I'm not sure I understand your arguments here. I answered above why I need 4X4. I take it up to the mountains for snowboarding (less thana hour to the lodge). I also go fishing/camping where4X4 isn't absolutely necessary, but canbe helpful. It also snows here maybe every other year so4X4 comes in handy.

None of these things require anymore clearance than a station wagon. I feel a lot of people just want their trucks to look tough, which is fine. But don't try to justify it just by saying that's what 4X4s are supposed to look like. I would say it makes more sense to drop a stock 4X4 1-2 inches than to lift one 6-8 inches and put big, fat tires on it.

 

I lifted mine about 3 inches. That all I needed. Anything more and I would run into tipping problems.

 

the gmc cyclone was a lowered down 4x4 pick-up with the turbo motor the differance is the 4x4 pick-up could select 2wd,4wd,or low. the cyclone/typhone you cant switch.

 

Maybe a TRX would have worked?

 

the cyclone was AWD the difference between all wheel drive and 4x4 is like you said, you cant select to go into 2, or hi/lo gears. also 4x4 splits the power 50/50 awd splits the power like 20/80 or 30/70.

 

Well what you could do if you want your truck lower for loading things is lower the rear end in it and get airbags in the back so you can raise it back up. and with the airbags you could level out your truck when you got a heavy load in it or something then it wont look like the rear end is sagging i hate when trucks look like that.