2wd vs 4wd?

I've been looking for a while now to get an older 4 runner. I would like a 4wd but those are extremely hard to find that don't have too many miles. Is a 2wd 4runner worth it? I'm not planning on doing any major off roading, mostly just some dirt trails here and there. Is 2wd sufficient enough? Or should I just hold out longer and get a 4x4? any advice/input is appreciated!

 

A RWD SUV or truck is a hard pass unless you never go anywhere that snows or has sand or hills. It just lacks too much functionality.

 

I specifically looked for a 2wd 4runner because I knew I’d get myself into trouble with 4wd. With the driver mod and aired down all terrains, I’ve kept up with plenty of 4wd groups.
Less shit to break/upgrade, less weight(not much)

 

They make 2wd 4runners?

 

Lots of them, I had even thought all the limited models were 4wd, not the case

 

There are some days in the winter that I cannot even get up my driveway without 4wd.
If you drive in snow a 4wd is worth every penny you pay.

 

I live in Oregon and own a 2wd Tundra. Snows for a week or two during the winter with possible ice. 2wd has a much harder time in the snow but I slap chains on the rear and good to go. Chains cost me $250 compared to 4k-5k for 4wd. If you plan to off-road or live in a state with harsh winters, 4wd is much better. But 4wd won’t always save you in snow/ice. Sometimes 4wd needs chains as well. Gotta weigh cost to how often you will need 4wd

 

4wd is more expensive, has a larger turning radius, gets worse gas mileage and has higher maintenance. If needed, it is definitely worth having but I would guess that there is a high percentage of 4wd vehicles that never get shifted into 4wd. Both of my Tundras (2006, 2018) have been 2wd and have not regretted it one bit.

Dan

 

When I first heard that there was such a thing as a 2wd 4Runner, I couldn’t believe it. I mean, it’s in the name…4Runner.

A 2wd 4Runner isn’t a 4Runner at all.

It’s a 2Runner.

 

2WD will be fine off-roading, you will know your limitations once you hit the trails. Consider getting a locker, and carry some recovery gear. Learn how and when to air down. Get a set of studded tires for winter if you live in snow area. You can find cheap oem wheels on OfferUp and the like

 

4WD always

 

I’m not sure I’ve ever met anybody within 500 miles of me that has said ‘yeah, I’m glad I didn’t waste my money a 4wd…’

 

Nothing is more useless than a 2wd suv or truck.

 

It really depends on where you live. If you have to deal with a lot of snow, then 4x4 or AWD is a big deal. If not, it sounds like a 2WD will be fine for you. As a kid, I drove 2WD trucks and cars all over the place with no issues. We had very little snow, but we did have ice storms. I just didn't drive it much on the ice.

 

To me, nothing is more useless than a 4wd truck, not once have I needed 4wd in over 16 years of truck ownership.

Dan

 

Lol I remember my neighbour saying that once, until I had to pull him out of he’s own driveway with my 93. Now he drive a Jeep lol.

 

I live in Las Vegas so definitely no snow here lol I do like going up to the mountains during winter time but I rarely get to go. plus we have the tundra that is 4x4

 

Well, we don't have weather issues where we live and I stay on pavement entirely (no off road driving, not interested in it). The front differential on any vehicle we own would never get used (and I'm sure there are many truck/SUV owners in the same boat).

Dan

 

Since you stay on pavement and it seems like you live where you never face any adverse weather conditions, I could see that. I don’t think most people fit the conditions of truly never needing 4wd.

In slick or low-traction conditions—which can and do occur on pavement at least seasonally in many areas of the country—a front-heavy, rwd-only vehicle with hardly any weight over the drive axle is about the worst choice possible.

 

Man, some of y'all are wild lol. I'd say if you don't offroad & don't live in a place that gets lots of winter weather then you don't really need a 4wd SUV/Truck. In fact, I'd almost say it makes more sense to go with a 2wd for the better fuel economy/simpler drive train.

