2wd or 4wd for towing

ford coupe wrote:
Having sold our 03 dually in the market for a newer truck for towing our 5th wheel. we now spend winters in florida so see no need for 4wd
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Ha, Ha, exactly what I thought back in 2011.

But I was wrong. Florida has some of the worst mud and sand, and even wet grass would stop my 2wd especially as I had Highway tires on it.

We're snowbirds and now have a 4wd with AT tires. This truck has never seen the snow, but lots of muddy, sandy roads and wet grass in campgrounds down South and elsewhere.

But if all you do is go on pavement or level gravel, you'll be ok with 2wd.

99% of my towing is in 2wd. The only times I have used 4wd towing is when I had to tow in the snow. Then it was marvelous.

4wd is great if pulling a camper over grass, dirt, mud, sand, or snow. Depending upon the style of camping you do, you may never leave asphalt and you may live where it never get's icy or snowy. If so, you don't "need" 4wd for towing. You may want it on your vehicle for other reasons, but you won't "need" it for towing.

I use my truck in the winter as my daily driver. We live in the country, in Indiana and when it snows ... it snows! That truck will navigate snow drifts and closed roads when my car won't even make it out of the drive way. For this reason, the 4x4 is priceless!

Besides towing, what else would you use 4x4 for? That's your answer, only you can answer.
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Most towing as others have mentioned is in 2wd but the camping we do, going to Nascar races and bike rallies usually puts us on grass and without 4wd I'd still be sitting in some of them. So its 4wd for me...always!

I have only needed 4WD two or three times in my many years of towing experience so it is really hard to justify, until you look at resale or trade-in value. I had a 2WD one ton a while back and took a little bit a of bath on it because no one wanted it. Yes, it is more money up front but you make it up on the back end. It doesn't seem reasonable since most folks never get out of 2WD but that's the way it is. For me, it is not a matter of need but a matter of economics. If you plan to keep it forever then it doesn't matter. I always say I'm buying this one for the long haul but somehow it never works out.

I use my truck for other than towing, but would not buy a truck without 4WD. I do use 4WD at times, even 4-low, in certain situations, when towing, or backing up hill. Some of the newer trucks have the electronic locking rear end, which is a big help, if you only have a 2WD.

Jerry

Not for towing...but our truck is my daily driver as well.
Also think of resale ....much harder to sell a 2 wheel drive heavy duty truck, at least where we live.

Like many have stated above, it is like insurance how you don’t need it but glad you have when needed. I have posted many times pictures of a trip home from the Oregon Coast in January when rain turned to snow. Nice to reach down and put in 4X4 and continue safely at 45 mph. Also very nice having low range available to back up with manual.

When down in FL this winter and you observe me without the 4X4 decal, please do not look down your nose at me.

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I have 4wd because I use my truck in the snow in winter; including towing in the winter. If I was buying off the lot and wasn't using my truck in the snow, I wouldn't let 4wd / non 4wd steer my decision on which truck to buy. That being said, I have used 4wd when camping in the summer after a rain when the area was muddy. Could I have made it without 4wd, I don't know. But worse being worse I have towing service anyways. So in my opinion, outside of snow 4wd is a possible convenience to have maybe 3 or 4 times a lifetime of camping. So is the convenience factor worth the $3,000.00 to you? Your choice.