Desert Racing - 2WD or 4WD?

[Jim Oaks]

Here is a poll for those of you who follow desert racing;

What do you think is better to build, a 2WD (lighter) or 4WD (to help you get out of some of the nasty stuff)?

[RebelAssaultTruk]

2 wheel drive for sure...figure if your main rate of speed is fast enough to be competetive, and your terrain is what your perunner is set up for aka DESERT, you won't run into any place you wld need 4 wheel drive...to engage it you'd need to stop or slow down...in a race that's time determined. the extra weight wouldn't benefit either. that's why prerunners r 2 wheel drive right?

[koda6966]

Two wheel, it's classic, doesn't hit as hard off jumps, cheaper to fix and less things can go wrong. Basically everything you could get yourself into in the desert could be fixed with a good locker, extreme screw ups with a winch. What's the point of light-weight parts and fiberglass body panels if your just going to weigh it down with 4x4 anyway?

Honestly, I'd be the guy Rockin' it in the Subaru. To hell with all you ranger people! (Only kidding, I love my 2wd Ranger.)

[BDAB]

4wd for when you run off the course.

[wahlstrom1]

4wd....Need a way of getting traction. There's a reason Trophy trucks outrun everything else, you need to be able to put the power to the ground. Lightweight parts allow 4wd to be used without a real 'weight penalty' as compared to a stock 2wd.

-andrew

[ckblum]

Originally Posted by wahlstrom1

4wd....Need a way of getting traction. There's a reason Trophy trucks outrun everything else, you need to be able to put the power to the ground. Lightweight parts allow 4wd to be used without a real 'weight penalty' as compared to a stock 2wd.

-andrew

Actually Trophy Trucks outrun everything else because they have 800+ HP and cycle over 2 feet (sometimes 3) of suspension travel and spend hours tuning shocks with quad bypasses and coil-overs all around. If you spend $700 000+ it's hard not to beat the other classes.

Also most Trophy Trucks are 2wd, I can only think of one that was built 4wd and I can't even remember who built it so chances are it wasn't too significant and probably didn't do well enough to remember lol jk jk.

My vote is on 2wd for racing but since I live in BC I would definately build a 4wd if I could. Funny thing is I am building a 2wd anyways haha.

[canyoncritter]

you could go back and forth on this all day long like the chicken or the egg first deal.


For a "race" truck both have thier pro's and con's.

2wd, cheaper & less part's over all . Alot more on the market for 2wd. 90% of the race tracks have no need for 4wd.

4wd, cost more in the extra parts, add's some weight,not as many vendors in the market, but is priceless when driving past stuck 2wd in the silt beds and "goat trail" type of hill climbs. Been stuck up to my knees before in silt.Not saying 4wd will always save your ass, but sometimes its nice!

for a "pre runner" I would want a 4wd.just for the extra insurance.And to be able to crusie the track, stop pretty much any place and be able to "Start" again.

I've had 3 2wd's and its amazing where you can get a spooled up 2wd and the places it will go but sometimes that extra front tire pulling along is "priceless" at the moment. But I do admit, when putting one toghter it can be a real piss off to see the abundance of 2wd parts on the "used/cheap ass" market.lol..

[84projectFORD]

ok guys the whole reason we started this forum part was for helpful info and on ideas that people have and would like to try. Every person has their own opinion and is entitled to it but bullshit fighting with eachother is not what we are here for. save it for another place. I might be comin across harsh on this but i dont want this forum to turn inot a dramarangers. there is a reason i like this one so much because there is no of this cussin eachother out and sayin "my opinion is always right and everyone should abide by it".


Anyhow, i prefer 2wd over 4wd due to how cheap it is and how readily avaible parts are. now when your racing long distance, chances are you will prerun the coarse first and find the deep silt beds and bad hill climbs. thats when you find your ways around it or best trail up it.

4wd is a great back up and would be great on a prerunner but for racing application i do not believe it is the best way. should something break, bend or sieze in the front end that part will most likely be more expensive than something on a 2wd and things will break. in all the desert races i have seen and been in though i have yet to see where you have to have 4wd to make it to the finish line. To me a 4wd is just not worth it, its too expensive to buy and to fix nor is it practical in my eyes but there are others out there that think differently. to each his own

Originally Posted by ckblum

Actually Trophy Trucks outrun everything else because they have 800+ HP and cycle over 2 feet (sometimes 3) of suspension travel and spend hours tuning shocks with quad bypasses and coil-overs all around. If you spend $700 000+ it's hard not to beat the other classes.

Also most Trophy Trucks are 2wd, I can only think of one that was built 4wd and I can't even remember who built it so chances are it wasn't too significant and probably didn't do well enough to remember lol jk jk.

My vote is on 2wd for racing but since I live in BC I would definately build a 4wd if I could. Funny thing is I am building a 2wd anyways haha.

yes all TT are 2wd drive except for the terrible herbst trophy truck. the problem with 4wd in a TT is the limit to wheel travel and now you are turning more mass which can put more load on all teh drive line parts and cause premature failure. the most the herbst can run is 20" reliably. reg TT's run 27+ up front

[kenny172]

Originally Posted by ckblum

Actually Trophy Trucks outrun everything else because they have 800+ HP and cycle over 2 feet (sometimes 3) of suspension travel and spend hours tuning shocks with quad bypasses and coil-overs all around. If you spend $700 000+ it's hard not to beat the other classes.

Also most Trophy Trucks are 2wd, I can only think of one that was built 4wd and I can't even remember who built it so chances are it wasn't too significant and probably didn't do well enough to remember lol jk jk.

My vote is on 2wd for racing but since I live in BC I would definately build a 4wd if I could. Funny thing is I am building a 2wd anyways haha.

it was the herbst's family that ran 4wd on their trophy truck and it was every race the entire truck would be rebuilt top to bottom no dime spared. the cv joints that they used in the front end were used out of a helicopter rotor pivot. only thing at the time that would take the torque and have the oporating range to provied 26 inches of wheel travel. but that doesnt matter anymore they all have brand new 2wd trophy trucks... must be nice to be loaded

[84rangerprerunning]

2wd is ausome

[3.0ranger1227]

2WD - who wants control around corners anyways?

But truthfully 2WD.

[colby450xc]

I would honestly say that 2wd drive is all you need for desert type racing. I have not raced in a desert, drove in a desert, or scene a real desert though. I will relate this to the quad racing I have taken part in. I have raced cross country championships on my quads, and 2wd is most common. Yes most sport quads are 2wd currently, probably because they are lighter, less complicated, and in the end, cheaper to build. The fact is though, with momentum a solid rear axle will carry you across most any terrain besides rock climbing, or a mud pit. You would be amazed what a 2wd truck can do with the right set of tires, good driving skills and momentum can do.