My wife drives a 2wd 4runner. It was cheaper & gets more mpg than a comparable 4wd model - which is a plus when it functions almost entirely as a grocery getter. Surprisingly, it fits groceries just as well as the 4runners with $10k in broverland gear and clean paint.

 

The fact that you already have a 4x4 available should settle the point. Does it make sense to me that any 2WD 4Runners were built? No, but as an engineer I like things to make sense. Marketing folks don't have that limitation. 2WD does have its advantages (lower initial cost, better MPG's, no front diff maintenance required, etc.) so if I were in your shoes, I would most likely just get the 2WD and be happy with it.

 

I like to bug my 4x4 friends when I'm stuck lol and then go get a beer or something. 2wd is great in simple offroading as long as your tires and suspension are up to the task of putting the power down. Pre runners are 2wd and they go thru mud and sand just fine ice and snow might need chains but if you have a lot of inclines and you're into rock crawling or mud bogging then probably 4wd with good tires is the better choice.

 

Some time back I went off-roading with a 2WD Tacoma, with a lot of weight in the back. It worked surprisingly well.

Also, once upon a time during a snowstorm, I put my '08 in 4wd and went looking on a somewhat main road on a hill to see if anyone needed help. There was a low clearance RWD truck that had slid off to the side of the road, and could not move forward or get out. I hooked his truck to my truck and pulled him up the hill, basically in idle.

Only afterwards did I realize I forgot to take off the parking brake, and effectively pulled him up the hill in idle with the parking brake on.

So I echo what others say:

- if you're going to regularly be driving where there's snow, 4WD can literally be a life saver
- if there is a possibility of snow, and you got 2WD, keep some extra weight on those rear tires
- if never off-roading and never snow, 4WD doesn't make sense

PS. If you've never off-roaded, you're missing some fantastic views.

PPS. It doesn't snow much where I live, except on the mountains. Not that long ago I went across a mountain pass near here ... and there was still snow there. Thank God I had M+S class tires and 4WD. Even so, it's a bit unnerving having your 7,000lb truck slide around on a top side of a mountain with no guard rails.

 

Also, I bought a 4wd '98 4runner with 220k miles on it. It has some minor problems, like never changed thick coffee transmission fluid, but all easily and readily fixed. Transmission and engine worked great.

Don't be afraid of high miles, if the truck was well taken care of.

Do note these older ones have a knack for locking you out if you leave the key in the ignition. The logic isn't quite right on that.

If I were to buy a 4runner again, I'd find one of those early 2000s that had a V8.

 

Depends on your needs.

I have two trucks, only one 4x4. Each has a different use and for me a little redundant if they were both 4WD.

 

A 2wd Highlander might suit your needs better with no weather or other needs for an off-road capable vehicle.

 

My best friend swore on his 2wd 2500 with a locker. This was my second time pulling out of my backyard. He now owns a 4x4.

 

A 2wd with a locker and some good tires will do way more than you think it can. Especially if you air them down offroad. In fact I would argue that, having a rear locker is more beneficial than 4x4 with no locker in some cases. I've got a 1995 with an ARB in the rear and some mud terrains and I almost never have to even put it in 4wd. Deep snow or crawling in moab is really the only times I've absolutely needed 4wd. And I am talking like purposefully going out and getting stuck in the snow that was 3+' deep. This is on 37" tires:



The one big disadvantage to 2wd trucks is no low range transfer case. I will often put my 4runner in low range without the front hubs engaged and crawl around with 2wd lo.

 

Also, get a set of traction boards and I bet you can get a 2wd out of most situations. People whining about getting stuck in 2wd's probably also dont know how to air down or have recovery gear with them so they can get themselves unstuck. If you have a 2wd, and you know its gunna snow, bring a shovel and some traction boards at least.

I bet money if you were buried up to your frame rails in snow, a 2wd with traction boards and a shovel is more likely to get unstuck than a 4wd with nothing but an overconfident driver.