4x4 vs 2x4

[97winger]

My wife and I was out window shopping duallys when I come across a 2010 f350 crew cab w 8ft box with the 6.4 diesel. The kicker is it only has 9,000 miles on it. But it's two wheel drive. We are planning going full time in the spring with a 5th wheel probably 37 ft 14,000 lb rig. My original thought was a 4x4 but now thinking why not 2x4. We not expecting to be driving in snow ever again (hopefully). Any average of either.

[Tom_Barb]

rhagfo wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:
IF my tow vehicle did not double as my plow truck , it might only be a 4X2 . .

Never needed 4X4 towing , but I guess its nice to have it if needed over needing it and not having it . .

Well every once in a while mother nature throws you a curve! We had spent a beautiful four days on the Oregon Coast the first week of January. We had a couple days of sunshine and a couple days of rain temps in the mid 40's. Then it came time to head home, temps dropped to very low 30's and then it came!

remember a 4X4 may get going on slippery roads, but they can't stop any quicker, every one has 4 wheel brakes.

:h

Did you not notice the following distance I have to the rig in front of me??

I had plenty of traction and power to be on his bumper if I was stupid. I am well aware of the limitations of four wheel drive. I just wish others like you were also!!

In addition we were required to stop on a decent uphill grade for a spin out into a guard rail with a SP trouper on site. No issues getting going.

On this day I had 8 wheel brakes and used with caution!!

Others Like me ??? I'm glade you know me so well.
I like others like me know very well stopping distance isn't changed with the number of wheels driving.

[FishOnOne]

Grit dog wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

Atlee wrote:
For me, I'd rather have 4x4 and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

I have used my 4x4 a couple of times.

I have also loved it when I needed it. Coming home from the Oregon Coast 1st week of January 2011.

The other plus is if you don't lock the front hubs, you can put the transfer case in low range for backing into a space. I find this very nice as one host site we use, is backing uphill to the blind side.

Well now I have covered the 4X4, thoughts, I would not own a Ford/IH 6.x diesel. They just all had too many issues.

Except there's not a single 4wd HD pickup with true manual hubs anymore, unless you get a free spin kit. Even the super duty hubs are kind of for show. There's auto lockers behind the manual hubs. The manual hubs are just bling until the auto locking hubs malfunction. Although idk if there's a way to disable th auto and run with just manual hubs. That would be great for a factory 2lo setup!

The manual/auto hubs on the Super Duty is so much better than the dodge setup and the manual lock is real locking hubs. And the front drive axles aren't always spinning like the dodge when driving in 2wd. As a matter of fact when our dodge 4x4 stop engaging that was the straw that broke the camels back that we decided we had enough of that truck and sold it as is.

[Supercharged]

97winger wrote:
My wife and I was out window shopping duallys when I come across a 2010 f350 crew cab w 8ft box with the 6.4 diesel. The kicker is it only has 9,000 miles on it. But it's two wheel drive. We are planning going full time in the spring with a 5th wheel probably 37 ft 14,000 lb rig. My original thought was a 4x4 but now thinking why not 2x4. We not expecting to be driving in snow ever again (hopefully). Any average of either.

The only people who ever need a 4x4 are ranchers, some farmers, loggers, untily companies, people in Canada, Alaska. All the rest are just waisting there kids fun money for later.
The guy don't the street has one and they can't have that, they need one to.

[FishOnOne]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Since the OP's 4x question has been answered 50x over (if you need one get it, if not don't get it) I will answer your question.

jerseyjim wrote:
The first couple responders blasted the 6.4 diesel. Why?

Oh, maybe because of these and many more issues:

#1. Cavitation issues

#2. Rocker arm issues

#3. Making oil issues.

#4. Turbo failures

#5. Radiator problems

These are just a few of the issues. There are a lot more with this engine.

The crazy thing is I know a guy at work that has a 09 Super Duty with over 250k miles. The only thing he's replaced under the hood was idler pulley, but has recently replaced the transmission which he has never changed the transmission fluid nor added any fluid.

I recall my cousin telling me people would ask him what he thought of the 6.4 and he would try to talk them out of it, but then again he would never recommend any diesel equipped with a DPF and no DEF system.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Since the OP's 4x question has been answered 50x over (if you need one get it, if not don't get it) I will answer your question.

jerseyjim wrote:
The first couple responders blasted the 6.4 diesel. Why?

Oh, maybe because of these and many more issues:

#1. Cavitation issues

#2. Rocker arm issues

#3. Making oil issues.

#4. Turbo failures

#5. Radiator problems

These are just a few of the issues. There are a lot more with this engine.

