Do I need a 4WD tow vehicle?

[btr4me]

Hello,
I am shopping for a diesel crew cab truck and would like some opinions on the need for 4WD. I do not plan to tow in snow but a friend who pulls horses said he has been stuck on wet grass. Is this a problem at the tracks on the east coast? North East tracks like Summit Point and VIR are the closest but an occasional run to farther tracks is possible. I'd appreciate any experiences. Yes, I can install a locker, just don't want the extra hardware of 4WD if it's really not needed. The trailer will likely be 20 or 24 enclosed.

Thank You,
Bill

[rfuerst911sc]

Are you searching for a single wheeled truck or a dually? I find it hard to believe a 2 wheel drive dually is getting stuck on wet grass From what you are describing I would not get a 4x4 as it adds weight,complexity that I don't think you need.

[jhynesrockmtn]

For towing a race car trailer I wouldn't think you'd need a 4*4. Pulling boats up wet/slick ramps or hauling horses down muddy dirt roads is a different story.

[Seahawk]

I tow a lot (horse trailers, dump trailers and equipment trailers) with a 4x4. I've only needed the 4x4 a few times when towing, but when I needed it, I really had to have it.

Dragging the front pumpkin around sucks right up until you have to engage it in earnest.

[David]

As long as you remember you don't have 4wd, you won't put yourself in a position to need it.

Don't forget you'll have a few hundred extra pounds on the rear axle.

Be sure to get at least a limited slip.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by 125shifter

As long as you remember you don't have 4wd, you won't put yourself in a position to need it.

You obviously don't tow around farms.

[Rusty Heap]

buy it, buy it now.

heck yes you need it.

Go look at a used truck sales lot. you'll find dozens and dozens of 1/2 ton short bed 2WD pickup trucks. You know, Suburbia wanna-bee house wife soccer mom kid hauler grocery getter "trucks". Gee some will even have 20" rims on them.........cough cough. You'll find very few long bed 4WD 3/4 or 1 ton trucks.

4WD adds and holds value to your truck. Long beds tow MUCH better than short beds.

My truck? A dodge V10 488 cu in gas engine 3/4 ton 4WD long bed quad cab truck. yeah a REAL truck. I carry a 4500 pound 10 foot long truck camper ON it, and tow a flat bed or 3 horse trailer. Rancho RS9000 click adjust dampning shocks all the way around with airbags on the back as well as overload springs on a 1 ton axle.

Fully loaded I've scaled out at 15,500 pounds. Yeah, I'll take 4WD any time any where. Or.........you can call Triple AAA when you get stuck on a banana peel.

Just my opinion, your milage may vary.

[David]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

You obviously don't tow around farms.

One of the tracks I frequent is in East Texas with red clay, but if you're towing on a farm or far from a heavily traveled pit area, then I'd agree with the need for 4WD.

[btr4me]

Thanks everyone,
I agree 4WD would be nice (just in case) but if a 2wd became availailable with a big diesel and leather interior and the right paint scheme (know where I'm going however was 2wd, I didn't to get stuck at the track and have all the experienced guys say, didn't you ask.

Your input is much appreciated

Thank You

Bill

[MT930]

I can't imagine a truck with out 4WD. Towing or other wise, my truck is in 4WD 4 months of the year. I don't know anyone with a 2WD truck here in the mountains. It will get you out of trouble, it will also get you in to the deepest trouble possible. Go 4WD, you still need to watch it.

[sailchef]

Had one heck of a storm here this past winter, shut down the entire beach area from Lewes into Rehoboth. No one on the roads. Half the state shut down. We had nothing to do so we took a ride down to look at the Ocean, in my 4X4.

[jeffgrant]

Originally Posted by btr4me

Thanks everyone,
I agree 4WD would be nice (just in case) but if a 2wd became availailable with a big diesel and leather interior and the right paint scheme (know where I'm going however was 2wd, I didn't to get stuck at the track and have all the experienced guys say, didn't you ask.

A friend of mine thought the same thing, and twice we had to load up the bed of his truck and jump in it to give the rear end traction to get off of wet grass.

Yes, he got it stuck on wet grass (from morning dew, no less).

