[rjr162]

Find the 4x4, and if you're one of the rare "I wish I had a 4x2" either leave it in 2H, or pull the front drive shaft and set it aside for a day where you may want to go back to 4x4 lol

 

[basicxterra]

I have a rear wheel drive X, well my wife does. That is the only reason, her parents bought it for her when she was like 18. It sucks on the snow and it's dangerous on the ice. Period. If you get a 2X4, there will be a time when you are sitting in a ditch, shivering, waiting for someone to come pull you out wishing you spent the extra $ to begin with instead of on tow fees every winter. Just my opinion. Go with 4X4!

 

[F150Boss86]

you can be just 'ok' with driving in the snow...or you could be confident that you have 4x4...and then getg some bad ass tires and be excited for winter like me!!

 

[Tamerin]

hmmm,

I'm from Florida and moved to Virginia, and I bought a 2WD X.... I already wish I had gotten a 4x4 and hopefully during the Summer I will have this X paid off and can trade-in/sell for a 4x4 X

Never driven in snow, so this year will be sort of interesting when/if it snows. Guess a lot of sand bags in the back, less PSI in the tires and going 10 MPH will be what saves my ass lol.

If you get an X, please be sure to get a 4x4. 4x2's just don't cut it

PS: I have a roommate that has a 4x4 Jeep Renegade so I will be fine this year, especially since he's my co-worker lol. Hell even his G/F has a 4x4!

 

[BlindIo]

For years I drove RWD cars in the snow - first a 1976 Volvo 245 and then a 1983 Mercedes 300 D Turbo Diesel.

Most of the time I don't put my X in 4WD in the snow because there's no need for it. When I'm up a canyon road in the middle of a storm I might click it over when the 4WD/Chains Required sign is turned on (they won't let you up the canyon otherwise).

Snow driving is more about the tires and the driver than which wheels have power. I actually prefer RWD to FWD because with RWD when you lose traction you don't lose steering or braking. Also, FWD will understeer and RWD you can steer with the throttle.

In short: Good tires + some weight in the back (if needed) + a good driver = snow isn't a problem.

4WD is good for pushing through deep snow or snowbanks and pulling people out of ditches, that's about it.

 

[helifixerupper]

well i live in az but i am from colorado and will be moving back soon. Down here 2wd is very common and so that is what i ended up getting. The few times I have been back to colorado I haven't had any problems really. If you are just commuting a 2wd will work. I have to admit I do own a subaru forester as well for the really bad days, but the x is for towing mainly.

 

[TJTJ]

It boils down to this:

Obviously, many humans get to work, etc, in front wheel drive or rwd CARS, despite snow, etc.

So, as owning say a Honda Accord in say Denver, is not considered being insane, neither is owning any other 2wd.


The DIFFERENCE is that an all wheel drive will do better than a 2 wheel drive, front or rear.

If you had the OPTION of getting a 4wd Accord for Denver, well, it WOULD work BETTER.



If you had the OPTION of getting a 4wd XTERRA, instead of a 2wd Xterra, well, it WOULD WORK BETTER TOO.


Its a question of DEGREE.



Can a 2wd SURVIVE, sure, and you CAN hike the Appalachian Trail bare footed...but sneakers work better than bare feet, and hiking boots work better than sneakers.



So, if you are going on a hike, we'd recommend HIKING BOOTS...

...even if some ALSO tell you THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IT BARE FOOT...and it was fine.



:wink-big:

 

[Itsme]

X2 what TJTJ is trying to tell you.
Of course a 4X4 is going to cost more, but it is the better of the two, by far.
It really does not matter what 4x2 drivers say, with out a doubt 4X4 is the way to go!
Itsme

 

[Cyclemut]

I'm kind of getting tired of all the damned bashing on the 4x2 X's. Seriously.

I live in Denver, not "used to", not "going to", I currently do. I never drove my 4x4 Xterra in the winter because it had no windows! No roof, no heat and the cage didn't fair well for keeping anything out either. Besides, 35's at 40psi didn't do squat either.

