• FITNESS
  • Food
  • Beauty
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • Athleisure Studio
  • Athleisure List
  • Athleisure TV
  • THIS ISSUE
  • The Latest
  • ARCHIVE
  • About
  • Press
  • Connect
Menu

Athleisure Mag™ | Athleisure Culture

ATHLEISURE MAG™ | Athleisure Culture
  • FITNESS
  • Food
  • Beauty
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • Athleisure Studio
  • Athleisure List
  • Athleisure TV
  • THIS ISSUE
  • The Latest
  • ARCHIVE
  • About
  • Press
  • Connect
john-o-nolan-kyrbBTfAAVs-unsplash.jpg

CONVERTING 2WD TO 4WD: WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

February 26, 2020

If you have a 2WD truck, you may think about switching to 4WD. Perhaps you want to save money over buying a new 4WD truck or think it will be a fun project. Although adding new driven truck wheels may sound like a good idea, this project can be a really serious undertaking. Here’s what you need to know before you start.

Is It Worth It?

Before you even start thinking about this project, it is important to get some facts straight. First, this is a very complicated undertaking. You will need to make major modifications to the mechanical workings of your vehicle.

Second, as you may have guessed from the above, this is a very expensive project. There are very few circumstances in which it makes more financial sense to upgrade a 2WD truck to 4WD truck than to simply sell the original and buy a new one.

However, it can be worth it in some cases. Perhaps you enjoy the challenge of a really in-depth project. You may want to have more control over your drivetrain and suspension. Alternatively, you may be upgrading a truck that can’t simply be replaced such as a classic.

What Is Involved?

There are quite a few components to change. Some of them you can buy aftermarket. Others may make more sense to get from a donor 4WD truck. These are some of the items you will need:

•        A transfer case and gear shifter

•        Complete front axle assemble

•        Driveshaft

•        Upgraded transmission

•        Complete suspension kit

•        Possible new wiring harness (some trucks have blanked-off 4WD connections)

•        Differentials

All of these items will need to be installed. This is not a job for the faint of heart. Consider getting a professional mechanic to help. You will likely need a hydraulic lift to do this project as it is almost impossible to do with just jack stands alone.

The transfer case is the most significant part of the project. This is the component that allows your drivetrain to deliver power to the front and rear axle. The new front axle assembly is also important because undriven wheels have different assemblies than driven wheels.

Other Considerations

Beyond cost and complexity, you will also need to consider the changes in driving characteristics. Most notably, a 4WD vehicle typically needs more power than a 2WD vehicle due to the extra weight.

Again, this can add cost and complexity to the project. So, the conversion often only makes sense if you are planning to build a project from the ground up anyway. Consider also refreshing other parts of the vehicle at the same time such as installing new wheel and tire packages.

Get Started

Although this type of project is very cost and time prohibitive, it can also be a lot of fun. If you have the tools, the patience and the money, it may be worthwhile doing. You will certainly learn a lot about how modern vehicles operate.

Don’t forget to enlist the help of a mechanic that knows what he or she is doing. This is a very complex undertaking that could seriously harm your truck if you do it incorrectly. If you are successful, however, this is something to be seriously proud of.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

 

Featured Lifestyle
OS CHLOE X LELE SADOUGHI copy.png
May 21, 2025
FINE + DIVINE
May 21, 2025
May 21, 2025
SPRINGING AHEAD | KELLY OLMSTEAD CMO ALLBIRDS
Apr 23, 2025
SPRINGING AHEAD | KELLY OLMSTEAD CMO ALLBIRDS
Apr 23, 2025
Apr 23, 2025
AM FEB ISSUE #110 Egypt 1.png
Mar 18, 2025
THE POWER OF YOUR HOME | HGTV'S EGYPT SHERROD + MIKE JACKSON
Mar 18, 2025
Mar 18, 2025
LO-FI VIBES EDITORIAL @ TECHNICA HOUSE
Nov 28, 2024
LO-FI VIBES EDITORIAL @ TECHNICA HOUSE
Nov 28, 2024
Nov 28, 2024
OS ZOOEY DESCHANEL (1).png
Nov 25, 2024
VINTAGE STYLE HOLIDAY | ZOEY DESCHANEL
Nov 25, 2024
Nov 25, 2024
WEEKEND VIBES ONLY EDITORIAL
Jul 12, 2023
WEEKEND VIBES ONLY EDITORIAL
Jul 12, 2023
Jul 12, 2023
AM DEC OS MINDY WEISS.png
Jan 19, 2023
MAKE IT A SIGNATURE | MINDY WEISS
Jan 19, 2023
Jan 19, 2023
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS | MARIANNA HEWITT
Jan 17, 2023
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS | MARIANNA HEWITT
Jan 17, 2023
Jan 17, 2023
Oct 27, 2022
HOONIGAN DROPS ELECTRIKHANA
Oct 27, 2022
Oct 27, 2022
maxresdefault.jpg
Jun 28, 2022
SS23 | LOUIS VUITtON MENS
Jun 28, 2022
Jun 28, 2022

In Lifestyle Tags auto, 2wd, 4wd
← ALL ABOARD FRIENDSHIP 2020SURVEY FINDINGS ON HIV →

GET ATH MAG

Read the JUN ISSUE #114.

