To buy or not to buy, for daily usage.

[Worktruck]

I was offered a 1982 Chevy pickup for $4000. Almost all the mechanical whatnots were relatively new, everything's really nice, but... it has a two wheel drive. And I have heard that, especially given as how ND tends to have four seasons (winter, winter, winter, and road construction), a two wheel drive, combined with the 4:11 gearing, is essentially asking for all kinds of driving trouble. The idea would be that it would be pretty much my everyday vehicle, which would not work well if it could only be safely used in 1/4 of the year. Note that I am a rather inexperienced driver. What's everyone's opinion on it? It's a really nice truck, and that kind of price is incredible, but...

 

[Terlingueno]

I learned to drive my Grandpa's 1953 2-wheel drive GMC pickup in the early 70's in Colorado in the winter. Then I had to prove to my Pop that I could drive the 1965 3/4 ton Chevy pickup in the winter on snow and ice before I could get my drivers license in '76. Both trucks had standard transmissions. I drove my two wheel drive, 4 speed '65 Suburban in college, also all year long. In the winter we always put a load of sand in the beds of the pickups. Also used chains when necessary. All of our vehicles had chains. I have chains for all four wheels for my K20 Suburban. Never had issues in winter. Biggest thing was using common sense when driving in inclement weather...

 

[Ricko1966]

90 percent of America used to drive 2 wheel rear drive vehicles,winter,summer,spring,fall.They even sell winter tires for 2 wheel drive. My mom used to shuttle a station wagon full of kids around in 2 different rear wheel drive station wagons. I was driving to and from school in rear wheel drive at 14 and not even a seasoned driver yet. How many days are the roads really bad and not plowed. I wouldn't make a vehicle choice based on a few days a year we might have deep unplowed snow.

 

[Keith Seymore]

Mine was a daily for 30 years and 200,000 miles, in Michigan, Arizona and Montana.

2wd stick shift 3.73 axle, posi.

K

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[PrairieDrifter]

I usually would recommend against it in a place that the winter can kill you.

That said no one uses 4wd until they have to, I would not to without the option.

The only real answer is good quality dedicated winter tires. It's not BS, they make snow and ice seem like nothing. I promise they're that good.

 

[Keith Seymore]

After a short foray in 4WD trucks my latest is also 2wd.

I'm at the point to where I figure if it's bad out I will tell them I'm not coming in.

K

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[goldpack]

I usually would recommend against it in a place that the winter can kill you.

That said no one uses 4wd until they have to, I would not to without the option.

The only real answer is good quality dedicated winter tires. It's not BS, they make snow and ice seem like nothing. I promise they're that good.

my RWD 1986 is in a storage barn for winter. ... if it were a 4WD it would be rusted and gone . (previous owners seemed to have just parked it in winter, as there was a 4WD AWD to beat on). its almost 40 years old, and RWD so a nice stable mate for a square back corvette.

I have driven work one ton RWD work vans in winter, fleet owned. aggressive snow/off road tires. (those were 1990s Fords and Dodges).
just plain heavy beasts that were rarely shut off,...but were rusted junk in 4 -6 years. ...and if I were a fleet buyer today I would round up "some" AWD vans instead.

everything I have a plate on has 4 studded snows/ in AWD or 4WD. ...its like cheating death,...and its not all about snow. ...ice is zero fun in states that lack dry snow fall....every winter day in addition to what falls from the sky: bridges / river fronts/ drifts/ clogged ditches.

 

[idahovette]

In high school, I drove my 56 Chevy in the snow with sh!tty tires all the time. I also carried a gallon of bleach with me to pour on my rear tires when i got stuck....got me out every time.........wasn't real good on the tires, tho

 

[aasleson]

I usually would recommend against it in a place that the winter can kill you.

That said no one uses 4wd until they have to, I would not to without the option.

The only real answer is good quality dedicated winter tires. It's not BS, they make snow and ice seem like nothing. I promise they're that good.

Add a good battery a working choke a tow rope some jumper cables and a couple friends willing to help if needed and you'll be set.

