Buying a Truck, is a 4x4 necessary?

It seems most people who own trucks have them in 4x4.  Is this necessary?  Or can you get by without it?  What will you miss if you don''t have 4x4 here in Southern California?

Thanks

depends on the lifestyle. If you like to fish big bear, or mammoth lakes, it sure can help, but if you only make a few trips a year off the pavement, why sacrafice the gas mileage.

IMO:I like the option of having 4-wheel drive. In my case, when kayak fishing up in the Sierras....getting to some of the lakes require 4WD. Ground clearance will save your truck some serious damage from rock piles as well.

I agree with that thinking.  Why purchase it if you only need it for 2 weeks out of the year, if that.  (2 weeks off from work is all I get).
Other reason is that it might cost more to maintain.

I heard someone write "95% of people who own a 4x4 don't need it".

But I am still want other peoples view on this.

my poor scout has seen more pavement in the 6months than it has its life. I had to take my hubs out and clean them, just to get it out of 4wheel drive.

i only use my 4 wheel drive for tahoe ski trips and towing my big boat up a slippery ramp at low tide.

Get both!
Just kidding. I own an old bronco II 4wd and a newer mazda pickup in 2wd. The 4x4 is really only good for around town and short trips to the beach now, which is what I use it for. I have only needed the 4wd twice in the past two years when it snowed at my house. I do really like the traction from a limited slip rear axle and the ground clearance on the bronco though.
The 2wd is fine for 99% of my driving, gets better mileage, and if I really wanted to I could put a slight suspension lift, slightly larger more aggressive tires, and a traction aid in the rear axle and it would probably kick the a** of my old bronco. I have driven it with chains in the sierras & it was fine, but man I HATE putting chains on, especially when I think "man if this was the bronco I would only have to lock the hubs".
As long as the vehicle has a nice roof rack & runs OK (must have truck to carry kayak) it's a sweet ride in my book.

hey potto

go with 2 wheel drive.unless your always up in the snow then get 4 wheel.ive took 2 wheel drive trucks alot of places 4 wheelers would go on offroad trails.coudlnt really tell a differance unless we were in deep sand or mud etc.2 wheel gets better gas milage also and nowadays every gallon counts

lates

I only use mine maybee 4 times out of the year but when I do I am sure glad I have it. Sometimes it can mean the difference beetween being stranded in the woods and getting home. If you like to go places where you might need it you will be glad you have it. If you don't ever go off road or to the snow and then don't bother. I admit many of the nasty mountain roads I have been on in my S-10 Blazer I probably could have made with only 2wd but the ground clearance makes a huge difference. My 4wd doesn't need any extra maintenance and I think the gas mileage is negligible.

I may not be the perfect case but I have owned 3 different 4x4 vehicles.

82 4x4 toyota pickup.  Great truck.  Owned it 3 years.  Never put it in 4 wheel drive.

Currently own:

2001 Chevy Blazer 4x4.  Absolutely love it.  Great truck.  it has been in 4x4 probably 3-4 times since we bought it new.

1994 Nissan pathfinder 4x4.  Love it.  I have put it in 4 wheel twice.  Both times if I hadn't have had 4x4 I would have been screwed.  I've owned it 3 years.

So, in conclusion, I don't use it very often at all, but when I used it I REALLY needed it.

Bet that doesn't help at all.

BTW I would always get the option.  The mileage difference is not super bad, it is always good to have an out.

MolBasser

I think Joe / skyboy pretty much nailed it = it really depends on your life style. (where and how you fish or if you have winter activities in mind)

I also agree with Travis,Chris and Mol - it's good to have the option. I actually use my 4WD more often now (ever since I moved to HMB). There have times when I was making the commute via HWY92 on heavy rain fall and I've noticed that even with good traction from the tires - having the option to shift to "H4" gives you even better road handling. I almost spun out once on a sharp turn with the 2WD - I experimented and switched gear to 4WD on a similar turn and speed - it definitely cornered better. Gas mileage is not the best - but if it makes me comfortable on the worst possible driving conditions - I don't mind $$.

This is not an "expert" opinion - so please correct me if I'm wrong.

...just my 2 cents  

* A loyal Toyota truck owner*

If you're looking to upgrade to a heavy powerboat in the future, you'd probably want the 4wd to get up/down the boat ramp safely and quickly.

Dear fellow Yaker:

  I had a Jeep growing up in S.D. and, used it too help Clam divers pull in their
skiffs at La Mission which, is between Rosarita and Ensanada. The locals would give me a mess of Pismo clams for dinner. I had the best of times
making Chowder and fishing on the Beach.  I would get a beater and fix it up. My 1976 CJ5 was only $4,500 new. The cost of a new 4x4 would cause me to work more and, fish less too pay off the 4x4.
 I now have a Windstar with AC. and Racks to carry my gear and car camp.
                                                                                                Ernie

get the 4wd and use it.  One trip to baja and you'll never regret it.

I spent 6 months in baja with my family sept 2003 to march 2004.
used it quite a bit.

I have a 4x4 and I will say it has definitely saved my bacon on more than one occasion.
If you have ever launched at Ocean Cove you know the boat ramp ( cliff ) gets very wet from everyone else launching and taking their boats out. With the water and the kelp and the grade of the launch area, I have pulled a more than  a few 2 wheel drives out of that area.
I have thrown mine in 4 wheel drive in the snow, mud ( especially parking near water when it has recently rained ), sandy river shores, dirt roads where getting over that mound that means 3 miles less of a hike one way to my favorite fishing spot.
If I only use my 4 wheel drive 1% of the time, by the time I put 100k on my truck, I have done 1000 miles of 4 wheeling. How much time and money are you gonna require getting a 2 wheel drive unstuck after 1000 miles of needing 4 wheel drive???
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