nice weather. I am not in anywhere near Michigan weather a lot milder where I am at.



While I don't have or driven a 4wd diesel I have been told they are not the best performers in snow and ice. I have no actual experience like I said just passing on what I hear. Some will say the 4wd diesel works great in these conditions but I have my doubts. Certainly the 4wd is way better than the 2wd no question.

To answer your question in a word - terrible!



I have had 2 2wd's and now have a 4wd, what a difference. It's like anything else, if you are careful you can do pretty well. But there always seems to be one of those times!!!



I have driven my 2wd's in pretty bad winter driving and have always gotten through, but there were sure some white knuckle trips. I don' have that worry anymore with the 4wd. Believe me when I say that a 2wd can get stuck on flat ground. The dual rear wheels are like skates under you. Just wish my 4wd got as good mileage as the 2wd's.

 

[jgillott]

My father owned 2wd trucks from 1967 till just last year. For the most part, he had great success with them. But, there were a few dozen days a year that his trucks were unusable. After all those years of getting stuck, chaining up, and/or walking home, he finally gave in a purchased a 4x4 for his latest. You can certainly get by with a 2wd if you are willing to go through the hastle a handful of days a year, but after watching what he went through over the years, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[HBarlow]

I've had the opposite experience from the members who posted above. I have never owned a 4wd truck because I don't want the added purchase expense, added maintenance expense, and other negatives such as harsher ride and wider turning circle.

I don't live in snow country and don't do any off road driving so I don't need or want four wheel drive.

When I was transporting trailers I pulled long heavy trailers, many of them conventional travel trailers with a ball coupler hitch, out of Indiana and across I-80, I-90, and I-94 in the winter. I pulled ice and snow covered passes and occasionally surface streets and parking lots covered with 8" or 10" snow. Never had trouble getting where I wanted to go and never got stuck. It is true that there were several times when I would have engaged 4wd and been grateful to have it but I was never unable to go where I needed to go and never got stuck without it.

I never replaced a front end part in 325k miles on an '01 2wd or 230k miles on an '06 2wd. How many times would I have had to rebuild the front suspension and steering if those had been 4wd trucks? And what would it have cost me?

If you live or travel daily on unimproved or unplowed roads in snow country winters or you enjoy off-roading I would say you need and want a 4wd. If you drive your truck 80 or 90% of the time on dry pavement, 4wd is an added expense with trade-offs. 4wd won't help much on ice but I realize it is a huge advantage in deep snow.

 

[Jim W]

I have always own at least one 4X4 vehicle in the last 42 years that I have own vehicles. I have also own a 2 wheel drive vehicles at the same time in those years, but had the 4X4 for winter driving. For most of the time a 2 wheel drive vehicle would work in Northern IL. But it would never fail when it snow, I would be getting the call to pull out the family members 2 wheel drive vehicle with my 4X4 truck when they got stuck.

I have found when towing my 5er in the camping season. I have had the need to use the 4X4 feature of my truck when on wet grass. The rear wheels would just sit and spin with the 5er attached trying to pull the camper out of the camping site after a heavy rain during the night.

I tried to use the parking brake to stop the tries from spinning and provide some traction but this would not even help. The only thing that worked was the 4X4 feature to move the truck and camper.

Another item to consider is resale value of the truck. Most people who buy a pick-up now want 4X4 truck, so the demand is up for this style of truck. Even if they do not ever need this feature. Look around on how many pick-up trucks are on the road and how many are 4X4's.

Jim

 

[Motorhead]

Even here in Sunny calif I switched from a 2wd to a 4wd. I had a nicely equiped '01. 5 2wd and the first time I got off road into some sand, I was stuck. We have a 1000lb lump of cast iron under the hood! My third gen 4wd rides quite well. What shape were the tires on the third gen 4wd that you test drove?
To keep my fuel mileage up and eliminate the excessive wear on the front end parts, I put on a set of free spin front hubs. It made the steering lighter and keeps all the front driveline from turning unless I need it.

 

[JohnBoy5]

well i live in NC and we get more ice then snow but we dont even get much ice. I have yet to have a problem getting any where i needed too. i also have fam in MD and i was able to do just fine there as well. i had a power trax locker untill i broke it and now have a detroit locker. the lockers make it a little tough to drive on slick road as far as side steping but getting places it does jsut fine i think. I have toyed with buying a 4wd truck because where i keep my goose neck it tends to get alittle muddy and i have been stuck there and a 4wd woudl have helped. i will say this, i have no intrest in a 4wd daily driver. i love my 2wd!



