Experience towing w/ 2WD F250, 2500 or other 3/4 ton

[Nighduckman]

My wife and I recently bought a Jayco Eagle HT 24.5 CKTS fifth wheel. After being somewhat taken in by the marketing and our Ford dealer, we bought a beefed-up F150 that, in the end, was overweight on GVR and the rear axle rating. For safety and out of an abundance of caution, after much research, we traded it in for an F250, gas engine, 2WD. We got the 4x2 instead of the 4x4 because it is a much better fit, height-wise, with our fiver and because we are not going to boondock and only camp in prepared campgrounds with decent roads. I understand we will likely get stuck once in a while, but, will have a tow strap and I understand we can usually count on a nice 4x4 owner to tow us out and/or we have GoodSam towing assistance. Again, we are not going to off road or seriously boondock. We won't be driving the rig in snow etc.

Having said all that, I am curious about the real-world experience of any others who have towed with 2WD. We are comfortable with our decision and know there will be tradeoffs over 4x4 like much lower resale and, potentially, getting stuck occasionally. But, all in all, mainly interested in what other 2WD towers have experienced. Thanks in advance.

[FlatBroke]

Got the rear wheels spinning on wet grass several times and 4WD got me out of that predicament. Plus living in CO makes it pretty much mandatory.

[ls1mike]

First truck I towed with was an 89 GMC 1 ton 2wd. Had that for 5 years. No issues. 2nd Truck was 2002 2500HD 6.0 gasser 2wd had that for 10 years, No problems towing ever.

I don't drive my trucks daily so I never really needed 4wd. I could have used it one time when I sank in the backyard with a load of gravel with the old 1 ton.

I just purchased a 2017 3500HD gasser with 4wd. I just wanted it this time so when I go to the mountains out here during the winter I don't have to take the only front wheel drive car I have.

I have never really needed or wanted 4 wheel drive for camping. This particular truck checked all my boxes otherwise I would still be driving the 02.

[sgfrye]

i have a 2017 f250 gasser 2wd. live in north carolina so normally no bad winters. i tow a 38ft TT 10k TT up and down the east coast mountains to the coast. so far haven't needed 4wd, but we only state in state parks and established rv campgrounds. i still have my trusty 20 year old f150 4x4 if i want to go off roading.

[Tvov]

Been towing with my 2wd F250 since 2008, when I bought it new. All of our camping (with the TT) has been in established campgrounds, and I have never needed 4wd.

Would I like 4wd? YES. Next truck will be 4wd. My present truck has been great, but especially after having cars with AWD and living in New England, from now on I always want 4wd or AWD.

2wd trucks are seemingly so rare these days, I think sometimes it may cost more to get 2wd as they might be a special order.

[Nighduckman]

We took it to the CAT scales with only a partial load and were over the GAWR on the rear axle by 200 pounds and over the overall of the truck by 50 pounds. The payload rating of the F150 we had was 2,175 lbs and the GAWR was 7,050. This is higher than most F150s but it did not have either the max tow package or the HDPP. Those are special orders and really rare. Hard to find on the lot.

[Grit_dog]

Looked up the trailer weight and you didn't get taken by the car dealer.
Did you actually tow the 5ver with the F150 and have issues, or just speculating based on "reccomendations?"
Presume by your post it is a new 2019? F150 or near new and "beefed up" means max tow or max payload or both?
If so, that trailer is in that truck's wheelhouse, albeit closer to the upper end than the lower.
I see them small 5vers behind GM and Ford 1/2 tons every day on I 90 and the pilots' knuckles aren't white. Lol.
And they all have WA, MT, ID, OR tags and they're either actively going up or down a Mountian pass at the time and most likely many others before and after.

All that said, a 3/4 ton will handle the pin weight better, but not necessary. Not a game changer, IMO.

[Grit_dog]

It’ll pull the trailer down the road same as a 4x4 and while I personally need 4wd more than some for what we do, sounds like you may not and that’s fine.
Not really sure what else you’re asking. Other than opening a can of worms, lol

But given your perceived lack of experience, based on your initial post, a 4wd may come in handy once in a while

[PNW_Steve]

Some months ago I bought a Chevy 2500 to tow my 26' 5er. It is 4wd but I have not really used it. It is equipped with the 6.0 gas motor.

We took our first long trip and pulled Mountain passes. When we got home I put a for sale sign on it.

I am going back to my Dodge 3500. I'm going to have to lift the trailer 5-6" to fit the Dodge or trade for a different trailer.

I see lots of folks are pulling similar trailers with 3/4 ton trucks. I am not one of them. The Dodge pulled Snoqualmie pass easily at the speed limit. The Chevy pulled at 45mph and was struggling.

Fuel mileage loaded:

Chevy 7-10 mpg

Dodge 14-16 mpg

As long as I have a trailer to pull, I will be towing with a 1 ton, or larger, diesel trucks.

Just my $0.02

[larry_barnhart]

We are on our 4th 2WD tow vechicle and not once needed a 4x4 but if needed the 4x4 is better as we all understand.

chevman

[Groover]

I didn't directly address your question. I used to pull with a 2wd gas 3/4 ton and pretty much only had traction issues when empty on wet grass. Before that I pulled a 4,000lb with a big Chrysler and never got it stuck.

Now I am pulling a 10,000lb trailer with a 4wd and do often get into grass and find the 4wd very helpful but partly because I want to avoid damaging peoples lawn so I use 4wd as a preventative measure. I am sure that it is needed sometimes but don't know how many.

[wopachop]

I cant speak for snow driving but i do have a lot of experience in the dirt towing with 2wd. Its all about momentum and throttle control. There is a ratio between available traction, smoothness of the road, how much youre willing to beat up the truck and trailer, and how easily you can get pulled out if you do get stuck.

If you one day skip the campground and find yourself on a dirt road, with nobody around for miles, you might be willing to attack the road a little bit faster and more rough than you would like. Just to get through and back onto hard packed dirt where you can regroup and form a plan.

We camp pretty much exclusively on sand. My 02 F250 does ok and never had to drop air pressure. I have friends who drop down to 20psi and go camp on the really soft sand with 2wd towing toyhaulers.

[FishOnOne]

I remember back in the 80's my family and their friends towed campers from Texas all the way to Toronto Canada and back. Was about 6 trucks/campers and all were 2 wheel drive trucks and not a single incident where anyone wanted 4 wheel drive or needed it.

[fj12ryder]

We've been towing a 5th wheel with 2WD for about 12 years, and have never felt the need for 4WD. On occasion low reverse would be nice, but not at the expense of all that would go with it. Never been stuck, never been close to being stuck.

[danrclem]

If I didn't cut firewood and live on a road with a couple big hills I wouldn't have a 4WD. You may never get stuck and even if you do it shouldn't cost that much to get pulled out. Like you say if someone is around they'll probably do it for free.

When I was a kid they very seldom cleaned the snow off of the road and almost nobody had a 4WD. People got stuck but mostly because they slid off of the road and a 4WD can do that.

[LanceRKeys]

You’ll be fine the way it is. Just go out and enjoy your new ride. I pulled a small fifth wheel a lot with my 2500 dodge 2wd, never once had an issue.