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Pete
Dodge Dakota
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4/25/2002
11:16:06
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 Subject: 4wd vs. 2wd with LS
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Would a 2wd with LS (and some weight in the back) give about as good mobility in snow as a 4wd?
Im having a difficult time justifying buying a 4wd for the 1/2 dozen times in the winter when I might use it - and Ill probably never go off roading.
any thoughts?
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QCOwner
Dodge Dakota
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4/25/2002
11:45:45
| RE: 4wd vs. 2wd with LS
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Limited slip will help a 2-wheel drive vehicle quite a bit (in fact, without LS it really isn't even a 2WD vehicle since only one wheel will get power in very poor traction conditions) but it will not come close to a 4WD. Only you can make the judgement whether the conditions you encounter will really require 4WD, but if they do then 2WD will probably not cut it.
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Grady C.
Dodge Dakota
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4/25/2002
12:01:42
| RE: 4wd vs. 2wd with LS
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Obviously 4wd is superior, but if you really know how to drive and don't see snow or dirt on a frequent basis, LS 2wd is all you need. I have driven trucks with lockers and that can get you in more trouble than they are worth. I like having the little bit of slip for messing around, but the added traction when it gets serious. Now hydroplaning...
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Knobbyman
*GenIII*
4/25/2002
12:28:04
| RE: 4wd vs. 2wd with LS
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I have to agree .. my first truck was a 4x2 this one is a 4x4.. I've gotten my self stuck MUCH worse w/ my 4x4 then with the 4x2.. probably because I was more careful.. And I didn't try as much. But I could get just about the same places with both trucks, it was just abit more time consuming with the 4x2.
Depending on what your doing.. if it's mostly road's.. I'd save the $$ and weight and go with the 4x2. If you want a truck that'll be more functional and get you even more places... 4x4
'01 Graphite QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
http://www.knobbyman.com
----Speed only breaks stuff faster----
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Bill
Dodge Dakota
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4/25/2002
13:20:47
| RE: 4wd vs. 2wd with LS
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I have the 4x4 and I love it. I did a lot of towing my snowmobile trailer through a lot of snow this summer and there is no way I would have gotten through it with a 4x2 even with LS. Of course, if you don't go through much snow or mud, the 4x2 woudld be fine. Although, on the Dakota, I really like the higher stance of the 4x4 over the 4x2, just my opinion tho.
Bill
Bill's Truck Page--Newly Updated!!!!
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Hammerdak
Dodge Dakota
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4/25/2002
22:14:24
|  RE: 4wd vs. 2wd with LS
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You didn't say where you're from Pete.I'm from Canada (ie:snow). I chose 4x4 because of our winters and I've got a cottage that is tough to get to when the road in gets muddy in the spring and fall. All my previous trucks have been 2wd and without LSD. Dedicated SNOW tires are a definite improvement in this case. So here's my point. Be realistic when assessing your needs.Weigh the cost, weight, and repair costs of 4x4 against the $300.00 option of snow tires. Snow tires, being on for part of the year will make your regular tires last longer. You could even put them on stock rims and get a set of COOL aftermarket rims for summer cruis'in. Just my 2 cents worth.
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Hersbird
Dodge Dakota
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4/25/2002
23:27:50
| RE: 4wd vs. 2wd with LS
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I live in Missoula Montana and my daily driver this winter was the 2000 R/T. I did buy a set of 15" steel wheels and real studded snows. I put about 500 ponds of paver sand in the back and did just fine. I took the snows off a little early and the weight out and it snowed one night as I was driving home. My road had about an inch on it and I had a hard time getting up (that sounds a little perverted), all winter long we had up to a foot unplowed on that road and with the tires and weight I never had a problem. The tires and wheels cost $340. The sand another $30 (it was really nice paver sand in plastic bags!) I traded in a 4wd Jeep Grand Cherokee and did miss it a little but now that it's nice and dry I'm much happier. I even took the Dakota hunting this year, at least the yellow kept it from getting shot!, and the blood didn't stain the carpet like on the Jeep, my wife was much happier.
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Pete
Dodge Dakota
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4/26/2002
08:11:00
| RE: 4wd vs. 2wd with LS
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Thanks for all your input...
Hammerdak - I currently live in the Kansas City area - and we are not known for big hills or extreme snow, but we get our share of crappy weather. I do visit construction jobsites on occasion (Im a structural engineer), so 4wd might come in handy (at least it will get me some respect from the contractors - ha ha).
My other dilemma is the resale value of a 4wd vs. a 2wd. I know I would probably get more money back from a 4wd vehicle, so thats another reason to get 4wd.
oh well...my dilema continues.
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Dave Mitchell
Dodge Dakota
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4/26/2002
15:48:22
| RE: 4wd vs. 2wd with LS
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I live in the foothills of the Sierras in Northern California. My 2WD LSD worked great in the snow, even with the 10" wide GoodYear Eagles. I have the manual transmission, also.
I didn't even put on the forbidden tire cables.
WHy don't they have a footnote in the brochure for the Tire & Handling package that traction devices should not be used?
I didn't find out until I was signing the paperwork at the dealer and one was a waiver and statement that I had been warned.
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pony1
Dodge Dakota
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4/26/2002
20:49:01
| RE: 4wd vs. 2wd with LS
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get a 4x4. when i was buying my truck, i thought "i'm hardly ever gonna be in the snow, and won't ever go offroad" so i went with a 4x2.
i can't TELL you how many times i've thought "damn, i wish i had gotten a 4x4" since.
you can bet your ass my next truck will be a 4x4.
save yourself the anguish and get it, at least it'll be there when/if you need it.
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Hammerdak
Dodge Dakota
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4/26/2002
22:43:07
| RE: 4wd vs. 2wd with LS
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I agree with pony 1. Every winter I said darnit I'm getting a 4x4 next time, so I did with no looking back. Pete, if you're still in the same job when you want to sell, the construction guys would probably gobble it up since they know you.The tradesmen I know are often looking for used trucks so they can scratch them up a bit and not void lease agreements or incur $$penalties.ALSO ...There are 2 kinds of fun (that don't include a woman) that you can have in your truck. 2wd will give you speed and handling at the risk of tickets and points. 4wd will give you your smiles in the dirt (just because you can) at speeds the "local boys" could care less about. Go with the 4x4. I did.I've got all the performance I need, the traction I want, and absolutely no regrets.
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Hersbird
Dodge Dakota
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4/26/2002
23:59:48
| RE: 4wd vs. 2wd with LS
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Well I guess I still disagree, our climate and roads are way worse and I went from a very capable off road 4x4 to the R/T with no regrets. If anything I may spend $3000 on a used Ramcharger to give the 4x4 fix, but a $3000 87 2wd v-6 dakota just doesn't fill the crusing, tiresmoking, go fast fix that I get with the R/T (which was only $17,000). So really I can have both and not be out more then $20,000. Besides who really wants to take a nice pretty $25,000 Dakota out mudding and rockcrawling? Wait don't answer that... I'm sure there are plenty of you! I don't think a 4x4 will retain a greater percentage of it's resale value necessarily. In some markets maybe, but options almost always depreciate faster then the overall truck. Speaking of off raoding, I would like to have one of those new Jeep Wrangler Rubicons, they are very cool, but I understand about $25,000 as well.
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