Why 4 X 4

"** I think Cummins12V98 has a good picture of wheels and tires that were down DEEP in mud.. I believe that 4x4 may have helped there just a bit ! "

YES the red truck was completely down off the boat ramp all four tires in the sand/gravel to get it launched in a big minus tide. 4 low popped right out!

Scarry part was I had never tried the 4wd when I recently bought it. :E

I have only HAD TO use mine a couple of times in its 14 years. But, those times would have been a real PITA to get my truck out. For me, as noted by others, the real benefit is 4LO when backing the trailer into my driveway for storage. I have to go over a curb and through an equestrian trail to get a straight shot. With 4LO, it just slowly creeps over everything effortlessly. Maneuvering at slow speeds is the worst condition for transmission heat (limited air flow) -especially if you're revving the engine to get up an incline. Your TC is generating a lot of heat in that scenario.

I feel it's better to have 4WD and not need it than to need it and not have it.

I just backed a pontoon boat up my sandy ish slope driveway in low range at idle. One foot on the brake and just concentrate on the mirrors. But it is a Cummins which we already know is the best.

Learjet wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
3/4 or 1 ton trucks make lousy off road vehicles.

With the 5th wheel weight on the rear axle a limited slip will get you a heck of a lot of traction.

About the only minor advantage is low range acting as a creeper gear getting into steep sites.

Grew up in Michigan winters, never had an issue with 4x2 trucks getting stuck but riding in on winter days, it was typically the 4x4 trucks in the ditch because they believed in the myth.

If you are just amusing your ego, you can buy 4x4 stickers for a lot less than an actual 4x4.

What about slippery boat ramps?????

Yup, I've noticed more than one that wished he had 4x4, when unable to pull his boat up the ramp.

Great example LJ

Jerry

I use 4X4 for backing into forest service campsites on the small gravel they use as much as anything else. Even back a boat trailer into those is all but impossible with rear wheel drive only.

I've had 2WD trucks hung up in a flat yard with a heavy dew on the grass.

valhalla360 wrote:
3/4 or 1 ton trucks make lousy off road vehicles.

With the 5th wheel weight on the rear axle a limited slip will get you a heck of a lot of traction.

About the only minor advantage is low range acting as a creeper gear getting into steep sites.

Grew up in Michigan winters, never had an issue with 4x2 trucks getting stuck but riding in on winter days, it was typically the 4x4 trucks in the ditch because they believed in the myth.

If you are just amusing your ego, you can buy 4x4 stickers for a lot less than an actual 4x4.

What about slippery boat ramps?????

3/4 or 1 ton trucks make lousy off road vehicles.

With the 5th wheel weight on the rear axle a limited slip will get you a heck of a lot of traction.

About the only minor advantage is low range acting as a creeper gear getting into steep sites.

Grew up in Michigan winters, never had an issue with 4x2 trucks getting stuck but riding in on winter days, it was typically the 4x4 trucks in the ditch because they believed in the myth.

If you are just amusing your ego, you can buy 4x4 stickers for a lot less than an actual 4x4.

I've had both 2X4 and 4X4 trucks. When I had a 2X4 trucks there were a few times I wished they were 4X4. Just needed that extra 2 wheels on wet muddy surfaces or snow. But when I've had 4X4 I've never wished any of them were 2X4.
When you get to wherever you're going if you have a 2X4 then you still have a 2X4. We like to do some off roads. Can't go to some of the places we've been in a 2X4. So we actually use the 4X4 for more than just pulling our 5er. You're not going to go to Mosquito Pass in a 2X4.
It's not a 'macho thing' as another has stated.

Get a 4 x 4 you might never need it. Get a 4 x 2 and there might be a few times you need it. The cost vs. resale thing pretty much covers the cost vs. resale on a 2wd. Maintenance wise the 4wd are pretty reliable.

What floats your boat?

Terryallan wrote:

Usnthedog wrote:
Every place you look, every dealer it's all 4 X 4's. I have a 4 X 4 and never use it. Why is it so popular? Is there anyone out there that has a 2 X 4 and is unhappy with the truck? How about with a 4 X 4? My first 2 trucks I bought off the lot hence the 4 X 4. I'm looking to order and almost feel ashamed to consider a 2 X 4. I pull a 12,000# 5th wheel. No mud holes and backroads. Thanks.

And diesel, but that is another post.

honestly. It is a macho thing. As in. I just got to have a 4x4. They look so good. No I'll never go gully jumping, but I got to have a 4x4. OH! I may get stuck on a wet leaf, so I need 4x4. It reality, it is an image thing.

honestly. I have been towing for more than 40 years, and have never once needed 4x4, even though I have has several 4x4s. I have taken them gully jumping, and out on the beach, but haven't needed them for towing. In fact the BEST, most STABLE TV I ever had was a 4x2. I miss it.

Absolute cr@p! I have 4wd because it's =practical= for my needs, not because I want to be a bad a$$. I like to do some backroading in my stock truck and I've been out with guys with 2wd trucks. Yeah, they may make it up that road, but they tend leave a =lot= of rubber behind doing so. Me, I just drop to 4lo and creep up with hardly a spin. I actually use 4lo to get into one of our camp sites, not because the road's steep, but because it's got some rocky stretches and I can simply idle over them without rocking the FW too much. As I said before, our first time out this year, I needed 4wd to back into my site in an improved CG with dirt/gravel roads and sites. I knew without even trying that 2wd wouldn't work, so went right to 4wd and =still= spun a bit.

Lyle