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andrew
GenI
 
4/08/2001
17:47:21
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 Subject: 4WD vs. 2WD
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I know the obvious advantages a 4WD has over a2WD but I would like to know if any of you have a 2WD and do any kind of offroading in your Dakota? What kind of terrain is the limit of the 2WD offroad? The reason I ask is, I am going to buy another Dakota at the end of this year and I dont know if I want to pay extra for 4WD if I dont need it? If I go for the 2WD, what are some things(gears, differential types, tires, wheels, etc.) I should look for to do some offroading?
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Bernd
GenIII
4/08/2001
21:41:26
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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The wildest terrain that i've taken my 2WD on is some very mild rock crawling (no big boulders...just lots of rocks and pot-holes - friends property in Kileen, TX). The average off-road romp for me is some decent trails and the occasional mudhole romp. It handles just fine as long as you know what you and your vehicle are capable of. I've almost got stuck one int he mud but that was nothing that a few branches and rocks coudln't fix. (Stick them infront of the rear wheels for traction and slowly works your way out.)
I'm running 32" BFG's on a Fabtech 3" Suspension Lift w/2" Body lift. Offroad, I run the tires at 15-20psi...street pressure is 40psi. I also run a 4.10:1 Motive Gear "Trac-Lock" differential and will be switching out to the Powertrax locker this summer. Wheels are American Eagle.
Bernd D. Ratsch
1997 Dodge Dakota SLT
Supercharged w/Nitrous
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hojo
GenI
4/09/2001
08:17:12
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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In my opinion, I say why not get the 4x4? Cant hurt..Better in snow and has better offroad capabilities..For the extra money (in my mind) its worth it. Also looks better...Although you could lift your 2wd. I also got the tire and handleing pkge which comes with flares and 32" tires which I dont think is available for the 2wd.
But it depends on what you plan on doing with this truck...are you gonna lower it and make it a racer? Are you gonna off road..are you in a snowy climate?
If you have the money, get the 4x4...
Steve
2001 Patriot Blue 4x4 ClubCab
SLT Plus, 4.7, Heavy duty pk
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Bill A
GenIII
4/09/2001
22:45:58
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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I would definately go and spend the extra money on a 4x4. Since i bought my fist 4x4 i will never go back to 2wd. the mpg is about the same and you have the ability to go anywhere if you feel like it. Plus its already at a pretty good height you don't have to put a lift on it to make it awesome looking just add tires. But on the other hand if you know how to drive you can take a 2wd lots of places i know i did it with my 2wd s-10 4 banger. In my oppinion 4x4 is way better i have had both so i think i know. hope this helps.
'99 Dodge Dakota ext cab sport 4x4(3.9 V6)
Mudding is awesome
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medpilot
Unregistered
4/10/2001
06:56:31
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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Also - consider resale value at the end of the road. 4X4s traditionally hold their value MUCH better. If you can possibly afford - spend the extra dollars.
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Bernd
GenIII
4/10/2001
09:02:56
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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No arguments from me on that one. Only thing to look at though: PreRunner Trucks (not the street conversions either...including mine) are 2WD support vehicles for the 4x4's. Why? They can get over the terrain faster for quicker support. (Terrain being mostly higher speed type...not rocks or mud bogs.)
On the affording the 4x4...I did originally want the V8/4x4 but couldn't afford the extra cost (back in early '97) for that. So...went with the custom built 2WD SLT V6 instead. (I may purchase another V8 Dak...but not anytime soon...having too much fun with my V6.) :)
Bernd D. Ratsch
1997 Dodge Dakota SLT
Supercharged w/Nitrous
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andrew
GenII
4/11/2001
00:57:05
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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Hey Bernd, It seems like the 4x4 would be a better support vehicle even if they cant move as fast over some terrain as the 2wd? By support vehicle do you mean a recovery vehicle for stuck 4x4's?
When you say you have a custom built 2wd SLT v6, what do you mean by custom built?
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Bernd
GenIII
4/11/2001
10:24:45
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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Basically...yes. But it does depend on the type of suspension. On Baha-type runs, PreRunners are the recovery vehicles. On offroad "adventures" such as Rubicon, stick with a 4x4.
