Picking 4x2 vs 4x4 next TV

frank4711 · 10-12-2019, 07:23 AM

Might go with 4x2 on next TV ... looking at Ram 2500 diesel and 4x2 gets me extra 400 lbs payload ... owned 14 trucks last 30 years in business and never needed 4x4 here in Florida ... already use mid-grade so no price diff for gas ... understand more expense for oil changes ... my 5th is light 10,300 loaded ... tow at least once a month ... Yea I know 4x4 nice to have when you need it just never have ... when was last time you used your 4x4 ?? Thanks Frank

SeaDog · 10-12-2019, 07:35 AM

I use mine often but I live in Idaho the last time was climbing the upgrade to my ranch after the county had plowed deep gravel onto the surface in two wheel the tires just slipped and thru gravel in four not so. Do you load your truck so heaver that 400 lbs payload would be and issue with your light trailer just asking. 4 wheel is sort of like a fire extinguisher sits unused but is a gods send when needed.

NJKris · 10-12-2019, 07:40 AM

If you know you're not going to need it fine, but I just got back from a trip to Vermont and towed on a steep mountain road, dirt/gravel, and was glad I had it. Only 2 wheels began slipping at 10 mph, and my trailer is LIGHT (maybe 4k lbs?) with a heavy tongue weight.

The Evil Twin · 10-12-2019, 07:59 AM

If you have never needed it then you likely would be fine down there without it. I'm in Virginia and use it often enough pulling the TT out of the storage spot. Damp red clay and grass can be like snot.

NJKris · 10-12-2019, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Damp red clay and grass can be like snot.

timfromma · 10-12-2019, 08:16 AM

I live in New England and use my 4x4 when it snows. I would never want to be without it up here in winter.

frank4711 · 10-12-2019, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaDog

I use mine often but I live in Idaho the last time was climbing the upgrade to my ranch after the county had plowed deep gravel onto the surface in two wheel the tires just slipped and thru gravel in four not so. Do you load your truck so heaver that 400 lbs payload would be and issue with your light trailer just asking. 4 wheel is sort of like a fire extinguisher sits unused but is a gods send when needed.

No I don't but with 3/4 ton diesel 4x4 2400 lbs and 4x2 2800 lbs ( not actual but maybe close based on trucks in stock) ... I am 2050 - 2200 avg ... just gives me a little less room ... Thanks

W5CI · 10-12-2019, 08:39 AM

I have a RAM 3500 Diesel 4X2 dully with a payload cap of over 6K. I live in Arkansas and never need 4 WD.

itat · 10-12-2019, 09:40 AM

I’ve needed to engage the 4x4 on wet grass when towing. I don’t use it often but wouldn’t want to be without it.

WoodLark-SC · 10-12-2019, 09:50 AM

I went through this thought process recently. My current truck is a 4x4, but I had only used 4-wheel once in the two years I owned it (not towing at the time).

A few weeks ago we took a trip from SC to MI. Pulling into a campground in Ohio, we encountered a narrow steep gravel driveway with deep ditches on both sides and started to lose traction. We switched to 4WD and had no further problem.

I'll stay with 4WD on my next truck too.

fmc · 10-12-2019, 09:55 AM

I have a 2016 Ram 3500 DW and have never used the 4 wheel drive. You will get better mileage also with out it.

Oaklevel · 10-12-2019, 10:14 AM

Its a preference thing or need. I highly recommend if nothing else limited slip.

Years ago I saw a 4x2 Dodge with limited slip go where the 4x4s were having trouble.

I have never had an issue needing more than 2 wheel drive with limited slip but........ if we move to the farm I will probably rethink that.

itat · 10-12-2019, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank4711

No I don't but with 3/4 ton diesel 4x4 2400 lbs and 4x2 2800 lbs ( not actual but maybe close based on trucks in stock) ... I am 2050 - 2200 avg ... just gives me a little less room ... Thanks

Frank, how much extra would it cost to upgrade to a 1 ton SRW 4x4 so you get the extra payload capacity you want?

