4 wheel drive Vehicles

Though the 1974 International Harvester Scout II was the best off road vehicle I have ever owned and almost indestructible (except for rust on the body later in the 1980s) still on road like on freeways it left a lot to be desired (why?)

Because the clutch on a manual shift blew out my wife's knee because it was very stiff while in a freeway traffic jam.

But, on the other side when my U joint broke I was able to drive it in 4 wheel drive using only the front wheels even though it bounced a little turning at slow speeds until I could get the U joint replaced. I haven't heard of anyone else being able to do this although it might be possible on other vehicles if your U joint breaks.

The present 4 wheel drive I love is a 2011 Toyota Tundra. I had wanted to buy a Tacoma but then I'm 6 foot 5 inches tall and my thighs wouldn't even fit below the steering wheel so I was very disappointed. However, when I bought my 2011 new my wife was looking at my present Tundra and said: "Hey. This Tundra gets 20 miles per gallon and has a small 8 cylinder engine with a 6 speed transmission. So, I wound up buying it an installing running boards and getting 20 miles per gallon and then I put all weather Michelin tires on it which I find I can easily drive at 70 or 80 miles an hour on the freeway and also drive over 20 inch high boulder through rivers at around 1/2 mile and hour or less in low range 4 wheel drive. I don't find I need really off road tires to succeed where I like to drive.

I suppose if you are a super mud or super snow driver in 4 wheel drive you might want specialized tires but I find I don't need them for where I like to drive off road around Mt. Shasta.

However, if you drive around Mt. Shasta don't let your tread get too low because of sharp Volcanic Rocks. I learned this the hard way around Deadfall Meadows after driving up through Lake Siskiyou and Gumboot lake to get there when my right rear tire went flat.

By the way the jack they give you isn't worth anything stock on a tundra so I bought a 12 ton hydraulic jack for the next time I get a flat tire in the bush. That compressed air and rubber stuff can get you out of a lot of tight spaces though in an emergency when in the bush and out of cell phone range of ANYONE while 4 wheel driving somewhere remote.