laknox
Arizona
Senior Member
Joined: 01/06/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
W_A_Watson_II wrote:Unless you plan on staying on a paved surface, the 4x4 and Low range ability are very beneficial on non-paved and inclines. However even a 4WD will and does get stuck, I know I did with the FW connected! Darn wet clay.
That's not really getting stuck; just zero traction. :-) Getting "stuck" is when the TV is sitting on the frame. :-)
Lyle
2002 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax Crew Cab 4x4
Banks Bullet Tuner and Monster Exhaust
B&W Turnover Ball with 5th Wheel Companion
2004 Komfort 25FSG Fifth Wheel
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 55 Year Member
|
W_A_Watson_II
Central IL
New Member
Joined: 03/12/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
laknox wrote:That's not really getting stuck; just zero traction. :-) Getting "stuck" is when the TV is sitting on the frame. :-)
Lyle
True, but the rear jacks were on the ground. I tow my vehicle trailer mostly, and on a gravel hilly road, and I'll tell you the 4WD is a God send.
Will
2006 Dodge MegaCab 3500 DRW Cummins Powered with a B&W Companion and Turn Over Ball Hitches
2010 Forest River Cedar Creek Silverback - 29RE
|
boatpuller
longview,wa
New Member
Joined: 07/13/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
really a no brainer for me....i couldn't even back my 5ver up my driveway without 4 wheel drive.
|
giantlantz
Ohio
New Member
Joined: 04/14/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
I've been to more than 1 campground where it was necessary to pull through slippery grass and a slight hill on an early morning departure. Couldn't climb the hill in 2wd, but had no problem in 4wd. Sure is nice to have it when you need it. Of course if you can guarantee you'll never leave the blacktop then 2wd is fine.
Bill and Mary Lantz
2004 Mckenzie Lakota 38SKT
2006 Ford F-350 FWD
2002 Harley Davidson Ultra Clasic
|
tgreening
Ohio
Senior Member
Joined: 06/21/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
giantlantz wrote:I've been to more than 1 campground where it was necessary to pull through slippery grass and a slight hill on an early morning departure. Couldn't climb the hill in 2wd, but had no problem in 4wd. Sure is nice to have it when you need it. Of course if you can guarantee you'll never leave the blacktop then 2wd is fine.
Absolutely. "Need" is quite a slippery concept. Personally I feel a pickup truck has some of the worst traction on the planet, and a 2 wd model leaves you few practical options to offset that. The first vehicle I ever owned was a 2 WD Ford and I've never owned a 2 WD since. Rarely do I use 4WD, but when I need it, having it sure beats calling a buddy, or a tow truck, or digging out a shovel, or any of the other unsavory results of not having it.
From an RV standpoint, I watched a fella one morning attempting to leave his site, pulling a quite large 5vr with a 2WD truck. Unfortunately for him all the roads were gravel and the path out was an immediate left quite steep uphill turn. He no more than made the turn and got straightened up before he was slinging gravel.
I did not envy his long downhill backup. I wasn't even driving and "I" was on pins and needles waiting for him to start to slide. Luckily he didn't because it would not have been pretty.
2008 Ford F-450 "Lil Beasty"
2011 Heartland 3950 "Big Beasty"
1970 DW Made in Japan "Big Bossy"
2005 DD Made in Ohio "Big Pain"
2007 DD Made in Ohio "Lil Pain"
2004 GR Bahzu the dog "Big Sissy"
2010 Weim Mobo the dog "Fast Spaz"
|
|
|
korbe
Northern California
Senior Member
Joined: 11/20/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
mowermech wrote:................"more sure footed"?? Then why is it that every time a sudden snow storm hits around here, nearly ALL the slide-offs are 4X4s, while the 4X2 cars and trucks go slowly on their way with minimal problems?.
Had to laugh. Around here, some people think that since they have big M&S tires, and a jacked up 4x4, they can do anything in the snow and ice. Not true.
2004 F250 SD PSD
2004 Crossroads Cruiser CF25RS
|
portablevcb
Tijeras, NM
Senior Member
Joined: 05/04/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
boatpuller wrote:really a no brainer for me....i couldn't even back my 5ver up my driveway without 4 wheel drive.
Same reason we have 4x4. Had a 2wd but had to make running start to get fiver into parking space. If you think backing up is difficult, try a slight S shape driveway that you can't go up slowly or stop in the middle of it 
The rest of the driveway is worse. I'd have to park my 2wd at the bottom of the drive during winter and walk the 200ft to the house. Also nice to not be house bound when there is 18" of snow on the road.
I've only used the 4wd a few of times when towing. Grass slope at camping area. Inclined dirt road to highway (national forest campground).
If you stay at RV parks I doubt you'll ever use the 4wd.
charlie
2009 Dodge 2500 Double Cab Cummins
2003 Skyline Nomad 24ft Fiver
Me and Wife
Maggie the Old English Sheepdog
|
Dave H M
IL
Senior Member
Joined: 08/11/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I think it depends on your needs. Always a person with 4 WD will say you have to have it in case you happen to stop on a cow pile. Some of it is a status thigey.
I been running my 2 WD for 13 years now and still don't regret not having a 4 WD.
It is my need and my preference, same as for the four wheelers.
|
speedster100
ontario
New Member
Joined: 04/23/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
I've owned 4 X 4's for over 30yrs and been towing RV's about the same amount of time. Many times the 4 wheel drive got me out of somewhere that the TV with 2 wheel drive ended up stuck in.
Sometimes something as simple as a campground with a steep hill and gravel drives has caused me to have to put the truck in 4 wheel drive to get up the hill.
If you can afford the extra money go with the 4 X 4........ It is great insurance and likely over time will save you much hassle and frustration and possibly broken or damaged parts on the RV....
Nothing worse than sitting watching and waiting for someone with 4 wheel drive to unhook their RV and come back to hook yours up to get it out of the camp...!
2013 Crossroads Provincial CF345RF Full Paint loaded
2006 GMC Crew Cab Dura Max Diesel
|
tgreening
Ohio
Senior Member
Joined: 06/21/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
korbe wrote:mowermech wrote:................"more sure footed"?? Then why is it that every time a sudden snow storm hits around here, nearly ALL the slide-offs are 4X4s, while the 4X2 cars and trucks go slowly on their way with minimal problems?.
Had to laugh. Around here, some people think that since they have big M&S tires, and a jacked up 4x4, they can do anything in the snow and ice. Not true.
There's a big difference between having the equipment, and knowing how to use the equipment.
Too many people with a 4WD vehicle think it makes them invincible. It can certainly allow you to GO better under certain types of low traction conditions, but it doesn't allow you to stop any better at all. Those are the tards you find in the ditch.
|
|
|
