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.

[WTP-GC]

7 pages
question not resolved
lots of opinions

Get a 4WD...they just look better.

[BenK]

If you have to ask...do NOT get it...

Folks who don't know and get it has been very bad, IMHO, for the types of 4x4's
offered by the OEMs

Dumbed down for convenience to the point it is almost worthless to
me...of course IMHO...and increased both the complexity (for no good
reason other than for convenience) and the cost (purchase and to fix)

Floor mounted levers confused so many that they are now gone and dash mounted
electronic shifting of the transfer case is the norm (not all, just most). Lost
with that is 'N'...was for the PTO, but most won't know what a PTO is...

Ditto hubs...first came automatic hubs, which stuck most times and mainly because
folks did NOT know they need yearly servicing...then no more hubs and the front
axles hooked up 100% of the time...4x4 is now done on most via the front diff with
a solenoid/etc to toss in a dog into the carrier

Too often here, but mainly over at my 4x4 blogs/forums folks come ask what to
do with 'that funny noise' coming from underneath the vehicle...they do NOT
understand, nor accept that 4x4 is NOT to used on good traction conditions...but
on slippery/etc conditions...unless they have full time or AWD, etc



If you have to ask...do NOT get it...

[mowermech]

I always get a chuckle out of these "4X4 vs. 4X2" threads (by the way, a "2X4" is a piece of lumber, not a vehicle).
In my 60 years of driving, I have owned both. In fact, I now have a 4X4 Dodge CTD 2500. I have had it in four wheel drive to test the function, but that is all.
I used to have a Jeep Rubicon. The only time it was in four wheel drive was on trips to Moab to run the slick-rock trails. Oh, wait, I did put it in four wheel drive, and locked both differentials, to try to bust a snow berm that I had built up in front of it. That didn't work, I had to dig it out!
When we were full timing in a triple slide fifth wheel, I had a 4X2 Dodge 3500 CTD. Never needed 4X4. After we settled, I used that truck for hauling hay for our horses, never needed 4X4. I took it to CA to pick up a car on a flatbed trailer, towed that rig across Donner Pass in a blizzard, did not need 4X4. Yes, I had to put chains on.
The only reason I have a 4X4 now is that a Dodge 4X4 is towable four down without modification (the 2500 CTD is too heavy, though), and 4X2 trucks are hard to find.
My last truck, a Dodge 1500, was 4X4 for the same reason: Towability!
I grew up and learned to drive in Northwestern Montana winters without 4X4. They were quite rare back then. Very few people wanted them!
IMO, based on what I see around here, 4X4 is more a "fashion statement" than a true "need"! Most of them rarely leave hard surface roads. Note I did not say "pavement".

[pyoung47]

Honestly, in about 45 years of owning a pickup I've OFTEN needed a four wheel drive. For many years, I didn't have one, and in my use I did a lot of back up / go forward -- pull me out etc. Obviously, if you are one who only goes to deluxe campgrounds or strays seldom from the interstate, you would be much better off with a two wheel drive, since 4 x 4 is annoying -- higher - which makes climbing in and attaching to anything you are pulling more complicated.

Honestly, though in the past couple of weeks I have used 4 x 4 quite a bit.

1. We recently attended the Midwest Old Threshers in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. The campground there is actually, just a pasture dotted with electrical hookups. The terrain is up and down. I needed 4 x 4 to get into my campsite -- otherwise, they would hook on to you with a huge 4 x 4 tractor -- not something that I liked the looks of. After we were there and set up, it came a 2 inch rain. I needed 4 x 4 every day just to get out of my campsite parking place.

2. After I returned home, we traded trucks, and the first time that I hooked up to my flatbed trailer, I needed 4 x 4 to get it out of the parking place.

Diesel trucks are very front end heavy, and this just exacerbates the issue if you are in soft ground. I don't have a dually, but a dually is much worse than a SRW when negotiating mud or snow.

If you are planning to ever sell your truck, a two wheel drive is not that attractive.

To sum up -- if you are careful where you go, a two wheel drive has a lot of appeal. If you want more flexibility, 4 x 4 is definitely the way to go.

