2wd performance..

[Nickdsvt]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the site but have been lurking for a while... I bought an 04 Sport about 5 months ago, with 81k on the clock now. I've been searching for a few easy answers but haven't found exactly what I'm looking for. I bought the truck out here on the west coast so I wound up with the 2wd. I'm wondering how it performs in the snow and offroad. Second, the 80,000 mile service, is it basically just plugs? The truck drives smooth in every way, I couldnt be more pleased but I'd like to stay on top of it maintenance wise, as I plan on keeping it till it wont go anymore. Thanks for any info, and I welcome the search police to tell me where I went wrong. Cheers!

Nick

 

[ClockWork]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the site but have been lurking for a while... I bought an 04 Sport about 5 months ago, with 81k on the clock now. I've been searching for a few easy answers but haven't found exactly what I'm looking for. I bought the truck out here on the west coast so I wound up with the 2wd. I'm wondering how it performs in the snow and offroad. Second, the 80,000 mile service, is it basically just plugs? The truck drives smooth in every way, I couldnt be more pleased but I'd like to stay on top of it maintenance wise, as I plan on keeping it till it wont go anymore. Thanks for any info, and I welcome the search police to tell me where I went wrong. Cheers!

Nick

V6 or V8?

Snow performance in 2wd with snow tires is OK at best.

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

I have a 03 V8 2WD and took it a little offroad (nothing too big) and it did fine, traction was fine (when I had it on, what traction control does in the 4th gens is cut power to the engine so you can keep moving) got out just fine.

I can't chime in on the snow, I live in Atlanta (and have only had it since 10/4/11) and the most we will get is 5-7 inches plus a inch of solid ice on the ground. When I had my 98 V6 2WD it did fine, it didn't have traction control or VSC. didn't get stuck. I would make sure the tire have good tread and you should be fine. Enjoy 4Running, I know I do! :hatsoff:

 

[DC runner]

Rear wheel drive only tends to be the worst arrangement for traction control. Toyota is able to help mitigate that, as much as possible, with the traction system. The lightest part of your vehcile is the one attempting to gain traction, and this is usually the worst possible way. Front wheel drive vehicles usually have a better time do to the physical help of the engine helping "push" the wheels into the ground and gaining traction.

tires, of course can help. Horrid tires are horrid and great tires are great and this can impact your traction. If you want to help your traction as much as possible, it is fairly common for 2wd truck owners (my past self included) to throw some bags of sand or concrete in the back to give the back more weight pushing down on the tires. Depending, this can be a big help.

That said. As with 2wd vehicles, there is no substitute for 4wd and your truck will eat wind on a lot of terrain's that 4wd would rock at. This is a reality of a 2wd design.

Smart driving. Some weight and that smart toyota traction control system, will help you a bit though.

 

[MikeInNH]

My current tires are Cooper CTS. Excellent all around tires. I've had HT and AT tires on my 4runner and on my 2 previous Pathfinders. 2-3" of snow isn't a problem in 2wd....any more and 4wd is best. But NEVER run with summer tires.

 

[norcal2]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the site but have been lurking for a while... I bought an 04 Sport about 5 months ago, with 81k on the clock now. I've been searching for a few easy answers but haven't found exactly what I'm looking for. I bought the truck out here on the west coast so I wound up with the 2wd. I'm wondering how it performs in the snow and offroad. Second, the 80,000 mile service, is it basically just plugs? The truck drives smooth in every way, I couldnt be more pleased but I'd like to stay on top of it maintenance wise, as I plan on keeping it till it wont go anymore. Thanks for any info, and I welcome the search police to tell me where I went wrong. Cheers!

Nick

bring chains/cables along if you are going to the snow and you will be fine.....

 

[Nickdsvt]

Sorry, should've specified.. V8. I may end up back on the east coast at some point, so its the only reason I ask about the snow. I'm not planning on climbing any huge rocks either, possibly some light offroading though, just for kicks. I have the Daystar 2.5/1.5 coming tomorrow, mostly for looks obviously. I wish I would have held out for the 4wd, but I was in a bind at the time and I thought this one was good for the money. Thanks for the responses guys, much appreciated.

Nick

 

[8086bruce]

Nick, I'm up in northern MN and last winter I used 4wd once. With the traction control mine does great in 2wd.

A couple sand bags in the back would help you out a bit too.

 

[Nickdsvt]

Awesome, thanks guys... the only 2wd vehicle Ive had recently was a Ford Lightning, and that was just a weekend toy that went nowhere in an inch of snow. I bought this T4R for practicality but now I'm really enjoying it and want to have some fun with it. I appreciate the feedback and I'm glad to hear my fellow 2wd's are enjoying theirs to the fullest!

 

[03_4x4Runner]

A recent thread. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/103028-4wd-vs-2wd.html

 

[mysticz]

In snow with chains you will be okay and most off road as long as you choose the right lines and not attack a really extreme trails and if you do choose to make sure to take a buddy with 4wd along.