Any semi drivers here?

Owner - op here. 38 ft fifth wheel. I use 2 wheel drive. Bil uses 4wd. Dealers sell more 4wd. Bil wants 2wd.

1. Too many people think they need 4X4 and have never even put it in 4X4

2. Some people actually need 4X4 for other purposes and cant aford a second truck

3. some people just think they look cool with a lifted 4X4 diesel with big goofy rims and rediculous looking low profile tired blowing black smoke all over the pace.

Me I just have a second truck that does nothing but pull the camper. Its just an old 93 Chevy 1 ton 2 wheel drive that sees about 200 miles a year. No sens spending 60 grand for that.

Old chauffeur holder here, dropped out with the CDL and medicals. Around here resale is easier with 4x4. Good positrac and tires will do 99.9% for most. I do like using the low range for slow and controlled jockeying.

KnowNuthin wrote:
I've been driving professionally for going on 30 years... about 18 of those were in a "city tractor" (single rear axle) with a 53' trailer...

We're looking at upgrading our current class A to a 5th wheel and I'm somewhat confused regarding tow vehicles... I had gotten my semi stuck a couple times... nothing I didn't get myself out of with a little judicious driving techniques... so I'm curious as to why most 5th wheels I see going down the road are being pulled by 4X4 pickups?

Sure, I live in Colorado, but a good many of these rigs are from out of state... even places like Texas and Arizona...

I've got nothing against 4X4's, 'cept I hear the RWD trucks ride nicer, not to mention the reduced maintenance costs...

So, any CDL (current or former) drivers out there who can shed some light on the similarities/ differences between semi's and 5th wheel pulling'?

I drove F-750 work Plumbing supply trucks in the early 1980's
but got laid off during the building recession in California. Went in the Navy spent 21 years.
I've researching Fifth Wheels like you. I am trying to decide, like you with 2X4. I figure i will be hauling a Fifth Wheel. Will not be towing into the back country. The cost is the big difference between the two. I do know there will be others that claim that the 4X4 is the way to go, and if you camp in camp grounds that have dirt or grass sites, when roads are wet and muddy will need the 4X4 to get out. So you are not alone. I figure if you are not going to use the 4X4. It's a waste of the use. So we shall see how it goes when i begin my search.
Best of luck in your search.
Scott

Once in a while I need the 4WD to back into an uphill site. Also have used on wet grass and beach driving on the Texas Gulf. Do not use it very often though.

KnowNuthin wrote:
I've been driving professionally for going on 30 years... about 18 of those were in a "city tractor" (single rear axle) with a 53' trailer...

We're looking at upgrading our current class A to a 5th wheel and I'm somewhat confused regarding tow vehicles... I had gotten my semi stuck a couple times... nothing I didn't get myself out of with a little judicious driving techniques... so I'm curious as to why most 5th wheels I see going down the road are being pulled by 4X4 pickups?

Sure, I live in Colorado, but a good many of these rigs are from out of state... even places like Texas and Arizona...

I've got nothing against 4X4's, 'cept I hear the RWD trucks ride nicer, not to mention the reduced maintenance costs...

So, any CDL (current or former) drivers out there who can shed some light on the similarities/ differences between semi's and 5th wheel pulling'?

For me, it's because 99% of the time, I'm using my truck for other stuff, including off-roading, when I'm not towing. I grew up on a farm and, as soon as I could afford it (and not have to depend on Dad to provide one for me), I got a 4wd truck. The comfort of being able to drive down the road in a driving rainstorm and, with the push of a button, have 4wd, is just great. I almost always use 4wd when on a dirt road as my truck simply rides better, especially if the road's got lots of washboards. When we boondock, I'll =tow= in 4wd, even on a dirt road, for the same reason; it just tows nicer. Also is nice to have 4 wheels helping engine brake on grades. In our usual spot, there's a couple rocky patches and having 4LO is awesome, just to be able to crawl over these places without undue stress on the tranny or rocking the FW too much. Personally, I'll never have another truck without 4wd.

Lyle

I've always used a 4wd for towing. Almost never use the 4wd, BUT, about once or twice a year, it saves me a towing fee. So I figure it's worth having, at least for me. Plus, you get some of the 4wd cost back when you trade in or sell.

Not a CDL here, but 40+ years of off-roading (grew up in the southwest), camping and RVing. My brother-in-law has a 4x4 diesel to pull his fiver - and has still had to use the winch on the truck to get off BLM land after a surprise snow (he and his son use the rig for hunting a lot). Living in the southeast, now, I chose 2WD because of the reasons listed above - higher payload, better mileage, lower maintenance cost, etc. Only once have I wished I had 4WD, and that was when the truck was on a grassy, uphill slope while trying to rock the trailer into a spot at a rented cabin in the Smoky Mountains. I think that situation would have been better with a fiver with more weight over the rear axle rather than my travel trailer (hope to move up to a fiver soon...).

LTL type work moving materials and wheeled equipment on 40' equipment trailers with a chauffeur/commercial chauffeur and then grand fathered to a class A CDL when they became mandatory. I don't do that work anymore but I still have a 4x4 and a 2wd truck.

I had five one ton DRW trucks and all were 4x4. A 2wd truck wouldn't get around pulling a 20k Gn trailer on a muddy construction worksite. They also carried my TC's and pulled my RV trailers.

I haven't found a 4x4 truck to have any more maintenance issues or mpg differences than other 2wd trucks I've owned.

I never pay any attention to what other owner/operators are using. They have their priorities as one size don't fit all here.

Have used 4WD a few times spotting the trailer. Last week was the last time. Pulled into a State Park and the campsite was wet grass with a slight rise toward the back. The 5er sunk in slightly and I could NOT set it properly without engaging 4WD. Also, I live in snow country and it's nice to have especially in a DRW truck that tends to float on the snow. If I were full timing and not spending the winter here, I'd surely get a 2WD. Also agree resale is better with 4WD especially here.