Bug out Vehicle, Is 4X4 necessary or is 4X2 OK?

ERdept

ERdept

Banned
Joined
May 17, 2005
Messages
757
I'm going to get a bug out vehicle, a used Toyota truck, so I can't spend more thatn 10K on it because it's my second car and mostly going to sit.

My question is, is 4X4 really necessary or can a raised up 4X2 do just about all the things you need to do?

I figure that the difficulty with cars is getting over obstacles, and not really having to go through slippery terrain.

Can a raised up 4X2 truck do most everything that I need? I'm thinking that with agressive and larger tires, a lift kit and winch, it can do what I need, even on unpaved areas. In my estimation, cars are limited because they simply can't go over objects, like curbs and rolling terrain with rocks, stumps, etc.

A raised 2X truck can do that, and more w/o the expense fo 4X4. You think this will work?
 
IMO, 4 wheel drive is manditory for a bug out vehicle. For a lot less than 10 grand, you can build an awesome rig out of an older Toyota. I Would buy a mid to late 80s (22RE motor) and add a little lift, BFG Mud tires and air lockers. With a winch, you can go just about anywhere. If you are careful and skilled, you can go almost anywhere with a 2 wheel drive but there is a much larger margin for error with 4 wheel drive. Just my .02. :thumbup:
 
For me personally, 4wd is not needed or desired. It is seldom used, added expense and maintenance, and is just one more major thing that can break. I can and do drive anywhere I want or need to with two wheel drive. Usually, four wheel drive just gets you stuck or broken down deeper in the sticks where recovery is more difficult. You can also ruin a good truck, two or four wheel drive, by getting carried away with lift kits. You ruin the steering and u-joint geometry and make the road handling characteristics dangerous. If you want a taller truck, try a taller series M/S all terrain tires first. Two inches of lift is more than you think, four inches is a lot. Yeah, jacked trucks look cool, but trust me, you don't want to have to drive one any distance. For off road, the differential makes a big difference. Not only whether or not you have traction to both rear wheels, but the final drive ratio. A low geared rearend will perform better offroad, but cost you in speed and gas milage onroad. You plays, you pays. IMHO, adding a "loaded for bear" secure tool box does more to your off road capability than adding 4wd.

Codger
 
I would think that it really is determined by where you live and the terrain that you might have to bug-out through. Bugging out from the California coast? Probably a 4x2 is sufficient. A boat or a small airplane might be better.

Bugging out in the Sierra, the Rockies, or the upper midwest in the winter time? Yeah, I think a 4x4 might come in handy and get you a little further along than if you had a 4x2 (but if the snow and ice gets bad enough, you're ultimately going to get stuck either way).

Bugging out cross-country in the Mojave or the Sonoran deserts? I'd say 4x4s are almost mandatory down there.

Edit: I should add that not all 4 wheel drive systems are equal. My brother-in-law has an old Jeep CJ-7 tricked out for running around the Sonoran desert. The thing drives like crap on the street but can climb almost anything off-road. He likes to tell stories about people who bring their brand-new Jeep 4x4s or SUV 4x4s into the desert, get stuck, and then he pulls them out with his jeep. He's made a lot of money over the years pulling brand-new vehicles out of the desert after that brand-new "tuned-for-the-pavement" 4x4 system fails on the hapless owners. If you go with a 4x4, make sure you understand what it was actually designed for and, therefore, what it's limitations are. Good for the wet and icy pavement, not so good in the dirt; good in the dirt, crap on the street. It pretty much seems to be a trade-off you have to make.
 
i'm kind of a fan of 4WD myself, heck my car has AWD... it's more maintenance and more stuff to break, but if it's mostly sitting, i'm not sure if that is problem

i would think 10K should easily get you a used 4WD Toyota. how "used" are we talking?

looks like they might be kinda sparse in your area though, looking at autotrader. (assuming your location is accurate)
 
If you are careful and skilled, you can go almost anywhere with a 2 wheel drive but there is a much larger margin for error with 4 wheel drive.
Click to expand...
True enough. I just bought a 1993 Jeep Cherokee for the 4X4 ability primarily.The former owner rarely used the four-by, twice in five years I belive, so when I checked it out, it worked like a champ. It's that added ability that is reassuring. Cost $1200 and runs strong. But locomike's above statement is also true. The only other Jeep I've owned was a DJ-5 Dispatcher. Commonly known as the humble Postal Jeep. For a 2-wheel-drive it is simple and effective:232c.i strait six engine,Borg-Warner 3-speed tranny, Dana 44 differential with Posi-Traction. If you're carefull and patient you can go all over the damned place. As an example, my brother also had one that he would take out into the back 40 of the Mojave Desert, and while he never went "Baja1000"and whomped it hard and fast, he also never once got it stuck.
 