I think tires make the most difference on snow and ice. when i buy tires i look and wet/snow/ice traction and cab noise. dry traction is not something i tend to worry aobut because you have to be doing something pretty stupid to need to think about that or on a race track. i dont think i see my truck on a race track in the near future. well maybe a thursday night at the drag strip playing around!!!!! LOL

 

[MAshley]

But i hear alot of "if you live in Michigan you really want a 4wd". So how does your 2wd do in the snow? .

It may help us to know what you plan to do with your CTD?

Daily Driver to work?

towing a RV on the weekend?

Do you plan to leave the pavment?

Do you live in Michigan ?

Haul a camper?

Have another front wheel drive, or 4x4 car to manage the really crappy times.





IF your just going to drive on the pavment and never leave the pavment then sure 2wd will work, but plan on adding weight for traction in the winter, and posibly getting stuck in some snow and or on the ice.





IF your just going to drive on the pavment and leave the pavment every so often, want to play in the deep snow, or have a place you enjoy camping that is a little wet sometimes then 4wd will work, but plan on adding weight for traction in the winter, and posibly getting stuck in some snow and or on the ice.





Lets face it you will get stuck in a 4x4, but maybe not as often as a 2wd truck. I live in Seattle so when it snows, or gets icy I have HILLS to deal with, a **** poor snow plan with the state, and drivers that freak out. In my neck of the woods a 2wd truck is basically parked, unless it has studs, and about 2,000 lbs of weight in the back. So my situation is a lot different then flat Michigan. Oh and it rains a lot too so the ground is allways soft and muddy, so again a 2wd doesnt' leave the pavment.

 

[HBarlow]

... ... ... ... ... ... ... . Most people who buy a pick-up now want 4X4 truck, so the demand is up for this style of truck. Even if they do not ever need this feature. Look around on how many pick-up trucks are on the road and how many are 4X4's... ..... Jim

Not where I live and probably not across the southern states or in the southwest. I believe sales vary with region of the country. I don't remember seeing Dodge sales specs but I think the larger percentage of Cummins powered Dodge Rams are not 4x4. It would be interesting to know Dodge's sales numbers.

 

[Crunch]

I have two wheel drive and only wish I had a 4X4 a few days out of the year. As others has said, there is a lot of weight up front with little in the rear. Once I'm moving it's no problem, but taking off from a stop on wet grass, wet roads or light snow is a problem. I notice it the most at stop lights after it has rained. My solution is to try to foresee those problems and take the appropriate action to avoid it, and enjoy the benefits of not having 4 wheel drive the other 360 days of the year. 99% of my driving is on decent roads, so when deciding between the two you will have to factor in where most of your driving will be.

 

[Shadrach]

My 03 is a 4X4, but I would've still bought it if it was 2WD as I don't plan on using it much in the winter. Having said that I am glad it is 4WD an we do get a lot of snow. I have a 4Runner and a Highlander as well so all my vehicles are either 4WD or AWD. Around here probably 75% of the trucks are 4WD and about the same percentage are diesels. It's like A/C some people say we only need it a few days a year up here , but it sure is nice when you do use it. All my vehicles have air. Shadrach

 

[AABEN]

Get the 4x4 if you are going off road and snow or ice.

 

[LBARTLETT]

the last 2-wheel drive (all ctd's) i bought new in 93' until the 06' in my sig. which I purchased a month aog, granted we have my wife's megacab 4x4



granted I moved to Texas from Ks. 2 1/2 years ago



I have never been so pleased the ride I now experience, I have never been so relieved to know the steering issues, ball joints, extra maint. are all behind me



if it is so bad I need 4x4 anymore I'm staying home, especially since where I live now in east Tx no one knows how to drive on ice or snow anyway

 

[BrianJ]

I live in and grew up in Colorado and I learned to drive with a 4x2 truck and rear wheel drive cars, so it's definately doable. That being said, there were a handful of times each winter that chains were required, and times that I couldn't get where I wanted to go heading to trail heads, etc in the mountains. Now with 26 years experience driving in Colorado, I would not buy a 4x2 truck or suv. Whenever I have owned a car, I have also had a 4x4 truck or suv to rely on in winter. Snow or off road wasn't the only issue either, there has been several times launching a boat that I have needed to engage 4x4 to pull out of the boat ramp. I would NOT have liked not having 4x4 available and needing to have someone pull me out of a boat ramp. If I lived in a southern state I would probably stick with a 4x2, northern or snowy climate I wouldn't even consider it having experience with both.

 

[hobigusn]

I've had the opposite experience from the members who posted above. I have never owned a 4wd truck because I don't want the added purchase expense, added maintenance expense, and other negatives such as harsher ride and wider turning circle.



