4x2 vs. 4x4 tow vehicle - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

4x2 vs. 4x4 tow vehicle

RandM Adventures · RV-Dreams Community Member

Well the 5'er is bought now time for the truck! We have been reading, researching, looking at and sorting through all the information here and at the dealers, wow we are mentally exhausted! The one thing we are questioning is the need for a 4x4' which seems to be what all the dealers in Colorado have on their lots and insist we need.

We would like some input from all of your knowledge, experience and know how out there On the pros/cons of each! Please?!

RJ & Melinda

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have had both. If you are buying new off the lot, you are correct, almost no 4X2s. I think it depends on where you are going. I have never used the 4 wheel drive to tow...it simply has not been required in my 6+ years of fulltiming. I also rarely park on grass or dirt if its raining. I have been told that wet grass can be a problem but I've never encountered it.(it being a problem...towed on wet grass and mud without problems so far) My 4X2 has always been OK. I had to special order my F-450 to get a 4X2 but I currently have a 4X4 because I got it off the lot and couldn't find a 4X2.

Lonney Wade · RV-Dreams Family Member

Let's look at it this way; you may never need it but having it makes me feel better; when you come across that wet dirt road on a hill you start to spin the tires; pop it in and no problem; up up and away and it feels good when you get to the top; it sometimes is a little rush for me but that's just me and my 4x4; that's what happens when you start to get older LOL.!!!! It also holds a better price when you go to sell it. I have always had 4x4s it gives me more confidence. I always drive in 2 wheel drive but when I need it it is always there; I don't like tow trucks and waiting on them is a pain in the you know what; but that is something you will have to figure out for yourself.

Lonney

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I had both and if I were ever to RV again it would be with a 4x4.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

RandM Adventures wrote:
We would like some input from all of your knowledge, experience and know how out there On the pros/cons of each! Please?!
RJ & Melinda

'Really recommend 4 wheel drive for the tow vehicle. Have used 4x4 a lot. Mostly in commercial campgrounds with the trailer connected. Only needed it for a relatively small distance, but like a spare tire, when you need it - you need it. My experiences have nothing to do with “off-roading”

An example: I’ve been part of the crews using 4x4 pickups pulling 2 wheel drive F-350’s DRW, Freightliners and 2 wheel drive GM 2500’s out. Some on flat ground but the grass was wet and the truck could get no traction with the trailer attached. Other times when there was a slight incline and gravel. No traction again. Those of us with 4x4 didn't have issues. Others no so equipped did.

Having 4x4 has never caused us an issue but it sure has made it much easier when needed and no tow trucks. The only "cons" - it costs more and raises some trucks depending on manufacture. Maintenance isn't an issue. Changing the transfer case oil at very long intervals is the only maintenance these days .The "pros" outweigh those minor cons by a lot in our view.

Bill

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

Had both but only need 4X4 while towing once but didn't have a 4X4 at the time. I couldn't get up a hill in a campground (too much sand/grit on the asphalt, couldn't get traction). I unhitched and another camper with a 4X4 pulled our 5th wheel up the hill and parked it in our spot.

When we had the 4X4 we were involved in offroad racing but didn't need the fourwheel drive because the roads in to the pit areas were good hard pack so the big semi support trailers could get in and out.

The only time I used the fourwheel drive was when I would go out and setup a remote pit, no trailer. Out of all the miles I drove the several 4X4 vehicles I've had; I've used the fourwheel drive about 0.5% of the miles.

Like others have said it really depends on what conditions you will do most of your driving in. If I was in snow country I would have a 4X4.

RandM Adventures · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you all for your input and helping us in weeding through some of the pros & cons. Hopefully we'll have that truck within the month!

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Melinda:

If I may, here is why we have 4-wheel drive and recommend it. We have stories just like this where 4-wheel drive was needed – or at least made the project must less difficult. This is Howard’s post from the Journal concerning their leaving the Rally at the Camplex. Just perspective which may be helpful to you and others in making your decision.

“We got everything packed up and ready. I slowly backed the truck up to get hitched. Linda placed some scrap wood we carry in the truck down so that my dual wheels would roll up on the solid surface as I backed into the fifth wheel kingpin. Our truck isn't four-wheel-drive, so I needed a good start to pull out.

I was concerned that the truck tires would spin or that the trailer would sink as soon as I pulled it off the leveling blocks ... or a combination of both. I started out in the lowest gear and the boards helped give me a good start. Once off the boards, the truck tires spun a little but then gripped and I was able to pull the trailer all the way out to the gravel road. Whew, I'm not sure we would have made it without the scrap wood under the truck tires.

Next, we found the dump station and there were deep ruts and deep gravel that had been poured over the ruts. The dump station was on a curve, so it was hard to get the rig close to it, and I would have to start pulling out into a turn to leave. Sheesh - we got out of the muddy field only to possibly get stuck at the dump station.

I had to connect two sewer hoses together to dump, and the water at the dump station wasn't working, but we got the chore done. The truck wouldn't pull the trailer out of the deep, loose rocks on the first tug, so I backed it up a few inches and rocked forward just enough to get the whole thing in motion. Out we went. Whew, .... again.”

VanMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

RJ and Melinda;

I agree that 4 wheel drive is like insurance or the spare tire...you hope you never need it. But when you need it, you need it. If, like me, you decide to go with 4x2, go to Cars.com. In the "Driveline" menu, select RWD. I just used the years '11 to '13. In the 'used' category you won't find as many as in the 'new' but there are hundreds out there.

Hope this helps in the decision making process.

Vance

suse1023 · RV-Dreams Family Member

how does posi-traction compare to a 4x4?

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

suse1023 wrote:
how does posi-traction compare to a 4x4?

Positraction is the marketing name used by GM for a type of limited slip rear differential. (Simple version) Ford and Dodge have similar systems. It is designed to put power to the rear wheel that isn’t slipping rather than spin a wheel uselessly while the other tire receives no power at all. The problem with this is pretty obvious if both wheels can’t get any traction. Four 4-drive assures all four wheels will get more or less equal power (locked) and therefore you are best assured that one or two at least can provide traction and motion. There are other vehicle control advantages as well. Some trucks with 4-wheel drive provide even lower gears. Additionally, if there is any mud or gravel the front wheels in 4-wheel drive are not having to be “pushed” (or “pulled”) through the mud or gravel. This is especially helpful when pulling or backing a trailer uphill (like up on leveling blocks) even in fairly good conditions. None of this has to do with “off-roading” as such. Any campground road or site that is not paved is “off-road.”

Positraction is good when one wheel slips off the pavement and the other one is on asphalt or a hard, non-slick service. 4 wheel drive is totally different and a much more beneficial system when both drive wheels are off a hard and dry service – even when you are in wet grass. I’ve had to pull 2-wheel drive trucks with trailer connected out of a flat grass campground in a commercial campground after it rained. The grass was a just a bit long and the rear wheel drive only truck couldn’t get traction. One flick of the switch on the 4-wheel drive and out he came.

Nothing wrong with Positraction or the systems used by Ford or Dodge under different marketing names. It just isn't close to being as effective as 4-wheel drive when you need it.

Hope that helps a little

Bill