Since I have yet to purchase a TV or 5er, this is a wonderful opportunity to obtain input from those how have been-there-done-that.
The 5er will be around 30', with a dry weight range of 10k. The TV will be an '06 or '07 Dodge Mega Cab with the 5.9L diesel either a 2500 or 3500 (non-dually). Our plans include a half-dozen road trips per year here in CA, and then one a year to other parts of the country. Moreover, it's not my intent to off-road, or do other things that would clearly benefit from 4wd. I suppose that my greatest traction issues will occur when backing into areas that have a grade and are muddy, have loose gravel, wet and grassy, or something like that.
That said, I posted this dilemma at the Dodge Diesel forum, and received some great insights. Despite the fact that appearance and the resale attributes are not a concern, the only benefit to 4wd is the better traction it offers relative to 2wd with an anti-spin differential and all terrain tires. Essentially the negatives to 4wd included an extra 450 pounds, increased potential mechanical issues, rougher ride, decreased fuel economy, and having to flip the axles or make other height issue adjustments. Hence these negatives when pushed against the sole benefit of additional traction, are causing me to seek further input from those that have been-there-done-that...
We have pulled a 5er for 19 years and both TV's have been a 2wd and we have not been in a situation that called for 4wd. We did boondock a lot the first 15 yrs in the national forests. We have never boondocked on the beach, I guess that is a place you might want 4wd. With our 36.5 now, I am sure I will not be going places that require 4wd, so for me the 2wd will do just fine.
We have both and prefer the 4-wd. More traction and more gears.
TV: Mint 1972 Ford F-250 XLT
TT: 1969 19' Excel; entertains 6, feeds 4, sleeps 2 You don't shoot to kill, you shoot to stay alive.
I don't carry because I have to, I carry because I get to. My pictures
Was kikking back this weekend and saw this 2wd try and try again to get in his site.Just keep sliding into a bush in the site across from his.
The outcome was I hooked his trailer to my 4wd and parked it for him.
Now when he saw the damage that the little bush did to his truck he was sold on a 4wd.(scratched the whole side of his truck) (my guess complete repaint and some body work)
His site was only a slight incline of about a 3ft. rise over a 15-20ft distance.
If you need 4wd just once and don't have it you will never be without it again.JMHO
2006 DODGE 2500 4x4 CC CTD 48re TRX
Pullright Super Glide 16K
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Air bags
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Kipor 3500Ti
Garmin NUVI650
I have owned one 4x4, and it was a great truck. However, I only ues the four wheel drive three times in three years. Once on the test drive to see how it worked, once to show my son how it worked, and once on ice which was a mistake and I had to change back to two wheel drive to keep from sliding off the hiway.
I have had a couple of truck since, all are 4x2....when I am towing a 10,000 5th wheel, I have lots of traction, never got stuck, never slid around....
I have nothing against 4x4, but the extra cost, maintenance and added weight is just unnecessary for me. I don't go off roading, save for gravel roads in campgrounds, and my gravel driveway....and, yes, an occassional dirt road (even muddy), without ever a problem. Again, 10,000 pounds give you a heck of a lot of traction.
My Chevy does have the locker rear end, which does help some in the snow, but it just came that way....was not something I sought out.
Only been stuck one time with the 5'er in wet grass. The trailer's tires sunk into the wet muddy grass about 2". Just enough to hold it while the truck's two rear wheels spun easily in the muddy grass. 4X4 would have made no difference. A fellow with a Chevy and a rope pulled us out with his truck on pavement. Saved our day and made his ego swell with bragging rights. So seldom would I ever have any use for 4X4, I'll probably never own one.
'05 2500HD Dodge 5.7L Hemi 5spd auto/3.73 SLT. 91k miles
ex '95 Cummins,'98 12v Cummins,'01.5 Cummins,'03 Cummins
'07 KZ Jag 28JFSS.
Hi, it mostly depends where you live. Here where I live, I need 4WD to get out before the snow plows come around, and like others have said, I used it to park in wet grass or muddy spots when I had to.
I grew up in snow country and fish and photograph the back country and every truck I've owned has been a 4X4.
It really helped the one time we were caught in a snowstorm towing the fiver and there was no place to pull over for about 5 miles, though I don't recommend towing in snow!
Peter
Terry
Tai 18lbs of snarl....yeah right!
2006 Chevy 2500HD E/C S/B 4x4 D/A
2004 Genesis GW270
Hijacker Ultraslide
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