4WD vs 2WD

No response on "payload", that's your choice. But as far as when to use 2 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive when towing ... well, put it this way ... in the last 15 years, I used 4x4 towing on only one occasion.

We planned a trip from Indiana to Norfolk, VA to attend our daughter's wedding (which by the way, never happened). She was in the Navy. The day we planned on leaving, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia got hit with blizzard like conditions. We traveled anyway, driving 20-25 mph in 4 wheel drive over interstates in those mountains and hills in KY and TN. What should have taken about a 10 hour trip ended up being 2 days. Once we crossed over the Mountains in Virginia and got on the flats, the snow was behind us!

Since then, I've never had to use 4x4 towing, even in the winter as we've been able to avoid or work around snow covered roads.

4x4 towing would come in real handy if you camp on a beach, go off-road on forest roads, or boom dock in places there are no roads.

If you are driving paved road, the use for 4x4 is virtually non-existent.

Now, the question is, do you have another use for 4x4 when not towing? Because of where I live (in the country, on a county road, 25 miles from where I work) I need a vehicle that I can depend upon to make it through snow covered roads in the winter when a normal car will not! So for me, I don't use 4x4 towing, but I use it for other purposes!

It's really all a matter of how you plan on using your tow vehicle that should drive 4x4 or 2x4. Otherwise, you are correct 4x4 is an over-kill and something you may never use. So why get a vehicle that has it.

Only you can make that determination.

Like you I simply could not justify spending more up front and getting worse fuel economy just to have a 4X4 TV. Pulling large trailers how many times are you going to pull it off pavement? Thats the biggie.

I had a 2wd with our first trailer, rain came while camping and when we went to leave I had to have a tow truck get us out. Cost of the tow was about what it would've cost between 2wd and 4wd. Fast forward to last year, same thing but different trailer and truck. This time all it took was a turn of a switch and eased on out. Worth every penny for 4wd!

Welcome to the forum.

The extra weight of a four-wheel-drive well reduce your pay load and your towing capacity. Not by a whole lot but it will never the less reduce your weight capacity.

I remember reading years back where someone wished they had four-wheel-drive when they got their fifth wheel stuck on wet grass while camping. I thought that sounded silly at the time, but after having experience it, you will love to have four-wheel-drive even if you're caught on a sunny day on wet grass. Four-wheel-drive is one of the best options that have when you need it. Is it worth it to have it full time, that is something you will have to determine.

If you stay on pavement most of the time then 4WD will be of minimal benefit. It occasionally is useful in campgrounds. I've used in in some soggy wet cg for example. Or if you have to back the 5ver uphill. But those aren't that common.

Are 3/4 and 1 ton 4WD trucks higher than 2WD?

It used to be that 1/2 ton trucks were always higher in 4WD until someone decided that all 1/2 trucks should be 20 feet tall for that macho effect. Small ***** effect I guess.

I'm not familiar with the modern 3/4-1 ton market, so this is new for me.

I was trying to back my 5th wheel up a slight hill, dirt with small rocks, and my tires spun. After a couple tries, I put it in 4WD and backed right up. I probably could have worked it out in 2WD. More likely, when I'm not hooked up I'm often on dirt roads and use the 4WD. I'm in Utah, we get snow. Lots of dirt roads.

So, it comes back what your use case is. It does kind of stink to give up the payload for the 4wd, but I gave some up for the diesel too. Mmm... In Utah, gotta have the 4wd.

For what you describe... get 2WD
And yes 4WD lowers your payload and tow rating a few hundred pounds.

If you've been towing for a lot of years, and don't think you need it, I would say you don't. Myself, I engage the 4X4 quite often while towing, generally several times a year. My ten year average for towing works out to just a smidgen under 7k miles per year. Both the wife and I have jobs where we work long hours, but get regular extended weekends, and thus often travel several hundred miles for our 3 or 4 day weekend. In the winter, that generally means at least a mountain pass or two that is snow covered at the least, and might involve more than that being we need to get back to work sometimes when the weather is less than optimal.

You can't really off road in a one ton as they aren't suitable for it and I have other vehicles for that sort of use so 4X4 isn't necessarily necessary for us in these situations, although it sometimes provides a benefit when the afternoon thunderstorms strike. 4X4 is a real benefit in the snow however. While front wheel drive and good tires will generally get you going, the added control you get with 4X4 makes the adventure a whole lot safer so I use the truck or our SUV when the snow flies rather than the car when possible for the added maneuverability the 4X4 provides.

Yup, only you can decide if 4WD is warranted for your type of camping style. The loss of a bit of payload, slight decrease of mpg, or whatever upkeep that a 4WD might require in no way sways those that know they need this option. I didn't give it a second thought, we often camp in remote places in adverse weather where not having a 4WD would mean not getting in, and more importantly, getting back out of these secluded sites. It saves my butt at least a few times a year, darn glad we didn't pay heed to the nominal differences above.