mowermech
Billings, MT
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Joined: 06/28/2003
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I learned to drive in the mountains of Northwestern Montana, in a 1939 Ford coupe. Needless to say, it was NOT four wheel drive!
In 1970, I finally got my first 4X4, a Chevy pickup. I never used the four wheel drive to get around in snow, but I always had REAL snow tires, and sopme weight in the back.
I have had a 4X4 of one kind or another ever since.
BUT, when I needed a truck to tow a rather large fifth wheel, I found a nice 4X2.
NO, you do NOT "need" a 4X4 to drive in the snow. You NEED good tires, and some weight in the back.
However, if you WANT a 4X4, you should certainly run right out and buy one!
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 275,000 Miles
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Hemi
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
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Bionic Man
Colorado
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Joined: 04/03/2009
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My CTD is nearly worthless in the snow in 2wd. I have BFG All-Terrain tires with good tread. Even with Limited Slip, starting in 2nd, especially on hills, the truck would rather go sideways than forward. When I switch to 4x4 the truck does great.
It may be a different story if you get studded snow tires & put weight in the back. Personally, I'll never have a 2wd truck.
2012 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW CC 4x4 Cummins HO, 60 gallon RDS aux fuel tank, Reese 18k Elite hitch
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 Cummins HO NV5600 with Smarty JR, Jacobs EB (sold)
2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 29FRB with Honda EV6010
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rsh_757
Auburn, WA
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Joined: 04/05/2006
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As far as driving in snow goes, you will never regret having 4wd, but you might regret not having it when you need it most. 4WD has more uses than just snow also.
2008 Cougar 310SRX 5th Wheel
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 QC 4x4 CTD
2008 Nissan Armada LE
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45Ricochet
North Idaho
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Joined: 09/04/2009
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Bionic Man wrote:My CTD is nearly worthless in the snow in 2wd. I have BFG All-Terrain tires with good tread. Even with Limited Slip, starting in 2nd, especially on hills, the truck would rather go sideways than forward. When I switch to 4x4 the truck does great.
It may be a different story if you get studded snow tires & put weight in the back. Personally, I'll never have a 2wd truck.
Same here. I live in the mountains and I could never make it up our private road without 4wd. This is with sipped snow tires and ~500lbs of sand in the bed. The highways are cleared, 2wd fine. Location 49N
06 Dodge 3500 CC LB Laramie 4x4 Dually 5.9 Cummins 325/610 48RE Jacobs brake Smarty Jr 
GVWR 12,200 Payload 4580
06 Grand Junction 34' High profile 15500 GVWR 3200 pin Mor/ryde 5500 Onan genny Dual A/C
27' Hallett 502, 500HP
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bdhoun
Waterdown, Ontario
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Joined: 03/03/2007
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I live just a few minutes east of you and have 2wd. Yes it spins a little, but I ahven't had any problems commuting to Brampton 5 days a week snow or no snow. Get whatever fits the pocket book. Plus 4wd cuts down on your payload as well.
'06 Ford F-150 flareside crew, 5.4l, 3.55's
'07 Jayco 232
prodigy and Equal-i-zer
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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4WD can be more dangerous if the driver does NOT understand the brakes are the same for a 4WD as for a 2WD.
Starting something you can not stop can be a problem. 
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azandy70
Green Bay WI
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Joined: 01/02/2010
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I think about everyone here may have started with or owned a 2wd at some point. Many probably still do. Used to have a window fan in summer too. Now have A/C. If you are going to live where there is snow and you will be there for 3 years, why would you want 2wd. Unless you do not go anywhere while it's snowing. Then fine. I will own a 2wd TV too when I live where there isn't much or any snow.
JMHO
2011 F350 SRW 4x4 Crew cab short box
6.7
2011 Open Range RF392BHS
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lesmore49
canada
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Joined: 11/25/2004
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azandy70 wrote:If you sit home when it snows you would be fine. I doubt you could ever resell a 2wd in Ontario. We have had large plow units that are Rwd but with tons of salt in the back. My vote would be 4x4. I've had issues at times in a park in summer where I would switch to 4x4 to avoid spinning tires and making a mess. Not sure I would go to 2wd till I am for sure retired and never at least see snow again
I live in the next province to Ontario...a lot of people have 2WD trucks both here and in Ontario....you doubt that a 2WD truck could ever be -resold ???
Lot's of them are re-sold.
My son has a 2WD Chevy pickup with the Z71 off road package...so far with our half the year winters...hasn't been stuck. He has a lot of ground clearance, a locking axle, large tires with good tread design and also an electronic traction control.
Also sandbags in the bed, during the winter, help a lot ...whether a 4WD or 2WD truck. Properly placed ballast in the bed, helps with the weight distribution in a P/U which aides braking, handling and traction in the snow.
At the family farm, years ago...we never had 4WD....somehow we survived. 4WD was not common before the '70's....people used weight ballast for traction, proper tires, the 'educated' foot and seemed to survive.
I agree with mowermech's post...he says it all.
lesmore49
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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lesmore49 I think many buy 4WD today to make up for their lack of driving skills and for ego support.
I had to look hard to find a 2WD Blazer with leather but I have the same ground clearance which is a good thing. For our needs I do not want the increased weight and decreased gas mileage.
With that being said some do truly "need" a 4WD vehicle.
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VirtualGarage
Vancouver, Canada
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Joined: 05/27/2009
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For driving in snow and ice, what makes the biggest difference is the driver's skill and the vehicle's tires. If you are smart about driving in the snow and your vehicle is properly equipped with winter tires, RWD will do you fine. AWD/4WD with winter tires is the best situation. But if you won't be in a winter climate for many more years, you might not want to make that investment.
One advantage of AWD/4WD is that it allows you to go much farther before you get stuck--trust me, I know .
It bugs me so much when I see that most of the traffic accidents and tie-ups happen because people don't have proper winter tires.
2007 GMC Yukon XL Denali ~ 2010 Keystone Premier 31BHPR ~ Sold: 2009 Tango 289BH
ProPride 3P Hitch ~ RV Modifications ~ Gear & Accessories ~ Road Trip 2010
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