Will a 2wd Toyota Tacoma survive Vermont winters?

I bought my Tacoma last month in Florida, where I have lived the last three years. I was absolutely in love with every aspect of it for a the last month. This was until I decided it was time for me to move back to Vermont, to be closer to my family. Since I decided this, I have looked at a few 4x4 Tacomas but none of them have all the features I want and would also put me at 5k in negative equity. The negative equity is from taxes, fees, and hit I would take on price which I bought my current truck at compared to its trade in value. I keep enough money on hand that I could swing it, but I can't seem to justify taking on so much negative equity on a different truck when I have almost the perfect truck now (only thing missing is 4x4). My question is, who here has driven in New England winters with 2wd and can tell me if its worth trading mine or should I keep it and take precautions such as weight in the back, good snow tires, and good driving skills (I drove in Vermont for years before moving to Florida)? Thanks in advance for the help!

 

I grew up with a 2wd truck and my father has had nothing but 2wd trucks for over 40 years, we live south of Buffalo. Never had a issue, good snow tires and weight in the bed. We get lots of snow and live in a hilly area. Just takes a bit longer to get moving from a stop. My last two trucks have been 4wd, it is nice to have and I'm not sure I would want to go back, but it's really not necessary.

 

I've driven in at least 18" of snow with a 2wd Tacoma. Tires make all the difference. And being skilled at driving in the snow helps a lot too. Without 4wd you just have to take your time.

Get good tires and keep a shovel, a recovery strap, a good blanket, a few other survival items and a set of chains in your truck and you'll be fine.

 

are you in a sport or trd off road?

 

This winter was no problem. We had like no snow. My 1st time ever in 45+ years never picking up a snow shovel. I do see a ton of 2wd Tacoma delivery vehicles around here. Good snows & weight as said in other posts.

 

It is a TRD offroad. It has rear differential lock and traction control.

 

I am right across the boarder N.Y Lake George region the guys are right you don't need it but 4wd is real nice.when it gets icy studded snows 4wd is your best chance. Also 2wd is lower to ground..

 

I definitely hear what you're saying. Mine does have the TRD lift though, so its a little higher up. I believe its lifted the same as a 4wd, if i remember correctly.

 

I grew up in W. Michigan, 25 miles inland from the big lake. We had lake effect snow as bad or worse than upstate NY gets it. I hardly ever even saw a 4wd until I moved to Laramie, WY in 1982. We did everything in 2wd vehicles. Mostly rear drive, but the FWD revolution was just starting near the end of the 70s.

You came from Vermont, so you've driven on snow right? If you haven't driven a rear-wheel drive vehicle on snow you'll need to take it easy until you get the hang, but it's totally do-able. Others have said good stuff: weight in the back, have your own tow strap, etc. But I'd add this: Studded Snow Tires. Having a dedicated set of snows that you switch out to normal tires in summer is totally worth it. Chains are very effective, but a pain in the ass unless you can leave them on all winter, like if you lived in Point Barrow, AK or some similar hellhole.

If it turns out that winter driving is a big deal for you so that your rwd Taco is wrong, don't just buy a 4wd Taco. Get a subaru.

 

4x4 makes life so much easier. Even if a 2wd will make do, youll wish you got the 4x4 at one point or another

 

Touche, sir. I already do! Unfortunatly, like I said, I am unsure it would make sense in my current situation.

 

Thank you all very much for the help!

 

I think you'll be fine. Get some good tires and give it a try for a winter. You may find you don't mind 2wd. You may find you want 4wd. Either way, no need to make that decision right now.

 

Of course it will. 4wd, AWD, and even front wheel drive, vehicles have only been common for a few decades. Before that everybody all over the world got along just fine with rear drive vehicles and to top it off they used shitty hard rubber bias ply tires that weren't made for snow. I don't think sawdust retreads even came into being until the 1940s with studded tires coming some time later.