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.

[laknox]

eichacsj wrote:

McObra wrote:
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.

No difference in towing. But if you go back on muddy roads or go up to the RIM country and it rains. The ground is clay and when it gets wet... well plan to stay longer if you only have a 2wd. Also we do our boon-docking on the RIM and go back on the 4wd trails to camp, I could only go back there with 4WD.

If you don't plan on going off pavement or in snowy travels go with 2wd if you do plan on doing any of those get a 4wd. It's insurance, you don't need until you need it real bad.

And if it's =very= wet, you'll need 1 or 2 MORE 4wd to get you out of even a shallow rut. BTDT. 🙂

Lyle

[caysea7254]

ok I asked that same question last year. My DH said we needed 4 WD and I thought we didn't need it!! Well after this past weekend I am very thankful we have 4 WD!!! Campground was very muddy and we would not of been able to get out of a few spots if not for the 4WD. Get it!!! Better to not use it and have it, than not have it and need it! Tara 🙂

[eichacsj]

McObra wrote:
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.

No difference in towing. But if you go back on muddy roads or go up to the RIM country and it rains. The ground is clay and when it gets wet... well plan to stay longer if you only have a 2wd. Also we do our boon-docking on the RIM and go back on the 4wd trails to camp, I could only go back there with 4WD.

If you don't plan on going off pavement or in snowy travels go with 2wd if you do plan on doing any of those get a 4wd. It's insurance, you don't need until you need it real bad.

[Snowman9000]

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

You are exactly right IMO. I had a tow strap and always figured any self respecting 4WD guy would be dying to tow me. Especially if it was a Dodge or Ford to tow my Chevy.

Limited slip has been mentioned a few times. I doubt you can buy a 2WD 3/4 or 1 tonner without it. I'm here to tell you it doesn't make enough difference to matter, though. My Duramax and I suppose other brands as well have so much torque that when the tires want to slip, they both slip. Obviously if only one tire is on a slippery surface, then okay that's different.

Nor does having 2000 lbs of fiver pin weight help, surprisingly. You'd think it would, but it must be cancelled out by having the extra load to pull, because the tires slip just as bad or worse than if not hauling a fiver.

[packnrat]

rear axle drive only. only advantage is millage, and tow weights.

both axles driven. wet grass? dirt roads, places a rear only driven will get stuck. less mpg.
get the long bed.

but no matter 2-4 wheel drive stock only one tire gets ALL the power the other is lazy and does nothing.
pay the cost for a limited slip locker. when needed both tires on same axle turn.

z

[The_Mad_Norsky]

fj12ryder wrote:
"fj12ryder:

good grief, you may be correct there."

I took a screen shot of that just because it happens so infrequently. And I had to show it to my wife: "See honey, I am correct occasionally." She still doesn't believe it. 🙂

More than happy to be of assistance!

[fj12ryder]

"fj12ryder:

good grief, you may be correct there."

I took a screen shot of that just because it happens so infrequently. And I had to show it to my wife: "See honey, I am correct occasionally." She still doesn't believe it. 🙂

[The_Mad_Norsky]

fj12ryder:

good grief, you may be correct there. And completely unintentional on my part.

My whole post was meant to say that I've had trouble free components, so don't be scared off by this talk of absolutely having to repair things.

As rhagfo said, today's systems are less prone to trouble, and I do think my (knock on wood :B) so far trouble free experience attests to
that.

I used to store my fifth wheel for the winter at our farm, about 150 miles from where I lived in North Dakota, back when still residing there.

We had a large machinery storage quonset building which was perfect for my fiver in the winter.

Anyway, took off towing the rig one late October afternoon. About half way there, started heavy snow, and it was the wet stuff, really sticking to the roads.

Threw the truck into 4WD and continued driving down the road, trouble free, although by the time I got to the farm, there was a good six inches of snow on the roads. Wet, heavy stuff, so I did slow down quite a bit.

But once again, an example of NEEDING 4WD when towing.

