2WD or 4WD

bamafeaver wrote:
I'm looking at the new cheverolet durmax to pull my fifth wheel. Do I really need the 4WD or should I go with the 2WD. If I go with the 4WD is the mpg a big difference and does the 4WD effective the towing capacity. Thanks

I don't think the towing mileage economy, or capacity, is much different between 4-wheel or 2-wheel, if that is your only concern.

If I was getting a new 2015 truck, I'd probably get the 4x4. But if I was getting a used truck, I'd seriously consider a 2-wheel drive unit. The reasoning is that it is true that you get all your money back for the 4x4 option resulting from lower depreciation upon resale. I checked the difference in price between a 2015 Silverado 2500HD Crew Cab, Standard Box LT 4WD and 2015 Silverado 2500HD Crew Cab, Standard Box LT RWD on the Chevrolet website, and the difference at my zip code is only $3295, or about $3.3k.

On the other hand, because of the same discrimination, a used 2wd truck will sell for a very pleasant price, and it is true that a set of rear tire chains will outpull a 4x4 without chains in a dirt traction contest. So for a very reasonable investment, one may buy tire chains to save the day in emergency low traction conditions, and even save them for the next truck if desired. Note that very few over-the-road commercial trucks have 4x4. The few that do are usually either off-road oil-field trucks or logging trucks. These hardworking 2wd rely on tire chains to safely continue across slick mountain passes. Note that they also have chains for their trailers to assist in braking and resist jack-knifing.

So we could play devils advocate and list some actual 2x4 advantages.

One advantage, that used to be prominent, was a better ride. In the past, large trucks tended to use a live front axle to provide 4x4, and the suspension was terrible as far as comfort. This is not so true anymore in the 3/4 ton range, but still oftens affects ride on larger brethren to some degree.

Another distinct advantage of 2wd is entry ride height, as it seems all manufacturers tend to lift the ride height of 4x4 over that of 2wd.

One more advantage is that 2wd still seems to squeak out about one more mpg when running empty. The bulk of this is due to the same increased ride height of 4x4, and associated turbulence of the under-carriage, when excess air passes beneath a raised chassis. You may note the front lower air dam present on every vehicle nowadays. It only does it's best good when air is smoothly redirected around the under-carriage rather than tumbling through it. The vestigial air dam part may still be present on 4x4 for show, but it is essentially useless, burning more fuel despite. During towing, the huge frontal area of the RV usually swamps the normal gains made by any aerodynamics of an unloaded "tractor", so there is little difference between 2wd or 4x4 fuel economy while towing.

To be fair, one detriment of tire-chained 2wd is lack of slow steering control in muddy, or otherwise slimy conditions, especially if a limited slip rear axle always aims straight ahead. This situation can be improved by front tire chains. But no 2wd will ever outpull, and out-control, a 4x4 with chains on a properly loaded front axle. And added benefit can be found by chaining both 4x4 axles, or incorporating all around 4x4 studded tires on ice.

So where will you be driving, and towing with, this outfit? On logging roads or interstates?

Wes
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RedRocket204 wrote:

wwest wrote:

RedRocket204 wrote:

wwest wrote:
Other than initially getting up and going, moving, on the slippery stuff 4WD/4X4 drivelines are totally USELESS!

How about geared down engine braking with 4x4 engaged?

To me, your above statement is invalid.

Anytime, ANYTIME, you have braking on the front wheels, mechanical or compression, you are in danger of loss of directional control. That's the very reason for ABS...

Is that loss of directional control any different with 2 wheel drive and friction brakes versus all 4 wheels (4x4 with drive-train compression) spinning at the same rotational speed?

I still find your statement lacking and invalid.

The purpose of ABS is to allow directional control during use of frictional brakes. Even with engine compression and only RWD engaged you not only still have the entire front wheel traction for directional control, you also have the rear brakes holding you "inline".

Back in my MT days I often lightly applied the e-brake on a slippery downhill slope to help maintain directional control

Put it in 4WD, or WORSE, 4X4 (ABS/VS is disabled automatically) "apply" engine braking, the "weight" shifts frontward, you end up plowing/understeering into the car ahead.

Out of five trucks owned only one was 2 wheel drive and I traded that in after a year when I got it stuck in the front yard after it rained. Four wheel drive is the only way to. Its better to have it and not need it than to need and not have it.

Plus if u own a TC a 4x4 can take u into some really cool place to dry camp...

My personal choice is 4WD. I do a lot of boondocking and 4 lo is made to haul the camper through a soft field. I have owned both and altho we always got by with 2wd, every vehicle that sits in my drive is AWD or 4WD. To me it is worth it.

I have owned both so far I prefer 4 wheel drive hands down. Several reasons already mentioned above by others. I will add that I have needed it at times. My thoughts are that u go as far as you can in 2 wheel drive, when u start getting stuck, turn the knob into 4 wheel and back out..... About 2 years ago, despite having a locker in the rear on my 2 wheel drive silverado, I got stuck on wet grass with the camper attached at a camp,site..... Man that sucked.... My buddy helped out with some boards and I got out. Besides that living in florida is no fun with sugar sand........truth is when u need it u really need it...

Fordlover wrote:

monkey44 wrote:


There's NO question about the versatility of 4x4 in any kind of camping or off-highway, or dirt roads ... Doesn't mean you MUST buy a 4x4, just means you have a lot more driving options if you do ... and are less likely to get stuck somewhere as well.

but you have to be careful about 4x4 bbs (big ball syndrome). Sometimes people with 4x4 believe they can go anywhere with it. I personally have seen way more 4x4's stuck in far worse situations than 2wd's. And this is coming from someone with a 4x4 Explorer. A peg leg 2wd can get stuck in wet grass, but a 4x4 typically needs to be further from terra firma to get stuck, which means a far more expensive extraction.

The argument is as old as the 4x4 option. I personally wouldn't buy a 2wd truck, but that doesn't mean that everyone needs a 4x4 truck.

Don't forget the "I can get traction and get my 4 x 4 up to 55 MPH quick on a snowy road while the rest of you suckers struggle to get to 30 MPH but then forget that 4WD does NOTHING to help you slow that rig down on those same slippery roads". :S

jody h wrote:
If you know how to drive you don't need 4X4. Never had it on our work trucks or my own. Pull trailers on wood chips, wet grass, mud, gravel, sand, coal and just about anything you can think of. Never got stuck. The only place we would get stuck was at a strip mine in Fairfield Texas when it would rain. Then everyone was stuck. They had a big dozer to pull you out of or into the pit.

You tell'em Jody! If you have a 4x4 Louisiana Jody here is going to give you a few lessons. When do lessons start?

If you know how to drive you don't need 4X4. Never had it on our work trucks or my own. Pull trailers on wood chips, wet grass, mud, gravel, sand, coal and just about anything you can think of. Never got stuck. The only place we would get stuck was at a strip mine in Fairfield Texas when it would rain. Then everyone was stuck. They had a big dozer to pull you out of or into the pit.

even in some of the forest RV parks I have camped in are dry but the pea gravel they use on the roads make it very hard not to spin you wheels while backing up a very slight drive way into the space you are parking in. 4 wheel drive has helped me many times. like others say, snow and mud and ice days make a 4 wheel drive a must around here.