For me the 4 wheel auto function is a must. I like it for roads with snow and ice. I don't always need 4 wheel lock. Would you buy a truck that doesn't have the 4 wheel auto option?

I like the manual transfer case, has a cool old school feel on my 07

My 96 f150 has manual hubs and I like that. If I think I’ll need 4 wheel drive I’ll lock them in before I climb in. The off season when you hardly ever need 4x4 I lock them in once in awhile. Not sure if necessary but makes me feel better.

I thought the auto 4x4 buttons were meant for soccer moms....I'm with you guys I prefer a manual lockout style hub. lots of 2low bumps on trapline

I prefer manual shift. less to break and is do it yourself when it does

I had manual hubs, years ago. Until I was surprised in a quick snow storm, and had to pull over to engage them, all dressed up in heels and a nice dress...I wasn't happy about that

My trucks after that have all been inside engage. None of you gentlemen would ever have that problem , so you're good with manuals !

yes, in fact I would prefer one without. for snow and ice the tires are more important than 4wd. 4wd only helps in getting you moving and is of no use once your moving and in fact is a hindrance in turning and of no help in stopping.
While really good winter tires will actually improve your stopping distances on ice over all season or mud/snow tires.
if one doesn't drive in really rough off road situations then 4wd is not needed.
I'll take a front wheel drive car with good quality winter tires (blizzaks or equiv.) over a 4wd with the tires that come on them from the factory.
Even better than 4wd is 2wd with about 500-1000lbs in the box and chains for the really bad conditions.


I have had both and without a doubt put alot more miles on 2wd trucks.
The other advantages of 2wd are better gas mileage, cheaper to buy and maintain and easier on tires and all other things being equal can haul and pull more.
4wd has advantage on only a handful of days over a years time so as far as I'm concerned its advantage does not beat its disadvantages.

sometimes dirty d there aint no road. or just a track. not all 4wd is for a slick road

Not sure you guys get what I'm talking about. Push button four wheek drive. Some have auto and lock, some just have lock. Wheel drive is hard on the drive train. That's why I like the auto feature so when the roads are snowy and slushy, it only engages when the tires slip.

Tacoma with crawl control, locking rear end but it only came in auto that year Id prefer a manual but that was not a choice with crawl control. I had to get a lot of tech garbage that I could have done without but that all came in the Off Road package. I have a pad that charges a cellphone the kind I never had yet, I have 110 in the truck bed that I might make coffee back there someday just never have yet. LOL

The truck came with 6 manuals thicker then the Bible I would of been OK with the standard model trucks but I really use 4 WD in the high country in the spring to get around things change in a minute out there. The sad part was all them fancy packages still come with highway tires marked M/S that have no business in mud or snow.

When I ordered my jeep I got the cheapest tires they had. Then bought tires I liked and sold the ones it came with. no push buttons. a manual transmission and manual shift transfer case. no lockout hubs . no longer an option. there are after market ones available if they need replaced

3 Chevy's I got have manual shift 4 wheel drive, and the 2 Jeeps we have are manual shift 4x4 .

And you’re in gumbo, 2 wheel ain’t going to hack it in some of the places around here. Have to deal a lot more with mud than snow in a typical year.

I don’t really care one way or the other. Whether I turn a knob, press a button, or have to lock them manually, it’s still 4 wheel drive.
I use it more after a rain than anything else. With 4x4 I maintain a straight line, otherwise the rear end slips and slides everywhere. Landowners tend not to like destroyed roads. My truck is a 2000 F150 and was the first truck with auto 4x4 with a twist of the knob. I prefer to stay nice and dry and not covered in mud now having to turn hubs.
And NO I will not own a 2 wheel drive truck. I don’t need anything but 4x4 and AC. Electric windows would be nice too, but all that other stuff I have no need for.

LOL, my 2005 has manual.hubs snd Transfer case.
And roll.up windows and vinyl interior.

As a kid, I realized 4wd let me get stuck 50' farther than 2wd, lol.
But I was here to.the steel.in those days.

I will add to say I don’t care if you have full 4x4 or shift to 4x4. If you have street tires, you are just as stuck and sliding as much as a 2 wheel drive. I don’t have mud tires but I do buy off-road tires with an aggressive tread.

Probably 90% of all 4x4 vehicles sold today never leave the pavement. Thus the street tires.

Tires make the biggest difference if you’re not gripping your just spinning and going no place. Look up the crawl control package on the Tacoma it’s pretty impressive.

I prefer 4wd but my brother likes a truck with posi traction in 2 wd. Regardless good tires are a must!