Community Forums

Caveman CBB · 01-30-2014, 11:58 AM

If your only going to use it for towing and leave it hooked to the camper 90% of the time you ;most likely; do not need the 4 wheel drive. But, if you are going to use it as a daily driver, like I do, and you live in the north then you do need it. Pickups are purty worthless in the snow with out 4X4.

rideandslide · 01-31-2014, 05:48 AM

Thanks for all the input guys,now have to find the jingle $$$
Jim

wa8yxm · 01-31-2014, 07:09 AM

Some people believe that a 4wd is better built.. Personally. I have no belief either way on that issue.

BUT: at least one place I visit, 4wd is... Strongly recommended.

SeabeckS · 01-31-2014, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 450Donn

It all boils down to whether you really have a use for a 4x4. Remember a 4X4 only guarantees you will get farther down the road before you get stuck. Requiring a longer tow to get you out. It does not guarantee you anything.

+1, spent many years in my early career as a wild land firefighter. Doing 'real' off-roading chasing fire fronts in a varying rough terrain. 4x4's can get you in deeper, and faster if relying too much on their capabilities. I learned the hard way...a few times!

My favorite daily driver fire vehicle was a one ton GMC dually...4x2! 200 gallon water tank, 250 GPM Darley pump with a v-4 Wisconsin engine. Utility side boxes packed with rescue gear and enough hand tools to equip a 12 person wild land fire crew. Loaded up this truck had an actual curb weight within 500 pounds of max GVWR. I went pretty much anywhere the 4x4 rigs went, but you had to know what you were driving!

I've recently tried my BIL's late model 4x2 Silverado with the electronic locking
rear diff. Frankly, I was amazed at it's (truly) off road performance, FAR superior to a limited slip diff. Convinced moi to not even consider a 4x4 for our upcoming truck purchase.

YMMV!

rlwithrow · 01-31-2014, 11:28 PM

But consider, just like the diesel verses gas decision,, a 4X4 will have better resale.

Jeverett · 02-01-2014, 09:21 AM

I live in CO and was just commenting to my wife the other day that our F350 long bed crew cab would be pretty much useless without 4WD in the snow. Probably wouldn't even be able to get up the driveway.
We also had a towing in the snow experience recently that would have been a disaster without 4WD. Let me start with saying that I avoid towing in snow but these days if you're going to travel in the winter you could get caught just about anywhere in the US. We pulled our 33' Excel TT with newly installed ProPride 3P hitch(another must have) to SOCAL for the Rose Bowl. I70 is the shortest route but it was icy over the mtns so we drave an extra 200 miles and took the southern route I25 south to I40 and had beautiful trip out on dry roads. Had an awesome time in SOCAL... GO SPARTANS! The trip back to CO was also dry but about 2 hours from home on I25 there was snow. We made it up the grade to Monument in about 4 inches of slushy snow driving max speed of 45 mph. Decided not to attempt the down hill into Denver until they had plowed the roads. So we found a campground at 8000' in monument to stay the night. Roads to the campground were hard packed snow and the the campground was a bit hilly with about 8" of fresh snow on the roads... Long story short, i had to use 4WD Low to pull my 12k trailer up a couple hills to get to our site. In retrospect, I would not even have attempted the trip without 4WD.
Safe travels!

onechaddude · 02-01-2014, 09:38 AM

I use the 4 wheel drive in my ram 2500 mega cab to pull out the 2 WD vans and lumber yard delivery trucks from good ole nc red clay mud. And occassionally when it snows the guys that have 2 WD trucks that must be out. Better to have it and not need it that need it and not have it. However, if you are absolutely never gonna be anywhere you would need it, then I understand not getting it.
Chad

wa8yxm · 02-01-2014, 02:33 PM

Here is another fact.. Being a Michigan State Police dispatcher can give you an education..... And this is one of the subjects you learn.

You spot a car on camera, Front end in ditch, rear on road,, Odds are it is Front Wheel Drive.. Turn it around and odds are it's rear wheel (Drive wheels in ditch)

If you need to follow the tracks a quarter mile out into some farmer's field and hit the ZOOM to find the thing.. 4 wheel drive.

And the winch out back when I was doing it was 3.00/foot over and above the basic tow response. (OUCH!!!!).

In bad weather, 4WD can go like the wind.. Problem is it STOPS like the wind too.. (When it hits something).

Route 66 · 02-01-2014, 03:00 PM

Remember that 4WD only lets you get stuck farther from the paved road.

MoeBelly · 02-01-2014, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Route 66

Remember that 4WD only lets you get stuck farther from the paved road.

Isn't that the point?

rlwithrow · 02-01-2014, 05:07 PM

You may get stuck further than the paved road but you have a better chance getting out with 4 wheel drive without help. The thing to do is realize when to stop going forward.

Caveman CBB · 02-02-2014, 07:25 AM

For you that are now to 4 wheel drive, and for the ones that don't know how to use it. I suggest that you drive in 2 wheel mode until you get stuck, then put it in 4 wheel and back yourself out.

NFlcamper · 02-02-2014, 11:27 AM

New to 4 wheel drive? Best advice is;

Do not wait till you get stuck in 2wd because it may be too late then. As soon as you spin a tire and the back end digs in any, lock it in and find the best route to packed or paved ground! That may be in reverse or farther forward if you have already wheeled into a rough spot and the way out is ahead.

bsjulestad · 02-02-2014, 03:54 PM

There has been a few times that 4 low was very helpful in getting backed up into a location/driveway. You are able to almost idle it back in giving you the ability to go nice and easy.