4x4 vs. 2x4 drive

[larrym]

Considering upgrading truck to a super crew model. Have always owned 4x4's but seldom have a real need for it. Any of you hauling your boats with a 2x4 and do you experience any problems at ramps etc? Any experience with limited slip rear axle?

[Phil T.]

My rebuilt 2 wheel drive pickup never has a problem on any ramp, but it carries 3000 lbs of camper in the box. It's a matter of traction vs. expense. Obviously, I don't have a traction problem. I've used ramps that have made me glad I have a 4X4 Suburban. Again, traction vs. expense.

[MadMax]

The way I see it, If that 4X4 gets you out of a jam one time....its worth it!! The way todays 4X4s are I don't think that it cost that much more money to run one down the hiway. You pay a little more money in the initial cost of the vehicle, but your resale value is that much better. For me I can think of a lot more good points to have a 4X4 than not. This is my opion, I hope this helps.

[GJN]

I had the the same debate with myself when I bought my new truck. I had a 4x2 and would have bought another but my wife really wanted a 4x4 for those snowy days. In hindsight I'm really glad I got the 4x4 and would not buy a truck without it. I honestly have not needed it much but when I did I really needed it and was glad I had it.

[hgmeyer]

I have the 2001 Ford F150 Supercrew OffRoad 4X4 w/ tow package...5.4l I would never ever go back to anything but this or "bigger"...GO ANYWHERE is all I can think of

[John Wayne]

The first time out fishing last year I had to use 4 wheel drive. It was early March I was fishing at Mosquito Lake. I back my boat into the water. I saw my truck drift back 4 or 5 inches and the tires did not roll. It made me think. When I pulled away from the ramp in 2 wheel drive my truck tires just spun. Pushed the 4x4 button and it came out without any problem. I guess if I only had 2 wheel drive I could have got some sand or dirt, but 4x4 is much better......

Thanks
John wayne

[mn 232]

go with 4x4 with limited slip and then you get true 3wheel drive !!!

[larrym]

Thanks guys! Think I knew the 4x4 was the best choice but thought if I could save a few bucks... Also the idea of keeping substantial weight in truck would help but thats not always possible. Thanks again.

[Dodge1]

I’ve had 4x4’s before but my current truck is a 2x4, with a limited slip. So far I’ve haven’t had any problems but then common sense goes a long way and a good set of aftermarket tires helps matters considerably. I'm running Michelin Cross Terrains and they are a 100% improvement over the General OEM tires.

[THUMPER]

I run a 3/4 ton extended cab 4x4 and have had two wheel drives as well over the years. If you spend anytime at all in the "bush" do yourself a favour and get the 4x4. If you are only trailering or spend your time in "civilized" areas you probably do not need it. The higher body of a 4x4, gas mileage, maintenace ect are all a factor if you are rationalizing the existance of the vehicle. They are more expensive to run and maintain.

[mac]

Strange, no "big bad SUV" comments on this. Must be that all the liberal newscasters who live in NYC, don't even own a car, always take a taxi and want us to buy Yugos, don't sign in on Walleye Central.
Sorry about that but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to comment for our side.

[cmb]

my opinion on 4X4's are they nessesary, no.....but it is a nice feature to have. with that said, I drive a 2wd F-150 Becuase I couldent justify the additional cost of a 4X4. sure it would be nice but an extra $50ish a month for something I would use about once a month? too little bang for my buck.....plus I can count on one hand the number of times I was stuck, or almost stuck with a 2wd truck in the past 10 years, and more than half of those situations would have been corected if I had used common sense! yes I would like to have a 4X4, but I would also like a Sportscraft, a larger house, and more time to fish....dream, dream, dream,...someday

[muskiedaze]

Just remember the old adage:"The better your 4 wheel drive, the further out you get stuck."
JOhn

[Toxie]

Go with the 4X4 if at all possible. I have been towing a boat with a 4X4 for the past 10 years and would never go back to the 2x4 again!
you may not need it every time but it sure is nice knowing it's there when you do need it!

[Lanelunder]

I live in Wisconsin, and drive up to the northern part of the state as well as northern Minnesota in the early spring to chase eyes in the rivers. If you live in the northern climates, I would recommend the 4x4 without question. In two wheel drive with an empty box my pick-up and every other one I have ever been in gets stuck on wet grass on level ground. I agree that I do not need to use the 4 wheel drive often, but there are times when I am out in the sticks that I could not be without it.
As far as cost, you pay more up-front, my experience about $2500 for the 4x4, however when it comes time to trade or sell you WILL get that $2500 back every time. Gas mileage is not as good, but what are you going to do? I don't know what it is like living in a climate with no ice on the boat ramps, so maybe there it doesn't make sense, but to me the added cost is not an issue because the 4x4 will always be worth more than the 2x4 when you drive it off the lot. good luck, and buy a diesel while you are at it. Pricey, but torque, mileage, durability, resale.... no comparison to gas. Just my opinion.
Lane

[Western Walleye Editor]

From the land of Mud and Walleye (Montana), I have to say I have to have a 4X4. When many of our reservoirs don't have ramps and with the way that water levels fluctuate out here, we would be dead IN THE WATER without one... Literally!

[Box]

Yep MadMax!

I had 4x4 Ranger for years, and then thought about getting 4x2 and just driving smarted. But my farmer buddy laughed at me and said "I'll pay anything to be along with you the first time you get stuck in a ditch that 4x4 would have got you out of!"

That did it for me. And if you hunt in fields or crap logging roads, or just use your truck to go out and pick up deer, you will wish you had 4x4. Couple years ago my 4x4 Chev and one other 4x4 were the only trucks that allowed us to get up the hill at deer camp, due to ice and snow storm in West Central MN.

4x4 definitely do cost more to maintain and repair. Be warned of that! Treat them well, and they should not break.

Good luck, go with 4x4 or stay out of dirt and snow ditches and fields and ramps when its wet. If it's dry, the 4x2 is just fine.
-Box

[MadMax]

I am going through and reading this post again and seeing a lot you saying that it cost a lot more to maintain a 4X4. I have a 2000 Dodge 2500 quad cab with a diesel in it. I live in Wyoming and use my 4X4. I pull my snowmobiles up the mountain all winter long to go snowmobiling,I use it in the fall elk hunting going back to my hunting spot on all them old logging roads and bird hunting. I have logged quite a few miles on it in four wheel drive. I now have 70 thousand miles on the truck. I have not had one problem with the four wheel drive. The only way a repair bill will be high on a 4X4 is if you are getting really western with it and tear it up!! It does not cost me any more money to service the truck because it is four wheel drive. Todays 4X4s have changed a lot in the past years. You do not have near the maintance on them. All the hubs kick in and out automaticly and most all of the front end componets are all sealed up. You will spend more money when it is time to put tires on. I like to put nice set of mud snow tires on all the way around the truck. Where a two wheel drive you do not need the mud and snows up front. But I can rotate my tires for a longer life. I don't know it might add up to the same in the end on the tires. I know around here on the car lots..the only two wheel drive pickups you see are the ones that where traded in on a four wheel drive. The 4X4s are higher off the ground, there for it will probably use more fuel. With my deisel empty, I get 20 mpg with the cruse control set a 80 on the interstate. For me...it don't get any better than that. This has been my experience with a newer 4X4.