dre23

Ohio winters with 12-18" of snow overnight at times and I had a my 2x4 STX...NEVER AGAIN. From this point on, if I have a truck it will always be a 4x4.

sharper4

I couldn't justify the price increase for the few days of snow that we get either, so I totally know what you're going through. I found last year that the truck (2WD) handled just fine in 10 inches of snow. Sure, I totally wished I had 4WD when the snow was on the ground so that I could go play, but the 2WD did the job and got me where I was going without any issues. Traction control works great, but if you can't justify another reason for 4WD other than a couple snow days, skip it.

kiowamtp

I disagree as well. I grew up in northern Maine and spent three years in upstate NY. My 2wd did just fine. I grew up in the snow and I think you just need to know how to drive in those conditions. I drove through Erie and down to the mountains of KY in a blizzard with my 2wd driving past everybody. Not tooting my own horn, but tires make a world of difference. I always had a decent set of Cooper tires that made me proud.

Rob the elder

There are plenty of people who can drive successfully in snow and ice on 2 wheel drive. When there is traction or the roads are sufficiently plowed.

In Colorado you basically can not give away a 2 by truck. But then we get snow up to 30 inches in town so there you are.

demarco5

I can drive great in the snow too, lived in NY my whole life. All I'm saying is that 4x4 in snow dominates 2x4 all day long. I am sure most of you can drive 2wd in the winter in Maine but I guarantee you'd do even better with 4x4. You are doubling your drive effective area with 2 more tires and that will beat 2wd in snow/ice.

fireguy9

Your orrig quote was you would be spinning in a ditch all day long with 2wd! Sure 4wd is better but not really a requirement. Im in Ontario, and we get good storms and snow off and on. Good tires or snows and common sense work just fine if your in the city with 2wd and some weight in the back. Saves you $ on fuel and extra expense of 4wd. Quite often the 4wd people wipe out because they think they can bust through anything and lose it and wipe out and us in the fire dept then have to come help them

demarco5

my original quote was in regards to people from Tennessee who are worried about snow* i dont see why people would get a truck w/o 4wd. gas is pretty much the same pending your foot and i got a great deal . i think if you shop around enough you can find the same model/yr with 4x4 listed the same as 4x2. 4x4 is just so much more capable. notice that mostly 2wd take offense and think im attacking their driving abilities. 4wd is more capable than 2wd in NE and thats what im saying.

Downeast_auto

Not to be nit-picky but it's not necessarily doubling any "drive effective area" (whatever that is) if your talking about a LSD 2wd vs an all open diff 4wd. But that's a hypothetical scenario anyway so it doesn't really matter.

The fact is, if your talking specifically about 2wd vs 4wd in relation to cost for increased snow/ice performance, that 4wd is not the most significant thing you can choose. Good (key word) snow tires are what truly make the difference, and that's not just my opinion. It has been demonstrated in numerous automotive journals and publications. Now I'll admit it's mostly about cars (awd/rwd/fwd) but most awd systems these days are much more sophisticated (read: complicated) then our 4wd systems and have better hookup because of it. The point is any of the cars with the snow tires on performed drastically better then the others regardless of drive style.

Is 4wd irrelevant? No, not at all. But I wouldn't consider it necessary for a mostly road going vehicle.

And for the record, I am not commenting on anyones ability to drive or saying that just because I live in a reigon with alot of snowfall, that I know everything about car control. That said, to claim that 4wd walks all over 2wd in winter conditions is, well, ignorant to the pure physics of the situation. Sorry.

Downeast_auto

One example: http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/29/p...l-wheel-drive/

Not quite as factually relavent as it could be but its the first one I could find.

I also wanted to add that, when moving down the road in ice, the only thing that is going to keep you from sliding off the road are snow tires...

Lumberjack

If your still not sure of your choice 2wd or 4x4 sit and talk to a Ford rep, my sales man told me when I bought my truck to go with the lsd in the 2wd my truck had the 3.55 gears in the rear with the lsd, worked great in the winter with no weight in the back and I didn't run winter tires either, everyone has there say on the good and bads for 2wd and 4x4, but it's your truck get it the way you want it and for the driving conditions your in.