I know people say our trucks are actually 4x3s if you have the LS rear because the front differential is open.

If that's the case, then why do all my 4 wheels dig in and spin in soft sand?

 

maybe you have front LS too.

 

In soft sand, all four wheels will dig until one of the front wheels is held up by some thing such as solid ground. If you have one tire on solid ground and the other on say ice, the one on the ice is going to be the only one that spins. Try it out. You'll see what I mean. Of course, I'm assuming that you have a 97 or newer truck. If you do, you definetely have an open front. Even if you have the LS, it's still only a 4x2 if you get as articulated as this...

the factory limited slip can't turn the stuffed wheel on the other side so you're back to a 4x2.....

 

Ahhh... OK. I think I understand now. If the wheels are all on the same kind of surface, all 4 wheels have power, at least when going straight ahead. That explains why I never had trouble driving in sand.