2WD vs 4WD tow vehicle

[McObra]

DW and I are considering purchasing a fifth wheel and a tow vehicle.
The trailer would be in the 30-33 ft range. The theoretical tow vehicle would be a fairly new (less than four model years old) F-350, diesel, crew cab, short box, single rear wheel.
My question is;
is there any advantage to towing with a 2 wheel drive truck, as opposed to towing with a 4 wheel drive truck?
We would most likely use the rig as a way to escape the summer heat here in AZ, and would most likely travel and see more of this great country. For the past several summers, we have driven between 7,000 and 10,000 miles each summer, sightseeing in the family sedan.
Thanks for your consideration.

[Veebyes]

Dave H M wrote:
Look it this issue from a different angle.

Get the 2 WD. throw a tow strap in the bed or storage area. If you get stuck the 4 WD guys will be lining up to pull you out. :B

Reminds me of the time i got stuck with the 2 WD tractor blading snow. In a flash this 4 WD guy stopped and yanked me right out. No charge, he was just having fun. :W

Thats is my MO. 9 years, 150,000 miles, hundreds of CGs & fields later & I have yet to use the tow rope or been helped by some guy with his big burly 4WD.

This is not to say that I have not gotten stuck. Oh yes, been stuck a few times with trailer on the back. Been towed only once by the CG small tractor, & that was after we had almost gotten ourselves out & only had a few feet to go to solid good traction ground.

If you are 2WD boards for trailer leveling are very handy for getting under drive wheels to get out of slippery situations.

[rhagfo]

Sport45 wrote:

smccollamjr wrote:
It all depends on where and how you camp. I've needed it a few times.

If you learned how to back in you might not need 4x4. 🙂

X2!
You never know what the weather will bring!

[Coach-man]

jffnkrn wrote:
I will double my offer and make it 4 cents worth. a couple comments about no snow, no grass, sand etc. in a particular state. I am sure we all travel form one state to another and weather and driving conditions change and sometimes real quick. Again, it is up to you what to buy, your money, but I think you will be happy with spending a few more $$$. my opinion. Also I might add, as long as your vehicle is moving your not stuck! Good Luck & Be Safe ! ! !

This thread is back! Two things on reflection, first a couple of years ago We were in Iowa, and were camping in town, City owned RV park next to a river. No paved sites, it seems somewhere up river heavy rain, river started rising and was told to leave. What was dry solid ground became soup, I managed to move about 50 feet and got stuck! Had to get a friend with 4x4 to tow me out of the mess, next day the camp site was about a foot under water,

Second, to the discussion about repairs. Some years ago in South FLA, I owned a Bronco with 4x4 capability. Went to an event in Lauderdale, and was told to park in a feild, no problem I had four wheel drive, well front right hub was spun and it took me and a buddy almost three hours to get out of the field. It was about $50 in parts and abouta. Four hours to rebuild the hub! So yes Virginia you can have problems with 4x4's!

[Dave_H_M]

:h It is what you need.

I will never need 4 WD

[sadiesassy]

Your scenario only looks at pulling the trailer.

What else do you use your truck for? About 30% of the back roads to get to other places are true 4WD roads. Another 30% nice to have .

Are the places you go have mud? water crossings.

ONly have used 4WD with the trailer - and that was getting through mud, sand, and streams. One of those times - it was an RV park where the trailer site was real muddy

But use my 4WD at least 2-3 times per month.

[newk]

I'd think the biggest advantage to having 2-wheel drive would be that the truck sits lower, and most 4x4s sit too high for the 5ers we pull.

That said, I wouldn't go back to 4x2 if I could help it. I've used my 4x4 to wander along jeep trails for sightseeing/photography, wood gathering for the fire pit and fishing trips, steep driveways, stump pulling, towing stuck 4x2s and, most important, snow, ice and mud. Oh, and for those mountain passes with chain laws in effect... that don't require chains if you have 4x4/AWD. In other words, 4x4 is really handy for me, summer or winter.

[smccollamjr]

Maybe I'll try that. ??. DW wanted our door facing our friends in the next site. Yes it is pretty tame, but 4wd was needed. Was it necessary to position it that way? No, but it made for a nicer camping trip. I've been in a few tame situations where I needed 4wd. And yes, I'm one of those guys who would gladly pull you out if you were stuck. Not to gloat, but to help you out, and because it's fun.

[Sport45]

smccollamjr wrote:
It all depends on where and how you camp. I've needed it a few times.

If you learned how to back in you might not need 4x4. 🙂

[time2roll]

These pictures look pretty tame for declaring 4WD is needed.

[smccollamjr]

It all depends on where and how you camp. I've needed it a few times.

[fj12ryder]

Yeah, I've heard that the only windbreak between you guys and the North Pole is a 3 strand barbed wire fence. 🙂

[The_Mad_Norsky]

fj12ryder wrote:
OTOH I've had this particular 2WD truck for 9 years and not once have I needed or wanted 4WD. I've had no 4WD maintenance issues, no extra upfront costs, and no loss in fuel mileage due to hauling around unneeded weight. Works for me.

Fuel mileage really not that big of a difference. Some of course, but really wind resistance to the truck and fifth wheel is more of a mileage killer than the extra weight of the 4WD items.

Took my 4WD alone (not towing) on a long road trip this spring. Northbound, with tail wind, lie-o-meter showed getting about 20 MPG.

Westbound, horrendous windy day, got down to 9 MPG.

Of course, I live on the northern Great Plains, where it's windy ALL the darn time.

[fj12ryder]

OTOH I've had this particular 2WD truck for 9 years and not once have I needed or wanted 4WD. I've had no 4WD maintenance issues, no extra upfront costs, and no loss in fuel mileage due to hauling around unneeded weight. Works for me.

[jffnkrn]

I guess I will throw in another 2 cents, now a total of 6 cents. Just do it! We have learned all our lives that we should never skimp a bit on a lesser thing as in the long run a few extra $$$ pays off. Like said multiple time, best to have and not need than to need and not have. I bet negotiating with the selling dealer, you can make it work to have your cake and eat it too!!! Good Luck & be Safe ! ! !