Bernd D. Ratsch
1997 Dodge Dakota SLT
Supercharged w/Nitrous
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will
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/25/2002
22:03:14
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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i don't havee a dakota, but i do have a 2wd f-150 with a 3" body lift and 285 BFG all terrarns. i live in TX near houston so the mudd we have is really clay and my truck has gone tru alot. stay with the 2wd, the money you save you can spend fixing that truck to handle anything. OH one other thing what is the differnce between a 2wd and 4wd? when you get a 4wd truck stuck you are really stuck. 2wd trucks are easyer to get out of the mud!
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Joel
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/25/2002
22:46:41
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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I say if your going to do heavy off roading on trails for jeeps and the like, get the 4X4. I've gone that route already and hit the trails with jeeps and had TONS of fun, really showed people what the dak is capable of.
On the other hand, the truck gets beat up, the 4X4 option costs more up front, the truck is slower and more things can go wrong in the drive train.
So my next dak will be a 2 wheel drive with a locker (not a factory LSD) and that will get me around anywhere but the heavy trails. It snows here once a year and we don't need a 4X4 to get around even though EVERYONE and there brother has one. I've been getting around just fine in my 1 wheel drive 1/2 ton.
Joel
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4WD
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/25/2002
23:46:45
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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In snow country, the main difference between 2WD and 4WD is that with 4WD you can drive several yards farther off the main road without getting stuck.
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
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2/26/2002
01:03:44
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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4x4 is also more expensive in insurance costs. For someone like me, 18yr/male, that was not an option for something I'll rarely use.
I'll tell ya what, with some weight in the back, you can go almost ANYWHERE in the snow you wanna go. If you want to go farther, get chains. My truck has done very well this winter in the snow as a 2WD RC and I take it in deep snow occassionally, although sometimes I can not stop -- or I know I'll just get stuck. So I don't, but there isn't much snow that the 2WDs can't handle.
SNOW IS NOT AN ISSUE.
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Texas97
GenIII
2/26/2002
02:22:54
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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I have had 2 2WD trucks and I have a large ranch in south Texas. I go mudding and off-roading all the time, (used to be almost everyday in high school) and I have only ever gotten stuck once. Not really stuck, just couldn't get it aimed through the gate. If you know what you are doing and how to drive a 2WD then you can get out of whatever you come across. I have seen many 4X4's stuck bad b/c people over-estimate them. I would stick with the 2WD... they are faster and lot less can go wrong with them.
Drive it like you stole it!
97 Dakota CC 3.9L 5 speed
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shesaid18officer
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/21/2003
20:26:12
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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yeah bro...i would personally take a 4x4...but right now i only got 2wd and its siiiick once you learn how to handle it...i can go up really steep hills and though some thick mud most my 4x4 friends said i cant, showed them up haha...plus it proves you a lot better driver and stuff ----SO GET THE 2WD AND HAVE FUN!!!!
03 V8 "2WD AND PROUD OF IT" DAK
32" MUDDERS
3" FRONT END SUSP LIFT
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JonnyO
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/24/2003
16:09:41
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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I have a 4.7 02 CC 4x2 that I personally ordered from the factory... so I could have picked any option I wanted and chose *not* to get the 4x4 because I couldn't see spending the extra money for something I'd rarely use and/or need (not really the off-roader type). Plus, as others have mentioned, there's less to go wrong with the 4x2's drive train and reliability is something I appreciate greatly! :-)
Since getting my Dak I've only had one occasion where I wished it was a 4x4. I was doing some remote camping in a very sandy place out in the AZ desert. When I first started out on the old road (if you can call it that b/c it barely qualified as a road) that led back to the campsite I was very hesitant and figured I'd get stuck in the deep sand... but by driving smart I didn't have any problems. So in the end 4x4 wasn't needed after all.
That said though, when my 02 starts to get a some high mileage on it and when the new generation Daks come out, I'll probably get a new one (hopefully with a HEMI!!!) and I'm pretty sure I'll go ahead and fork over the extra $$$ for the 4WD then... just to have it! :-)
We'll see though... :-)
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EBL
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/24/2003
18:29:00
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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My experience is closer to that of Texas 97 and 4WD.
I've never had any problems with my 2wd cars or truck off road or on any rough roads (If you could call them that.)