That "big diesel" makes it front heavy, and his rear tires just sat there and spun.

I've never owned a truck since then that wasn't 4WD, and I'm glad I have it.

Went fishing a couple of weeks ago with the boys, and we got a little stuck in very inconsequential mud, so flipped it into 4WD and off we went.


$0.02 CDN

[Rusty Heap]

Too funny Bill............your priorities are the paint scheme and leather............

Maybe I'll pull you out of the ditch or on grass/clay/mud when you're stuck, not if, but WHEN, and maybe I won't.???

Why should I bend my bumper, tow hooks, burn out my winch, or rip up my tow strap because you wanted matching paint scheme?

Serious man talk here. Hope you're listening.

[btr4me]

Actually prioity one is a F250 7.3 Diesel and that stopped production in 2003. I can find a ton of 6.0's but most of the 7.3's have a gazillian miles on them, if the transmission was as durable as that engine it would have been one great truck. The leather is a requirement because if my Italian Mastiff, she's part of the crew and rides in the truck. Cleaning "giant" dog spit and hair out of a cloth interior is not easy. The 2WD was a result of not having to pull a transfer case to fix the aformentioned transmission that will fail way before everything else. The paint was a bonus but I can see where someone could make another connection

[speeder]

I've just bought another used 4x4 diesel PU and rarely use my 4WD. One deciding factor for me is that on modern diesel PU trucks, there isn't the mileage or drivability penalty that there use to be between 2WD and 4WD. The diesels have so much torque and the trucks are so heavy to begin with that it's a non-issue for me in normal, (2WD), highway driving. In the old days, there was a HUGE difference in on-road performance between a 2 and 4WD truck. The 2WD trucks drove alright and the 4x4s were horrible in anything but 4WD situations. Not the case these days.

I always think that I'm going to be in MN. in the winter or maybe the Rockies but so far I never have been. Plowing snow is always in the back of my mind but again, hasn't happened yet. The 4x4 diesels are always in high demand if they are nice, so easy resale is a factor for me since I've been known to switch vehicles at the drop of a hat.

Funny story: the only time I ever used my 4WD on my last F-250 was once on Seahawk's farm when I was turning around (or something) and started spinning the rears in the ditch. Popped it into 4wd for a whole 2 minutes and 20 feet, drove out and then unlocked the hubs and put it back in 2wd. That was a great truck, took a 7k mile roadtrip in '07 and it was dream on the road. I never once wished that it was a 2wd on the highway. It gave me major peace of mind in rural and camping situations to know that the 4x4 was there. I hope to actually use it on this truck.

[kycarguy 935]

I have a 1 ton 2wd Chevy ramp truck and I get stuck from time to time on my small farm. I have a 10,000 lb. wench to help out when needed.

In the next year or so I am planning on getting a new F350 and want 4wd.

[Nader]

We have a 2000 F350 Powerstroke CC longbed 4x4 with the Lariat leather trim. The truck is easily 8000 pounds, and still gets better mileage (about 19 mpg even while towing 1000lbs) than our 08 V6 4Runner hauling nothing.

I've used the 4x4 to get out of a ditch in my own front yard. And yes, the leather cleans up really well even after my muddy German Shepherd vomits on it.

Great truck, love the 7.3 Powerstroke.

[Rufblackbird]

I was trying to tow a short school bus (long story) out of a field in WA...after it just rained. Could not get anything going, really wished I got a 4x4 at that time...

[vash]

i wont buy a truck without 4x4 capabilties. my needs are different than most. i have hauled a camper trailer, and a bass boat to some remote locations. launching a boat without a boat ramp is super nerve racking. i once saved a bunch of bikini wearing water skiiers from catatrophe with my bro's diesel truck. they tried to launch in a crazy area at elephant butte lake. no ramp, toyo truck...no i didnt get laid.

my bro's friend just bought a few year old dodge diesel, super cab, fully loaded 4x4 dually from some soccer mom for 27k. it had 30k miles on it. dipchit has nothing to tow with it. but he can.

[btr4me]

i once saved a bunch of bikini wearing water skiiers from catatrophe...............[/QUOTE]

That changes everything, I NEED 4WD !!