I have to go along with Codger on this. For the most part 4-wheeldrive is not going to be needed most places in dry weather. I've got a 2 wheel drive 2002 Tacoma, and its my 2d Toyota truck. My last was a 1990 that had 140k on the clock and the 2d owner lives up the road and had well over 200k on it now. I kept both trucks completely stock, as did he. In dry conditions both do well in moderate off road conditions, and in snow and ice we put five 50 pound sandbags in the back over the axel. I've driven through snow with no problems that had most modern little cars stuck. I also have a spare pair of wheels with dedicated mud/snow tires on them that I put on in November and take off in March.

Lift kits and all these other mods make the truck handle like a pile of wet manure, easier to roll in an avoidence manouver, and ride like hell.

Its all a moot point anyways, as I am one who believes a bug out vehicle is almost usless unless you have inside info and leave before anyone else. In an emergency the roads are going to be very long parking lots. Our niece lives in Houston and the evecuation there was a joke. After standing in traffic for 6 hours, and not geting anywhere, she turned around and went home and rode out the huricane there. And she left, or tried to, at the first warning. She actually had an easier time with her little Ford Festiva because she could drive through small spaces the SUV's and trucks could not. At one point she left the road, drove across a parking lot, and fit the car throught those white concrete posts that block off a no acsess road. The shoebox Festiva fit in between them with about an inch to spare on either side. She drove while her boyfriend was in front guiding her on and watching each side to make sure it was going to clear.

Judging by her experience you'd be better off with a Mini-cooper.

Depending where you are, you may be better off with a small motorcycle, mountain bike with paniers, or boat. I think the people with the big 4X4's are fooling themselves.
 
Hey my bug out Vehicle is a 92 Toyota 22R-E. (Fuel Injected) I bought it with 200K miles on it and have driven it another 125K. Replacing only the ball joints and the radiator with hoses. It is a rock solid engine. I paid 2900 for it and put a 2 inch lift so it will take 33 inch tires without rub. BFG all terrains. Have front and rear ratchet type Detroit lockers, and a Warn 8000 winch. All in all I have about 7500 in it. I did all of the work myself though and bought lots of parts used. I offroad religiously, and I bet my life to this truck consistently in the middle of nowhere. On a side note the ratchet lockers is a little uncomfortable on road, so air might be more comfortable. Although a lot more expensive.

I urge you that before you bet your life on any vehicle, you practice offroading, vehicle recovery's, and have all of the necessary equipment on your truck to do basic repairs. I know some old timers who drive stock 4x2's who know their trucks and know excactly what they can do and can't. So no matter what you get practice! It's worth all the trick upgrades in the world.
 
The fact that you're in the LA area I say, don't waste your money. The fellers that say you don't need 4x4 aint in MN.:rolleyes: :D Where the average climate is mild, the most bush that a SUV/4 wheeler sees is the front seat.;)
 
I think it all depends on your location, where you are going, and why you think you will be Buggin, in the first place.

Most situations, I'm staying home.

If it's bad enough, then EVERYONE will hit the road. Gridlock.
Trailbike or mountainbike would get you there faster.

OK, so let's say you avoid the gridlock, or wait until everyone has run out of gas.....where is it you are going? To the mountains, down fire roads, totally off pavement? Then YES, 4x4 will be helpful.

Are you driving to Aunt Jane's who lives on paved roads? Then maybe not.

---------

Let me give you an actual scenario, which I think will resemble the chaos that will ensue as a panic forces everyone to Bug Out.

Due to my work, I am considered "essential" and MUST always be able to get to work (lucky me). Therefor I have always had 4 wheel drive vehicles.

We had a snow storm, I was on my way to work. There are hills and valleys, it is a suburban area. Cars were stuck in the bottomlands, unable to get enough traction to get up the hills. *Remember, if one car gets stuck, all are stuck behind them.

My 4x4 Toyota truck had a cap on the back. I had shovels, a couple bags of sand, and then threw in some cinder blocks and tool boxes to add weight to the rear. That was my normal procedure for snowstorms. I typically deflate my tires to give greater bite on the road surface.

Upon waiting, and watching the sheeple, I saw them try again and again to make it up the hill, only to be hoplessly stuck, slide into the curb, basically blocking the road. I pulled up over the curb, onto the grass/sidewalk, and motored right up the hill, past all the numbnuts, and made my way back onto the roadway. Before the armchair quarterbacks jump all over this and say I could have run over someone, give me the credit that I checked first, went slowly, and a kept a watchful eye for any pedestrians. There were Zero people on foot, as it was near blizzard conditions. I was in 4x4 Low range which is basically crawling.

OK, so, now, let's tie this in with a Bug Out scenario. People will be in a panic. Cars will wreck, blocking the road, run out of fuel, blocking the road.
We should plan on a real mess. If roads are totally blocked no one will be gonig anywhere. That's how I really see it.
However, should you be running along and making progress, and come upon wrecked vehicles, or any type of traffic blockage, I would really like the ability to pull off the road, and get around the whole mess. That is where I think 10 minutes of having 4 wheel drive could turn a hopeless situation into a problem solved.