For the short time that I had my Frontier, 4x4 was fun. But for all the other times, my wife's 4x2 Xterra did JUST FINE!!!!!!

Up the passes, down the passes, skiing and making it to the slopes, all just fine. Did I have to put some decent tires on it? Sure! But for all of those folks saying "Screw the 4x2, 4x4's are the shizzle and you suck if you don't get one!" I'd say this, "Piss off!"

I've so many 4x2 trucks in my day it's stupid. Full size, mini-truck, you name it I had it. Twisty mountain roads, snow storms, ice storms and hunting in the back country during 3rd season.

And to anyone thinking her X is a castrated truck, get real. Our X get's a lot better mileage than my Frontier did, better than my Xterra did and currently rivals my Super Beetle! Not to mention it's VG33, not the 4 banger, and is a ton faster than any of the 4x4 Xterras I know. Not faster than my Frontier, but it's fast.

Snow driving, a bit of weight in the back, good tires and you're just fine! Most still have the LSD rear end as well. Get one, save the money (especially if you're not going to wheel it) and if you decide that later on you want something 4WD, then get a 2nd Gen.

And for everyone else that wants to argue about it, :machinegunner:

 

[timb.]

I'm kind of getting tired of all the damned bashing on the 4x2 X's. Seriously.

I live in Denver, not "used to", not "going to", I currently do. I never drove my 4x4 Xterra in the winter because it had no windows! No roof, no heat and the cage didn't fair well for keeping anything out either. Besides, 35's at 40psi didn't do squat either.

For the short time that I had my Frontier, 4x4 was fun. But for all the other times, my wife's 4x2 Xterra did JUST FINE!!!!!!

Up the passes, down the passes, skiing and making it to the slopes, all just fine. Did I have to put some decent tires on it? Sure! But for all of those folks saying "Screw the 4x2, 4x4's are the shizzle and you suck if you don't get one!" I'd say this, "Piss off!"

I've so many 4x2 trucks in my day it's stupid. Full size, mini-truck, you name it I had it. Twisty mountain roads, snow storms, ice storms and hunting in the back country during 3rd season.

And to anyone thinking her X is a castrated truck, get real. Our X get's a lot better mileage than my Frontier did, better than my Xterra did and currently rivals my Super Beetle! Not to mention it's VG33, not the 4 banger, and is a ton faster than any of the 4x4 Xterras I know. Not faster than my Frontier, but it's fast.

Snow driving, a bit of weight in the back, good tires and you're just fine! Most still have the LSD rear end as well. Get one, save the money (especially if you're not going to wheel it) and if you decide that later on you want something 4WD, then get a 2nd Gen.

And for everyone else that wants to argue about it, :machinegunner:

thanks I wish you had told me that before leading a group in winter with a 4x2 in it.....the only place he was able to drive was in the parking lot. If your going to get a 2wd car/suv, get a FWD one....common sense. BMWs just spin tires while volvos are just bearable. Nothing more embarassing than get stuck in a parking lot on black ice not to mention not having to shovel out your rig.

 

[helifixerupper]

this topic should be closed before people get anymore upset. Didn't we just get a compliment as to how friendly CX is?

Anyways I think all the info you need is already here. To sum it up (and basically quote TJ) 4x2 can work but 4x4 is a safer bet.

 

[BlindIo]

I'm kind of getting tired of all the damned bashing on the 4x2 X's. Seriously.

I live in Denver, not "used to", not "going to", I currently do. I never drove my 4x4 Xterra in the winter because it had no windows! No roof, no heat and the cage didn't fair well for keeping anything out either. Besides, 35's at 40psi didn't do squat either.

For the short time that I had my Frontier, 4x4 was fun. But for all the other times, my wife's 4x2 Xterra did JUST FINE!!!!!!

Up the passes, down the passes, skiing and making it to the slopes, all just fine. Did I have to put some decent tires on it? Sure! But for all of those folks saying "Screw the 4x2, 4x4's are the shizzle and you suck if you don't get one!" I'd say this, "Piss off!"

