2wd or 4wd for towing

john&bet wrote:

mkirsch wrote:
It's comforting to know that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Same tired old BS answers... Need it if you have it, but want it if you eat it. Whatever.

The simple fact of the matter is the market is going to 4x4. 2WD is going the way of the manual transmission; more expensive to keep the option in the inventory vs. the number of units sold. I would bet in 10 years you won't be able to buy a 2WD pickup truck of any description.

IMHO you will be able to find a better deal on a 4x4. It might actually end up being CHEAPER than the 2WD simply based on how rare 2WD trucks are. Dealers will be less willing to cut you a deal on the 2WD because they know there is a small but passionate market who are foolishly willing to pay more for less. If you're not fool enough to pay full retail, someone else will.

Overall you will get a better value for your money on the 4x4 even if you spend a little more.

The 4x4 technology these days is so refined that it doesn't really hurt your fuel economy much anymore, and can withstand long periods of non-use. The mechanical and electronic components are durable and reliable so despite what your proclivities are, there really is nothing to worry about.

That is all well and good for most people. But I am not one of them. For 55 years it has only been 2wd trucks in my life. Just this summer we had a chance to ride in my son-in-laws 4wd Chevy 2500. It was very difficult to get into from the right side even with the standard steps. It was even worst to get out of. This inconvinence is more important to us over the two or three times we might use 4wd in 10 or 12 years. Yes 4wd may fetch more at trade in time, but my current 2wd is now 14 model years old and has 212+K on it. So what is it trade in value? Who wants a 2 or 4wd truck that is 14 years old to tow an RV at a fair price? We travel in our RV to see family in far away states. Not to go to the woods. I also think there is too much electronics in the new trucks that do me no good, but I also like some of the nice things in them just not all, but you can't get exactly what you want without the other stuff. Yuck. As is said, to each his own.

Perhaps there will be a growing market for pickup truck escalators. ;) I try very hard to avoid situations that require my elderly mom to get in/out of my truck. I also keep a special step stool for just such occasions. I'm also one of those that can't even back my trailer into the yard without 4 wheel drive, needless to say the number of times I use it commuting 50 miles daily in the winter.