Is there a way for me to convert my truck to 4WD?

Question

I have a 2WD chevy silverado 2004 that i bought while living in california. I've recently moved to vermont and 4WD is practically a necessity for a truck on snow roads, is there a way I convert my truck to 4WD?

Answer 1

It can be done but it will be expensive unless you do it yourself. Even then the parts will still cost a pretty penny.

Answer 2

Yes it can be done, but the cost is what scares most people. I assume your truck is close to being paid off, if not already paid off then it could be considered an economical approach to solving your porblem with out having to break the bank.

There are currently numerous kits on the market to swap in a standard full size solid axle into the current non two wheel drive chevy trucks. All the necessary bracketry costs range from 1200.00 to 1800.00 dependent on whether or not you want to add any additional suspension height.

Now not only do you need the kit but you will also have to purchase a new front solid axel, 200.00- 600.00 at most junkyards. Remember to have the axle contain the same gear ratio as in the rear, if not you could be looking at further expenses of up to 2000.00 to have a matching set of drive train gears installed. Now you will have to purchase a transfer case as well these can run anywhere from 100.00 in local classified ads, or excess of 2500.oo for the most up to date strongest performance offroad edition, more than likely the latter is not going to be what is necessarily needed. Now after you have all this bolted up you will have to have a front driveshaft made, this is fairly cheap, 200.00.

After you have all this complete, you are more than likely going to need new tires, note, mis matched tires sizes front and rear will ruin the conversion, destroy the transfercase, and could rip the front end right out of the truck.

Honestly, if the truck is paid off, and you have acess to a different vehicle for a week or two, this conversion is possible, and it's a lot cheaper than the cost of a new truck.

You have to weigh the price of a new truck, with what you would typically spend on this conversion, @4000.00-6500.00.

Now one more thing to consider, newer independent front suspension four wheel drive trucks are bad at eating tires, the solid axle conversion rides rougher, but it is stronger, and easier on tires.

I prefer a straight axle conversion, over the new independent front suspension.

Answer 3

Yes, there is, but even with used parts, it's cost prohibitive.
You could probably trade up a year for a 4WD cheaper than converting.

Answer 4

Not without great expense. It would be a lot less expensive to buy a four-wheel-drive tthan to convert a two-wheel-drive. For instance, you'd need a transfer case, afront diff./axle assy., jack shafts/drive shafts, shift linkage, etc. etc. plus all the work involved with modifyint the frame, mounts, cross-members, etc. Also for a novice , a winter driving course would be a good investment.

Answer 5

Anything is possible with right amount of $$$. However, for you, it's really not worth it. You might as well trade it in or get a good set of snow tires.
When i lived in Germany my Z28 was shitty to drive in the snow. After i put a set of snow tires on it, the snow was no problem.

Answer 6

It can be done, but it would be so cost prohibitive that it would be several orders of magnitude cheaper to trade in for or buy a 4WD.

Answer 7

that is completely a regularly occurring change because the 2wd rigidity truck facilitates extra room for suspension commute or some thing like that in accordance to my crawler chum. Google: "2wd toyota sas conversion" and also you'll get extra info than you idea conceivable.

Answer 8

it was be easiest to buy a wrecked 4+4 and put ur cab and bed on that. converting a 2 whl to a 4 whl is is alot of work if not switchin bodies...u can call ur local salvage yerds to price a rebuildable wreck...if that proves to be to costly or to much hassle id trade it off!!!!!!

Answer 9

Very expensive. Cheaper to buy a new truck!

Answer 10

Yes its called a trade in