67L48 · 10-12-2019, 10:54 AM

I don't know about Ram, but on Fords the 1 ton starts at around $1,300 more expensive than an exactly outfitted 3/4 ton. If you equip the 3/4 ton for maximum towing, it's within $40 of a 1 ton. Nope, that's not a typo and I didn't miss a zero.

Most of the old conventional wisdom about 1 tons vs 3/4 tons is old and dead. They're not really built much differently than one another and, consequently, don't drive much differently than one another. If you're not subjected to various legalities/costs of Class 2 vs Class 3 trucks and you're after payload, then you really ought to at least look at 1 tons (and do some back-to-back test drives of them ... paying attention to how they're equipped, including axles and spring rates posted on door jamb stickers).

Granted, if you're buying off a lot, there will be about 10x more options in the 3/4 ton flavor. Dealerships stock what the market demands and the market at large employs outdated/obsolete perspectives on 3/4 ton vs 1 ton differences.

If you're not going out into the swamps and bogs, I can't imagine that there are too many uses for a 4WD in Florida. Even here in CO, there are only a few weeks of the year that I really need 4WD. Pavement is usually plowed (snow) and USFS roads are generally well groomed. So, I bet even I could get by with 2WD here in snow country.

Good luck.

BTW, the 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and 1 ton monikers are designed to reflect how much the truck can haul ... payload. So, a 1/2 ton should haul up to 1,000 lbs, a 3/4 ton should haul up to 1,500 lbs, and a 1 ton should be able to have a whopping 2,000 lbs of payload! Shows how outdated and obsolete the nomenclature is and how out-of-touch many people's expectations are with modern trucks. But, it's also why we have cool photos like this 1986 Toyota mini truck 1 ton:

frank4711 · 10-12-2019, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itat

Frank, how much extra would it cost to upgrade to a 1 ton SRW 4x4 so you get the extra payload capacity you want?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67L48

I don't know about Ram, but on Fords the 1 ton starts at around $1,300 more expensive than an exactly outfitted 3/4 ton. If you equip the 3/4 ton for maximum towing, it's within $40 of a 1 ton. Nope, that's not a typo and I didn't miss a zero.

Most of the old conventional wisdom about 1 tons vs 3/4 tons is old and dead. They're not really built much differently than one another and, consequently, don't drive much differently than one another. If you're not subjected to various legalities/costs of Class 2 vs Class 3 trucks and you're after payload, then you really ought to at least look at 1 tons (and do some back-to-back test drives of them ... paying attention to how they're equipped, including axles and spring rates posted on door jamb stickers).

Granted, if you're buying off a lot, there will be about 10x more options in the 3/4 ton flavor. Dealerships stock what the market demands and the market at large employs outdated/obsolete perspectives on 3/4 ton vs 1 ton differences.

If you're not going out into the swamps and bogs, I can't imagine that there are too many uses for a 4WD in Florida. Even here in CO, there are only a few weeks of the year that I really need 4WD. Pavement is usually plowed (snow) and USFS roads are generally well groomed. So, I bet even I could get by with 2WD here in snow country.

Good luck.

BTW, the 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and 1 ton monikers are designed to reflect how much the truck can haul ... payload. So, a 1/2 ton should haul up to 1,000 lbs, a 3/4 ton should haul up to 1,500 lbs, and a 1 ton should be able to have a whopping 2,000 lbs of payload! Shows how outdated and obsolete the nomenclature is and how out-of-touch many people's expectations are with modern trucks. But, it's also why we have cool photos like this 1986 Toyota mini truck 1 ton:

Yep ... 3/4 and 1 ton same price comparing same models same options BigHorn / Tradesman 4x4 .... curb weight only few lbs diff ... rear suspension 3/4 multi link ... 1 ton leaf ...... tow capacity 3/4 5th wheel rated 11,510 ... 1 ton 20,000+ ... GVWR 10,000 vs 11,000 ... BigHorn in 3/4 compared to Tradesman 3/4 loses 900 lbs payload 2400 vs 3300 ... options must add up to a lot ... no difference in 1 ton from BigHorn to Tradesman for payload 4200 .... I will check the ride in both... need some good dealer incentives!! I will buy off the lot when ready ... and will have 4x4 ... