2WD vs. 4WD - My story is similar to the guy from Florida. We don't get the type of weather in So Cal to need 4WD. Our local dealerships typically ...

My story is similar to the guy from Florida. We don't get the type of weather in So Cal to need 4WD. Our local dealerships typically have 25 about Silverados or Sierras in stock. Of those, 20 will be 2WD. Usually the 4WDs they do have are loaded and are >$40k. I initially started looking for 4WDs, but couldn't find one reasonably priced with the color and other options that I wanted. I also traded in a 2WD F150 with a 6" RCD lift and 35"s. I will be the first to admit that it was lifted for looks and not function. To each his own...

I am in the South, Houston, TX. 4x4 is considered an extra option here, but it typically comes down to the person shopping. Personally, I prefer to have the 4x4 but the 2wd was cheaper on insurance so I had to make the sacrifice with my current truck.

There is rarely a case for the 4wd to be a necessity here but it is fun to have. And, it comes in handy for the rare occasions like tropical storm Allison in 2001 and hurricane Ike in 2008 when sight-seeing in the aftermath.

uneasyrider wrote: Most 4X4's have a locking rear differential so they would have 3 positive forward moving wheels.

No, not true. The locking differential is included in the MAX trailering package or on its own. It is not a standard feature of the z71 package, although the z71 package has changed many times over the past 10 - 15 years. I've owned a new 2000, 2005, and now a 2009 and the locking differential was never part of the z71, or trailer pkg. for any of the those years. It was, however, an added extra for just a hair below $300.

Back to the original question of "why would anyone buy a 2WD truck?".

It seems to me you are just trying to fathom; first, why anyone in the upper northwest would consider buying a 2WD with the type of weather that you have up there, and second, why would someone go to the length of buying a 2WD in that area just to constantly add mods and a possible lift kit to make it look like a 4WD without the functionality, but all the $$$$. Well, lemme give my $.02 since I was at work when this thread started...

1. There are two answers that come to mind here. First, money, or lack there of. With the cost of living being so high in the upper NW, i.e. Oregon, Washington, Alaska... a family may not be able to afford the convenience of a couple of 4WDs or AWDs in their driveway. Maybe the ones you saw for sale were people that were ready to make the switch and buy that 4WD that is so very necessary for that area. Second, CONFIDENCE. I am a very confident driver where ever I am and in any kind of weather....nothing SKEERS me. Hell, I'll drive through deep water across a road way if I think it is safe enough (haven't been wrong yet, but as I get older I find better things to do during inclement weather (truth be known, I don't trust the other overconfident drivers)). Just like someone was saying about that friend of his in Alaska, he was just plain confident and probably analytical about his driving. Sometimes even geometry crosses one's mind while driving.

2. My first full-sized GM truck was 2WD. At the time I purchased it, my over achiever driving record (yes, I achieved speeds that police officers thought were quite fast for the roads I was traveling on) and minimal yearly income didn't afford me the ability to drive a 4WD. So, each year at tax time, I would take my check and add something to the truck. One year I even added a 3" spindle lift then put 32 x 11.50s on that truck. It looked like a 4WD but by know means did it act like a 4WD. Mud + 2WD (w/locking differential) = Tow truck. Actually the tow truck would even try it. My buddy's 3/4 ton 4x4 Ford just spun its wheel. Oddly enough, my brother's Suzuki Samurai pulled me out without a problem..but that was due mostly to it's short wheelbase and over sized tires.

Most people logically know that if snow or mud start to pool under a vehicle, it can cause you to high-center. A lifted 2WD with a confident, smart driver is just as likely to get around in snow as a 4WD, up to a point.

Again, just my $.02

Onlyina_Chevy wrote:

uneasyrider wrote: Most 4X4's have a locking rear differential so they would have 3 positive forward moving wheels.

No, not true. The locking differential is included in the MAX trailering package or on its own. It is not a standard feature of the z71 package, although the z71 package has changed many times over the past 10 - 15 years. I've owned a new 2000, 2005, and now a 2009 and the locking differential was never part of the z71, or trailer pkg. for any of the those years. It was, however, an added extra for just a hair below $300.

I'm sorry for any errors in communication. I didn't say that the Z71 included a locker the other fellow said his had one. Z71 is an order code for skid plates that became so popular that GM put it on the side of the truck, always a 4X4 when they did it because people don't order skid plates on 2WD trucks even though they probably could. Most dealers order 4WD trucks with a G80 so it would be hard to buy one without it having that feature if you did not want it. All of your build codes are on the sticker in your glove box (usually) and are alphabetically organized, they are generally 3 digits like Z71 or G80. Here is my trucks build for example (cut and paste not anal).

