4th Gen 2WD capabilities...

[calikev]

I do light trails, beaches and basic 2WD driving in my 2WD. I grew up on the East coast, so driving in snow is a memory I have and I don't think I've forgotten how to do it.

My question is, just how capable are these 2WD's? I'm gonna be going to Big Bear, Idlywlld and a few other places this winter in my 2WD and want to have my mind right when the time comes for what this truck can and can not do.

I DO know that the key is...LOW n' SLOW for low gear and slow speed

 

[03_4x4Runner]

It have never been to Big Bear in the winter but I think I remember signs saying chains or 4x4 required if snow is on the road. The roads getting there are steep and winding. I would not want to drive there in the snow without 4x4. You will also miss out on some great of roading there. Time for a different 4runner.

 

[calikev]

It have never been to Big Bear in the winter but I think I remember signs saying chains or 4x4 required if snow is on the road. The roads getting there are steep and winding. I would not want to drive there in the snow without 4x4. You will also miss out on some great of roading there. Time for a different 4runner.

Yeah, I was also thinking it might be too much for a 2 wheeler. No biggie...I'll rent something fun and beat the hell outta it while mine sits in the driveway nice and safe.

 

[jbmccul]

Yeah, I was also thinking it might be too much for a 2 wheeler. No biggie...I'll rent something fun and beat the hell outta it while mine sits in the driveway nice and safe.

i have a bunch of pictures in my build of my 2wd in action. They can be pretty impressive even stock, check it out

 

[berettashot117]

When in doubt, get a winch.

 

[gaterose]

You should be able to go some places but you may need more aggressive tires and maybe lose the 20s... although they do look good on yours.

There are a couple of guys over on toyota120.com who have/had 2wds and participate in t120s annual Big Bear Brai. I don't think winter with snow would be a good idea in a 2wd but most of the rest of the year you'd probably be ok as long as you stay on the mild trails and have a friend with a winch or 4x4 & a strap.

I've taken mine on several trails and got crazy looks when I told them I was 2wd but I haven't gotten stuck yet. There are several pics of mine off road in my build thread, some even with stock tires.

 

[calikev]

i have a bunch of pictures in my build of my 2wd in action. They can be pretty impressive even stock, check it out

WOW! You're not lying bout your 2WD being capable. My concern was snow mostly. I do some light things with mine and don't see myself going much further than I do now with this truck.

BTW...I have family in Natchez and used to go down there in my Armada when I lived in FL and have a great time hunting, fishing and wheeling.

 

[beeftube]

I had a 2WD for a while and found that the traction control was very capable in snowy/icy conditions. Granted, I live in the SouthEast, but a few winters ago we got some relatively heavy snowfall and cold conditions that had roads snowed over several inches and iced under that (since we don't have salt trucks, the ice packed hard over anything asphalt, like a skating rink).

I took the truck out for some experimenting. I found some streets with a pretty steep grade that steady, slow acceleration and traction control would keep the tires gripping enough to make some good progress. Leave Auto LSD turned off, as I believe when you enable that the normal traction control (ATRAC?) is disabled.

All in all -- if you have decent tires rated for snowy conditions, you'll be more than fine unless you're trying to find something gnarly.

 

[ebg18t]

With a decent set of snow tires and a set of chains it will be ok. But still no 4wd, especially in a storm up in big bear I would be very careful what days I ventured up there.

 

[bluemarlin04]

Big bear is minor unless a huge storm comes through. I've been up there a bunch of times in a mini van. You don't even really need chains unless it gets really bad. If you stay on the main roads you'll be fine.

 

[MikeInNH]

A fwd mini-van is more capable in the snow then a rwd 4runner.

Make sure you have good winter tires or good AT tires. And I'd 300-400 lbs of weight in the back for added traction.

 

[bluemarlin04]

Like I said, big bear doesn't really have that much snow. There's plenty of RWD cars up there. A 4runner will be fine on normal tires unless a storm rolls through. I wouldn't sweat it. Last time I was there I had a dodge durango and it was painless. I never once used the 4wd and I was there in the dead of winter.