If it's a natural disaster, you may have large trees down, blocking the road, or telephone poles, you will need a Chainsaw, a towstrap and a decent vehicle to pull the debris out of your path. The pulling capability of a 4x4 is much greater than 2x4, especially if you add a wet road surface.

I am NOT saying it's mandatory, or that you will not survive without it.
I am saying that it does have it's virtues. My 4x4 vehicles have allowed me to go thru flooded creeks due to the higher clearance, through 3 foot deep snowstorms, and have gotten me so much farther back into the wilderness I've been able ot enjoy palces I would have never hiked to.

I still say that the "Bug Out" option is the last thing on your list, and is a pretty desperate move. Put a lot of thought into it.
 
Moving from Calif to Montana a couple of years ago,Ihad a couple of nice Diesel 2WD trucks.Thought They would be OK in MT.
Towed a trailer up to the house and got stuck,in my driveway.
Now own 3 4WD vehicals.
Better to have than not .IMO
Randy
 
I have been very pleased with Toyota trucks for general use; I've owned both 2x4 and 4x4 versions. I currently drive a 4x2 version. I expect to get a reliable 200K miles out of it.

For the most part, I drive a 4x4 the same as a 4x2. The extra front end traction was used when I take it somewhere that I shouldn't have. It boils down to experience and some luck, but basically you make a judgement on whether or not a 4x2 can make it reliably on a given road or whatever. If you get just past that margin and get into trouble, the extra front traction will get you out. 4x4's will get stuck. Have gotten 4x4 stuck more than a few times. But I knew going in that I could have trouble and decided to keep going. It was frequently a work situation and I usually had folks around to help me get out; frequently a bull dozier.

If you want a 4x2 that has good getting around ability and moderate highway mileage, I would get one with a limited slip differential that works. I had a small Blazer that would go just about anywhere (within reason) a 4x4 would go and still provide me with a bit of a safety margin. Liked that truck a lot, but gave it to my wife to drive.

Buy some tire chains for whatever truck you get. Makes a huge difference in both snow and mud.

Limited slip differentials and choosing the proper gear ratio for the rear end makes all the difference. But you general mileage will take a huge hit when you start getting lower range rear ends geared to the off road. I stay away form them now as the off road ability is not as important as the day to day on-road preformance. Bug Out situations are rare. Depends mostly on where you live and whether snow and ice are a normal winter issue and you do a lot of camping or exploring the less traveled areas.
 
I agree with 22-rimfire if you stick with the 2wd get a limited slip (or better yet a lockable differential) for the rear. Use caution with limited slips and lockers on ice, though, they can be treacherous.
I own a fully prepped Jeep for the mountains and serious rock climbing but I also have a 2wd ranger pickup. Either would suffice in an emergency, but I can drive through several feet of snow, around the bridge that is out, up the side of the blocked interstate over pass, ford the river and drive through the washed out road & up the creek bed in the jeep. The pickup would be stopped in all of these cases. (Note; this is a FULLY prepped Jeep most stock or near stock 4wds can only do part of this and many of the cars and minivans that say SUV, AWD, or FWD on the label won't do any of it any better than a 2wd.)
The really old straight front axle Toyota pickups are some of the best vehicles for really rough off road environments. The 2wd versions of these can be converted to fwd with some work. Avoid independent front end 4wd vehicles as they are much more expensive to modify and will not work as well when the going gets truly rough.
http://www.4x4now.com/trcois.htm

Enjoy!
 
I've driven Chevy 3/4 ton silverados with 4x4 for 30 years in the west Texas ranch country. 2 wheel will hack it 90% of the time.....then you need 4x4 or give up.

I have never been stuck in dry conditions but even with 4x4 I have been stuck when I got into a boggy spot. Then you need a winch and a longgggg tow strap.

Steve
 
To all the folks that poo on the idea of 4x4.


A worse case scenario has just taken place. Several , large U.S. cities have taken direct hits from nuclear bombs , it is unclear who , how or why at this point but several million of your fellow Countrymen have just died. You live in the greater metropolitan area of L.A in California.
In less time than it takes to cook a microwave pizza several million of your fellow Angelinos are in blind panic mode. Highways , freeways and city streets are hopelessly gridlocked , police and emergeny crews cannot move for the life of them. You were working in Riverside today and all you can think about is getting home to your wife and child in Altadena and how you are going to make it to your brother's cabin some three hours away.
Now tell me if in that scenario (which could happen , just change the nukes to an earthquake or tsunami or plague etc etc) you could have need of a 4x4.
Not saying you could not make do with a regualar drive vehicle either though , or a bicycle - Hell at that point anything would beat shank's mare.
 
The individual driver's ability makes a huge difference off road. Using appropriate tires also helps.
One thing I have found; no matter how well prepped or capable your vehicle is... there is an obstacle somewhere that will stop you.
Enjoy!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top