4x4 or 2 x 2 ???

[BILLUA]

4x4 or 4 x 2 ???

Gentlemen, I am waiting to order a new 03 with the HO and new automatic. We are going to go with a 1 ton dually this time.



My question is this. We have moved to the desert from Colorado and will use the truck primarily for towing the boat to Lake Mead, havasu etc... We see getting a full size camper. I have had only 4 wheel drive trucks and on this current truck have only had it in 4x4 about 4 times. . each in muddy offroad conditions when I was racing dirt bikes. . My thought process is just to go with a 2 wheel drive dually with a LSD. That way , I could get the rack and pinion steering. Also the truck would cost $3,100 dollars less, most likely ride better and get better gas mileage. Is there any reason given my use of pulling a boat , camping and maybe cross country driving that, other than ego and the fact that they look cooler, that I should get a 4 wheel drive??



All opinions and experiences are greatly appreciated!



Cheers, Bill

 

[lschultz]

Its your money get what you want. I would imagine that there are lots of people(myself included)that don't use 4x4 that much. But when you need it its there.

 

[Dean Upson]

I camp quite a bit and pull a heavy (15K) fiver (hence, the new truck) and I have not used the 4WD a great deal getting in and out of campsites, but when I did need it I REALLY needed it. I would imagine that the extra traction would be handy with some conditions when you put the boat into or out of the water. In this part of the country (New England), the 4WD's keep up their value pretty well. The only downside is the initial cost and less economy. Good Luck!



Dean

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

BILLUA, how heavy is your boat? I've launced my dad's 3500lb boat a dozen times or so with no traction problems at all pulling it out.



I had a '98 4x4 QC truck and now my current 4x2. If I get an '03 it will be a 4x2 for sure, for me the benefets of the 4x2 outweighed the 4x4 benefits. Great mileage, less weight, better towing capacity, fewer components to maintain/repair, lower initial cost, etc. I was nervous about getting it at first but with the LSD it did quite well in the snow, it wasn't nearly as helpless as I expected it to be. I drove over the pass a few times in the winter and went up snowboarding with the stock Michelins and no weight in the back. The only time I got stuck was in a friend's driveway with 6" of snow when I had the stock tires.



If you are getting a dually though I think I would lean toward 4x4. When it does get slippery the duallys don't seem to do as well traction-wise, too light of weight on the tires and they don't bite in as well (at least in snow).



Vaughn

 

[BILLUA]

Thanks, Vaughn, My boat and trailer weigh in about 6,000 lbs. If I thought that I was going to be driving in snow much at all, I definitely would by 4 wheel drive... . I do realize that the dually does not do as well as a SRW because of the weight distribution on the tires... . Oh well, this is a NICE dilemma to have



Chhers

 

[RJOL]

Pulled my brother's 22' jet boat up to Odell Lake, in Oregon, twice this summer. My guess is that the boat and trailer were about 4-5000lbs total. Spun the rear wheels taking the boat out, once, on the gravel ramp. Was glad to have the 4X4, as it pulled it out with no problems, once engaged. I don't know if this is a common problem, as I don't own a boat to tow all the time.

 

[Crowhurst]

I tow a 6000 pound travel trailer, and could not manage without occasional 4 wheel drive. One particular use is backing the trailer at a sharp angle on sandy grass. Another is backing uphill on mud, even without the trailer. I can't even back into my son's garage, just the truck, when it's wet unless I engage 4 wheel drive! When unloaded, there's so little down pressure that the gyroscopic effect takes over, and sideways she goes. For my personal needs, I have to have 4 x 4. Nick.

 

[Dean Upson]

I forgot to add one other plus for the 4WD. IMO, even with the LSD the front end on the diesel, or any pickup for that matter, is pretty heavy and I have had some pretty interesting maneuvers in snow with a pickup without quite a bit of weight in the back.



Dean

 

[Pit Bull]

Bill, get the 4x4, I live on a hill, "paved road". It is about the angle of a boat ramp. When we get a light rain the rear dually wheels spin going up the hill a couple of times when we had not had any rain for a while and the dust and oil had built up on the road I had to shift to 4 wheel drive to get up the hill. If there is any slime on the boat ramp you are going to get stuck. Resale is much better on a 4x4. JMHO

 

[amsoilman]

I've had many trucks in my life, and in my experience the 4X4 will hold its value longer than any other option, including the CTD.

I too tow a boat (25 ft. cruiser) and on boat ramps that are wet, the 4X4 option sure does the job!



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[klenger]

I moved from CO to the desert SW also. I am pretty sure I will get a 2WD if I need to replace my current truck. I don't have a boat, and never go off road. I have towed the 5er over some CO passes that were ice, and the 4WD sure was nice for that.



Advantages of 2WD:

- About $3000 cheaper.

- About 450 lbs lighter, higher payload.

- Better milage

- Truch sits several inches lower.



Launching your boat with 2WD could be a problem though.



See you at Lake Havasu.



Wolf creek pass

 

[HEMI®Dart]

There are more opinions in this thread:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54977

 

[BILLUA]

Hemi Dart, thanks for the link. .



I think you all have convinced me to spend the extra dollars and go for the 4x4. My buddy also brought up a good point. .



" There you are with your brand new *****en cummins backed down a boat ramp between a ford and a duramax and when you give it gas to pull up the ramp all 4 of those tires start slipping on gravel or whatever meanwhile those two other trucks with inferior engines and 4 wheel drive smirk as they pull their trailers right out of the water and leave you in a cloud of their diesel smoke".



Wow, I would wake up in a cold sweat just dreaming about that happening Yeah, I will stick with4 wheel drive!



Thanks guys,



Bill

 

[lgibson]

BILLUA,



You won't be sorry for having 4x4 around Las Vegas. Mt. Charlston gets a lot of snow in winter. Having 4wd at Lake Mead will be a blessing with the loose soil and sand. If you like looking for gems or driving one of the hundreds of backcountry roads for the great senery or checking out the old mines.

I lived in Vegas for 10 years, seven of those years volunteering for Lake Mead. I owned two 2wd vehicles and hated each one because I could not go were I wanted.

I guess it depends on what your hobbies and likes are. Besides in Vegas 4x4 have a much higher resale value.

 

[FATCAT]

How much would it cost ...

... if your new truck sliped down the ramp and into the water up to the windows? Cab full of water, engine, etc... .



Thats all I have to say ... for me, just one trip many years ago in a 2-wheel drive truck in a snow storm proved to me that 4X4 is worth every penny compaired to a major accident ... and not just the cost of fixing the truck ... arms, legs, spines, skulls cost a lot of money to fix if they can be fixed at all.

 

[DIESELMAN]

You mean they make these things in 2WD???



Well I'll be dipped in s**t and rolled in horse manure!