2 wheel VS. 4X4 gas mileage question?

[pissonNOS]

Im in between on whethere I should buy a 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive truck have you guys noticed and big differences? I probly will be buying a 1998 5.7 if that helps. Thanks J

[99-2door]

Canada? i would probably buy the 4x4. Of course the mileage will be lower. About 2-3 MPG usually.

[pissonNOS]

what is the canada? all about?

[race2c]

Being in Canada, I would definitely choose the 4x4 over 2wd for the winter. I would feel more comfortably having the 4wd rather than not having it at all. In my '89, I usually get about 13-15 city maybe a little better depending on the way I drive or where I drive to. I also have a 5.7 SBC with a throttle body spacer.

Cam

[99-2door]

Originally Posted by pissonNOS

what is the canada? all about?

I meant becasue you have harsher winters than we do down south.
Geez, you canucks are touchy

[lovemychevy]

easy there canny us southerners mean no harm anyway i have a 98 4x4 1500 and can get about 19-20 miles a gallon on good highway condition but thats not too bad at all

[jrcmedic]

Yea I think we were all thinking that Alberta Canada gets a ton of snow and we all want 4X4's in the white stuff don't we? It will be here again far too soon!!

[pissonNOS]

haha u wanna know the funny part we really dont get all that much snow. we went on a school trip to kansas when i was in high school and we had a bunch of girls convinced we actually rode dog sleds to school haha. anyways I put a down payement on a 97 Z-71 yesterday only has 92,000KM's has a super chips in it and is in immaculate shape but then i got home and talk to my insurance agent(my mom) and we figured out my insurance and the payements for insurance are going to be more than the actual truck so ......... I am not getting a truck at this present time

[TweakedGM]

I have driven in Canada for 15 years with a 2wd and no weight in the box and have I yet to have a problem in snow thats with 10inch tires on the back. Black ice is another story ,don't matter what you drive if you don't know what you are doing. Got caught once on Black ice that put me in the ditch.I live in Saskatchewan.

[low burb]

I live in Alberta, too. When I was younger I thought I needed a 4X4. Four days after we bought new one, my wife discovered that they don't stop any better and rear-ended another truck. We have had 4X4s for twenty years but haven't used one at all for about 5 (our Scout is undergoing reconstructive surgery). When I got the Tahoe I was looking for a 2wd. My '71 Sub 2wd got me whereever I had to go for the last 4 winters. I figured if the weather was bad enough I needed 4wd then I shouldn't be out with the kids anyway. When equipped with the right tires, it takes pretty bad roads to stop the Sub. You do have to drive properly, though. You can't just put it to the floor like some rookie. 4wd adds about 800 lbs and slows you down when you don't need it (95% of the time). It costs fuel and insurance all the time. But I didn't believe it when I was your age either and I do still own a 4X. They are fun for offroading and if that's your intent you do need it, but just to drive on the streets, no. Just my Alberta observations, Michael

[1FaastC10]

Originally Posted by 99-2door

Canada? i would probably buy the 4x4. Of course the mileage will be lower. About 2-3 MPG usually.

i went from a 93 C1500 w/ 5.0 to a 91 K1500 w/5.7, and my milage went from 13-15 w/ the 305 and 2wd to 15-17 w/ the 350 and the 4wd. i recently took my uncles 92 K2500 on a trip to pick up my buddy's '72 Firebird. pulling just the trailer (2700#)down 150 mi, and then the trailer with the car on it another 150 mi, it averaged 14.5 mpg. the Vortec injection setup will make a milage difference, in your favor of course.

[formerfordguy]

i get 12 to 15 empty have gotten as high as 17 with it on a long trip

[Old Dave]

My son checked his 98 2500 4WD Vortec 350/5-speed last weekend, and empty it got 16.4 MPG on the highway. It's got about 115K on it.

[Palf70Step]

When I lived in the north I never used 4WD when I did own one. For some reason 4WD just got me stuck worse in a place I should not have been anyways. A well driven 2WD will get you arround fine. My 96 is only 2WD , but I average around 14-15 around town with AC on and I am not the most economical style driver. On the road I average 17-19 depending on my foot and the load. These years are very aero efficent so I would think the 4WD wouldn't be much less as long as the gearing is compatible. I have heard of those that do better than mine, but I have the towing package rear with a 3.42 gear and the Vortec 350.