I've so many 4x2 trucks in my day it's stupid. Full size, mini-truck, you name it I had it. Twisty mountain roads, snow storms, ice storms and hunting in the back country during 3rd season.

And to anyone thinking her X is a castrated truck, get real. Our X get's a lot better mileage than my Frontier did, better than my Xterra did and currently rivals my Super Beetle! Not to mention it's VG33, not the 4 banger, and is a ton faster than any of the 4x4 Xterras I know. Not faster than my Frontier, but it's fast.

Snow driving, a bit of weight in the back, good tires and you're just fine! Most still have the LSD rear end as well. Get one, save the money (especially if you're not going to wheel it) and if you decide that later on you want something 4WD, then get a 2nd Gen.

And for everyone else that wants to argue about it, :machinegunner:

thanks I wish you had told me that before leading a group in winter with a 4x2 in it.....the only place he was able to drive was in the parking lot. If your going to get a 2wd car/suv, get a FWD one....common sense. BMWs just spin tires while volvos are just bearable. Nothing more embarassing than get stuck in a parking lot on black ice not to mention not having to shovel out your rig.

If it's that icy then no number of drive wheels will help.

I've lived almost all my driving life in the Utah mountains and I've only had 4WD for a rather small percentage of that time. I've personally driven RWD turbo diesels (worst possible configuration for snow, by the way) up 20% grades past Subarus and 4WD SUVs that have slid off.

The single most critical component in snow driving isn't the number of wheels that spin, it's the nut that connects the steering wheel to the seat. Around here people get this idea that because they have 4WD or AWD they are invincible in bad weather. Drivers of FWD and RWD cars tend to be more cautious and thus get where they are going without incident.

If you have a RWD vehicle and a good set of tires you will be able to get around a city just fine, short of a 100-year-storm that shuts down everything.

As I said before, it's very rare that I put my X in 4WD when driving in snow. I'm used to how RWD vehicles handle before the invention of computer aided driving. With modern traction control and VDC-type systems, even a novice driver could handle snow driving. There are times I turn the VDC off since it will retard the throttle to the point of stalling a MT vehicle - and there are times I want to (or need to) spin the tires. With these aids available to the driver, snow driving is easier than it has ever been.

The second biggest component to the equation is tires. All-seasons just don't cut it in the snow, you need a dedicated snow tire or a deep-tread off road tire (not a mud terrain).

Now, it's true that a 4WD is harder to get stuck than a 2WD because on ice you can pretty much divide the number of drive wheels by 2 (unless you have a locker engaged or are running limited-slip diffs), but that doesn't change the fact that on a sheet of ice no number of drive wheels is going to matter. You could have a 6x6 Deuce and a Half and still slide. Years ago I was creeping down a snow-covered hill in my dad's FJ80 Land Cruiser (full-time 4WD, with lockable limited-slip diffs), I hit a sheet of ice under the snow and that vehicle, equipped with off road tires, broke free and started sliding down the hill completely out of control. After I smashed up another car, a snowplow tried to come down the same hill (weighs about 70 tons fully loaded with 10 drive wheels) and he slid two blocks with his blade down before regaining traction.

4WD provides a larger comfort-zone for winter driving just knowing that it's there when or if you need it. A good driver can stretch the comfort zone of a RWD vehicle with practice and experience. Once you hit the limit of what a RWD can do in experienced hands, the 4WD will still be able to soldier on in capable hands. However, a RWD in the hands of a good driver will go farther than an AWD or 4WD in the hands of an inexperienced or foolish driver.

