Another consideration is that the 2WD vehicle may have a different tow rating than the 4WD. In our case, the 2WD Durango has a 8900 lb factory tow rating where our 4WD has a 8750 lb rating. Supposedly due to extra weight of 4WD components takes away tow capacity.
I find the low range 4x4 helpful for manuevering into awkward campsites. It makes life easier for the transmission. I have never used 4x4 for traction with the trailer.
Beyond that, resale is a major consideration. I would take a significant hit in the northwest trying to sell a 3/4 ton Suburban without 4x4.
I find the low range 4x4 helpful for manuevering into awkward campsites. It makes life easier for the transmission. I have never used 4x4 for traction with the trailer.
Beyond that, resale is a major consideration. I would take a significant hit in the northwest trying to sell a 3/4 ton Suburban without 4x4.
I have my first 4x4 and yet to use it. I had to replace both drive shafts when I bought the 99 Burb (140M miles) and am hearing of others having maintenance costs going forward.
Wondering how 4x4 makes life easier for the tranny when manuevering and if that is a real asset. I'm sure resale is a concern.
On the other hand, when I do buy a lower milage vehicle in a year or two, should I really expect a significantly lower price for a 2WD?
I have had a 4x4 for 5 years of towing. I have used it about 5-6 times. The first time out the campground put us in a soft place and the trailer went down. We could have used the campgound tractor but 4x4 got us out.
We went to the SugarCreek rally in 2002 and it rained the last two days. The mud was over the tires and into the rims. I could have probably gotten out with 2wd but with 4x4 and low range I didn't spin a tire.
On the trip home we pulled into a campground in PA just off of RT-30. The area had been dry and they asked us to pull slowly through the campground. I had to pull a steep grade in gravel and started to go down the hill backwards and I have positraction. I had to put on the brakes and put it in 4wd to climb the hill. These things haven't happened often and I have pulled for about 20,000 miles or more but they do happen. Do you have to have 4x4 no. My buddy doesn't have it and has done ok. I like the peace of mind. It does cost me fuel I have a diesel and only get about 12.5 pulling 22 runing solo. It's a personal choice but my choice is a Dodge cummins 6spd 4x4. It will work for me.
On the trip home we pulled into a campground in PA just off RT-Steve in Sav'h[/QUOTE]
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*Wondering how 4x4 makes life easier for the tranny when manuevering and if that is a real asset. I'm sure resale is a concern.*
4-lo provides additional gear reduction (or mechanical advantage), and less energy is dissipated through slippage in the torque converter. It's not a big thing, but does help. It's amazing how quickly you can heat up the transmission fluid. I suppose for the few times it happens, it's not that big a deal.
If a 2wd-lo option were available, it would work fine for me.
As far as resale goes, that's a regional question. In the northwest, many folks consider it a requirement for a SUV.
As a good forum member I used the search function to help answer a question?? 2WD vs 4WD tow vehicles, Pros and Cons of each..
Any new thoughts since the last post in 2004?
time
__________________ Travel is in my blood, adventure is my passport, aluminum is my favorite construction medium, and therefore, an Airstream was my destiny.
I nWestern MT you will be hard presseed to find a Pickup without 4 wheel drive and a tow package installed. If you want one you will be discouraged from doing so.
BeBop, It's not clear to me whether you intend to tow in snowy areas that have been plowed, or use the truck alone in such conditions. Either way, ice and frozen slush and unplowed areas will occur even after plowing—what if it starts snowing again? We were at Sequoia NP with a 4WD SUV a couple of years ago in October and 15" of snow fell overnight while we stayed at a lodge; it had been warm before the weather changed. No problem for us, but the 20 or so Californians without 4WD (or snowbrushes or gloves) seemed pretty concerned. Unless you stay in an always warm area during snow season, you never know what may happen.
An Airstream is a major investment and I want to be sure I'm towing with a vehicle that can do anything. That said, I don't want to tow in snow, but where I live, it's pretty hard to go anywhere warm in winter (and fall or spring) without the possibility of snow—and sometimes you just have to deal with it. If you're only going to use the vehicle to tow or never go anywhere near snow, a 2WD probably will do it, but others have described situations where 4WD is necessary on mud (worse than snow in my opinion) or gravel.
