I LOVE four wheel drive!

Grim/Don

Grim/Don

Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,221
We got 8-10 inches of snow here in the Kansas City area yesterday. I'd purchased a new Silverado over the summer and opted for the one that had the 4WD (I test-drove one without and like 'with' better). Man... It was SO nice to know I could make it home without getting stuck. And getting back into work this morning... :D light turns red, pull away and look in the side mirrors to see the other cars weaving and spinning. First time I'd ever driven with 4WD. Like a co-worker said, once you've got it, you'll never go back...

Let me mention that I didn't 'race' anywhere. I grew up driving in Pennsylvania and know how to keep a proper distance from the vehicle in front of me. And, that while I can go better that those without 4WD, I won't be able to stop much better (well, maybe a little, but not enough to chance it.) It makes me mad to see tailgaters in normal conditions... but people still do it even in this kind of weather...:mad: Then wonder why they end up off the road trying to avoid that "jerk" who tried to stop in front of them.
 
4WD would be really nice if more folks would learn how to use them. I remember I got such a kick out of watching an idiot in a 4WD one year. Here in Oklahoma we get our share of snow, but out real claim to fame is ice storms. We will have times with no snow at all, just a nice 2 or 3 inch sheet of solid smooth ice covering everything, extremely dangerous.

Anyways, one year during an ice storm I left work to go home, and traffic was moving at about 10-15 mph (any faster and you have no chance of stopping). So there I was scooting along pretty slow and this mental midget in a brand new Ford Expedition roars up behind me and starts honking, flashing his high-beams and shooting me the bird. Finally he passes me (thats when I saw the new car paper tag) and pulls away doing at least 50.

About a mile later I come slowly over a hill and see this idiots Expedition nose down in a ditch and him standing by it trying to wave somebody down for help or a ride. I passed by and shot him the bird and figured he got just what he deserved.
 
In NY it saves time with plowing the driveway. (for me it's AWD) but, if you get stuck in the mud/snow with 4WD you're really screwed.
 
I finally got a 4X4 in 2004 and feel really fortunate. We moved far South of Chicago about 15 years ago and the roads don't get plowed like in and near the city. I was out earlier this evening picking my son up from work and out on the back roads in about 4 inches of fresh snow. The only vehicles driving were me and some snow mobiles. We drove off into the fields for fun and I could barely tell I was no longer on the road. I have an Expedition and it is leaps and bounds above the Blazer or Explorers we use at work. I have to say though in the old days when I was pre-4X4 it was great fun to get passed by pick ups and SUV's only to see the morons in the ditch or median after they lost control.
 
I couldn't get to work half of the time without four wheel drive. I work in a natural gas field in southern Colorado. Many of the roads are primitive at best. The worst are newly-bulldozed paths up the sides of steep ridges. The winter is pretty bad, with the snow and ice. But summers are worse with the deep wet clay.

Even if you don't actually use the Four-wheel-drive often, two-wheel-drive trucks have no clearance. Yep, 4WD trucks cost more, but they'll always be worth more too.

-Bob
 
I've got a 2002 Ford Ranger. Its my first 4WD and I will always have a 4WD. I think FWD does an adequate job, but its not the same. Just remember that the laws of physics still apply :D 4WD won't help you stop either!

There is nothing in the world more useless than a 2WD pickup in snow or mud, unless you've got a load in the back. When I have the Ranger in 2WD, I have trouble getting out of my driveway if there is a little snow on the ground, and my driveways basically flat!! Also, pickups will easily "kick out" the rear, instead of just spinning, which can also be worst than just spinning, like a FWD might do.
 
I sport a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Ltd. that runs alot better in part time 4WD. Full-time 4WD is a pain in the balls because it is alot harder to handle. Steering becomes a bitch. I reserve FT 4WD for when I'm really stuck or if I need to pull someone out.
 
I have a 2004 F-250 4x4, crew cab, short bed. I LOVE having a 4x4!! I LOVE my truck.
 
sak_collector said:
4WD would be really nice if more folks would learn how to use them. I remember I got such a kick out of watching an idiot in a 4WD one year. Here in Oklahoma we get our share of snow, but out real claim to fame is ice storms. We will have times with no snow at all, just a nice 2 or 3 inch sheet of solid smooth ice covering everything, extremely dangerous.

Anyways, one year during an ice storm I left work to go home, and traffic was moving at about 10-15 mph (any faster and you have no chance of stopping). So there I was scooting along pretty slow and this mental midget in a brand new Ford Expedition roars up behind me and starts honking, flashing his high-beams and shooting me the bird. Finally he passes me (thats when I saw the new car paper tag) and pulls away doing at least 50.

About a mile later I come slowly over a hill and see this idiots Expedition nose down in a ditch and him standing by it trying to wave somebody down for help or a ride. I passed by and shot him the bird and figured he got just what he deserved.
Click to expand...
That story rules ;) Reminds me of a time some guy was tailgating me honking and flipping me off. He finally swerves around me yelling out the window then cuts me off and speeds away. I look in my mirror and see the hihway patrol lights flashing and coming up fast. They pulled that idiot right over. I could not stop laughing as I passed by. If only stuff like this could happen more often.
 
I always laugh as I pass someone in a 4WD vehicle stuck in the snow in my FWD car. Some people will just never learn the 4WD doens't mean impossible to get stuck no matter what.
 
Both my wife and I have 95 Toyota 4X4's. Mine is a pickup with cab hi shell, and hers a 4 runner.

I've been involved in several multi(30+ vehicles)freeway accidents and came through without a scratch because of proper driving for ice(if there is such a thing:eek: ), and 4WD. All along the same section of freeway up by Flagstaff, AZ, in both of our vehicles. People just refuse to believe you can't maintain 75MPH+ on iced mountain freeways.:jerkit:

Even better than stock 4X4 is to add a limited slip differential to one or both axles.

Lockers have a slight advantage in some off road stuff, but not much. A good limited slip(posi traction) though is excellent in ice or snow.

A locker will send an equal amount of torque to both tires, including the one spinning, but the limited will sent torque to only the tire with the most traction, so you get limited tire spin.

Detroit True Trac is a good one that doesn't use clutch packs that have to be replaced periodically.
 
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