2WD GMC 2500HD

[dieselscout80]

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

bingo

 

[jyoutz]

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.

Yep, but a 2wd truck with a heavy diesel motor means that rear wheel traction is poor. I’m willing to bet that the 2wd trucks you are familiar with had gasser motors.

 

[jyoutz]

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.

Heavy diesel motors also weren’t common back then. The diesels are so heavy that there is limited traction on rear wheels.

 

[jyoutz]

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.

And very few trucks had diesel motors back then

 

[RickB]

And very few trucks had diesel motors back then

Heavy diesel motors also weren’t common back then. The diesels are so heavy that there is limited traction on rear wheels.

None of which explains the very large number of 2wd diesel 3/4 and ton trucks running around the Southeast. Thousands of them.
Maybe these boys just know how to drive.

Before you start in remember the OP is from VA.

 

[civilian]

Like others have said, with 2wd you just need to know its limit and drive accordingly. I had a 86 full size Ford van, extended length and a 2001 extra long GMC full size van in the northern Michigan snow belt. Drove them both all year round with no problems. I had 4 or 5 5gal pails of sand at the back doors for weight. Jon

 

[Hay Dude]

Yep, but a 2wd truck with a heavy diesel motor means that rear wheel traction is poor. I’m willing to bet that the 2wd trucks you are familiar with had gasser motors.

A D-max is 835lbs and the 8.1 gasser is 863lbs
The diesel is actually lighter

 

[jyoutz]

A D-max is 835lbs and the 8.1 gasser is 863lbs
The diesel is actually lighter

Both of those motors are heavy enough that rear wheel traction would be limited. Moss Road was referring to old school 350 v8 motors that were much lighter.

 

[dodge man]

A 2004 4x4 Dodge I owned with a Cummins stuck in the mud. I could move it back and forth several feet but couldn’t climb out of the ruts. Another 4x4 pickup wouldn’t pull it out, it took a full sized JD TLB to get it out.

 

[MossRoad]

Both of those motors are heavy enough that rear wheel traction would be limited. Moss Road was referring to old school 350 v8 motors that were much lighter.

I had a 1978 GMC full size bed pickup truck. 2wd. 454. That engine weighs around 700#. With no weight in the back, it was a donut machine on dry pavement, let alone snow. However, throw some weight between the tailgate and wheel wells, and it was fine in winter on streets.

 

[MossRoad]

We also had a 1993 GMC G20 short wheelbase van conversion with a V6 and wide tires. That was rascally on the snow, but still got around OK with some weight in the rear. A full tank of gas helps a lot as well.

 

[Snobdds]

Moss Road was referring to old school 350 v8 motors that were much lighter.

He was?

 

[Snobdds]

If the weight is so good on a 2wd, what does weight do on a 4wd truck?

 

[crashz]

My F450 is a dually, stick shift, open diff, 2wd, diesel. I haven't had it stuck. But I'm careful where I go with it. Nothing wet unless its wet pavement. I try to avoid driving it in snow (it does just fine) because I limit the salt exposure as much as possible. If anything I might try to upgrade to a limited slip diff if I have to open the rear end up, but otherwise I', happy with it.