2 WD vs 4 WD

[redwing2]

Was considering a new truck and was wondering should I go 2wd or 4wd, have a deal on a new F350 drw 4x2 diesel to pull my 35 ft.Bird.
Before I pull the trigger should I consider a 4x4 and if so what advantage will it give me. I have a 4x4 now and have never used it.

[Travelers]

Other than moving the rig in / out of sites with sand or wet grass / leaves, 2WD should work. I've used my 4WD towing more than enough to justify buying it.

[Rob & Cathy]

In the nearly six years I've owned my truck I've used it three times while camping. Of course it was nice to have it when I wanted it. But there are plenty of tow vehicles out there without four-wheel drive.

Rob

[Traveler II]

If we didn't live in Minnesota I would have 2 wheel drive. There has been only a couple of times I've needed it Rving, but do use it on our roads around home when we're not RVing. For driving around in the snow what I really need is front wheel drive. Beside in this market trade in value is way up for 4 WD pick up.

[bigbunkhouse]

We use 2wd, and all mdt's and hdt's are also 2wd. We camped in NH in the mountains, in February at3 below zero and despite a little adventure with a sheer ICE grade we had no problems. With the approx 3k pin wt, the dually gets pretty nice traction. Most 2wd duallys have limited slip axles, does the one you looked at?

[Chief409]

4X4 on new trucks is great. Turn a knob or flip a switch and you're done. We live near the Sierra Nevada Mt's and no matter which way we travel, we'll hit a mountain pass. Plus we travel year around. Other examples: 4X4 is great if you're on a gravel road, stopped and facing a start on a uphill grade. Select 4Hi, ease in the throttle and off you go - without spitting gravel into the trailer. Unloaded. I've had 2 wheel drive pickups that I needed to ballast down the back in snow, or put on chains, since I started buying 4X4 pickups that has never been a problem. That includes 8 years living in Pennsylvania and Maine. A couple of times I had a Maine Trooper follow me to my exit on the Turnpike (I95), closing the Turnpike down as we passed exits until we got off at my exit, then the whole Turnpike was CLOSED until the plows and sand trucks got done. No chains, just some aggressive tread street tires. In fact, I've never chained up a 4X4 on a highway, if it's bad enough for chains to be required on 4X4 vehicles, I won't be driving. It's a blizzard and plows are having enough problems without looking out for me. Ice. Bad news no matter what you're driving. I HATE ice.

[Travelers]

Good points Jeff. One of the main reasons I've needed 4x4 is for backing into sites that are up hill, in sand or wet with leaves / grass.

[Don Wilson]

I think it comes down to preference of the person purchasing the vehicle and how you are planning on using the vehicle. I have been towing 5th wheels for 7 1/2 years with two wheel drive pickups and have only had one situation where I needed 4x4. I try to make an effort not to put myself in situations where I would need 4x4.

Don

[redwing2]

We use 2wd, and all mdt's and hdt's are also 2wd. We camped in NH in the mountains, in February at3 below zero and despite a little adventure with a sheer ICE grade we had no problems. With the approx 3k pin wt, the dually gets pretty nice traction. Most 2wd duallys have limited slip axles, does the one you looked at?

Thanks for all your quick responces
Yes bigbunkhouse it has 3.73 limited slip with trac control

[bigbunkhouse]

I should say also, it does depend highly on you r intentions for use. We have 2 other 4wd trucks to plow with or drive in a blizzard, if you need double duty that is another thing. personally I enjoy the less weight, less parts, less clutter, less drag and the fact that mine has real live bearings and races that can be cleaned, greased and adjusted that cost 20 dollars vs a one piece hub bearing that costs 300 plus dollars and are not serviceable on the 4x4's

[ski boy]

A 2wd dually truck with a diesel has very poor traction in snow - the extra tire contact area reduces the amount of pressure each tire exerts on the road - not compensated for by the extra tires. You never know when you might need that extra traction. (Like May snow in Cheyenne, Wy!) After having to use 4wd a few times to drag my trailer out of a site that had turned to mud after a heavy rainstorm, or during a spring thaw, I wouldn`t be without it. Even if you only need it a few times, what`s the alternative if you`re stuck with a 14000lb trailer on!

[Don Wilson]

Well my one case was lots of rain at a family reunion and when I needed it there were several people there with 4x4's and they hooked up a chain to my pickup and pulled the pickup and trailer to firmer ground. If that situation happens now I am retired and I will just wait until it dries out

Don

[ski boy]

There are usually some friendly folks in the campgrounds with 4wd vehicles that will give a hand when necessary...I also carry nylon tow straps in case I'm asked to pull a 2wd vehicle out. Not at all in 09 but twice this year so far - post-thunderstorm both times.

[WVcampers]

I had a 2WD crew cab diesel dually for 7 years. It was a great towing truck and I used it every day here in WV without any problems. You have to pick your battles and know that it is not going to go in mud or wet grass without a load in the bed. My last Ford was a 4WD crew cab dually and the 2 times that I needed the 4WD it would not work. I now have a 2WD truck again. I think that they ride and drive much better and are less expensive to maintain.

[campswithcritters]

Full-timing for 4 hrs now in 2 different duallys and one MDT, all 2 wd. Never needed 4 wd, I also pick my battles and steer clear of inclement weather or wait it out.
That being said I am now waiting for another truck and it will have 2 drive axles, they will both be mounted at the rear of the truck. I doubt if I will ever need to use the power divider on that truck either.
As said earlier it really depends on your own planned uses.