Yea, I didn't explain that real well, was basically trying to compare having 4x4 to having a PSK or BOB or other survival gear, the kind of stuff you hope to not need but better to have it and not need it that to need it an not have it. It takes a bit less work when you have 4x4 and low range.
Years ago I didn't know what a PSK or BOB and never thought about having gear with me, now I don't leave home without my PSK or drive a vehicle without 4x4.

"All the scenarios so far have not demonstrated the superiority of a 4x4 in a bug out situation."

I am assuming that in case of an emergency our road crews are not going to be running the snowplows. Therefore, around here whoever doesn't have 4WD and chains ain't goin' nowhere. 2WD will be sufficient if the disaster is kind enough to strike in the summer though. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

My bugout vehicle is a full size 4WD Dodge pickup with shell and chains, pulling a 19' trailer. My backups are Yamaha 4WD ATV's.

Dessertrat1,

The Starcraft 11 RT is very nice! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I think that I like the margin of error. Planning is important, but it's the unknown that makes me think a 4x4 is superior. I've seen "maintained" roads that had me wondering if my front wheel drive was going to be able to get over the humps... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, I can think of many situations where superiority might play a part:
1) Traffic (go around on the little used drainage ditch or median!)
2) washout/flood - might get you through it with increased lift, etc.
3) snowdrifts, deep snow
4) mud/rock slide/earthquake damage
5) driving over obstacles that mean either safety on the other side or burning your fuel to find an alternate route (if you can even get turned around)

I'm sure there are plenty more and it's the ones I can't think of that worry me. I'm just saying that in an emergency, it's assuming a lot that any given road will be accessible and that redundant routes aren't all blocked.

When I was a working stiff, the Bell System supplied us engineers with nice new front wheel drive cars to do our field work. They were fast, reliable, and fairly economical, but useless in certain situations. On steep loose gravel roads or driveways, they had no traction. All the weight went to the back wheels and the front wheels would slip so bad you could not go forward. On one occasion, I was approaching a blind curve from a steep driveway on to a major highway that carried a large number of double fuel tankers. Every time I slowed down to see if traffic was coming, I could proceed no further. I had to back completely down the driveway. On the fourth attempt, I went up backwards and backed on to the highway. I do not want to repeat that again! During the winter, if the roads were slick and the grade was steep, the only way up hill, even with chains, was in reverse.

I have seen many two wheel drive pickups with large travel trailers pull on to grass covered camp grounds. When they attempted to leave, the damp grass caused one of their wheels to spin and they went no where. A four wheel drive truck even with out a limited slip differential, easily pulls both the two wheel drive truck with it’s trailer out of trouble.

I have absolutely solved the problem of BOV's...I'm building a Landmaster in a slightly smaller scale.
http://www.snowcrest.net/fox/landmaster/