Terryallan wrote: Never really understood why you would get stuck on grass with all that weight on the back.
All that weight helps to push your rear truck wheels into the mud under the grass. And then when you try to pull 6 to 8 tons out of the mud, the weight on the back of the truck does little to work in your favor.
Has happened to my Dad when he came to visit in North Carolina. Parked when dry. Then a couple of inches of rain over three days. Got about 6 feet before his 4X2 dug in. While he was able to get his front wheels 4 feet from the driveway. Tow truck time.
Hope that helps you understand.
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I prefer the 4x4 for a different reason. I often go with my buddy and tow his 24' boat, while he tows his toy hauler. Before he bought his 4x4, we got stuck on a slippery boat ramp trying to haul the boat out of the water with his 4x2. We had to have 3 other fishermen sit on the bumper to get enough traction to get the boat out of the water.
I had a Dodge Ram 4x2 and got stuck on a different ramp with his boat just like he did. That time it only took the weight of 2 fishermen to help us get it out of the water.
Since I took over driving the 'Burb (my wife likes her compact car), I've pulled the boat out of the water with no problem. Just punch the 4WD button and out of the water it comes.
I've yet to have the need for 4WD with my TT, but it is nice to know that I have it if I need it.
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Terryallan wrote: Never really understood why you would get stuck on grass with all that weight on the back.
All that weight helps to push your rear truck wheels into the mud under the grass. And then when you try to pull 6 to 8 tons out of the mud, the weight on the back of the truck does little to work in your favor.
Has happened to my Dad when he came to visit in North Carolina. Parked when dry. Then a couple of inches of rain over three days. Got about 6 feet before his 4X2 dug in. While he was able to get his front wheels 4 feet from the driveway. Tow truck time.
Hope that helps you understand.
Not really. These people arern't talking about mud. they are talking about a little wet grass. Been towing for 32 years. Never got stuck on wet grass. Did have to put the Cougar in 2nd gear to get the boat out once. Putting the trany is 2nd goes a long way toward keeping traction. One of those things we learned, back when no one had 4x4. We had to make do with what we had.
BTW. Couldn't you pull him out with that big 4x4 you got?
Terryallan wrote: BTW. Couldn't you pull him out with that big 4x4 you got?
I sure could have. But I didn't have it in 1997. Could have pulled him out with a 2wd pickup if I had the rear wheels of the truck on the concrete driveway, Or could have pulled him out if I had 4WD in the mud. All I had was a rwd 94 Thunderbird, and a fwd 96 saturn. No way are those going to pull 14,000 pound trailer and a 6,000 Pound truck out of the mud. Ever heard of suction?
With all your experience, you probably could have. But not me. I am too stupid. Mud is probably different now.
Got my big 4X4 in 2007.
I own two trucks, one two wheel drive and one four wheel drive.
I wish the two wheel drive had four wheel drive.
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howdy all, figured I'd add my .02 worth. after I bought my first 4X4 (73 Dodge 3/4T, and 5 other 4X4 P/ups, I would not even consider a 4X2, if for no other reason resale, 4X4's are in more demand, even my wife would not drive anything unless 4WD she has owned 6 Jeep Grand Cherokee's. But everyone has differant needs.
>>Terryallan: never understood getting stuck on wet grass
Well, then, I can say you've never camped at Red Point Provincial Park Campground on Prince Edward Island. The entire campground is on grass, on a slope ... and people are always getting "stuck" trying to pull their rigs up and out.
Also, after a good rain, you would never get your rig up the mud hill road with a 4x2, shortly after pulling out of Meat Cove Campground in Meat Cove, Nova Scotia.
It all depends on where you camp.
We tend to camp on the outer edge ... and as such, write off the cost of 4x4 as cheap insurance.
Sure, most of the time you aren't going to need it ... but when you need 4x4, you are going to really need it.
And the smug "oh well, that's what emergency road service is for" ... most of the time, when you really need 4x4 ... you won't get cell service ... there won't be any houses nearby ... and you'll be lucky if someone happens by to give you a lift to go find a phone. (Been there, done that, with transmission problems in the wilds of New Brunswick.)
I have a 03 Chevy 2500HD 6.0 with 4.10 axles. 4x4. I use the 4x4 for other things than pulling my fifth wheel, but the 4x4 low gear sure works good when backing or maneuvering in a tight spot. Makes it a lot easier on the transmission in those situations also.
I_rv2 wrote: >>Terryallan: never understood getting stuck on wet grass
Well, then, I can say you've never camped at Red Point Provincial Park Campground on Prince Edward Island. The entire campground is on grass, on a slope ... and people are always getting "stuck" trying to pull their rigs up and out.
Also, after a good rain, you would never get your rig up the mud hill road with a 4x2, shortly after pulling out of Meat Cove Campground in Meat Cove, Nova Scotia.
It all depends on where you camp.
We tend to camp on the outer edge ... and as such, write off the cost of 4x4 as cheap insurance.
Sure, most of the time you aren't going to need it ... but when you need 4x4, you are going to really need it.
And the smug "oh well, that's what emergency road service is for" ... most of the time, when you really need 4x4 ... you won't get cell service ... there won't be any houses nearby ... and you'll be lucky if someone happens by to give you a lift to go find a phone. (Been there, done that, with transmission problems in the wilds of New Brunswick.)
Terryallen could pull his rig out. A Pioneer 23T6. 4400#. Just use 2nd gear.
In mud, A 12-15,000 pound 5'er...well, 2wd, 2nd gear???
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Over the last 30+ years I have towed with both 4X2 and 4X4. My current truck is a 4X4 and I have no intention to go back to 4X2, should I get anothe truck. I have had to use the 4X4 several times while backing into a camp spot on wet/damp grass. While had no issues in the past with a 4X2, in the same circumstance, I left bigger ruts in the grass. With the 4X4 also comes the extra low gears. Nice for boat ramps, backing up a hill to a camp spot, etc. My transmission runs far cooler while using 4-Lo while parking at my home, where I have to back across grass that is often damp, and uphill.
As for mileage, I find that I get great mileage (almost 11 MPH with my Titan)when I just drive the speed limit for vehicles with trailers. Most places here that is 55-60 mph.
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That time it only took the weight of 2 fishermen to help us get it out of the water. 
