2WD or 4X4 for a truck camper

burningman wrote:
4x4 isn’t even a correct term. That name came from WWII vehicles with a 4’x4’ cargo space.
They happened to be four wheel drive but that’s not what “4x4” means.

Number of wheel positions, (Duels count as 1) times number of wheels powered. Most OTR tractors are 6X4, because 6X2 has too much tire slip. Not that they won't go, but because they wear tires faster. I have converted trucks 4X2 to 6X4, 6X4 to 8X4. The last 2 trucks I owned where factory set up as 8X4, but tractors all 6X4.

The best argument for 4WD I’ve witnessed was driving over the pass in the snow one day.
A guy in a 2WD pickup suddenly spun out and hit the wall. It was because we were all on the throttle to climb uphill, but he broke traction and spun. Everyone else around was in 4WD and didn’t.

I was about 2 hours from home late on a Friday eve. Stopped to eat, come out of restaurant just start freezing rain/snow mix. I was tired, decided to sleep instead of fighting slick roads. After breakfast, strolled down the interstate. About 50 vehicles in ditches and median. About 75% where tractor trailers. Not one car, the others where 4X4 pickups and SUVs. The only 2 wheel drives I saw was the single axle tractors pulling wiggle wagons. Way to often I have heard "I got 4 wheel drive, I can go!" Everybody has 4 wheel brakes, if I can't stop, I don't want to go.

While it’s a side benefit, the low-range gears in a 4WD transfer case are a big advantage in lots of situations.

IMHO, this and the neutral is the most useful part of the system...