GET YOUR COPY OF JUN ISSUE #114

Personal trainers
Personal Trainer Jobs

Sign up for our newsletter!

Sign up for our newsletter!


PODCAST NETWORK

ATHLEISURE STUDIO SLATE.jpg
LISTEN TO ALL OF #TRIBEGOALS’ EPISODES ON SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCAST, GOOGLE PODCAST AND MORE

LISTEN TO ALL OF #TRIBEGOALS’ EPISODES ON SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCAST, GOOGLE PODCAST AND MORE

LISTEN TO ALL OF ATHLEISURE KITCHEN’S EPISODES ON iHEARTRADIO, SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCAST, GOOGLE PODCAST AND MORE

LISTEN TO ALL OF ATHLEISURE KITCHEN’S EPISODES ON iHEARTRADIO, SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCAST, GOOGLE PODCAST AND MORE

LISTEN TO ALL OF BUNGALOW SK’S EPISODES ON iHEARTRADIO, SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCAST, GOOGLE PODCAST AND MORE

LISTEN TO ALL OF BUNGALOW SK’S EPISODES ON iHEARTRADIO, SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCAST, GOOGLE PODCAST AND MORE

LISTEN TO ALL OF THE 9LIST’S EPISODES ON iHEARTRADIO, SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCAST, GOOGLE PODCAST AND MORE

LISTEN TO ALL OF THE VOT3D IO’S EPISODES ON iHEARTRADIO, SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCAST, GOOGLE PODCAST AND MORE


TRENDING

Featured
ATHLEISURE MAG #114 | DARUDE
AM, Jun 2025, Ath Mag Issues, Editor Picks
ATHLEISURE MAG #114 | DARUDE
AM, Jun 2025, Ath Mag Issues, Editor Picks
AM, Jun 2025, Ath Mag Issues, Editor Picks
AM MAY ISSUE #113 TAOTS 1.png
AM, Food, May 2025, The Art of the Snack, Editor Picks
THE ART OF THE SNACK | A.KITCHEN + BAR D.C.
AM, Food, May 2025, The Art of the Snack, Editor Picks
AM, Food, May 2025, The Art of the Snack, Editor Picks
MARPH-OUTSIDE-VIEW-SWIMMING-POOL-GOLF-COURSE-PALM-TREES-PAVILLONS-RESORT.jpg
AM, Athleisure List, May 2025, Travel, Wellness Editor Picks, Wellness, Food, Editor Picks
ATHLEISURE LIST | PARK HYATT MARRAKECH
AM, Athleisure List, May 2025, Travel, Wellness Editor Picks, Wellness, Food, Editor Picks
AM, Athleisure List, May 2025, Travel, Wellness Editor Picks, Wellness, Food, Editor Picks
AM MAY COVER CHEF EC I a.png
AM, May 2025, Ath Mag Issues, Editor Picks
ATHLEISURE MAG #113 | CHEF ESTHER CHOI
AM, May 2025, Ath Mag Issues, Editor Picks
AM, May 2025, Ath Mag Issues, Editor Picks
OS DILLON GABRIEL (1).png
AM, Apr 2025, Athletes, Editor Picks, Sports
IT'S ABOUT THE GAME | DILLON GABRIEL
AM, Apr 2025, Athletes, Editor Picks, Sports
AM, Apr 2025, Athletes, Editor Picks, Sports
OS GODFATHER OF HARLEM Elvis Nolasco_Erik LaRay Harvey (1).png
AM, Apr 2025, Editor Picks, TV Show
MGM+ GODFATHER OF HARLEM | RETURN TO HARLEM
AM, Apr 2025, Editor Picks, TV Show
AM, Apr 2025, Editor Picks, TV Show
ATHLEISURE MAG #112 | CHEF MASAHARU MORIMOTO
AM, Apr 2025, Ath Mag Issues, Editor Picks
ATHLEISURE MAG #112 | CHEF MASAHARU MORIMOTO
AM, Apr 2025, Ath Mag Issues, Editor Picks
AM, Apr 2025, Ath Mag Issues, Editor Picks
SPRINGING AHEAD | KELLY OLMSTEAD CMO ALLBIRDS
AM, Fashion, Lifestyle, Mar 2025, Editor Picks
SPRINGING AHEAD | KELLY OLMSTEAD CMO ALLBIRDS
AM, Fashion, Lifestyle, Mar 2025, Editor Picks
AM, Fashion, Lifestyle, Mar 2025, Editor Picks
THE SPICE OF LIFE | CHEF MANEET CHAUHAN
AM, Food, Mar 2025, TV Show, Editor Picks
THE SPICE OF LIFE | CHEF MANEET CHAUHAN
AM, Food, Mar 2025, TV Show, Editor Picks
AM, Food, Mar 2025, TV Show, Editor Picks
AM MAR COVER I p.png
AM, Ath Mag Issues, Editor Picks, Mar 2025
ATHLEISURE MAG #111 | RASHEE RICE
AM, Ath Mag Issues, Editor Picks, Mar 2025
AM, Ath Mag Issues, Editor Picks, Mar 2025