So far as manual hubs are concerned, I didn't know they still make them. I'm not even sure automatic hubs are still around since they don't always lock or unlock easily. Manual transmissions seem to be disappearing on a lot of trucks (blame cellphones). Toyotas never had "automatic" hubs (not really very automatic) and long ago I got tired of getting out and locking and unlocking manuals. I don't know about other manufacturers, but Toyotas hubs are permanently locked. We prefer manual transmissions, but haven't been able to get them for years on the SUV's and pickups we buy. Where we live, it would only be possible to get 2WD as a special order, but in Berkeley you probably can get either, you wouldn't have one now.
4WD will probably reduce payload and possibly towing ability. More likely it will reduce payload. The 4WD package may or may not have stronger frame, axles, etc. There are various options (bigger battery, alternator, etc.) that may or may not be available with 2WD. Every manufacturer will be different. 4WD will cost in gas mileage, but when I run the numbers over a year, the cost isn't that much different. The initial capital cost is higher, but amortize it over 4 or 5 years and it's more manageable. In the end, the truck has to fit the Airstream and the uses you will put both of them to.
If you aren't going to move to a cold climate during the life of the TV (15-20% of Americans move every year), stay on warm pavement all the time, don't take trips over the Sierra Nevada with the truck in snow season, and are sure none of your plans will change in the next several years, 2WD will probably work. I am biased. I have always lived in snowy places and have traveled all over the U.S. and Canada. I was sure glad to have 4WD on a muddy road in the Yukon and NW Territories last year—and that was without a trailer (I probably would have waited for the road to dry if I were towing, but I didn't know it was going to rain so much—surprises are inevitable). How I see it is that some time I am going to be towing somewhere where the weather and/or road is bad. The Airstream may start skidding and the more sure footed the TV is, the less likely the trailer is going to take me into the ditch. To me 4WD is insurance.
Good luck with selecting a TV. I love buying trucks and negotiating deals. I wish I could do it every year, but I can't afford it.
I have a 4wd Suburban and I have to say that when you boondock or even park on laws that can get dew in the AM. It does give some piece of mind. I have acutally used the 4x4 once or twice to get me out of some less than optimal situations both towing and not. This is not even taking into consideration how well the 4x4 work here in the winter. $70k Beemers doing doughnuts from a stop and with 4x4 it's like it's a clear, warm, bright sunny day.
It only takes 1-2 times where you need it to make it worthwhile. If you are getting a truck that has this option, to me, IMHO, it's no brainer. w)
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On my last trip I needed 4WD to get me into a camp site at Long Key S.P, Florida Keys, on deep sand when backing in at an angle. On 2WD the rear wheels just buried themselves. I probably need it once a season, and that makes it worthwhile for me.
Nick.
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Nick Crowhurst, Excella 25 1988, Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel. England in summer, USA in winter.
"The price of freedom is eternal maintenance."
You know that reminded me, and I'll have to dig up the picture.....I got stuck on gravel trying to get the Safari into a tight turn. Had to hook up the Farmall to move it cause the Impala, at the time, even with posi, just dug itself in like Nick said.
Also the pic on my avitar, the campsite where I've normally boondocked, it's about 150 feet in from the campground road, up a small grade before I get to the top, flat part. Had a few nail biters that first year with the Impala....now with the truck, it's all good.
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Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 11/91
There are X places you can go with 2WD and not get stuck. There are Y places you can go with 4WD and not get stuck, were X < Y.
There are Z places you can go, where both 2WD and 4WD will get stuck, where X < Y < Z.
Now, if you are talented enough to recognize X places and Y places, buy 2WD if you plan on only visiting X places, because it is cheaper, gets better MPG, and has less maintenance.
Obviously, if you plane to visit Y places buy the 4WD.
If you can't distinguish between X places and Y places and Z places, then I recommend 4WD since you will get stuck fewer times.
I am pretty good at seperating X from Y and from Z, and only visit X places. I reap the benefits of 2WD.
Just my 2 cents
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