193 - EBONY 19I - EBONY
1SZ - OPTION PACKAGE SAVINGS 3SA - SLE DECOR
6NN - COMPONENT SUSPENSION 74U - FIRE RED
7NN - COMPONENT SUSPENSION A31 - POWER WINDOWS
A60 - LOCKING TAILGATE A68 - REAR 60/40 FOLDING BENCH SEAT
AG1 - DR 6-WAY POWER SEAT ADJUSTER AJ1 - SOLAR-RAY DEEP TINTED GLASS
AJ7 - DRIVER/PASS FRT & SIDE AIR BAGS AL0 - SENSOR INDICATOR, INFLATABLE RESTRAINT
AM1 - SEAT ADJUSTER, DR MANUAL LUMBAR AP8 - REMOTE VEHICLE STARTER PREP PKG
ASF - HEAD CURTAIN SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAGS AT8 - RR FACING CHILD RESTRAINT
AU3 - POWER DOOR LOCKS AXK - VEHICLE TYPE TRUCK
AZ3 - 40/20/40 SPLIT BENCH SEAT WITH FRONT LEATHER APPOINTED SEATING SURFACES AND 6-WAY POWER DRIVER SEAT ADJUST B30 - CARPETED FLR COVERING W/VINYL MATS
B32 - FRONT COLOR-KEYED FLOOR MATS B33 - REAR COLOR-KEYED FLOOR MATS
B85 - BODYSIDE MOLDINGS C5U - 6,800 LBS GVWR
CJ2 - AUTO DUAL-ZONE AIR COND DH6 - DRIVER & FRONT PASSENGER VISOR W/ILLUMINATED VANITY MIRRORS
DK8 - CONSOLE, OVERHEAD DELUXE DL8 - DUAL OUTSIDE HEATED MIRRORS
E63 - WIDESIDE PICKUP BOX EF7 - US COUNTRY CODE
FE9 - FEDERAL EMISSIONS FHS - VEHICLE FUEL GASOLINE E85
G80 - LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL GU6 - 3.42 REAR AXLE RATIO
JF3 - DISC BRAKE JL1 - INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER
JL4 - STABILITRAK - STABILITY CONTROL K34 - CRUISE CONTROL
K5L - HEAVY DUTY COOLING PKG INCL: *ENGINE OIL COOLER *HD TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER KC4 - EXTERNAL ENGINE OIL COOLER
KG3 - 145 AMP ALTERNATOR KNP - EXT TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER
LMG - VORTEC 5.3L V8 SFI ENGINE W/ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT & FLEX-FUEL CAPABILITY AND 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MSL - SILAO, MEXICO ASSEMBLY PLANT
MYC - 6-SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION NP5 - LEATHER-WRAPPED STEERING WHEEL
NT7 - EMISSION SYSTEM FEDERAL TIER 2 NZ4 - 17" FULL-SIZE STEEL SPARE WHEEL
PEB - REGIONAL VALUE PACKAGE: *VORTEC 5.3L V8 ENGINE W/ACTIVE FUEL MGMT *6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION *HD TRAILERING EQUIPMENT PKG *LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL *20" CHROME CLAD WHEELS (REPLACES STD/OPT WHEELS) *LOCKING TAILGATE *EZ LIFT TAILGATE *AUTO DUAL ZONE A/C *STEERING WHEEL RADIO CONTROLS *CD PLAYER W/ USB PORT *BLUETOOTH FOR PHONE *FOG LAMPS CHROME DOOR HANDLES/MIRROR CAPS (RESIDENTS OF TX/OK/LA/CA/FL & SELECT COUNTIES OF NM, AR, KS, MO, MS, AL, GA & AZ) (SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS) PPA - EZ LIFT TAILGATE
QSS - 20" BW TIRES R4Y - TIRE BRAND GOODYEAR
R6I - REGIONAL VALUE PKG DISCOUNT (RESIDENTS OF TX, OK, LA, CA, FL & SELECT COUNTIES OF NM, AR, KS, MO, MS, AL, GA AND AZ) (SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS) R6J - CUSTOMER DIALOG NETWORK
R7B - GEOGRAPHIC TRACKING CODE R9N - PROCESSING CODE - SEAT
ROO - TRACKING CODE S84 - 20" CHROME-CLAD ALUMINUM WHLS HIGH PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION PKG (REPLACES STD/OPT CONTENT) WHEEL CONTENT CREDIT BELOW)
SAF - SPARE TIRE LOCK SLM - STOCK ORDERS
SSB - MODEL IDENTIFIER T74 - HEADLAMPS CONTROL AUTO, DELAY
T96 - FOG LAMPS TFE - SALES INCENTIVE-COMMITMENT PLUS
U2K - XM RADIO - SERVICE SUBSCRIPTION SOLD SEPARATELY BY SIRIUS/XM AFTER 3 MONTHS UE1 - 6 MONTHS ONSTAR DIRECTIONS & CONNECTIONS WITH AUTOMATIC RESPONSE AND TURN -BY-TURN NAVIGATION (ASK DEALER ABOUT GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE)
UJM - TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM UK3 - STEERING WHEEL AUDIO CONTROLS
UPF - BLUETOOTH FOR PHONE UQ3 - HIGH PERFORMANCE AUDIO SYSTEM
USR - USB PORT UUI - AM/FM STEREO WITH CD PLAYER W/ USB PORT
V22 - CHROME SURROUND GRILLE V8D - VEHICLE STATEMENT US
VB3 - CHROME REAR BUMPER VG3 - BUMPER, FRONT CHROME
VR4 - WEIGHT DIST HITCH PLATFORM VT7 - OWNERS MANUAL ENGLISH
WE2 - EXTERIOR APPEARANCE(BLIND OPTION) XL7 - FREQUENCIES RATING 315 MHZ, LONG DISTANCE
YD3 - BASE EQUIP FOR SCH GVW PLATE YD5 - FRONT SPRING - BASE EQUIPMENT
YD6 - REAR SPRING - BASE EQUIPMENT YE9 - SLE/SLT DECOR
Z60 - HIGH PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION PKG Z82 - H.D. TRAILERING EQUIP PKG INCL: *LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL *HEAVY DUTY COOLING
Z88 - GMC TRUCK NAMEPLATE ZRS - SPARE TIRE
ZY1 - SOLID PAINT

