Off-road capabilities of two wheel drive vehicles

[j.symonds]

I need to buy a new vehicle, i've had a Hilux for the last 6 years. The only time I drive off the tarmac is at some of the tip sites I use and my yard can get a bit slippy after some heavy rain, I very very rarely actually had to lock the wheels and put the Hilux into 4WD.

 

I think I could make do without that 4WD option, and surely a 2WD vehicle such as a Transit, Daily, Cabstar, Canter isn't much worse than a Single cab Hilux when its only in 2WD??

 

If anyone could share their experiences or horror stories that would really help me make my decision!

 

 

Cheers, Joe

[Peter]

They are all pretty pants in the slippy stuff when empty, the trick when tipping is to tip fully, then drive away while there is still some weight over the back axle, and don't stop until your on terra firma. Failing that stick a winch on the front.

 

Used to run a cabstar and tracked chipper combo, that worked well as the cabstar is light and the chipper could pull it out of most muddy holes.

[Daniël Bos]

You'll be fine, but as a precaution have snow chains and a 12v compressor on board.

Snow chains are fairly self explaining, they'll also help a lot in muddy conditions. A rear wheel drive van with chains is not much if any worse than a 4x4 without.

The compressor is to pump up your tyres again after you've let as much air out (of the driven tyres...) as you dare when you start to skid. It's much faster and easier than chains and very effective. It can increase the amount of tread in contact with the ground by up to 3 or 4 times.

[Peasgood]

I have run Cabstars for nearly 30 years and love them to bits.

They get stuck on damp concrete!

[Jamespepperpot]

The company I work for sometimes used to have a cabstar, when it was loaded it was a pretty nice ride. Unloaded it felt a bit like you were driving a boat especially as the steering wheel is pretty much flat. Like Peasgood said, when they're unloaded they will get stuck on pretty much anything. Got stuck on a 3 inch concrete curb and had to get some builders to push me out....

[Old Mill Tree Care]

Transit tippers, or any with double rear wheels are useless if there is a dark cloud in the sky.

Mine regularly gets stuck on a wet Maple leaf!

 

Not quite so bad when loaded but as soon as you drive off, the front tyres get pressed into the mud then you're stuck.

When unloaded, the double tyres 'float' on top of anything soft and wet, then you're stuck.

 

A Transit can cross severely boggy ground so long as you're doing 180mph and the boggy part isn't more than 3m across

[aspenarb]

Transit tippers, or any with double rear wheels are useless if there is a dark cloud in the sky.

Mine regularly gets stuck on a wet Maple leaf

 

A Transit can cross severely boggy ground so long as you're doing 180mph and the boggy part isn't more than 3m across

 

Listen to this man he knows what he`s talking about.:lol: We have all been there.

 

Bob

[Jiggs]

Transit tippers, or any with double rear wheels are useless if there is a dark cloud in the sky.

 

Mine regularly gets stuck on a wet Maple leaf!

 

 

 

Not quite so bad when loaded but as soon as you drive off, the front tyres get pressed into the mud then you're stuck.

 

When unloaded, the double tyres 'float' on top of anything soft and wet, then you're stuck.

 

 

 

A Transit can cross severely boggy ground so long as you're doing 180mph and the boggy part isn't more than 3m across

 

 

Get the landy Al!!

 

Jon

[j.symonds]

Cool thanks for your comments, sounds like there all pretty bad. Are twin rear wheels worse than single rear wheels? And are any of the 2WD vans better than others for traction?

 

Snow chains and a compressor sound like a lifesaver!

[Burgess]

Can you get AWD Transit tippers?

 

The Panel van looks handy

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szRjuirXPiI