MPG 2wd vrs 4wd

[TowPro]

If you take 2 CTD trucks equipped the same except one was 2wd and one was 4wd, how much better MPG would you think the 2wd would get?



Another question. I can't find this number listed anywhere. On an 06 SRW 6spd 3500 8' bed, how much higher is the top of the bed on a 4wd vrs a 2wd? I have read all the stuff about lowering the back of the truck by removing the overload springs, but that kind of defeats the purpose of getting the 3500 in my book.



Something else I realize is the additional cost of 4wd would cause me to have to buy an SLT instead of the 2wd Laramie

 

[Fireman]

As far as mileage goes, it stands to reason that a 2wd would do better than a 4wd, but I have two buddies with identical '03s with the exception that 1 is 2wd and the other 4wd. The difference in their reported mileage is negligable laden or unladen.



As for bed height, those 4wds are TALL. It is of real concern when towing a 5w. Most people have trouble with this. I measured the pin height of prospective trailers (when level) to determine if they were tall enough to pull right behind my 4wd without having to modify either the truck or the trailer.

Some would work and others wouldn't.



Fireman

 

[GButia]

Living in Pennslyvania... ... 2wd wouldn't even be an option in my book. You should be able to get a laramie package for slt prices..... be patient... prices will come down and you will be able to have your cake and eat it too. You will definitely have to shop around... get some dealers interested in you and sit back and wait.

 

[klenger]

You can see all the body dimensions at http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/



According the the specs, for a 3500 long box quad cab:



4WD 56. 8"

2WD 53. 5"



FYI, lowering a 4WD does not require removing the overloads, only removing or restacking the spacers. No loss of capacity, only the height of the truck is changed.



My guess is that a 2WD will get about 1-2 MPG better milage, all else being equal, which is almost never the case in the real world. I considered getting a 2WD, but got a 4WD anyway. Now I wish I gotten the 2WD. Like you mentioned, the money could be better spent on the Larmie or left in your wallet. Good luck.

 

[LesStallings]

Not having to deal with the mechanical complexity of a 4WD is the main reason I went 2WD. I truly don't have a need for 4WD.



Just reading about the death wobble the 4WD guys sometimes report reaffirms my decision.

 

[TowPro]

I agree on this point. If the Death Wobble is anything like we used to experience in the 70's Ferd twin I beams I don't want any parts of it!



In my area of PA I could use 4wd a couple times per year, but when it does snow school is closed so I just stay home with my Daughter. Working in the information security field I have the ability to do my job from anywhere I can get internet service, so I just work from home that day. (company even supplys a verizon wireless card so I can work from my camper )



The extra 3" of hight on the 4wd would be a problem with my 5th wheel. I am not willing to modify the ride hight of the 5th wheel (I think its already 12'-6" high) and 3" of clearance is cutting it to close. Last time I did run 3" (several trucks and campers ago) I hit the camper on the rear corner of the truck.



The reason I was asking is there are lots of 4wd trucks on the lots I would be happy with and I am getting tired of waiting for my ordered truck (ordered 10/21). While I was typing this I called the dodge hotline, my truck is now D1 with a ship date of 12/9! Guess this question don't count anymore!!!!

Will

Not having to deal with the mechanical complexity of a 4WD is the main reason I went 2WD. I truly don't have a need for 4WD.



Just reading about the death wobble the 4WD guys sometimes report reaffirms my decision.

 

[SRadke]

I lost a flat 1. 5mpg on my 4x4 when I lifted it 5". That is due to wind resistance, nothing more. Stock tires/wheels before and after.



-Scott

 

[KennethS]

I live IN Pa. and have two two wheel drive diesel

I don't need a 4by4 and they are a lot better to drive then they use to. Both of mine are one tons and they drive very nice. My buddy has a 89 4by4 and I don't like the way It drives. I know the new ones are a lot better. I think the GM sits lower to the ground. My wife Is short and she would never let me buy a 4by4 because she would have a hard time getting IN It. :-{} Can't stand to hear her *****. I got It bad enough now she makes me use the out house now. I must obey or I will get a :-{}

 

[MFalkinham]

I live in Wisconsin and also chose to buy a 2wd. With my previous 4wd I hardly ever used that feature, so for me it was a waste. To compensate I put on more aggressive rear tires and throw some extra weight in the bed. No problems so far.

