Four wheel drive vs two wheel dr.

[Mike and Linda]

We are considering a new truck, a ford 350 dually. Initially I didn't want a dually but it looks like the GVWR is better with the duals--so be it. The question is: Do we stick with the 4wd or go to the 2wd system? It seems to me that a 2wd with a positrack system would be a good option for a tow vehicle because you carry less weight and obviously spend less money.
Anyone made the switch or have experience with a pure 2wd system?
Mike

 

[Hunter11]

My opinion for what is worth is if I did not use my truck for hunting and fishing off road I would own a 2wd truck. More capacity, better ride and fuel economy, less moving parts, less maintanence, less cost. Just my $.02.

 

[mike54-XRD]

my next truck I think will be 2wd because if I'm not living where it snows what would I need 4wd for? It will be less thingtomaintain one less thingthat can break one less thing that will cost me money

 

[Lloyd S]

I agree with Hunter11 for all the reasons he stated. With that being said, you live in NY. you get a little more snow then Keith does. 4WD might be nice at times. You should check around in your area a little bit and see what the value of a used 2WD is in comparison to a used 4WD. In my area the 2WD loses its value pretty bad.

 

[-lenny-]

How often have you used 4wd in your current truck?

 

[ThreePutt]

Not very often, but it sure is nice when you need it.

 

[fhenn]

Just remember a dually gets stuck a lot easier than a wheel truck

 

[spinella]

mike, i live 30 minutes west of you & i would recomend 4wd. with all the snow we've hit with lately, the 4wd would be very useful. the only people i see wth 2wd duallys are people with horses. i looked 3 years ago for a dually and i came across 4 2wd duallys...all horse people. i think it would be hard to sell a 2wd truck up north. good luck.

 

[asquared]

I would say 4wd. It will help you in a muddy situation as well as a snowy situation. Remember 2wd trucks don't bad weather so well.

 

[Salda01]

just my 2cents. The only time you need 4x4 is when you need it. If your only using the TV to move the TT and have no or very little snow then 2 wheel should be more than enough. If you after GVWR have you thought about going with a used Volvo semi? Remove the back axle and add a smaller 5th wheel your all set to handle any size 5er, along with a roomy sleeper cab. Just for giggles I found 8 year Volvo's with 700k or less miles on them for 10-15k less than a fully loaded KR F350.

 

[dalemac]

Depends on what you are going to use the truck for. Mine is 2wd with positrac rearend. Truck is used mainly for towing the 5er. Have had it 4-1/2 years with only 23,000 miles. Head south the first of January each year so not much winter exposure. For me 4wd just didn't offer any benefit for the cost and maintenance.

 

[danyshula]

For the last 9 years I always owned a 2WD Diesel mostly for pulling a 5W and doing side trips ,I have driven from Alaska to East Canada ,done summits in Colorado BUT all this in summers.
So if you plan to stay away from snow and mud Go for 2WD.

 

[Hamops]

Go for the 4X2. Unless you're an avid bushwacker, the chances that you'll ever NEED to use a 4X4 isn't worth the extra cost, weight and maintenance.

I have a 4X2 that I use as an everyday driver and towing our 5vr and I've never had the need for a 4X4 and that includes winters.

 

[artgpo]

Our Silverado is a 4 x 2. My wife's small SUV is 4WD. In the almost six years she has owned that car I cannot remember one time the 4 x 4 came on. Understand we live in San Antonio where snow is a local holiday of major proportion. We do get lots of rain from time to time after prolonged periods of dry. When this happens the roads are like ice. It has been my personal experience that ABS and electronic stability control are much more important than all wheel, 4WD. My truck is a long bed so that means no ESC. In 2009 the only GM pick ups with ESC were regular bed models. I do not know if ESC is available on DRW pickups even on the 2011s even though it is standard on all other2011 GM 2500s and Ford F-250.



Mind you that the components of 4WD diminish the load capacity of a pickup. In other words, my 2WD has more carry capacity than does a 4WD similar model.

 

[drcook]

Last fall we went camping at our local campground. It had rained a couple days before and some of the grassy areas were still wet. Some areas dry, some wet, but just wet enough to allow the tires to spin and that is with a locking rear end. We found a dry area to stay at, but if we did not have 4 wheel drive, we would have been SOL.

I have pulled a GN horse trailer with a 2 wheel drive, and a 4 wheel drive and now our bumper pulls with the 4x4 diesel and will never have a 2 wheel drive pickup again. (I didn't buy the first, the ex bought it before I met her to pull a horse trailer).



If you are always going to be on concrete, asphault or hard dry dirt then 2 wheel drive will work but eventuallyI wouldlay odds, you will get stuck. But I am looking at it from a person living where it snows and rains and most of the dirt around where we live is claying, instead of sandy, etc.



That is just my opinion.

 

[spinella]

guys, dont forget they are from n.y. this year we already had about 40" of snow. yes a truck wth 4wd will cost more than a 2wd truck, but you will be hard press tosell that truck locally.also there reallyis no major maintenancecost. hopefully he will post back with his needs.

 

[Greg Morin]

well I live in NY and would never be without 4x4 have used it at campgrounds instead of spinning a rut they hold value better , and in the northeast its almost impossible to find a new one on a lot they are all down south. but if its put up in the winter or south for the winter it might be an ok choice. possibly better ride.

 

[Greenhorn-FRF]

I drive a Chevy 2500 4X4 for work it has locking rear . It will go just about anywhere in 2 high that locking rear is nice. Have only needed the 4X4 to go off road in deep snow 6-8 inces plus.

However I drive a Ford F-150 4X4 personally without the locking rear . It will get stuck in dust LOL.If there is more than a couple inches of snow 4X4 is definately needed.My co-workers drive F-350 duallys and they are 4X2 theyget much better tractionthan standard axles in any situation.Edited by: Greenhorn

 

[mlsawmill]

Tires have a lot to do with it.

I lived in Western NY and drove to Buffalo 50 miles each way and only had to turn around one time and missed work.



If I put chains on my 4x2's they would go about anyplace. I used to sell firewood and would go back to the woods with my 4x2 and go through snow and mud even without the chains on for I always bought good snow / mud tires.

I also started using studded tires and even in icey conditions could go where 4x4's had a hard time.

I don't know if they still sell studded tires but if they do that is what I would use if I were to move back North.

By the way we lived way up on a hill (down here in Tx it is called a mt.)

And we did get lots of snow. Also owned a Chev 3500 dully and when I put good tires on it, it would really go through the snow. All the cattle dealers in my area ran 4x2 350 s dullies and would go into farm yardsin the mud and snow and get out.

The 4x4 might be nice but the extra costalso the noise from good tires ?????

For if you don't have good tires you ain't going anyway.

Also if you have a diesel 4x4 and get stuck you are really stuck.

My 2 cents.

 

[mlsawmill]

Greenhorn,



You need to try different tires.

When I moved to Tx. I had a 1972 Ford F350 and was working on a job where there was lots of rain and mud and could not pull off the road. But went and bought some mud tires at Sears and could go through the mud.