 

[Itsme]

I agree with what BlindIo says and I was not bashing RWD Xterras. I was mearly pointing out: most people do not race Xterras, Even So Cal drivers do rock crawling and deep sand driving and 4wd works much better at both of those jobs.
The biggest reason most X buyers buy one in the first place and why it was designed in the first place, is for it's many uses. If you are only going to use one on road and most trails, 2wd is fine and will possibly even work better 95%, but that 5% of the time, you better be darn sure of it's limits.
On the other hand 4wd will do all your needs, so it really comes down to how you plan to use it, but most people will be better off with 4wd, if they want to sport it on and off road!
I have been wheeling off road since the 60s and I have seen some awful outcomes, with two wheel drive in the wrong places.
In truth, I have seen many more awful 4wd drive outcomes with people, that get into bad situations, that were way beyond their driving skills.
4wd is only as good as the driver and his knowledge of his and his 4wd truck limitations.
I meant in no way to dis 4x2 drivers here and I also know, that most people that own X's are usually better drivers than the average road drivers.
Sporty X's seem to draw a better group of drivers, in my opinion.

I do appologize, if any 2wd people are offended by this thread. I don't believe it was the spirit that was/is being portrayed.
Itsme

 

[Rook]

I don't see any 2wd bashing going on in this thread. Just people taking things personally that shouldn't be taken personally.

TJ's post and comparison to the applacian trails sums this up best IMHO. 4wd just gives you another level of comfort. Given the fact that the resale value is MUCH higher as well...it's a no brainer....don't cheap out....you may never use the 4wd...but at least you will never be sorry.....

 

[Cyclemut]

Rook, there has been bashing and I'm here to tell everyone that this an Xterra forum, not an off road forum. The fact that many here actually do off road their Xterras my no means that only 4x4's are allowed here or are the only Xterras tolerated.

The constant bashing of 4x2 X's that's been going on here is getting old. Whenever I see anyone bring up 4x2's of any sort, it's like dropping chum in the water off the coast of Australia, nothing good will come of it.

I also don't get the attitude of telling people to buy something that they may never use. WTF? Seriously? Telling people, in this economy, to go out and purchase a 4WD vehicle over a 2WD vehicle because the truck is just plain better? Even though they may never use it? How responsible is that?

And I get that not everyone races their rigs. We don't race ours. And if I get another truck/suv, then I'm free to convert ours over to 4WD for rock crawling. But it won't be a daily driver any more and the other vehicle will still be 2WD! That's because they're way cheaper, less maintenance, I know how to drive it and it will never, ever go off road.

The 4WD is better and "owns all you base" attitude needs to be checked once in a while.

Check and Mate.

 

[BlindIo]

And the question is better at what? A 2WD X is lighter weight and has less resistance due to the lack of machinery that has to turn when in RWD mode.

That makes the 2WD X ideal for anyone who needs utility for hauling or towing and don't live in the snow belt and don't do any serious off road driving.

It's all a matter of what you want to do with your X. For 95% of my driving a 2WD model would be perfect and give me better fuel economy.

 

[TJTJ]

LOL

People get so defensive.


Yes, you can run faster in sneakers than in hiking boots.

If you are going to be running and not hiking, get sneakers.

If you can afford sneakers and not hiking boots, get sneakers instead of being bare foot.

If you are going hiking, and can afford hiking boots instead of sneakers, get hiking boots.


:wink-big:

 

[F150Boss86]

4x4 is always better then 4x2!!!!!!! Hand down!!!!!!!! Its better no matter what!!!

Come on guys, Its just personel opions here, no need to take it personally. I like having 4x4 because I leave in the middle of the nights when the plows arent out...take it or leave it, its my opinion

 

[JustinCredible]

Honestly, I've never come accross an on road snow situation that required me to shift into 4wd, and I see plenty of the white stuff.

That being said, there are so many vehicles that get better mpg than the 2wd X and would do better in the snow.

 

[Rook]

OMFG....4x4 is so much better than 4x2.....

get real...noone is attacking 4x2....for my personal application 4x4 was best...and the resale value is higher..that is a fact. nothing wrong with 4x2....but it will be harder to get stuck in 4x4...also a fact.


Sneakers or Hiking Boots?
get.over.it.

Honestly, I've never come accross an on road snow situation that required me to shift into 4wd, and I see plenty of the white stuff.

That being said, there are so many vehicles that get better mpg than the 2wd X and would do better in the snow.

^and this.