2 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive

4WD is a must in my world. Get a little bit stuck in 2WD, hit the switch and you are no longer stuck. No embarrassment, no wrecker bill, and no damage from spinning wheels.

On another note: You don't really need insurance on anything (unless the law calls for insurance) but insurance is really nice to have if you have a loss or damage to a covered vehicle. Your choice, but like others have said, 4WD option improves your resale value.

Lakeside

Probably not a real need, but certainly nice to have when you do! I never need it for towing, but after we unhook and start doing some sightseeing, thats when I wished I had it! I purchase a used truck in 08, and it didn't have 4 wheel drive, but you can't have everything! Good Luck!

As golf_bears noted above, you don't need it until until you need it, and then you'd wish you had it. I towed for several years with 2wd, and did fine except for one time when the slope was steep and the grass was wet. Kept a tow rope in the rig and counted on a kind neighbour to help me out. No big deal there.

At the end of the 2013 season, I traded out my older 2wd gasser for a 4wd D/A to accommodate a larger trailer. Timing couldn't have been better. Winter came to the midwest in a bit way, with 50 inches of snow on the ground versus our normal 25 to 30 over the season. While we didn't even attempt to tow in that, I can tell you that the truck in 4wd got me places that any 2wd vehicle couldn't have gone. Glad I had it, and wouldn't do without it again.

When I got my truck I went for the 4wd. Almost always had a 4wd truck. I don't normally drive my truck in the snow so I don't feel the need there. But even in saying that I have needed it on wet green. Other wise it would have been a tow job to get me out.
I have a manual transmission and I have installed free wheeling hubs on it. Backing in with the hubs unlocked with the transfer case in low sure saves the jerking of the whole unit backing. I can almost always let the clutch out all together and just use the throttle. Couldn't do that if I didn't have that transfer case.

ChooChooMan74 wrote:
I had a 2WD dually back in the 90s. I believe that is all Ford made in the duallys back then. I got stuck going where I shouldn't go. I would get a 2WD dually again. Bow many big rigs do you see with 4WD?

The answer is almost all!! most tandem axle trucks drive on both axles, some can also lock them up for real traction.

4X4 or 4X2 is a personal choice, we four season camp, so we want for the extra control in snow.
If you have never driven a 4X4 in slick conditions the difference is that when you turn the steering wheel the TV goes that direction instead of plowing.

I have 4x4 only because there are typically very few 4x2 trucks on the dealer new truck lots. And the ones that are are usually the basic lower end models or work type trucks.
But in 7 years of towing the 5er I have never used 4 wheel drive. But I do not tow it in the winter or get off road or park in sand or soft grass or dirt.
I do agree that resale would be better if that concerns you.

Exploring the Painted Canyon area near Palm Springs on a gravel road and it turned to loose sand quickly. Started to bog down, put in 4wd and drove right thru it. Stuck in 100 degree weather 5 miles from pavement would not have been fun!

I'm glad I have it. The owner of the storage lot decided to put down some more gravel without packing it down. I went to go get my trailer and the rear wheels were spinning. I don't think I would have been able to get the trailer out without 4wd.

I have yet to own a 4wd truck. We lived in the Black Hills for 9 years and traveled on forest service roads, went Christmas tree shopping in the snow without issue. Have owned current truck for over 10 years and it is a 2wd. A lot of people are having problems with the current 4wd being to high for a 5th wheel. I find the step up to high even with side steps added. I even have side steps on my 2wd. We have had a lot of extra snow this year and I still didn't need a 4wd and my drive way goes up 8' in a 50' run and I don't clean it. Personal choice as I see it.

I had a 2WD dually back in the 90s. I believe that is all Ford made in the duallys back then. I got stuck going where I shouldn't go. I would get a 2WD dually again. Bow many big rigs do you see with 4WD?