4x4 or 4x2?

[dutch6]

I am trying to decide whether to go with a 4x4 or 4x2 in my search for a 3500 DRW truck. I live in NJ and expect to tow our 14k trailer south in winter - I'm too old to enjoy snow/cold any longer. This means no snow or ice and don't intend to go off road. I have a friend that lives in FL and says he would never buy a 4x2 again. Claims 4x4s have better resale potential. Yes, I probably will encounter wet grassy areas in campgrounds but wouldn't a limited slip diff help there? Then there is the added height of the 4x4 when considering towing a fifth wheel.

I realize this is a personal preference question but why should I pay for an expensive option I may never use. Besides, I am all for fewer moving parts.

I would appreciate your comments as there may be something I'm missing here.

 

[DZink24]

4x2 all the way. better mileage, more towing capacity and yes, fewer moving parts. yea, a 4x4 does have better resale value, but at $5, $6, $7... . dollars per gallon, unless it is coated in goldleaf and has diamond studded bumpers, no one will care whether it has one driveshaft or two:-laf. i could see possibly if you were in a state that actually saw winter weather, 4x4 might make sense, but for the few times you will see snow, it aint worth it to go with the extra all around expense of a 4 WD.

 

[CPittman]

Will you be running the manual or automatic transmission? There's nothing better than low range and 4x4 when you're backing the fiver up a slight incline on wet grass... so easy, so much torque! But, come on, how many times do you REALLY do that?



The 4x4 gets worse gas mileage, you have to keep up with changing the fluids in the transfer case and front diff, the front wheel bearings can't be purchased alone - they're part of the front "hub assembly" for each front wheel ($425 each from Mopar - $275 each from NAPA... ), not to mention front drive shaft u-joints... the economics of the 4x4 just are not justified for most of us.



That said, I'll never give up my 4x4. I love it.

 

[EArp]

I guess it depends, my dad has a 4x2 dually and he said he wishes he would have gotten the 4x4 for a couple of reasons. He wants it when at the beach and trying to tow the 5er down the beach to avoid getting stuck, and at the boat ramp when it gets a little slippery trying to pull out of the water. When I bought mine, i opted for the 4x4 because i like the way they look and like the peace of mind of knowing i can get out of an unexpected bind if i had to.

 

[jgillott]

If I didn't have to be off road all the time, I'd own a 2x4 without question.

 

[Motorhead]

I had a 4x2 '01. 5 with the limited slip rear axel. I figured it would be ok in light sand or dirt. WOW, I was wrong!!! You have to remember that you have a 1000lb engine up front and those front tires get stuck easy! I was at the Salton Sea watching a friend of mine power paragliding. I just barely got off road and I was stuck. I bought a 4x4 in my new truck. I don't go off roading, cow trailing or hill climbing. I just want it "In Case". My $. 02

 

[MMeier]

4x4's all the way!!!

Rather have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it!! Make sense!!?? Have my 4th and 5th Cummins trucks at the present time, all have been 4x4's, with the exception of the '97 3500. Did have my first '93 W250 at the time though.

 

[LCartier]

2WD, if I didn't need 4WD for work, I'd grab a 2WD with training wheels anyday, better mileage and with todays fuel prices, I believe 2WD will fetch better trade-in dollar then a 4X4.

 

[SierraRam]

I guess if you are never going to need it or want it why get it? Personally I will not own a truck without 4x4. Of course i play off road all the time. Have helped many people get out of a jam as well as myself.



SR

 

[DGamelin]

I own both in snow country. I tell my customers who are going rving I would buy 2wd. You are going to be in the south anyways. I think they have a sharper turning radius, not sure of that. The 4x4 is nice to have but it is a lot more maintenance. I think the biggest advantage is the higher riding 4x4, it looks better in front of the rv. MPG is a big deal I spent two years rving full time I never needed 4wd. If you have a manual the low rang would be nice. Not needed with an auto. I would also get the 4. 10 with an auto. It makes life easer on the auto. Helps rocket up the hills. I also believe there will be no mpg loss with the 4. 10 because when you are pulling the rv the truck won't work as hard and you won't have your foot in it as hard. I have hauled with a guy that has the identical truck to mine he has 4. 10 and I have 3. 73. He has 100k more miles then mine and his truck has always got at least 1. 5 mpg better than mine, even when we traded trucks for a tank. But I think these trucks are funny that way. Just my 2 cents. Have fun!



