limitations / capabilities of a 4x2 (with difflock)

[Rebel 4x4]

Here is a question that I wanted to ask for a long time. What are the limitations / capabilities of a 4x2? I mean where can you go with a 4x2 (with difflock) and where will you struggle? Let's say you've got muds on the vehicle.

[Stef]

At the de Wildt GTG Kenneth's 2.7i 4x2 went everywhere we did, except the axle twisters & Gert se klip..

Must admit I was quite surprised, not that the trail was too hectic, but a few rocky inclined sections demanded low range I thought and he made it through. Clutch worked harder than on a 4x4 I think.

Anywhere where the front wheels need to climb rather than pushed from the rear would be tricky especially where low range is essential, like inclines (gert se klip). Declines would be hairy as well, longish mud sections too...but mainly it is the absence of low range that limits a 4x2 IMO

For average game park type driving I think it is extremely capable, but off the beaten track it would struggle in places as mentioned above.

A front wheel drive 4x2 with diff lock would be very potent

[Rebel 4x4]

That makes a lot of sense. So is it safe to say that you can go overland in a 4x2 vehicle. I mean depending where you go, isn't overland off the road traveling easier than trails in the bush?

[Mud Dog]

In some situations a diff lock 4x2 is better than a 4x4 without diff-lock ... consider a case where the load between the front and rear axles is fairly balanced and you have an axle twister where a wheel lifts or there is not enough downward pressure to maintain traction on a wheel. Logic will tell you that the diagonally opposing wheel will be suffering the same fate, which means you loose drive with the 4x4, but the diff-locked 4x2 will still have drive on one wheel.

[Rebel 4x4]

I think you guys have answered my question well. I'm considering going for a 4x2 vehicle mostly for overlanding and as a daily vehicle. But on the downside, I might even have to sell my SFA and the platkar. I don't do a lot of trails anymore and my SFA only get used on weekends.

[Hoppy]

My KZTE is a 4x2, i've done many overland trips and some challenging routes including many trips to Atlantis dunes in both winter and summer, if it's loaded at the back you gain even more traction, you have to gain and maintain more momentum than in a 4x4, so you have to plan your lines carefully.

[Maverick131]

Summed it up perfectly. The biggest disadvantage of a 4x2 is the lack of low range. So if you encounter a rocky obstacle that is passable, but at low speeds the 4x2 needs to be driven on the clutch a lot – I’m not a fan of this.

Also the momentum that needs to be gained to pass some obstacles can be enough to hurt your vehicle if you get the line wrong or even if you just travel at a speed that is to fast for that specific obstacle.

I went to Groenkloof to test just how capable a 4x2 with difflock is, and got far. But wasn’t comfortable all the time. Did no steep inclines or declines either.

So yes, depends on where you want to overland.

[dalkill]

Thanks for asking the question THomas.
I'm pretty much in the same boat. Got platkar, and only use bakkie on weekend trips. 99% road, 1% sand /gravel.
How does the 4x2 fair in sand?

[ChrisF]

Thomas for "overlanding" a 2x4 will be all you "need" for 99,9% of the time.

During our Namibia trip we did about 3 500 km of dirt roads. we only NEEDED 4x4 TWICE:

- for the last 6km at Sossusvlei - where could have used the guided vehicles as well.
- for the 7 mud patches before Spreethoogte - now here we REALLY needed the 4x4, OR we would have had to do about a 150km detour ... but then again, a 150km detour when overlanding is NOTHING. :)


Personally is switch to 4x4 as soon as we go onto gravel, due to the added tracking it is just so much safer. But millions of farmers never do .... :)

[AM Racing]

I have a client with a 2x4 Colt Hiline and he does a lot of Transkei travelling. We just fitted a winch for those times he is on his own.

[Mud Dog]

Thanks for asking the question THomas.
I'm pretty much in the same boat. Got platkar, and only use bakkie on weekend trips. 99% road, 1% sand /gravel.
How does the 4x2 fair in sand?

Not very well, unless it's rear engined like a VW ..... keeps both drive wheels on the ground although you would dig in pretty quickly in reverse if you're not careful .... going forward the lightweight front glides over the sand easily and creates a semi compacted track for the rear wheels.

[Jaco Versfeld]

I would rather pay the extra bucks and buy a 4x4. I use Mufasa mainly for overlanding. One of the constant battles in my head is whether I should trade in Mufasa for a nice 2.7 IFS. But I will not go the 4x2 route. I do most of my trips in Namibia. (My father still lives in Windhoek, and I spent some of my youth in Namibia - until I was 13 years old.)

Many of the decent places in Namibia are only reachable by 4x4. You are going to damage the environment and/or your vehicle if it is only 4x2. The same holds for Botswana, and I think for Moz, Zimbabwe and Zambia as well. (If you want to do Kaokoveld, Damaraland, Khaudom, Caprivi, etc, you will definitely need a 4x4, unless if you stick to the main roads and go with all the rest of Gauteng on vacation).

If you buy a 4x4, you can always take a route with confidence. If you only have a 4x2, then the odd time that you need 4x4, you will be stranded. When I plan my overland trips, I will not take someone with if his/her vehicle is only a 4x2. With a 4x4 you can reach places that are quiet and away from the masses.

I owned a 2.7 4x4 SC before. At that stage when I did my research, it was the most efficient 4x4 fuelwise, and the difference between the 4x4 and 4x2 in fuel economy was negligible. And the 2.7 drove almost like a normal platkar. Till today I regret the decision to let the 2.7 go...

This is only my opinion, use it, don't use it, but I would try and get a 4x4 as a 4x2 is too limiting

[ThysdJ]

The fact is a 4x2 with diff-lock will never be a 4x4. You need to do everything with more momentum, putting the vehicle and the environment at risk, due to excessive wheelspin, and bottoming out.

You also miss out on the luxury of low-range, meaning you have to ride the clutch to get the revs up, causing wear on the clutch and the drive train.

Yes you can do overlanding with a 4x2, and you will probably get to traverse some minor obstacles on the way, but you wont have the advantage of added traction on dirt roads that 4x4 drivetrain gives you. Also you dont want to drive on dirt roads, at any speed with that rear diff locked, unless you're taking part in some drifting competition.

Sand driving in a 4x2 is possible, end with a diff-lock it might even be more capable that without, but once again, your best friend is going to be momentum, and you need lots of it to keep the vehicle going. Once you stop, and if you dont know what you're doing you are going to get stuck. No dune climbing is possible, unless you take a nice run-up to build enough momentum to get the vehicle over the top, with or without diff-lock. Ask Bees how to do this, and how lekker you can get stuck in a hole with limited run-up.

If you are thinking af buying a vehicle, and you want to do off-roading, buy the 4x4. If you already have a 4x2 with diff-lock, be aware of the shortcomings of the vehicle.

As the old saying goes, with enough force you could break your finger clean off in your bum, so if you are hell bent on getting your 4x2 with diff-lock up Baboons Pass you probably would be able to, but there are going to be some consequences to either baboons Pass, or the vehicle, and me thinks the vehicle is going to fare a lot worse than the pass....

[Maverick131]

Agree with Thys - Because the Hilux 4x4's is so expensive, the best thing about a 4x2 is that it is a good stepping stone in helping you save for a 4x4!