2WD GMC 2500HD

[Farmer495]

2wd truck here is dedicated highway truck, dry gravel, hard dry grassland. Anything wet or slick is front axle needed.

I'd consider a 2wd for dedicated tow rig if I was flexible on when I had to tow.

I've never needed 4x4 towing RV, I need it almost every time I have stock trailer hitched.

I've gotten both 2wd and 4wd stuck.....2wd means you don't go places iffy, 4x4 means you chance it and get pulled if it doesn't work out.

 

[MossRoad]

I've gotten stuck more times in a 4x4 pickup than a 2x4 pickup because you're temped to go into more places with the 4x4.

A couple years ago there was a large motocross event locally. Many people camp at that event. It rained overnight. Didn't flood, but made soft dirt on grass. I've never seen so many stuck 4x4 pickups in 1 field. It made the local news.

 

[Geunther]

I rarely need to use the 4X4 on my truck. Occasionally in wet grass, as I pull out of the back yard. My back yard to front yard transition is quite steep, maybe 15 degrees. As long as you are careful and plan ahead, I would not worry one bit about 4 wheel drive. Especially so if you have a limited slip differential. At the very least, if it doesn't perform as you wish, resale of a low mileage duramax will never be an issue. Best of luck.

 

[jyoutz]

Hello all,

I am looking at potentially buying a 2005 2WD GMC 2500HD. I will be using to pull my TC40 and hauling things from Lowes, etc. I have always owned 4WD trucks and I am worried/paranoid I will be making a mistake buying a 2WD. It handles great and has the Duramax with plenty of power. I am just worried about getting stuck in wet grass. I don't plan on any off-road excursions with this truck.

Any opinions on 2WD Trucks?

Thanks

Nothing worse in mud or snow than a 2wd truck with a diesel motor. The motor is heavy and the rear axle is light and has very little traction. If you are just driving on dry pavement, the truck will be fine; otherwise get a 4wd. Try a test; drive a diesel 4wd truck in poor traction conditions in 2wd; then shift into 4wd to see the difference.

 

[Snobdds]

I've lived in the lake snow belt in Indiana all my life. I've seen mostly 2wd vehicles most of my life. 4x4 trucks were very rare until mud-bogging came about in the 80's. I've seen exactly one(1) set of tire chains on a vehicle here in 60 years.

Thank god for city plow trucks to make getting around in 2wd easy.

 

[Snobdds]

Another advantage to 4wd trucks is the gearing you get with 4wd Low. I am always putting it in 4WD low to get up steep or go down steep hills here.

There is no transfer case giving mechanical advantage on 2wd.

 

[CADplans]

Also, IMHO,, you can not use Ford experiences to discuss Chevrolet.
The suspension it very different, and the frame stiffness is very different.
These two factors have a tremendous effect on 2WD traction.

Also, I was wondering if the OP's 2WD truck that is being discussed has a locking differential?
That also has a significant impact on traction.

I get into a locked differential situation once or twice a month,
and I grin when the truck "just goes",,

 

[MossRoad]

Thank god for city plow trucks to make getting around in 2wd easy.

You can try and brush it off as city living, but we were out in the county most of the time where drifts were common. 4wd just wasn't on most trucks back then and no one used chains.

 

[Snobdds]

You can try and brush it off as city living, but we were out in the county most of the time where drifts were common. 4wd just wasn't on most trucks back then and no one used chains.

I live on a ranch and when it drifts, even 4wd trucks can't get through. The plows have to come through before people can travel again.

I don't know what all of this proves, one way or another. One anecdotal example that is contradicted by another anecdotal example proves what?

 

[dusty3030]

I don't know what all of this proves, one way or another. One anecdotal example that is contradicted by another anecdotal example proves what?

Proves this thread is about trucks or lubricants on TBN?

 

[MossRoad]

I live on a ranch and when it drifts, even 4wd trucks can't get through. The plows have to come through before people can travel again.

I don't know what all of this proves, one way or another. One anecdotal example that is contradicted by another anecdotal example proves what?

It proves that very few 2wd pickups in America actually had a set of chains back then. Very few. Yes, they were probably common in certain areas, but they are far fewer than "every". Most people we knew with 2wd pickups, and cars for that matter, just threw a bunch of heavy stuff in the bed or in the trunk in winter and off we went.

Now studded snow tires WERE quite common around here. My father had them for all of his vehicles up until the late 70's, and he'd have to have them swapped around spring and fall. I recall pretty much everyone's dad going through the same ritual.

 

[Snobdds]

It proves that very few 2wd pickups in America actually had a set of chains back then.

How do you know this?

Here, you would be dumb to drive a 2wd and not carry chains.

Again...trading anecdotical examples is not proof of anything.

 

[MossRoad]

How do you know this?

Here, you would be dumb to drive a 2wd and not carry chains.