04. 5 3500 4wd cc dully 373 6speed 50k

93 2500 2wd xc 354 auto 250k

 

[ssanders60]

4x4 vs. 4x2

The duel rear wheels might make the difference. My 2500, '03

of course SRW, will not pull itself out of moderate Florida sand, even

with the limited slip. I tried this thinking mabe that I had wasted money

on the optional 4x4 equipped truck. So I tried it in the sand but had

to put it in 4-wheel drive to get the truck out of the sand. AS one member

stated above, the front end bogs with the weight of the CTD.



A 4x2 diesel truck in Florida is rare, mabe it's a macho thing, but I say

why spend that much money on a truck and not have that one option

that will allow you to drive in ice and sand, not strictly on the asphalt.

It might cost you 1 mpg, also I'd get the 373, with the new transmission

you should have all of the gear ratios you need, however, in the last

part of this sentence I'm just guessing, but with a $1500 trainsmission

with 6 speeds it should be worth something.

 

[2Rowdy]

Is there really that much difference in mpg between the two anymore.

 

[ssanders60]

Fuel mileage in 4x4 vs 4x2

In this flat country my truck loses 1-2 mpg with air conditioner on,

I have proved this several times, surely the 4x4 would make that much difference, I was surprised, I figured with the torque these engines have

that an A/C operating there wouldn't be a difference, but don't forget the

additional weight of a 4x4 also the turning of the gears will make a difference

in the fuel mileage. As I stated my truck is an '03 with the H/O 5. 9, the 6. 7L

may not make a difference, it has 650 ft. lbs as opposed to my 555 ft. lbs.

of torgue, also figured at 60 miles per hour. In other words Rowdy, you have

a good point.

 

[bigdaddydieseldan]

Rather have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it!! Make sense!!?? Have my 4th and 5th Cummins trucks at the present time, all have been 4x4's, with the exception of the '97 3500. Did have my first '93 W250 at the time though.

Agree 100% 4x4 all the way the only way to go Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[JHardwick]

I tell my customers who are going rving I would buy 2wd. You are going to be in the south anyways. I think they have a sharper turning radius, not sure of that.

The 4x4 has coils on the front.

 

[JHardwick]

In this flat country my truck loses 1-2 mpg with air conditioner on

I don't believe that.

 

[JHardwick]

I've had a Cummins/Dodge 4x2 dually and a 4x4 dually ... ... ... ... ... ... ... you don't want a 4x2 dually with a Cummins on the nose!!!

 

[steved]

Rather have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it!! Make sense!!?? Have my 4th and 5th Cummins trucks at the present time, all have been 4x4's, with the exception of the '97 3500. Did have my first '93 W250 at the time though.

Thank you, well said.



As far as the mileage issue, I think that a 4x2 isn't going to exceed that mileage of a 4x4 by much... in fact, in these newer trucks, I don't think 4x4 vs 4x2 is even much of a factor anymore. If you read the forums, you'll find 4x2s that can't break 15mpg... while their 4x4 counterparts are getting 20+mpg.



If your worried about 4x4 vs 4x2, get a DynaTrac kit and have the best of all worlds... the 2wd when you don't need 4wd, 4wd when you need it, and the best part... 2wd LO RANGE. 2wd lo range is very handy, even when not backing up a difficult trailer... just having the slow controlled reverse and forward makes backing a trailer up easier.



I drive cross country all the time, I can count on one hand how many times I used 4wd last year... but those times meant getting home, or not getting home. I would not be without 4wd, even my car is 4wd.

 

[steved]

In this flat country my truck loses 1-2 mpg with air conditioner on,

Then you have something wrong with your A/C... I have mileages that show absolutely no difference, even on the same trip.

 

[steved]

Is there really that much difference in mpg between the two anymore.

Not that I have read...



I think each truck has its electronic quirks that dictate the peak mileage of that truck. Moreso than the argument over 4x2/4x4.