[97winger]

WOW! What a great forum. So many great replies in 24 hrs. Well, with all of this I'm convinced to go with the 4x4 which didn't take much , I've always had a 4x4 but that 2010 f350 is such a nice looking truck it was very temping. I can wait to get out on the road and meet everyone. Thanks so much for your input.

[dave17352]

Farmerjon wrote:

dave17352 wrote:
I will never forget the guy talking to me at a big box store about how sorry he was he had bought a 6.7 Ford.

???? where did that come from and why?

My mistake it was a 6.4 ford. I think around a 2008. At that time he was talking about what terrible mpg it got.

[Grit_dog]

Grodyman wrote:
Does the elocker in the Ford 2wd rear ends help?
Gman

Absolutely! Works as well as any true locker. Cannot comment on longevity but for the 25kmi I had my 2013 it was great. Driveway was too steep to go up empty bed and 2wd without getting a run at it. Lock the rear and went right up. In the winter was about 50/50 in the snow whether I needed 4wd or could make it in 2wd locked up.
Compared to 4wd I'd say it's not quite half way between 2 and 4wd. Still no substitute for having a driven steering axle with a lot of weight on it.
Btw it kicks out at like 25mph automatically.

[fanrgs]

rhagfo wrote:
Well every once in a while mother nature throws you a curve! We had spent a beautiful four days on the Oregon Coast the first week of January. We had a couple days of sunshine and a couple days of rain temps in the mid 40's. Then it came time to head home, temps dropped to very low 30's and then it came!

And it doesn't have to be in January! Memorial Day weekend 2015 we towed our 5th wheel from Bryce Canyon NP to Zion NP via Cedar Breaks NM due to the tunnel restrictions on the road into Zion. Beautiful clear skies and 50 degrees when we left Bryce; 35 degrees and a white-out when we reached the entrance into Cedar Breaks. Several 2WD RVs had pulled into the entrance road and were parked to wait out the storm. We were in 4WD and kept going down the mountain to Cedar City, where it wasn't even raining, then on to Hurricane where we had reservations for the weekend. As others have said, you don't need 4WD until you really need 4WD.

[Grodyman]

Does the elocker in the Ford 2wd rear ends help?
Gman

[crcr]

We live in a city and always camp in campgrounds, but still, both camping and when not camping, there have been many instances I have had to use 4WD. I wouldn't own a truck without 4WD. Here's just a few instances it proved helpful or indispensable:

Driving on gravel roads without the trailer in tow when camping -- as someone mentioned, traction is noticeably better and the truck drives much more stable in 4WD.

Backing the truck up a slope at home on gravel to hook our utility trailer, when the truck is empty, the rear wheels slip. Put it in 4Lo, slipping ends.

At home, I have pulled posts out of the ground, pulled up trees, moved boulders, etc using 4WD, where 2WD would not have done the job.

Buy what you like, but 4WD is wonderful "insurance" to have, and if you ever need it and don't have it, you will wish you had it.

[JAC1982]

We've had to use the 4WD in our dually just to pull the trailer off of our own loose crushed asphalt driveway. It was newly laid and not compacted a lot yet, and was like driving on gravel. I don't see why you'd not have 4WD unless all you will be doing is driving in nice weather on pavement.

[n0arp]

Once when camping in the sand dunes, we had to leave the road to get our 35' into the space they gave us. We had reserved a spot, they said it would fit, but there was just no way without leaving the pavement. We got stuck in the sand in 2wd, and 4lo pulled us out with the trailer in tow. Left some serious ruts. Otherwise we would have been stranded, blocking the road, with a stuck 20K# rig and no good way to get it out. And this was after 9pm and it was dark out. I'll take the 4wd, just in case. You never know. Spent an hour after unhitching filling in the ruts.

[rhagfo]

Tom/Barb wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:
IF my tow vehicle did not double as my plow truck , it might only be a 4X2 . .

Never needed 4X4 towing , but I guess its nice to have it if needed over needing it and not having it . .

Well every once in a while mother nature throws you a curve! We had spent a beautiful four days on the Oregon Coast the first week of January. We had a couple days of sunshine and a couple days of rain temps in the mid 40's. Then it came time to head home, temps dropped to very low 30's and then it came!

remember a 4X4 may get going on slippery roads, but they can't stop any quicker, every one has 4 wheel brakes.

:h

Did you not notice the following distance I have to the rig in front of me??

I had plenty of traction and power to be on his bumper if I was stupid. I am well aware of the limitations of four wheel drive. I just wish others like you were also!!

In addition we were required to stop on a decent uphill grade for a spin out into a guard rail with a SP trouper on site. No issues getting going.

On this day I had 8 wheel brakes and used with caution!!

[korbe]

We use 4 low to "push" our rig up our steep driveway. Works great goes slow and grips the AC pavement.

We also use 4 low when going up our 25% sloped gravel getaway driveway. No slipping at all.