Again...trading anecdotical examples is not proof of anything.

Yes, there you might. In most of the country, you would not. Hence "every" is not an accurate assessment. Half is not accurate. And 3/4 is not accurate. Very few in the big picture had chains.

 

[Farmer495]

Another advantage to 4wd trucks is the gearing you get with 4wd Low. I am always putting it in 4WD low to get up steep or go down steep hills here.

There is no transfer case giving mechanical advantage on 2wd.

I use 4 low a lot towing, real nice backing up a trailer. Used to leave hubs unlocked for 2LO with manual trans/lever 4x4 truck, gave something like a 16:1 R gear compared to 6:1

Still works with auto hubs and auto trans, just haven't done a 2Lo mod for the electric shift.

 

[Farmer495]

Also, IMHO,, you can not use Ford experiences to discuss Chevrolet.
The suspension it very different, and the frame stiffness is very different.
These two factors have a tremendous effect on 2WD traction.

Also, I was wondering if the OP's 2WD truck that is being discussed has a locking differential?
That also has a significant impact on traction.

I get into a locked differential situation once or twice a month,
and I grin when the truck "just goes",,

Hope it's not "made better" with computer.

I drove a 2wd GMC with a automatic locking differential, it would always spin both wheels until the computer shuts you off and you are stuck. Decent all terrain tires too.

Turning off traction control and even the "long press" on the button still doesn't shut it off??? Truck has been towed out of places a lawn tractor would have no issue driving on thanks to "electronics"

 

[mahovy]

I made the mistake of buying a 2WD GMC a while back. I live in Michigan and got stuck the first snow and the sceond. No weight in the back end to provide traction. Eventually bought a set of winter tires and added a "ladder" frame of 1" PVC pipe to hold 4 - 5 gallon Home Depot buckets filled with sand. (Approx. 300#) which I located just over the rear axle. Was able to manage snow, and wet dirt roads pretty well, but with the extra cost, that I could have gotten the 4 X 4 option on the truck in the first place. Then I found out that the gas mileage on the 4 X 4 was only 1 mpg. less than the 2WD. Unless you're on dry ground/pavement and no snow, I would go with a 4 X 4.

 

[Hay Dude]

Also, IMHO,, you can not use Ford experiences to discuss Chevrolet.
The suspension it very different, and the frame stiffness is very different.
These two factors have a tremendous effect on 2WD traction.

Also, I was wondering if the OP's 2WD truck that is being discussed has a locking differential?
That also has a significant impact on traction.

I get into a locked differential situation once or twice a month,
and I grin when the truck "just goes",,

I *think* all the G80 rears were “locking”.

 

[two_bit_score]

I made the mistake of buying a 2WD GMC a while back. I live in Michigan and got stuck the first snow and the sceond. No weight in the back end to provide traction. Eventually bought a set of winter tires and added a "ladder" frame of 1" PVC pipe to hold 4 - 5 gallon Home Depot buckets filled with sand. (Approx. 300#) which I located just over the rear axle. Was able to manage snow, and wet dirt roads pretty well, but with the extra cost, that I could have gotten the 4 X 4 option on the truck in the first place. Then I found out that the gas mileage on the 4 X 4 was only 1 mpg. less than the 2WD. Unless you're on dry ground/pavement and no snow, I would go with a 4 X 4.

Good point that you should buy what you need to do the job you need done.

I would bet that Texas has more 4x4 trucks than most states yet likely most of those trucks probably seldom leave hard surface roads. And until last winter snow was a non-issue here. I did fine in my truck on snow during the ‘snowpocalypse’.

 

[dieselscout80]

It proves that very few 2wd pickups in America actually had a set of chains back then. Very few. Yes, they were probably common in certain areas, but they are far fewer than "every". Most people we knew with 2wd pickups, and cars for that matter, just threw a bunch of heavy stuff in the bed or in the trunk in winter and off we went.

Now studded snow tires WERE quite common around here. My father had them for all of his vehicles up until the late 70's, and he'd have to have them swapped around spring and fall. I recall pretty much everyone's dad going through the same ritual.

That is a interesting comment I grew up in Montana and we had chains for our cars, trucks and tractors as did most of the people I knew.

Fast forward say +35 years and living in South Carolina I still have chains for both my 4x4s and even used them once here on the ice pull a trailer load of hay.

In my experience if the terrain is flat and dry a two wheel drive will go a long ways add weight / chains they go farther. However, throw a hill in the mix and and you are wishing for 4wd. Our place is hilly and I use 4x4 often. That said if I lived in a flat area I could get by without it.

A 4x4 with chains on all four corners will go a long ways before getting stuck too.

 

[civilian]

A 4x4 with chains on all four corners will go a long ways before getting stuck too.

But when it does get stuck, it is stuck big time! Jon