Originally Posted by rm -rf

As a fellow Minnesotan, during that same storm my 4wd pickup didn't make it more than 100ft down the street before I got tired of rocking & shoveling, and headed back to the driveway.

Couldn't get momentum, had worn tires.

Originally Posted by cdnfireman

The difference lies in whether you need to drive in poor weather on poor roads or not.
I worked for a pipeline company here in alberta for several years, in weather that was downright ugly and on roads that were rarely maintained, always on my own and sometimes a hundred miles from help. Based on that experience, I say this:

Anyone that says 2wd is as good as 4wd either is inexperienced or a moron.

Even with chains on, all that weight ahead of the rear axle in a truck that's 2wd is dead weight. In deep snow or mud, the rear axle won't move it. It will either dig a deeper hole, or start to hop and either throw the chain, wreck the tire or bust the differential. Ask me how I know. The first trucks I had were 2wd and the repairs on both of them were several times the cost of adding 4wd to the truck. Even if you get lucky and get some traction, you usually can't steer your way out of trouble.

With a 2wd truck you often have to take a run at things to get through. In a 4wd truck, you can often motor through safely at a much lower speed. And Don't even get me started on sllippery hills!!!

So take it from someone who's been there and done it, not some doofus hick or asphalt cowboy......there's a reason the military, oilfield, seismic, etc all use multi-axle drive.....because 2wd don't cut it!!

Originally Posted by bluefor3

Born and raised in Minnesota---when you have snow drifts as high as your truck--thats on a normal day in the winter--2wd doesn't cut it. You can have all the weight and the best snow tire made and you will get hung up just having 2wd. Yes you can get hung up having 4wd but it is a lot less likely. 4wd saved by behind more times than I can count. 4wd really helps in deep snow--especially when it comes to snow drifts. When you have 2wd you push through the drift but you slow down and eventually lose traction, you got your two front tires touching dry ground but you are stuck. You are stuck because the snow is so deep you have your rear end hung up. Pop it into 4wd and you can pull yourself out. I have done this a lot. I keep my truck in 2wd until I need 4wd. One other note-when you have 4wd or AWD you are putting equal power to the entire vehicle. Your front end has a lot of weight too and when you add those wheels as drive wheels you can go through a hell of a lot more stuff than you ever could in 2wd. Not saying what you did in MT is false, I believe you, just saying for different people 4wd can be a necessity, not just a want. I am defending the necessity portion of your comment.

Originally Posted by cdnfireman

The difference lies in whether you need to drive in poor weather on poor roads or not.
I worked for a pipeline company here in alberta for several years, in weather that was downright ugly and on roads that were rarely maintained, always on my own and sometimes a hundred miles from help. Based on that experience, I say this:

Anyone that says 2wd is as good as 4wd either is inexperienced or a moron.

Even with chains on, all that weight ahead of the rear axle in a truck that's 2wd is dead weight. In deep snow or mud, the rear axle won't move it. It will either dig a deeper hole, or start to hop and either throw the chain, wreck the tire or bust the differential. Ask me how I know. The first trucks I had were 2wd and the repairs on both of them were several times the cost of adding 4wd to the truck. Even if you get lucky and get some traction, you usually can't steer your way out of trouble.

With a 2wd truck you often have to take a run at things to get through. In a 4wd truck, you can often motor through safely at a much lower speed. And Don't even get me started on sllippery hills!!!

So take it from someone who's been there and done it, not some doofus hick or asphalt cowboy......there's a reason the military, oilfield, seismic, etc all use multi-axle drive.....because 2wd don't cut it!!

Originally Posted by EricTheOracle

As a fellow Minnesotan, last year when we had that December storm, in my area we received 21" of snow. Not only did I grill for a dinner party outside (thus my MN cred ) I also drove my 2WD F150 over to pick up my sister and drop her off.

Momentum an good tires and everything is fine.

Originally Posted by SultanGris

Agreed. Course you can get by with 2wd if you dont leave the house till after they plow the roads for ya but for those of us in rural areas where the plows dont get too for a few days 4x4 comes in pretty handy.

Originally Posted by bluefor3

City Streets/Main Highway/County Highway versus township roads-----MAJOR difference. Yeah the plows go on the roads you were driving on. I can bet money during that storm if you saw a minimum maintenance road sign--which you often see in rural MN which I am doubting thats where you lived in MN, anyways I am betting money during that storm you wouldn't take your 2wd truck down a minimum maintenance road. Walk the Walk. You would never make it through the snow drifts. I would certainly love to see you try---any-Large snowstorm--any minimum maintenance road---rural MN-I will meet you there!



Exactly! I am fine with 2wd trucks...I have no beef with them. I am just defending the folks who own 4X4s. Some of us actually do NEED them, it isn't a luxury like all these people think.

Originally Posted by EricTheOracle

Nobody lives at the end of a minimum maintenance road. They may work there logging or hunt there, but they don't live there.

I split my time between my city house and my lake home in Northern MN.



As we both know, in Northern MN, people spend a lot of time on township roads.



I have a 4x4 but for the most part, I didn't buy a 4x4 for snow, I have a 4x4 to get into fields, washed out roads, or climb the hills on my property.