Is it a mistake to not take the 4WD option?

[YouknowwhatImean]

No one can decide that for you except you.

However, given your situation i'd say no.

We opted for a 4x2. It will mostly be a hauler and DIY truck. No interest in going off-roading other then a (fire) trail here and there. I think we'll be fine with good tires and a set of traction boards.

Most of my off-roading needs is covered by the two wheels attached to my body. arrgh

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[toddiscdn]

2wd is not even an option here in the great white north, al models 4wd only.

 

[TacoHawkRanger]

I know I'm super late to the game here, but screw it, I'm giving my 2 pennies anyway!

First pickup was a Toyota Pickup 2wd... In Northwest Montana. I took that thing everywhere with very little problems. Got stuck in deep snow a few times, but that's about it.

On the other hand, I refuse to own 2 wheel drive trucks now. I like to explore, and would rather have it and not need it.

 

[THLONE]

But, if you have 4X4 then you can get stuck further away from help. And some people should just buy a 4X4 sticker. There aint no accounting for other peoples taste.

 

[DBRanger]

I got a 4WD by default,. I ordered a 2WD in March. In late April, I got a Cars.COM alert, and saw an exact replica of the truck I had ordered but with 4WD advertised at a dealer in Cincinnati, about 75 miles away. It was advertised at the same price of my ordered 2WD truck. I drove down and bought it that day, then called the dealer I had ordered from and told them I would not be purchasing the ordered vehicle. I had not put any money down. So in my mind, I got 4WD for free.

 

[chasvs]

Had a 2017 Tacoma TRD OR 4x4 for 2 years, thought it was really cool to have Crawl Control and all the goodies that it came with. Number of times going off road and using crawl control in the 2 years I owned it before buying my Ranger? ZERO! So it's no surprise I bought a Lariat 4x2 w/ Rear Locking Diff!

 

[Mellow]

I'm considering a 2wd.. My first 86 ranger was a 4x4 and the only time I ever used the 4wd and get it stuck was when I said "I bet I can do that, hold my beer".. ok, wasn't drinking but you get the idea.. for my lifestyle, 2wd would work just fine even if I wanted to explore a little... a locking diff would be a nice feature if it was installed on the truck but not ok without that also. To each his own.

Also considering the Ridgeline which is a very cool truck - in spite of what folks want to believe - so it's between those 2.. Had a colorado and won't touch GM with all their transmission issues. Tacoma - too uncomfortable no matter if it was made of gold.

 

[YouknowwhatImean]

Also considering the Ridgeline which is a very cool truck - in spite of what folks want to believe - so it's between those 2.. Had a colorado and won't touch GM with all their transmission issues. Tacoma - too uncomfortable no matter if it was made of gold.

You should see my thread on Ranger vs. Ridgeline.

 

[Hounddog409]

I'm considering a 2wd.. My first 86 ranger was a 4x4 and the only time I ever used the 4wd and get it stuck was when I said "I bet I can do that, hold my beer".. ok, wasn't drinking but you get the idea.. for my lifestyle, 2wd would work just fine even if I wanted to explore a little... a locking diff would be a nice feature if it was installed on the truck but not ok without that also. To each his own.

Also considering the Ridgeline which is a very cool truck - in spite of what folks want to believe - so it's between those 2.. Had a colorado and won't touch GM with all their transmission issues. Tacoma - too uncomfortable no matter if it was made of gold.

The Ridgeline may be cool, but it ain't no truck.

 

[Mellow]

The Ridgeline may be cool, but it ain't no truck.

I disagree, it is a truck.. so is an el camino.. heck, even that subaru thing a few years back is a truck by it's basic definition.

Some are more car-like than traditional truck-like but they all meet that basic definition.

I think the bed trunk, elec sliding rear window, 2 way tailgate, composite bed and flat storage w/rear seats up are all great things that the Range doesn't have.. the Tacoma has the composite bed and avail elect rear window but I've had a couple of them and I'm too old to compromise on comfort.. and stubborn lol.

The Ridgeline also has it's issues. Thin body panels, hood shaking and a few other minor things but nothing all that major. For a daily driver the AWD is more useful than any 4WD system.. but, when it comes to really getting into some tricky stuff or heavy towing.. The Ranger and pretty much every other truck in this category will do better.