To each their own. When you get on ice, you can't stop no matter how many wheels you put power to. Like death, ice is the great equalizer.
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Todd
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/24/2003
18:36:18
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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As most others have said, if you know how to handle your vehicle you can overcome most obsticles. Most times it's not what you drive but how you drive that makes the difference.
I have a '01 Quad-Cab 4X4, 4.7. I have been to some remote sites with it and have used 4 wheel high mainly for safety. Ocassionaly I have required 4 wheel low.
If you can afford the extra dollars get the 4X4. Remember to get off the pavement and cycle the tranfer case through 4 high and 4 low once a month to keep the system lubricated and working well.
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Hub
Dodge Dakota
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11/26/2003
21:49:26
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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If you are going off road,uphill and it is slick you will need 4WD. If it is a steep grade, you need 4WD. If it is rough, you need the added ground clearance of 4WD. Snow and 2WD = worry, snow and 4WD = fun. Just remember that 4WD goes better in snow that 2WD but if doesn't stop or turn much better.
I have had a number of 2WD and 4WD pickups. I have not experienced added repair costs associated with 4WD. There are more part but I have not had problems with them breaking but clearly there is a potential for more repairs.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
11/26/2003
22:24:11
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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I didn;t intend to buy a 4X4. But when I went to this big sale it was the ONLY Dak left that I liked. I wanted a fully equipped Dak, not a stripped one LOL!. Anyway, the only one that had all the stuff I wanted was a 4X4. I took it for a test drive. liked the ride of it and of course I grew up in the SNOW and have had more 2WD's in the serious back roads than I can remember. I thought a nice 4X4 would be great now that I want to cart my family on the back roads in the winter.
So I've had this 4X4 for 6 months. Have not had it in the snow yet but I went up some hills that our Quads (ATV's) have to get a running start to even THINK of making it up!
I tell you what. I start up the hill slowly in 2WD to see how she climbs. It's very very steep on this one test hill. The truck will not go up it at all in 2WD unless you get a run at it. But my idea is to see how well it climbs real slow or from a complete stop. I flip that switch into 4WD and my truck will launch itself right up that bad boy and I can;t even feel a tire spin!
It feels cool as hell to feel that kind of power (V8) going up something that steep!
Remember. None of our Quads will climb this unless we get a fast start and stay on the gas all the way up. I took my truck half the way up and stopped. It is sooo steep it's almost scary. then I hit that gas and it launches right up again!
You can drive a 2WD in the snow. I always did. But when you stop on the sh*t it's hard to get going again or to steer. With a 4X4 it's a night and day difference. Anyone who says a 2WD does "just as good" is smoking crack.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
11/26/2003
22:26:49
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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Oh yeah. I have the stock wheels and stock ALL TERRAIN tires on this thing. I don;t think I'll put any sort of OFF ROAD looking (knobby as hell) tires on this truck because while it goes off road just fine as is. It is QUIET as hell on the highway and corners like a sports car. FWD cars like Civic's can't keep up with my 4X4 Dak in high speed corners (in the mountain highways, NOT shopping centers LOL!)
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DodgeDakotaRamGuy
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/17/2004
12:26:17
| RE: 4WD vs. 2WD
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The security of a 4 wheel drive truck and the resale value make it well worth the initial higher cost. I have never encountered any problems that required repair on any of the 4 wheel drive components, so while there are more parts its unlikely that they will break as long as you arent taking your off roading to the extreme or driving on dry pavement in 4WD. One major difference for me is the fun factor, when taking a 2 wheel drive truck off road I sometimes feel unconfident in the vehicle and that takes the fun away from being off road, thats another reason I buy 4 wheel drive. With two wheel drive you cant accelerate as quickly off road as well, especially in grass (trust me I know, Ive been in some bad situations), so you could be behind if you go offroad with your 4WD buddies. You will also highly appreciate 4 wheel drive if you live in the northern states when it snows....Ive had many days and night out on the street in snow while the streets are still unplowed and no one else can get around, its quite nice really. Just an opinion. Anyway the choice is, of course, yours and if you live in a southern state and you do little or light off roading 2WD maybe a good choice for you as well. Good luck with finding a truck.
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