This was my year round daily for a few years when I lived in Fargo

 

[Bloodhound1981]

In high school in the '90s, I had my current 1981 C-10, and a 1986 Camaro Z28. I put Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires (which had just come out) on the Camaro in the Massachusetts winter, and that thing was unstoppable. My C-10, with regular all-season tires and posi, was horrible in comparison. Snow tires make a huge difference.

 

[Grit dog]

I was offered a 1982 Chevy pickup for $4000. Almost all the mechanical whatnots were relatively new, everything's really nice, but... it has a two wheel drive. And I have heard that, especially given as how ND tends to have four seasons (winter, winter, winter, and road construction), a two wheel drive, combined with the 4:11 gearing, is essentially asking for all kinds of driving trouble. The idea would be that it would be pretty much my everyday vehicle, which would not work well if it could only be safely used in 1/4 of the year. Note that I am a rather inexperienced driver. What's everyone's opinion on it? It's a really nice truck, and that kind of price is incredible, but...

Have you not lived in ND or snow until now either? Assuming your 15-16 years old by your post.
But something doesn’t add up. Only use 1/4 of the year? It don’t snow 9mo/year there.
Like some of the other old guys have said, 4wd and AWD vehicles did not used to be the norm. Rear wheel drive one wheeeler peeelers were and you were happy if it had posi.
You’ll need to nut up a little and learn how to drive in the snow with it. But you’d have to do the same in a 4wd.
For traction 4.10 in a 3/4 t is likely a locker. Which helps if you know how to drive. Plus, you could/can toss on some good siped AT tires or some actual snows or muds with studs. Low tire pressure, weight in the bed and the right tires will get you through any “normal” winter driving.

 

[hoagster]

Someone else already posted you only use 4wd when you need it. And to add to that comment relying on 4wd only gets you in trouble. Like everyone else good tires, being prepared with essential items for driving in the winter. So next time it snows go find a huge empty parking lot a learn and do some slow speed learning how to drive in it.

 

[Grit dog]

Someone else already posted you only use 4wd when you need it. And to add to that comment relying on 4wd only gets you in trouble. Like everyone else good tires, being prepared with essential items for driving in the winter. So next time it snows go find a huge empty parking lot a learn and do some slow speed learning how to drive in it.

To be fair, I use it to haul ass in the snow a lot of times. But yes, only use it when you need too…..

 

[mcarlo86]

Have you not lived in ND or snow until now either? Assuming your 15-16 years old by your post.
But something doesn’t add up. Only use 1/4 of the year? It don’t snow 9mo/year there.
Like some of the other old guys have said, 4wd and AWD vehicles did not used to be the norm. Rear wheel drive one wheeeler peeelers were and you were happy if it had posi.
You’ll need to nut up a little and learn how to drive in the snow with it. But you’d have to do the same in a 4wd.
For traction 4.10 in a 3/4 t is likely a locker. Which helps if you know how to drive. Plus, you could/can toss on some good siped AT tires or some actual snows or muds with studs. Low tire pressure, weight in the bed and the right tires will get you through any “normal” winter driving.

I have lived in ND my whole life and drove a 2wd pickup in college. There is no reason you can't get around just fine with a 2wd pickup if you know how to drive and do some common sense stuff like Grit Dog said. Weight in the box is your friend. A good set of snow tires (with studs, which help with ice a lot) and learning how to not get in the throttle too hard on starts, etc will go a long ways. Unless you are out on country gravel roads that haven't been plowed and the snow is deep, you really won't "need" four wheel drive. A 2 wheel drive 3/4 ton will go through quite a bit of snow though, especially if you have tall, skinny tires like 235/75R16's and some decent weight in the box. My dad and grandpa checked oil wells for decades with 2 wheel drive pickups up here. They would use tire chains if the snow got deep and you learn what you can and can't drive through. Grandpa used to tell me that 4x4 just got you more stuck.

 

[goldpack]

To be fair, I use it to haul ass in the snow a lot of times. But yes, only use it when you need too…..

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