2 wd vs 4 wd to Alaska?

MitchF150 wrote:
Do I "need" 4wd? No.. Do I "want" it? Yes.. Have I used it? Yes... Good enough for me.. :)

Mitch

At least you are honest. Many of my friends question me over my 2 wheel drive truck...they would NEVER, EVER own anything but a 4X4.

How often do you use 4x4? two, maybe three times a year.

How many of those three could you have made it in 2wd, but used 4x4 because you had it? ah....probably all of them.

So...is that price difference for 4x4, plus additional maintenance cost worth it? ABSOLUTELY...You can't live in western PA with a 2wd truck!

The average driver, staying on asphalt, does not need it, they WANT it. Of course, there has been a few times I wish I had it :B

I lived in Alaska going on 35 years now in the interior, as I have yet to own a 4wd rig to this day.

There were a few times during the winter I wished I had 4wd with the bad weather days, however if I were living in other parts of Alaska besides the Fairbanks area during the winter months - I would only commute in 4wd as there is generally more rain, slicker surfaced conditions and wetter snowfall with warmer freezing temps in comparison to subzero colder temps here.

Another note is if I resided in the nearby foothills rather than living on the flat valley floor here, I would definitely have 4wd during the winter months.

I have driven to Anchorage during the winter in 2wd rigs of mine on six occasions and yes at times it was nerve racking but always made it back safely.

As far as summer season goes, I been on practically every Alaska road there is on the linking road system for that matter and had no problem anywhere with 2wd rigs, even took my camper rig on the Dalton Hwy (haul road), up and over Atigun Pass with a 10 and 12 percent grade, and beyond pump station 4 in the north slope sector before turning around in August 2006.

If my 2wd 1970 Ford Truck that I strictly used as a camper rig for 20 consecutive years can putt around all over the far north country of Alaska and Western Canada that has logged over 46,000 miles of travel, in which at least over 3000 miles of that were unpaved roads and who knows how many frost heave surfaces and other construction zones in between, practically any 2wd rig can also bear the commute to Alaska while exercising the current road conditions with care meaning slow down in frost heave and other bumpy areas.

There are many big motorhomes doing the drive and none have 4x4! :) You'll be just fine.

Do I "need" 4wd? No.. Do I "want" it? Yes.. Have I used it? Yes... Good enough for me.. :)

Mitch

I have had pickups since 1975, but haven't had a 2WD one since 1982. In Colorado, a 4WD truck, a Subaru (the "Colorado state vehicle"), or an AWD SUV is considered a necessity, especially if you live in the mountains or ski.

Of course, if the winters keep warming up the way they have the last few years, I may be able to go back to 2WD trucks soon. March is supposed to be our snowiest month and all we've had is a little rain.

Must you have for wheel drive - no, but life is much nicer and more secure with it. Haven't owned a truck or SUV without four wheel drive since my 1975 Trans Am...........

Bill

If you stay on the main roads, 4x4 shouldn't be necessary. Most of the main roads are paved. If you want to get into exploring the backcountry, then ask the locals if they recommend 4x4 before you head out.

billy1davis wrote:
We have just bought a new to us Lance camper 2013 9 ft 2 slides and have Dodge 2wd dually Diesel 2001. We are traveling to AK from Ut in August. Will we need 4wd?

No ! the highways you'll normally be allowed on are paved. with two big exceptions, the Haul road north of Fairbanks, ( but they run 18 wheelers over it) and the Denali park roads.

Off roading is pretty limited unless you have friends that live remote.

No need for 4WD. Have a safe trip!

We spent 3 months there and really only needed 4X only once. It was a steep, twisty mountain grade where the gravel was very loose. We could have skipped it.

In our opinion buying a 4X truck just for the trip is unnecessary.

In the longer term, it mostly depends on your camping style. We pull with a 4X knowing we have an extra level of traction. We don't use it often, but it's there when we need it.
Regards
Bill and Carole