Are there any other 2WD overlanders here?

[stimpy13]

I had a 98 2wd XJ that was awsome. It could go almost anywhere. It had a 3.5" lift with 33" M/Ts. Very fun wish I would have keep it.

[Mr. Moore]

I have a 2wd with a winch, 4.88's, locked and on 35" km2's.
poser shot!

I completely disagree with the sand/Mud theory thing. Sand sucks period... loose momentum and you'll sink; reverse is useless, shoveling gets you 2 ft at a time.
Mud on the other hand is easy, just need a heavy right foot and lots of patience. I've never been stuck in mud, and I was up to the LCA's in it with muddy water pouring into the cab. Tough off-camber uphill situations are kinda iffy, If you loose momentum the truck will hop/bounce sideways off the trail.
Snow and ice sucks, I loose the back-end and go sideways.....

Wished I had a 4x4 one day.... ONE DAY...

Nick02, going on a tangent, I love your truck! I would love my ram to look like that!

[Jeep]

I grew up in the far northern part of Alberta. There is not a lot up there, and all we had were 2wd 3/4 ton trucks. Throw a locker in the rear and grab a good quality set of tire chains, think v-bar style, and you will be amazed at how much snow and mud you can get through if you have to deal with a sudden weather change. We used to chain up just to get places!

[Peter_n_Margaret]

We started exploring the deserts in Oz before 4x4s existed (for the masses).

This is 1967 on our honeymoon.
This bit of "road" was 1,600km (1,000 miles) between towns with 20 people, or more, with one exception of about 2,000 people half way.


Similar area in 1974. Slightly different road conditions.



A set of snow chains was the answer here, and lots of walking to pick the best route.

The "trick" is to do what you can with what you have got.

Cheers,
Peter

[Mr. Moore]

Do the best with what I have got is the plan! that pic with the VW bus looks like it was a fun day!

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Do the best with what I have got is the plan! that pic with the VW bus looks like it was a fun day!

It was a fun WEEK (every day for 7 days) Mr. Moore!

Cheers,
Peter

[AlwaysExplr87]

My last rig was a lifted XJ with a locker in the rear. I rarely used the 4wd when I wasnt somewere that I could have avoided with smarter driving or in one of the ORV parks around. When the XJ decided it had enough I got a non-trd prerunner tacoma with the plans to add a locker. I still havent gotten around to the locker and have cruised the beach, explored NF roads and backcountry trails, chugged through mud, and climbed mountains covered with almost a foot of snow.

Maybe im just lucky but I think if your careful, drive smart, and plan your route your fine exploring in 2wd. I always have a shovel and a strap in my truck, but when I go exploring a hand winch and a few other recovery items (a friends always good for pushing, and my brothers usually on standby). Dropping tire pressure can go a long ways in the right situation too. I love my taco and while its not as capable as the jeep was, I know its limits and expect to change my driving style to fit the situation.

[datrupr]

I think you should be fine for most of the exploring you're going to be doing. Bring recovery gear and be smart. I often times don't even engage to front wheels. 2WD gets me to most of the places I like to go.

[haven]

A few more comments about getting into "manageable trouble" using 2WD here
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=22217

One good point made in that thread is that 2WD tends to tear up the track more
than 4WD. That's because you tend to substitute power and momentum for traction.

[wanderer-rrorc]

Im in the same boat with my 2wd van...but when I got tires for it..I picked a good agressive street tread..(BFG commercial traction TA's..lovem!)

however 10yrs of 4x4 wheelin experiance..and 2 years competing in rock crawling...I feel confident with this...

in order of importance and cost effectiveness..if your by yourself..

the BEST thing you can EVER take with you is another truck!..we hunted for a buddy for OVER 14hrs a few winters ago...all he needed was a tug from another truck..or a winch..

1. Use your brain!!..if your not sure..take a little walk n see whats ahead!..if your really unsure..dont head that way

2. air down the tires..(you can air back up in town if ya need to) $40 compressors will get it done too..

3. highlift jack..48in will do amazing things!!

4. winch/comealong..the xrc8 winches are $300 and have great reviews! a $70 comealong from a hardware/tractor supply will get ya the couple feet ya need!

5. 2in towstrap...NO HOOKS!!..and a couple clevis's..a 2in and 2 clevis's will run ya $50...and worth every penny..but only if ya got a truck/winch to pull ya out!

I didnt list a shovel because in 10 years..I think I used one once...a winch or airing down woulda been a better help..not diving into that mudhole would have been an EVEN BETTER idea!!

a winch is a wonderfull thing...I will push my rigs further knowing I have a winch...the debate on one front or back is kinda preferance..I plan on one on BOTH ends...a winch on the back bumper would have been used more by me on trails than one on the front..but the kind that slips into a reciver tends to put the winch out into harms way..but adds to its versatility!

I plan on a locker for the back of the van..but the tires have proven they work BETTER than the MTR's I had on my old 4x4 truck..but its probably because the van has more weight..and I drive it diffrent KNOWING its 2wd..they can throw some mud and grass thou!

experiance counts more than all the equipment in the world!!...so get out there and play around...see what it will do when ya got a recovery truck closeby...you'll be amazed what they will do!! (and sometimes disapointed in what they wont do!)