Drive with 2 wheel drive in canadian winter ?

Hi Guys,

I am looking to buy my first Tacoma ever on next year.
I was wondering if it good be OK to choose the 4X2 considering our Canadian winters. I'm living in Quebec. So a lot of snow ... (too much )

So, what are your experiences with 4X2 drive ? Do you regret your choice ?

Thank you.

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I would go with 4x4. I had a 1990 2wd Mazda B2600i. I live in Minnesota and drove it for a few winter and put the sandbags in the back. I got sick of spinning out on slight inclines. I then went to my first Toyota a 1992 4x4 pickup and wont go back to 2wd once I got the 4wd. On my 3rd Toyota 4x4....

 

4x4 is my choice. Good tires and a set of chains is the next safest. If you go 4x2, get a rear locker. 4x4 with rear locker would be tops. Auto lsd is nice, but a poor mans locker although better than open diff.
I had a 4x2 3/4 ton chevy with open diff. It didn't like big hills and snow with all weather tires. It fared better with general grabber at2's, but it was still hairy going up hills on packed snow.

 

4x4 all the way. I have had both and when the winter storms hit, I am so thankful I have 4x4.

 

I don't have to live in Canada to say... ARE YOU CRAZY NOT to buy 4x4????

These trucks absolutely suck in 2WD in snow. If you have good tires, low air pressure in tires, weight in the bed, and an LSD - you might have half a chance. I live in PA...and I'd never have a 2WD truck. Screw that....

Get the 4WD and you can switch to 2WD and have some fun with it if you want.

Think of it this way.... If you ever have a family emergency and you need to get to the hospital (or whatever) - that 4WD can mean the difference between getting there in a timely fashion, or not getting there at all.

 

Stick with the 4wd. 2wd in that much snow is pretty much useless. You might be fine for a bit but eventually you will run into problems with traction and you will have wished you just went for the 4wd. I used to live in Ontario, so I know all about the sudden dumps of snow, and without 4wd you would not be going anywhere. It's worth the extra cash even if you don't use it all the time.

 

Do you guys still use weight in the back, ie sand tubes, with the 4WD. I ask as I just bought my first 4WD and am in an area where we get lots of snow.

Thanks

Duff

 

I'd say rear wheel drive in snow sucks, go with the 4x4!!

 

i didnt use anything in the back of my pickup last winter. didnt have any troubles. come to think of it i never used anything in the back of my old s10 2wd and never had troubles. it was a big pain in the ass sometimes, but ive never been stuck... 2wd or 4x4. it's all in how you drive really. 4x4 is pretty awesome to have though.

 

It's also about terrain and how deep the snow gets where you drive.
I can go through what the snow plow leaves behind, about a foot deep, stop, and go again easily in 4wd. Wouldn't attempt it in 2wd.

 

I won't argue that if you can get the 4x4 it's always nice to have, but how many of you actually travel in 4 wheel?

I use mine to get out of an unplowed parking spot or up the driveway, but then put it over to 4x2. I've been in the snow my whole life with 2wd pick-ups without a problem, just make sure you have good tires, lots of weight, a light foot and drive like you don't have brakes.

 

I used to always carry 150-200lbs of sand in the back of all the trucks I've ever owned.

With the tacoma - I stopped doing it that one year where the gas prices were $6 a gallon. Carrying that extra weight sucks up the gas. The truck did fine without the weight.

Currently - my tires are getting thin (1/4" tread left). I've been adding 70lbs back there for a little added security.

 

4X4 is what you need!!! and you don't need to put weight in the back.

 

I never had to put weight in the back of the truck (4x4) and never had any issues. I would only ever travel in 4wd if the roads were really snowy. It has been stated, but I will say it again, a light foot is key. Drive like an ass and you will end up in a ditch.

 

even with good winter tires you'll spin out on icey intersections. so go with 4x4

 

hey, so did you buy a tacoma?

if you havent; and are still deciding; go 4X4 if you can!!!!!

you wont regret it one bit.

my 4X4 tacoma handled last winter like a champ. When my city was pretty much shut down for a week... bus's stuck everywhere, streets littered with stuck vehicles, my taco just danced around them all without breaking a sweat. Giving people rides and stuff; you can stop and help people who are stuck if you like. if i was jsut rear-wheel drive theres definitely some streets i would have got stuck in too.

And 4X4 didnt come in handy jsut for the few major snowfalls that take forever to get cleaned up. i used it quite frequently.

 

I drove my Mazda B2000 from Ottawa to St- Jovite every week end for 10 years and only got stuck once. I kept 250lbs in the box agains the cab and 4 snow tires on the truck. The Taco as posi rear end a lot better than the Mazda. It all depends on what you want to drive to and from.

 

IMO 4x4 is the way to go. I was also considering 4x2 two years ago when I bought my Taco, but am I ever happy I went with 4x4!!! It is a life-saver on snowy mornings, and awesome piece-of-mind when trekking into back country areas.

 

With a good set of snows (which I believe is mandatory in PQ during winter months), 2wd is managable. It takes a little to get going, but the truck tracks fine if you're gentle on the throttle. Adding weight would help with acceleration traction a little.

4wd is nice on snow covered roads though. Especially if you live in a hilly area. If your roads are snow covered more often than not, 4wd will be nice, but 2wd will still get you by, but not as quickly and with not as much confidence.

I don't put weight in the bed. It's a compromise. I'd rather be able to stop faster those couple extra feet or change direction quicker than be able to accelerate with a little more traction.

With 2wd in the winter, you also get to learn how to steer your truck with the gas pedal