2wd or 4x4?

[psyekl]

Would choosing a 4x4 option truly open up many more opportunities in the lower 48 or would the added mechanical and fuel costs be too much of a trade-off to make it worth-while? (I'm well aware of the benefits of 4x4 for North and South of the border travels, as well as overseas.) 

I will definitely be staying with my RWD setup at first, but I have the option to upgrade to 4x4 in the future and I was wondering if those of you who have been living the life for a while have found 4x4 to be a boon, a limitation, or something that you wish your vehicle had equipped?

Full disclosure: I have a step van, but I figured van owners will have the best info for me for this topic. - Thanks in advance for any responses!

 

[tx2sturgis]

Check this recent thread about this subject:


https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=31658

 

[highdesertranger]

I vote 4x4 but not a conversion if you were thinking along those lines. on my truck the mileage difference is nothing and the only added maintenance is changing the fluids in the front diff and transfer case. of course every 15 years I rebuild the transfer case, all this is is a bearing and seal kit about 200 bucks. the front diff has never needed a rebuild except for the outer bearings and seals but that's the same on a 2 wheel drive. highdesertranger

 

[steamjam1]

I converted a Dodge B150 van to 4x4 using a wrecked van charger as parts, and a Chevy G30 to 4x4 using modified factory Chevy truck parts for a buddy.

My conclusion is: For Dodge... It looks cooler then it is useful as a 4x4. The articulation was so poor due to the frame horn design what I ended up with was a 4x4 1-ton shorty that really couldn't take off road anymore then when it was a 2wd. Great in mud tho! For Chevy: Better, but that meant chopping the snot out of the frame horns to accommodate a Chevy Dana 44. It was a ton of work for not alot of off road ability. (Again... Articulation was the problem)

My next project is a Ford Econoline 4x4 conversion using a mix of factory parts. Off Road ability will be better as Econoline frame horns are much much better suited for 4x4 conversions.

 

[psyekl]

Check this recent thread about this subject:


https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=31658

 
Thanks for that. I looked for a thread on the subject and nothing came up with the keywords I chose. 

It sounds like 4x4 isn't as impractical as I thought it would be. I'll stick with my 2WD setup to start off with to see what my camping style will be. If it looks like I'll be going into rough areas very often then I'll definitely consider the conversion.

 

[highdesertranger]

perhaps the 2 most important things about driving off road are driving style and tires. a poor choice of either will leave you high and dry. highdesertranger

 

[Canine]

I personally won't go without a 4X4, but I get out a lot. 2WD can do a lot, though. Me likey good tires. Tires are one area I do not skimp on.

 

[Captrick]

Just went through this thought process and ended up with 2 WD for a few reasons and the biggest was upfront cost of 4X4 vs 2WD.
I bought a used van for less then the cost of just the 4X4 cost option. Im going to go with some good tires and carry some sand boards when Im down in Baja. I dont expect to do any hard core 4X4ing just forest roads in and about AZ, NM, Utah and Co with a annual run down to Baja. I have taken a 2WD pick up some really rough jeep trails and the key is momentum and a slow steady pace. as long as the tires are moving and grabbing your moving, if they start to spin, think exit strategy and it never hurts to walk the section first.

 

[bullfrog]

A built out van is heavy and sinks in soft sand really quickly, better to air down first and lay down your sand boards if you even think you might spin. Make sure to experiment in a safe easy place with someone and a second vehicle. You'll probably end up with a locker, a small air compressor, a shovel, wench and a pull-pal and travel with someone in a second vehicle. We don't have much entertainment out here at Lake Powell but lots of sand a bunch of plastic bumper covers that have been "lost" by vehicles attempting to get to the beach.

 

[Bud Smiley]

When I had a step van, I looked into the possibility of a 4x4 conversion and it didn't seem worth the trouble. I was planning on putting a locker in the rear and calling it good. That's the route I'd recommend unless you are really hankering to get into a big project (in which case, go crazy!)

 

[highdesertranger]

yep like I said before it's the momentum part that tears vehicles and tires apart. however I am not a fan of conversions. a rear locker is ALMOST as good as a 4x4. highdesertranger

 

[Canine]

Lockers are probably the best way to get traction for the dollar. They are kind of weak in the deep mud, deep snow, and deep sand; anything that provides a deep, soft surface. If you have a solid surface underneath and some weight, you would be amazed what can be done with a locker. Less maintenance. And it won't hurt your mileage like a 4X4 does. I have a lot of good to say about lockers. Not the clutch ones, though. The Torsion ones or air/manually engaged ones. I suppose there are electrically engaged ones, too.

 

[Guy Smiley]

I've chosed a 4x4 for my van. I live in a cold weather state, and love to live and play in the snow. If I was living the snowbird lifestyle, avoiding the snow, I would skip the 4x4.

I won't be using the 4x4 vehicle I live in to go down roads that most vehicles couldn't traverse in normal conditions. It's control in the snow that led me to decide on 4WD.

 

[psyekl]

When I had a step van, I looked into the possibility of a 4x4 conversion and it didn't seem worth the trouble. I was planning on putting a locker in the rear and calling it good. That's the route I'd recommend unless you are really hankering to get into a big project (in which case, go crazy!)

The project will be fairly elaborate in scope since we're probably going to be pulling the body off of the frame anyhow. Even if I plan to stay with a 2wd I will need to swap out the rear-end (for a better gear ratio and brakes) and the front-end (for improved suspension, power steering and disk brakes). If I'm going to be doing all of that, I might as well make up my mind for 4wd or 2wd before we get to it. I'll use it with the stock setup (low-geared rear and drum brakes all-around) for a bit before doing the work to see what degree of changes need to be made. Thanks for all the great info!

 

[becida]

Lockers are probably the best way to get traction for the dollar. They are kind of weak in the deep mud, deep snow, and deep sand; anything that provides a deep, soft surface. If you have a solid surface underneath and some weight, you would be amazed what can be done with a locker. Less maintenance. And it won't hurt your mileage like a 4X4 does. I have a lot of good to say about lockers. Not the clutch ones, though. The Torsion ones or air/manually engaged ones. I suppose there are electrically engaged ones, too.

The poor man's 4x4...