[magic43]

My TV is 4WD plus it has a winch. Yes, it is a personal choice, but reality has proven that stuff happens.

[bpounds]

I would have a sad face, if I knew that I would not be able to camp in locations such as these, because I was too cheap to pay for 4WD. Or too afraid of repairs. Or too dependent on pavement. My family and I would have missed so much of this beautiful country, especially here in the west, without our 4WD trucks.

Nevada


Arizona

[rhagfo]

NC Hauler wrote:

wandering1 wrote:
4wd is not needed for towing an RV trailer. The tow vehicle would not have enough power to pull an RV trailer thru the terrain that 4wd is needed for. 4wd costs more, adds weight to the truck, reduces the weight of the trailer you can tow and stay within the GCWR. If not RVing it is good for mudding if you like driving in the mud.

I towed my 5er through "The Gorge" from Sevierville TN to just outside Asheville NC, in the snow, which was sticking to the road, (had about 2-3" on the road...sorry to tell you....but the 4 wheel high option made it happen.....I didn't intentionally set out to tow in the white stuff, it just happened...and it got worse...but I made it all the way home towing UP the Gorge in 4 wheel high.....so.....4WD WAS needed to tow an RV,...MINE.....I don't go off road with 5er, but I've been on water soaked ground/grass, and I needed 4 wheel drive there also....The added cost is minimal, as is the weight, (alway's has paid off on trade in or sale...you get more around here for 4 wheel drive trucks). I'm really not worried about going over any numbers I tow just because the truck is a 4 wheel drive truck..AT a GVWR of 14,000# and a GCWR of 37,500# (RAWR of 9750#)....the weight of the 4 wheel drive components is not noticeable.

I also didn't set out to tow in the snow the first time! It was a trip home and got caught driving over the coast range pass in the snow to get home.

Well next trip out to the coast several weeks later, there was snow in the forecast for our travel to the coast day. Didn't give it a second thought, we even needed to go out and around a spun out log truck.

[NC_Hauler]

wandering1 wrote:
4wd is not needed for towing an RV trailer. The tow vehicle would not have enough power to pull an RV trailer thru the terrain that 4wd is needed for. 4wd costs more, adds weight to the truck, reduces the weight of the trailer you can tow and stay within the GCWR. If not RVing it is good for mudding if you like driving in the mud.

I towed my 5er through "The Gorge" from Sevierville TN to just outside Asheville NC, in the snow, which was sticking to the road, (had about 2-3" on the road...sorry to tell you....but the 4 wheel high option made it happen.....I didn't intentionally set out to tow in the white stuff, it just happened...and it got worse...but I made it all the way home towing UP the Gorge in 4 wheel high.....so.....4WD WAS needed to tow an RV,...MINE.....I don't go off road with 5er, but I've been on water soaked ground/grass, and I needed 4 wheel drive there also....The added cost is minimal, as is the weight, (alway's has paid off on trade in or sale...you get more around here for 4 wheel drive trucks). I'm really not worried about going over any numbers I tow just because the truck is a 4 wheel drive truck..AT a GVWR of 14,000# and a GCWR of 37,500# (RAWR of 9750#)....the weight of the 4 wheel drive components is not noticeable.

[fj12ryder]

I honestly don't think I've ever seen a winch on a 2WD truck.

[WeBeFulltimers]

Doesn't anyone use a winch anymore? Wet grass is the only possible problem I MIGHT encounter and I believe I could winch out of that. Love my great- riding and good -fuel- mileage- getting 4 x 2!:W

[fj12ryder]

rhagfo wrote:
Well the fact of the matter is that repairs to a 4X4 can be costly, but it would require repair first and now days 4X4's just don't break all that often. So yes you MAY need to pay for a repair IF it breaks.

That said it is still cheap insurance for when you need it or could use it!! Once again PERSONAL CHOICE!

I agree wholeheartedly, and only get riled when someone says repairs are never needed. Heck, even Cummins 5.9 engines need some repairs now and again. 🙂