I've even thought about the Frontier because it's a solid workhorse and won't have any recalls or TSBs that haven't already been weeded out and for 10k less you can get a pretty darn nice SL version. But, obviously doesn't have more up to date safety features, however, you could get one and just drive it for 200k miles and never have an issue.

The Ranger coming back is what got me interested in getting a midsize truck again and it's still on top of my list... I don't ever go on forums and ask which truck should I buy because it's irrelevant what someone else thinks, only what I think and how it fits MY needs.

The Ridgeline has some more features but I can get a 2wd Lariat Ranger for a few grand less than the RTL-E which is almost the top of the line.. So.. I'm really leaning towards the Ranger.. not to mention Ford has cool colors LOL

 

[RedlandRanger]

I don't ever go on forums and ask which truck should I buy because it's irrelevant what someone else thinks, only what I think and how it fits MY needs.

This.

At the end of the day, that is what matters, and everyone had things that are important to them. If it weren't that way, we wouldn't have so many choices. Everything has it pros and cons - you just need to figure out what works best for you.

Good luck with your decision making - I'll just say if you end up choosing a 2019/2020 Tacoma you have my sympathies.... I really don't know why it is so popular anymore. All the competition seems to have passed it by in so many ways. Maybe it is all about the infamous resale value....

 

[Mellow]

I'll just say if you end up choosing a 2019/2020 Tacoma you have my sympathies.... I really don't know why it is so popular anymore. All the competition seems to have passed it by in so many ways. Maybe it is all about the infamous resale value....

Don't worry, not gonna happen unless they completely redesign them... which isn't going to happen in my lifetime.. lol

 

[Hounddog409]

I disagree, it is a truck.. so is an el camino.. heck, even that subaru thing a few years back is a truck by it's basic definition.

Some are more car-like than traditional truck-like but they all meet that basic definition.

I think the bed trunk, elec sliding rear window, 2 way tailgate, composite bed and flat storage w/rear seats up are all great things that the Range doesn't have.. the Tacoma has the composite bed and avail elect rear window but I've had a couple of them and I'm too old to compromise on comfort.. and stubborn lol.

The Ridgeline also has it's issues. Thin body panels, hood shaking and a few other minor things but nothing all that major. For a daily driver the AWD is more useful than any 4WD system.. but, when it comes to really getting into some tricky stuff or heavy towing.. The Ranger and pretty much every other truck in this category will do better.

I've even thought about the Frontier because it's a solid workhorse and won't have any recalls or TSBs that haven't already been weeded out and for 10k less you can get a pretty darn nice SL version. But, obviously doesn't have more up to date safety features, however, you could get one and just drive it for 200k miles and never have an issue.

The Ranger coming back is what got me interested in getting a midsize truck again and it's still on top of my list... I don't ever go on forums and ask which truck should I buy because it's irrelevant what someone else thinks, only what I think and how it fits MY needs.

The Ridgeline has some more features but I can get a 2wd Lariat Ranger for a few grand less than the RTL-E which is almost the top of the line.. So.. I'm really leaning towards the Ranger.. not to mention Ford has cool colors LOL

I really dont want to argue back and forth over the Honda - but a car/SUV with an open trunk is not a truck.

Trucks have a full frame and are built to work/tow. The Honda is not. The El Camino/Rachchero/whatever were not either.

 

[VAMike]

I really dont want to argue back and forth over the Honda - but a car/SUV with an open trunk is not a truck.

Trucks have a full frame and are built to work/tow. The Honda is not. The El Camino/Rachchero/whatever were not either.

I think that's an overly restrictive definition of "truck" which serves mostly to exclude vehicles that the definer wants to exclude.

 

[Floyd]

I think that's an overly restrictive definition of "truck" which serves mostly to exclude vehicles that the definer wants to exclude.

Truck would be defined by the state and the license plate allowed to be installed.
No matter how you slice it, the Honda Ridgeline does many things well but does not fit in the same category as the Ranger, Tacoma, Colorado/Canyon or Frontier.
My Transit Connect would be a truck except it is licensed as a car. It too does not fit in the same category as the Ranger.

The Ridgeline is a glorified Pilot with a "sorta" pickup box nothing more nothing less, no matter which license plate is applied.
That said... It may be just what some buyers want more than they want a truck!

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