Tahoe 2WD for dirt?
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Rollin Thunder
Full Access Member
grass, packed dirt, and light snow are your limits with 2wd enless you gain momentum.
bparker
Full Access Member
I wouldnt suggest getting into anything difficult with 2wd. :cya:
I live in Los Angeles and the offroading I do is for recreation. It's generally desert locations, fire roads, some sand, and packed dirt. I use to have a 2WD Isuzu Rodeo and took that on fireroads.
Two weeks ago I went on a 2 day desert drive....all dirt and sand. There was a 2WD Fj Cruiser there that did well. Watching him inspired me to consider fixing up the Tahoe for trail use. He has limited slip diff on his truck though.
I was thinking about a mild lift and more aggressive tires. I was also wondering if anyone has modified their rear axle with an after market traction control system.
Two weeks ago I went on a 2 day desert drive....all dirt and sand. There was a 2WD Fj Cruiser there that did well. Watching him inspired me to consider fixing up the Tahoe for trail use. He has limited slip diff on his truck though.
I was thinking about a mild lift and more aggressive tires. I was also wondering if anyone has modified their rear axle with an after market traction control system.
Rollin Thunder
Full Access Member
gm's tracton control works with brakes, not with rear dif. i thought all tahoe's and yukons had locking diff, to me if you want the most traction i would want equal power to both tires all the time.
yaba94070
New Member
one of my buddies took his 98 and tried it and its cool for like local easy stuff but you do get stuck in anything minor... so i wouldn't sugest spending all that money into it... unless your going to make it a road queen....
yaba94070
New Member
your trucks a lot heaver...
hate to burst you bubble...
but not going to be to happy during the rainny season... but if your not going up to steep of hills and its not soft you should be fine....
i think you would be better off getting a 4x4 jeep for a few grand already setup for it... craigslist....
there hella cheap and if you roll it who give a ****
jsut a suggestion.... good luck on it keep us posted with pics and stuff
Rollin Thunder
Full Access Member
yea but thats packed sand, try that in loose sand or deep thick mud.
been in the sugur soft sand almost every other week end, thick stew mud hasn't been to much of a problem, other than the loss of stearing. now if you're talking about routing through some trails....GET A 4WD. crossing creeks, climbing dunes, pulling folks out. no worries
Rollin Thunder
Full Access Member
2wd will get you through some tuff stuff, 4wd i think just compensates for a beginner off roader, were it helps is a low gear, if you keep moving you wont get stuck. thats key.
greengumby
Full Access Member
and also it's more of how you drive and common sense that would determine it would be better in a 4wd or a 2wd but any serious off roading you really need at least a 4wd due to too many restrictions that 2wds would develop..
besides on a side note for you 2wd hoe's stay the heck off trails i'm tired of pulling your butts out of the mud :thumbsup: spend the doe and get a 4wd
besides on a side note for you 2wd hoe's stay the heck off trails i'm tired of pulling your butts out of the mud :thumbsup: spend the doe and get a 4wd
yaba94070
New Member
shhh if they dn;t get stuck how else do you exspect me to get my money for pulling people out.. all them dallars go to the dallar car wash...
lol
Thunder is giving some good advice. Light weight 2wd trucks can do some pretty nice things but once sand and mud are encountered, the 4wds will roll right past them. Also, traction control and a diff locker are two seperate things with the locker being what will help you off road. If you are enjoying some mild off road and would like to go further, you may want to consider putting your bucks toward a 4wd trade instead of beefing up your 2wd. Just a thought.
I'm considering this option. I keep asking myself why I would want a 4WD Tahoe when I already have a smaller 4WD. I've enjoyed the offroading so much in the past few month I want the luxury to drive different vehicles to get a different experience. Maybe that luxury is too costly for me.
Anyhow, I was at Pismo beach last weekend and saw a 2wd Tundra. It was very built. The reason I knew to check if it was 2wd was because it had prerunner stickers on it. I don't know why but the word prerunner is associated with 2wd drive offroading. I might be wrong. I wanted to ask the owner question but I didn't see anyone near by.
Thanks for all the input. I need to ask myself what I plan to do with a 2wd Tahoe then I can decide how far I want to go with it.
ugachs24
Full Access Member
I've been through some pretty tough **** in my 04 LT 2WD, but I've also been offroading since before I had my license and know how to handle it right. I do a lot of deer hunting and the trails out there can get pretty nasty in December, but gaining momentum is key if you're driving a 2WD. If I know the mud is going to be really bad, I don't chance it in my 2WD, I take my wife's Z71, it's just not worth having to get pulled out. .
There is no comparing the off roading capabilities of a 4x4 and 2WD truck. I bought a 2wd because at the time, I was living full time in Florida, I just didn't need it and saw it as just being more to go wrong long-term. We always have at least one 4x4 in the household, though, just for when I need it.
boostaholic
Full Access Member
Your truck has torsion bars, making it less than ideal for a long travel suspension and you should therefore lower the tahoe because it rides much better. A coil spring 2wd truck is more suited to off roading after extensive modification. Your truck would look better on the ground, if you are looking for something to lift buy a hoe with a transfer case.
boostaholic
Full Access Member
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