Years ago, my dad fed cattle with Chevy trucks, from the 49 up through a 72 -- always two wheel drive -- hardly anyone had 4 x 4 back then. Our roads were mud -- no gravel. We really needed 4 x 4 then, but didn't have one. (Of course we would have just dug deeper ruts before we got stuck.)

[monkey44]

You'll only NEED a 4x4 once to understand why it's worth it.

[fanrgs]

Supercharged wrote:
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.

You left out those who live on a hill in Colorado and can't even reach their garage in snow without 4WD. Before I got my first 4WD truck, I had to park at the bottom of our hill during snowstorms and climb three blocks through the snow just to get to my front door. In the last 35 years, I have had four 4WD drive trucks and have never failed to reach my house in that time.

[IndyCamp]

buc1980 wrote:
I have a 4x2 and I never need a 4x4 .If you stay on black top road for sure you don't need it.

As I said previously, it depends on what kind of camper you are.

I would never stay on blacktop. I would rather camp in my driveway.

There are many great campsites, even for RV's, that require 4x4.

Again, it depends on what kind of camper you are.

I will never buy a truck that is not 4x4.

Decide what is right for you with your money and everyone else will decide what is right for them with their money. There is no right or wrong answer.

[buc1980]

I have a 4x2 and I never need a 4x4 .If you stay on black top road for sure you don't need it.

[Skelshy]

I towed with a 2x4 F150 and it was totally fine. Keep in mind the 4x4 in trucks can't be used on dry paved roads, so if you never feel the need to turn the 4x4 on in any previous vehicle, you are in the clear.

[FishOnOne]

Grit dog wrote:

blofgren wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

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.

2013 and up HD Rams have auto unlocking hubs so the front drive axles are no longer spinning all the time. I do wish I could use 2wd low for backing my trailer in tight spaces because it can be a bit hard on the clutch. I could do that in my 2003 F-350 but it had a manual transfer case and hubs. I will figure out how to do it on the Ram someday too.

Fish, why does ford have a redundant double locking system on the front? Is it so when the auto system c raps the bed, you can use the lockers? Not knocking it, just don't understand the need. I always thought they were manual locks only until I got my 2013.

Blofgren, I've read that there's an aftermarket piece now you can get to have 2lo in the Rams.

I don't know why there's a need for redundancy, but the fact remains Ford has it...you want it... so there you go! 😛

[Grit_dog]

blofgren wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

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.

2013 and up HD Rams have auto unlocking hubs so the front drive axles are no longer spinning all the time. I do wish I could use 2wd low for backing my trailer in tight spaces because it can be a bit hard on the clutch. I could do that in my 2003 F-350 but it had a manual transfer case and hubs. I will figure out how to do it on the Ram someday too.

Fish, why does ford have a redundant double locking system on the front? Is it so when the auto system c raps the bed, you can use the lockers? Not knocking it, just don't understand the need. I always thought they were manual locks only until I got my 2013.

Blofgren, I've read that there's an aftermarket piece now you can get to have 2lo in the Rams.

[tplife]

I was raised a swamper in 4X4s in a wilderness area, but I think the issue is seeking reliability advice on THIS forum. A subscription to Consumer Reports will give you actual advice from the entire statistical database, including unbiased professional analysis. But it's you time to waste, and among the threads there are other owner's experience... wait, that's what a subscription provides. I"m Ford and GM certified (previously), and that's where I get my data. :B

[Chuck_thehammer]

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

YES, and only works under 20 miles per hour. Yes my 2012 has it.

if you ever used a LOCKER you would understand. better then a posi.

[Terryallan]

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

Yep, only mine was a Limited Slip.

[blofgren]

FishOnOne wrote:

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.

2013 and up HD Rams have auto unlocking hubs so the front drive axles are no longer spinning all the time. I do wish I could use 2wd low for backing my trailer in tight spaces because it can be a bit hard on the clutch. I could do that in my 2003 F-350 but it had a manual transfer case and hubs. I will figure out how to do it on the Ram someday too.