Two wheel drive or 4x4?

Man this took off today!
I posted early, but last two TV have been 4X4, and both paid for them self's, in a single tow.
** F250 pulling a horse trailer home to Portland on I90 over Lookout Pass on the Idaho Montana border, snowed from Butt to Spokane.
The second was coming home from the Oregon Coast the 1st week in January 2011, about 40 miles of the coast range were snow covered saw about four cars spun out. Needed to stop on a up hill grade for on while the SP cleared out. No issues getting going.

The Mad Norsky wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
I have a 2wd and have never needed a 4wd in 8 years of towing. I don't need the added complexity and maintenance so why pay for it. FWIW I buy for my usage, not the next owner. Usually by the time I'm ready to sell a vehicle it's pretty used up. :)

:h always see this "added complexity and maintenance for a four wheel drive.

Be shocked to learn that there is very little of either. This is urban legend stuff, and really not a factor at all in ownership.

No added complexity? What do you consider an extra driveshaft, a transfer case, a couple extra U-joints, and extra couple of drive axles. KISS. If you don't need it, why carry it around? I've never needed it, ergo I don't carry it around.

carpetguy2 wrote:
Camping last weekend .And rained all weekend.Had spot to park all the trucks behind the campers.Here this ford 2wd trying to get out and couldn't.Went to help and my Chevy dually 4wd was was spinning tires a little.Hit 4wd and was out and pulled his out.
Always going to be that time that you need 4wd .Or hope someone does that's near you.

An opposite view. We were at Good Sam Rally several years ago and almost everyone was parked on the grass. 99% of all vehicles had to be pulled out. Motor Homes,2wd,4wd,srw,dullys with a small John Deer 4wd tractor and some with both the tractor and a pick-up. Yes I was pulled out and so was the new Chevy 2500 and 5er next to me. Your choice,your money. I have my reasons for my selection.

fj12ryder wrote:
I have a 2wd and have never needed a 4wd in 8 years of towing. I don't need the added complexity and maintenance so why pay for it. FWIW I buy for my usage, not the next owner. Usually by the time I'm ready to sell a vehicle it's pretty used up. :)

:h always see this "added complexity and maintenance for a four wheel drive.

Be shocked to learn that there is very little of either. This is urban legend stuff, and really not a factor at all in ownership.

Biggest reason for me on this truck...Could only get the 36gal. tank on it with 4x4 package. Can't say I was totally dissipionted with that:) It was worth it this weekend...one tank, round trip=283 miles towing trailer.

Lessmore wrote:

Of course they do....and they also sell 2WD trucks further north in Canada.

Perfect for getting the groceries in the city after the road has been plowed and salted.

I am also a North Dakota native. You show up in ND with a 2X4 pickup and they will deport you, apparently to Billings or at a min. consider you an idiot. If you could opt for a 6X6 option I would check that box as well.

I have a 2wd and have never needed a 4wd in 8 years of towing. I don't need the added complexity and maintenance so why pay for it. FWIW I buy for my usage, not the next owner. Usually by the time I'm ready to sell a vehicle it's pretty used up. :)

In 30 years I have only bought one 2wd pickup. All the others and the SUVs have all been 4WD. They are useful for many reasons as mentioned, but also slick boat ramps, backing trailers with low tongue weights uphill etc. Last summer I was going to pull my loaded car trailer into the back yard and chose the 2wd to move it. Guess what! Yep, you guessed it. Got it stuck and had to get the Excursion to pull it out. My point is that you never know when it will come in handy. Many situations over the years I've gotten out of with using 2wd only, but there have been just as many when I needed 4wd. I have sacrificed the 1 mpg difference all this time by buying 4x4s. You will use them more than you think. Plus, as pointed out, they are easier to sell.

45Ricochet wrote:
Do they even sell 2WD in N Dakota :W Funny I was talking with a salesman about a new truck couple of weeks back. Was telling him what I wanted and mentioned 4WD and he chuckled and said thats all we sell :B

Of course they do....and they also sell 2WD trucks further north in Canada.