WOW! Great responses everyone!! This has turned into a great discussion.

I'm starting to understand now, peoples reasons for not needing the 4x4 option in some of the southern states or places where poor weather isnt as common. I also agree with many of you that states that an experienced, confident driver can most times just as easily get around with 2WD. I know I typically keep it in 2WD until I need the 4WD but that has more to do with "having fun" in the snow or whatever and using the 4WD when I need to get unstuck easily (without having to get out and push, tie up to something etc.).

I also traded in a 2WD F150 with a 6" RCD lift and 35"s. I will be the first to admit that it was lifted for looks and not function. To each his own...

I really appreciated this comment as he admitted the lift was more for looks than functionality (which I TOTALLY understand, these rigs look amazing up in the air and with bigger tires under it and honestly I would probably do the same thing if I had bought a 2WD truck) but I also agree with another statement made later that even a little lift in a 2WD can be necessary just for ground clearance issues, so even then it makes some functional sense.

Finally, its been fun reading peoples input regarding the gearing, differentials, and the way 4x4 systems work. I know a bit about these setups but admit I learned some new things through this conversation.

At the end of the day, for ME, in my situation I still cannot bring myself to purchase a 2WD truck/SUV considering where I live, and the purposes I plan to use that rig for. So in my case (as I'm currently continuing to saving up and shopping for a truck) I will have to save a little longer to afford the 4x4 option (plus the diesel, man that engine/trans combo adds A LOT haha but SO worth it for towing a 5th wheel/trailer later in life!).

Thanks again everyone for the responses, lets keep the discussion going! Thanks - West1134

Back on topic...

2WD trucks have better fuel economy and are cheaper to maintain due to less moving parts. They are also cheaper to insure. My '04 is 2WD with the Eaton limited slip G80 (before G80 bacame the gov-lock). When driven right and with the right kind of rubber I get excellent snow and ice traction and can navigate moderate mud when needed.

I guess the real question should be: "Why would anyone buy a F#*% of D?%#e 2WD truck?"

A truck serves many purposes, whether it is hauling things in the back, towing heavier loads, going offroad, etc. It is actually a bit wasteful probably for most people to get a 4 wheel drive vehicle in southern states--extra cost, decrease gas mileage, more crap to break, etc. There are exceptions depending on how much you go off road or if you launch a boat. I live in West Virginia and if you want to get to work reliably in the winter you almost have to have a four wheel drive vehicle. A lot of people do well with front wheel drive vehicles too but the clearance can become a factor.

Again it is just what you use it for. Many people just end up staying on paved road. What most people don't realize is that your tires are just as important (if not more) than true 4 wheel drive. 4 wheel drive is going to help you go forward--that is about it. Tires will help you go forward, corner, stop, etc. Having said that, I have heard a few people in my time say their 2 wheel drive will go where a 4 wheel drive will go. Yet they always back down when someone challenges them lol.

What most people don't realize is that your tires are just as important (if not more) than true 4 wheel drive. 4 wheel drive is going to help you go forward--that is about it. Tires will help you go forward, corner, stop, etc.

Good point! I bought a set of Hancook soft tread winter tires for my Jeep a few years back (I had two sets of tires/wheels for winter/summer so they lasted me a lot longer) and those things were incredible! SO much grip!! They were fairly inexpensive too! The tires certainly do make a hell of a difference!

Having said that, I have heard a few people in my time say their 2 wheel drive will go where a 4 wheel drive will go. Yet they always back down when someone challenges them lol.

Too true!

Also the two wheel drives have a slight higher tow rating if I remember correctly

Had a 4x4 and never used it. It was my DD so didn't beat it up off road. Just bought a brand new 2wd and love it. Then bought an old jeep cherokee for my off roading and it's great. Best of both worlds. Down south it's just not needed. I even had a 2wd lifted in high school and took it every where my buddies I. 4x4s went. Comes down to common sense when you drive a 2wd in bad weather or off road. JMO