Why do they call a 2WD 4Runner or Truck a 4x2? What's the point? They don't call regular cars 4x2's. Most vehicles have 4 wheels and are 2WD, so how come a 2WD SUV gets called a 4x2? Is this just purely marketing BS or what? There's no Low Range on the 2WD 4Runners, is there?

Curiouser and Curiouser...

Dr. Z

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.......

I think it is just Marketing BS to allign the SUV market with the truck market that uses the 4x2 terminology.

I think my '91 4WD Runner should really be called a 4x3. The rear has only one drive wheel and both front wheels are drive wheels.

 

Actually they should call it a 4x1 because if one wheel loses traction they are not going to move.

 

I agree it's marketing terminology. I call it a 2WD though...but then again I don't call the WRX, S4, or other 4WD cars 4WD. I call them AWD, and some call them quattro's. Although I don't care too much for that term. More marketing terminology.

 

well then they should call us open diff guys 4x2's, because unless both differentials are locked, it is not a true 4x4 anyway.

 

You got that right.

 

I always assumed that a vehicle that typically is considered to be 4WD but is actually a 2WD model could be misconstrued as 4WD. I know that when I was hunting for a used, 4WD 4Runner I got very excited at some of the prices, only to find out that they were 2WD.

Just my opinion...:confused:

 

Speaking of the 4x2/4x4 differentials, a Detroit SoftLocker or Trutrac is in my future. I miss having a LSD.

Dr. Z

 

If a rig isn't 4x4 then its not much of a rig. 4x2: sounds like those Pre-runner pieces of crap they have down in Cali.

 

I'm glad someone finally ask this question I always wondered that but never did ask.

 

4x2 Truck: 4x2 means that the vehicle has 4 wheels, only 2 of which are driven.

 

Actually, 4x2 doesn't make sense. 4x4 was originally a term to apply to a 4 wheel drive truck with a 4 speed transmission. A 4x2 would be a 4 wheel drive truck with a 2 speed transmission. Somewhere along the line someone thought 4x4 meant 4 wheels with 4 wheels driving, but they were wrong. However, it caught on, and now car manufactureres are using it to market SUV's and trucks.

 

My uncle has several dumptrucks, all of them 8 wheelers. The RWD type is listed as an 8x4 and the AWD models are listed as 8x8's.
So my guess is that it's wheels x driven wheels, regardless of lockers etc.

P.S. The 8x8 actually has more than 4 lockers stock anyhow.

 

It's not just Toyota doing the 4*2 thing in the last few years, so spread the love around. I've seen it from Ford, Dodge, and Chevy... Can anyone add Nissan to the list so we can just round out all the full size truck makers?

 

Then why was my '53 4WD Chevy listed as a "4X4" when it had a three on the tree?

 

on the CB, truckers call everything with only 4 tires "4Wheelers." I just thought that was funny.

 

I belive that the difference between 4X4 and AWD is that there is a transfer case (hi/lo) for 4X4 you can turn on or off, but for AWD it is ALL the wheels, ALL the time.

 

Thanks..

 

yeah, because we all know that 2wd trucks have no purpose in this modern age of roads everywhere!

saying a 2wd truck or 2x4 isn't much of a rig is downright idiotic.

oh, and 4x4 means 4 wheels, all of which can be driven, not 4 speed by 4 wheels.

 

i have an idea, bring your stock 4x4 down here and play with my 4x2, lets see whose truck isnt much of a truck....

and as far as all those pos in cali, a lot of prerunners are actually setup quite nicely and a lot of them are also 4x4s... can you play with that? probably not....