I really like the lower bed height and the rack & pinion steering. I can't complain about the fuel mileage either with 22mpg on the interstate and even higher at 55mph.

 

[LEEH]

I just traded my 01. 5 2WD in for a 06 4X4 two days ago. So far am very pleased with the 06'. Both units are the 2500 Cummins, 6 speed

I thought long and hard about going up to the 4X4 but did so for the following reasons:

1) 4XI4's are much easier to sell when you get ready to trade or sell outright before buying a new unit.

2) 4XI4's hold their resale value better that the 2 WT units.

3) The fuel mileage does not seem to be that much different between the two units.

4) Even though I have gotten along fine without 4X4, (and I live in a part of Oregon that still gets winter) there are a few times each year that I wish I had 4X4 capability.

5) The bed height is three inches different between the two units and I have the same problems with my 5th wheel as TowPro, wherein I do not want to raise the 5th wheel. I am hoping that when I hook up the 5th wheel trailer, the pin weight will compress the truck springs enough to make up for the 3" height difference between my 01. 5 and the new one. (I had air bags on the old one to raise the rear about 3 inches when towing the 5er)



Time will tell if my reasoning is accurate, but right now, I sure do like the 06'. Oh yeah, the step up into the 4X4 is a bear, but with the new full length retractable step it is a piece of cake . Do like that step setup. The fuel mileage this early in the game is not very impressive, about 16. 6 running empty, but fully expect to see an improvement as I get the miles on it.

 

[DiTrani]

1) 4XI4's are much easier to sell when you get ready to trade or sell outright before buying a new unit.

2) 4XI4's hold their resale value better that the 2 WT units.

3) The fuel mileage does not seem to be that much different between the two units.

All true. My milage seems to be no different than that reported by people here with 4wd.



With the 2nd gens the 2wd drove MUCH nicer than the 4WD on the highway. But IMO the 3rd gen 4wd drives nicer than the 2nd gen 2wd on the highway, so when I trade in I'll get 4wd.

 

[klenger]

1) 4XI4's are much easier to sell when you get ready to trade or sell outright before buying a new unit.

2) 4XI4's hold their resale value better that the 2 WT units.

FWIW, Item #2 only matters when you are doing item #1. Also, I don't know that the resale difference is any more than what the 4WD option cost in the 1st place.

 

[BNeathery]

As you can see from my sig I have a 2WD. I jrecently drove from Flagstaff to Beaver Utah via US 89/89A and got just over 24mpg (hand calculated). That

was doing the 65 mph speed limit. After the fillup in Beaver I drove Interstate 15 the rest of the way home doing 75 to 80 mph. Needless to say my mileage dropped to about 19 mpg.

 

[JEly]

I have a 2wd Mega Cab on order now and for the extra $3100 for the 4wd I didnt think it was worth it. I have only used the 4wd I have now maybe 3 times. That being said I hope I dont need it after I get new truck.



JIM

 

[DMcAnulty]

JEly:



That's the problem. If you do need it, you don't have it. I stuck my 2001 3500 5 or 6 times because of the heavy front end and had to have it pulled out. The $3100. 00 for 4wdr is MSRP; it will cost less than that after discounts/rebate is figured in. My $. 02.

 

[JEly]

DMcAnulty



By all means if you feel you have to have it then you should have it on your truck. In my case I dont feel it is needed and I can use the extra $$$$ for other things. As far as the discounts/rebates that just makes the overall cost of "my" truck cheaper.



Jim

 

[Nate]

It all depends what your doing with the truck and where you live. Personally I don't like how low the 2wds sit... looks like the tires are about ready to hit the hood. Of course, that's my my opinion. I also have the mindset that a "work" truck should be a 4wd. Dunno why, but when I get into a truck that's 2wd it's like... WTF? This is 2wd?



Like when I first saw a 2wd Jeep Cherokee when I was in Texas in 01. I didn't even know Jeep made 2wds. Not a real Jeep in my eyes.