2 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive

[jblake240]

I’m looking at a new Ram 3500 diesel- why should I go with a four
wheel over a 2 wheel drive.
I's siding on a 2 Wheel. Pulling a
Keystone RV Mountaineer 375FLF Fifth Wheels
Hitch Weight 2,120 lbs
Dry Weight 11,916 lbs

[rhagfo]

ChooChooMan74 wrote:
I had a 2WD dually back in the 90s. I believe that is all Ford made in the duallys back then. I got stuck going where I shouldn't go. I would get a 2WD dually again. Bow many big rigs do you see with 4WD?

The answer is almost all!! most tandem axle trucks drive on both axles, some can also lock them up for real traction.

4X4 or 4X2 is a personal choice, we four season camp, so we want for the extra control in snow.
If you have never driven a 4X4 in slick conditions the difference is that when you turn the steering wheel the TV goes that direction instead of plowing.

[BB_TX]

I have 4x4 only because there are typically very few 4x2 trucks on the dealer new truck lots. And the ones that are are usually the basic lower end models or work type trucks.
But in 7 years of towing the 5er I have never used 4 wheel drive. But I do not tow it in the winter or get off road or park in sand or soft grass or dirt.
I do agree that resale would be better if that concerns you.

[Cummins12V98]

Exploring the Painted Canyon area near Palm Springs on a gravel road and it turned to loose sand quickly. Started to bog down, put in 4wd and drove right thru it. Stuck in 100 degree weather 5 miles from pavement would not have been fun!

[tonystx]

I'm glad I have it. The owner of the storage lot decided to put down some more gravel without packing it down. I went to go get my trailer and the rear wheels were spinning. I don't think I would have been able to get the trailer out without 4wd.

[john_bet]

I have yet to own a 4wd truck. We lived in the Black Hills for 9 years and traveled on forest service roads, went Christmas tree shopping in the snow without issue. Have owned current truck for over 10 years and it is a 2wd. A lot of people are having problems with the current 4wd being to high for a 5th wheel. I find the step up to high even with side steps added. I even have side steps on my 2wd. We have had a lot of extra snow this year and I still didn't need a 4wd and my drive way goes up 8' in a 50' run and I don't clean it. Personal choice as I see it.

[ChooChooMan74]

I had a 2WD dually back in the 90s. I believe that is all Ford made in the duallys back then. I got stuck going where I shouldn't go. I would get a 2WD dually again. Bow many big rigs do you see with 4WD?

[KD4UPL]

If your just pulling a camper around on pavement you don't need 4wd. I use my trucks for lots of other things and need 4wd quite frequently. I made the mistake of buying a 2wd work truck once and that was enough.
Around here you can't hardly give a 2wd truck away. But, here it snows and there are lots of mountains. Maybe that's not the case where you live.

[Njmurvin]

One thing to consider is the height. Depending on your hitch and tongue height of your trailer, the 4x4 may require you to raise the trailer to get the proper bed clearance. For example, I had to flip the axles on my trailer to get it to the proper height. Some trailers have adjustment in the shackles. Mine didn't. I live in SoCal and rarely leave the road. There was at least one time where my truck would have needed a tow to get out. I had to go up a loose gravel driveway in the June Lake area (trailer not attached). I couldn't get any traction at all until I put it in 4WD. Then it was like I was on pavement. As mentioned, 4LO is great when doing parking maneuvers. You don't have to rev as high in 4LO to get things moving which saves on the transmission too with less slippage (=heat)with low speed maneuvers.

[agesilaus]

Depends on your style of camping. We use 4WD frequently. We like to travel backroads and see thing that 99% of travelers will never see like this for example:



Cathedral Valley road near Capitol Reef

or this:



House Rock road near the North Rim

If you are happy being shoulder to shoulder in the crowd looking at the same sights that everyone else sees then you don't need 4WD

BK

[donn0128]

Had both. Don't miss the 4X4 one bit. My dually may not have the traction, but then again I am not going to put a 13,000+ fifth wheel on wet grass or dirt, so why do I want to pay a premium for it?

[Old-Biscuit]

What kind of places do you go camping?
Have you needed 4WD in the past camping?
Are your camping plans changing?

Only you can decide if you need it or want it....

I only needed it once in 7yrs of FTng due to wet grass...and I really didn't need it....what I really needed was to swap OEM highway thread tires out for a better gripping tire.

Regardless of 2WD or 4WD.....it is going to be a 'dually' correct?

[Tin_Pusher]

You're on pavement all the time, probably don't need. Pull thru or back into level campsites all the time, probably don't need it. You're not, good to have.

[Cummins12V98]

Parking your RV using 4 low on steep grades is very nice! Also pulling one side up on thick blocks when the site is sloped. Resale for sure!

[avvidclif1]

I never needed one, but then again I stay on paved roads and don't dry camp. Roughing it is electricity and water only.

[hammer21661]

The resale is worth it alone. In this area anyway.