I have never NEEDED my 4wd while towing, I have USED it once pulling up the grapevine in heavy rain. I swear there was 2 inched on standing water on the mountain, it was raining that hard. I have USED the 4wd to avoid chains several times empty on 80 in the sierras, and NEEDED the 4wd for several miles of 2" clay mud for work. I NEEDED the 4wd for a uphill in wet grass for work. I USED my wifes 4wd in deep sand for work, but I don't know if it was needed (more didn't want to stuck the wifes truck).
The only critical situation I can think of where you need 4wd while towing (aside from off road, being stuck in mud, sand, ice snow, etc.) is at the boat ramp.
Many are slippery, and that extra traction on a steep and slippery slope hauling 10,000lbs out of water is sooo nice.
I've owned 4wd trucks most of my life, as well as 2wd's. I fail to see 'additional maintenance' as being a notable issue with 4wd versus 2wd.
This has been my experience also.
X 3. It is NOT an issue.
Now I'm gonna go make some popcorn. If this is like normal 4 X 4 versus 2 X 4 threads, its going to go on a long, long time.
You're going to get opinions from both sides, and if you have been reading here any length of time, one can predict which ones are for and which are against 4 X 4.
In other words, it gets worthless pretty quickly. Only YOU, the Original Poster, know what YOU actually need.
Depending on geographic area of the US, one will find most pickups are 4 X 4. They DO have advantages in resale value. They DO add weight, which slightly cuts down on vehicle tow ratings.
But, only YOU know how you have driven, where you have driven, and when you may have needed 4 X 4. You've got to decide, and remember that this thread is probably going to turn out 50-50, with, as I said, the same folks weighing in for and against, as always.
I'm for by the way. . Lived in the northern plains most of my life and winter snow and icy roads are the reasons I drive a 4 X 4.
The Mad Norsky, Doll, Logan, Korey & Rocky
2011 Ford F350 Power Stroke dually
RV'ing since 1991
We never know where we're going till we get there!
If we didn't have 4x4 on our dodge dully, we would be stuck in our driveway in Stratford Ontario instead of enjoying sunny Tucson Arizona. Even at that we had to shovel the Montana out when we left in December.
traindriver wrote: Thinking about trading for a different truck. Looking at a dually. Finding a lot of 2wh drive. Presently have 4wh. Would like to hear from others with 2wh dually's who pull 5th whls as to what you like and what you don't like. I haven't used 4wh much with trailer but have snow where I live. Thanks.
4x4 is only for ranchers, ult companies, loggers and people in Canada, the rest are just trying to play rancher.Most don't even need a pickup to start with.
2005 Chev 5.3 Supercharged 395HP 425 T hp. Two wheels on front, 2 on back. one seat, tint windows. front and rear bumpers, headlights, windows. Door on each side. Heater, floor mats, 6 Reese candy bars, junk behind seats, some dirt. Pulls so hard.
I do like 4X4. Especially with a dually. Reason is that a dually acts like it has two rear ski's in snow. And that is one place where you want more weight per square inch of footprint. Dually is nice sometimes. But sometimes not too.
You can compensate by adding expensive snow tires to all 6 wheels. You can add extra weight to drag around when you need it. And remove it when you don't. But bottom line is 4 wheel drive is just more convenient.
And I am one of those that have used it when towing, and in campgrounds. Once that I remember was backing my 13,000 pound 5'r up a wet gravel hill to turn into a narrow camp site. And there have been times it has gotten me UNSTUCK too. And it has never got me stuck. Because I most always use two wheel drive to drive in.
I see little extra maintenance, or cost in MPG.
And to address what Supercharged posted above...never mind. A waste of bytes.
'12 F350 SB, CC, SRW, 6.7 PSD, 3.55 RAR, 6 spd auto, Ultimate Lariat pkg
2011 Open Range 393RLS 14,250 GVWR
Pullrite Super Glide 18K
I have had both 2wd and 4wd. I also do a little deer hunting so my first few trucks were 4wd. I found myself parking and walking in to my hunting spots so I could be as quiet as possible.
In other words I didn't need 4x4.
Current truck is a 2wd and I can't be happier. It's easier to get in and out of and it gets slightly higher payload and tow ratings. Plus the mpg is slightly better.
IMHO chains on a 2wd will go a long way to off set the need for 4x4. But not every situation is like mine which is why they make 4x4.
Thanks
TT: 1995 Layton 2910
Tow Vehicle: 1999 F-350, v10, 2wd, Crew Cab, Dually
Hitch: Draw-Tite Trunnion WD Hitch
Sway Control: Valley dual friction sway control
Brake Control: Tekonsha Voyager
"It's Kind of Fun To Do The Impossible"
~Walt Disney~
I towed a fifth wheel (32 foot triple slide, GCW 21,180 lbs.) around the west for three years, moving every 13 weeks, with the truck in my sig. Never got stuck.
Of course, I was smart enough to go South for the winter (usually, but not always), and also smart enough to NOT attempt to take the trailer onto the beach at Oceano Dunes!
Now, the truck is semi-retired, only gets used to haul hay. Yep, drive right out into the field, towing a flatbed trailer, put 35 bales on the truck and about 90 to 100 on the trailer, and go home (the bales weigh 65 to 75 lbs. each).
Never been stuck, and have never wished I had a 4X4.
I started driving in 1958, and got my first 4X4 in about 1971. During those 4X2 years, I went hunting, fishing, and back country camping, no problems.
From 1971 on, until I got the Dodge 3500 Dually 4X2, I had various 4X4 trucks, mostly Dodge, and a few Jeeps, and several AMC Eagle AWD cars. Note that I am still driving 4X4 Jeeps!
I have never regretted buying my Dodge 4X2, and I have never wished it was a 4X4.
I have a 17 foot fiberglass boat that I launch and recover with either the Dodge or the Tioga. No problems there, either.
I had an 11.5 foot Caribou TC on the Dodge. We went to back country USFS campgrounds, at the end of 2-track dirt roads, with that rig, no trouble.
However, if I replace the Dodge 3500 with a newer truck, it will be a Dodge 2500 CTD 4X4 simply because it would be much easier to find one of those than a 4X2, NOT because I really NEED a 4X4 pickup.
I don't anticipate that happening, though.
I would rather spend the money on a good used DP. It will, of course, be a 4X2.
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
4x4 is only for ranchers, ult companies, loggers and people in Canada, the rest are just trying to play rancher.Most don't even need a pickup to start with.
Was trying to watch the Datona 500 but it looks to be rained out...
So this post should give us all something to do....
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane."
GMC Duramax LBZ
Komfort
Reese Dual Cam HP Our Rig Picture...CLICK HERE
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. Lived in the northern plains most of my life and winter snow and icy roads are the reasons I drive a 4 X 4.