I don't live in snow country and don't do any off road driving so I don't need or want four wheel drive.



When I was transporting trailers I pulled long heavy trailers, many of them conventional travel trailers with a ball coupler hitch, out of Indiana and across I-80, I-90, and I-94 in the winter. I pulled ice and snow covered passes and occasionally surface streets and parking lots covered with 8" or 10" snow. Never had trouble getting where I wanted to go and never got stuck. It is true that there were several times when I would have engaged 4wd and been grateful to have it but I was never unable to go where I needed to go and never got stuck without it.



I never replaced a front end part in 325k miles on an '01 2wd or 230k miles on an '06 2wd. How many times would I have had to rebuild the front suspension and steering if those had been 4wd trucks? And what would it have cost me?



If you live or travel daily on unimproved or unplowed roads in snow country winters or you enjoy off-roading I would say you need and want a 4wd. If you drive your truck 80 or 90% of the time on dry pavement, 4wd is an added expense with trade-offs. 4wd won't help much on ice but I realize it is a huge advantage in deep snow.

I totally agree about the added maintance and harsher ride. I'm trying to avoid all that if i can. A 2wd should work in Michigan snow. But that's why i'm here talking to you guys.

 

[hobigusn]

It may help us to know what you plan to do with your CTD?

Daily Driver to work?

towing a RV on the weekend?

Do you plan to leave the pavment?

Do you live in Michigan ?

Haul a camper?

Have another front wheel drive, or 4x4 car to manage the really crappy times.





IF your just going to drive on the pavment and never leave the pavment then sure 2wd will work, but plan on adding weight for traction in the winter, and posibly getting stuck in some snow and or on the ice.





IF your just going to drive on the pavment and leave the pavment every so often, want to play in the deep snow, or have a place you enjoy camping that is a little wet sometimes then 4wd will work, but plan on adding weight for traction in the winter, and posibly getting stuck in some snow and or on the ice.





Lets face it you will get stuck in a 4x4, but maybe not as often as a 2wd truck. I live in Seattle so when it snows, or gets icy I have HILLS to deal with, a **** poor snow plan with the state, and drivers that freak out. In my neck of the woods a 2wd truck is basically parked, unless it has studs, and about 2,000 lbs of weight in the back. So my situation is a lot different then flat Michigan. Oh and it rains a lot too so the ground is allways soft and muddy, so again a 2wd doesnt' leave the pavment.

My future CTD will be my daily driver and only truck. It will be my versital, do any kind of work around the city truck. a city with alot of deep pot holes. that's why a smooth ride is so important. i don't plan on leaving the pavement and snow is the worst the tuck would see. I would love the smooth ride, better mileage and less maintance of a 2wd if i can manage life without a 4wd. I'm stationed in Cali now and i'm looking for a good rust free truck now while i'm here and taking it back to Michigan in a year. I would have family close in case i get stuck and need a pull but i would never hear the end of it if I get pulled out by my mom's jeep. I was planing on a LSD and 500 lbs of weight in the back.

 

[Austin Diesel]

4 wd is worth the extra cash once you have been stuck a few times, if you hit the mud or leave the pavement it will sink as the rear wheels wont push the truck thru mud never buy another 2wd again ever for that much money get the 4x4



after the last go round and the track hoe pulled me out never again, to much weight over the front not to have the front axles driven



austin diesel

 

[Turbo_Bob]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/2147495-post6.html



If you go off road, launch boats, live in the mountains or high altitude, then 4wd would be a good choice.



I have almost been stuck off road in sand and been stuck in snow on a slight slope. The problem is, as long as you keep your speed up there is not a problem, it is when you stop. Going up a 6% grade freeway with snow on it was a challenge. CA drivers suck in the snow, and when I got caught in that snow I knew I was in trouble. Most cars are auto, and most drivers tailgate, so you get a stop and go condition. And being in first gear at idle speed, 4 mph was still too fast. I had to stop, once that happened my tires spun and no go. The people behind me and beside me could see I was having a problem. They gave me room, I gave it power, the truck drifted sideways to the crown of the sloping freeway, once I got on the shoulder of the road I gained some traction, got some momentum. I just drove on the shoulder, kept my speed up by shifting into the higher gears, got up to 5th gear, fish tailing all the way up the pass. I was constantly turning into the drift of the rear end to be in control. It must have looked like I was Cop's TV show being chased, from the other drivers seeing me go by at 30 to 50 mph on the shoulder. But that's what I had to do so I would not get stuck, just glad my wife was not with me, she would have been screaming #@$%!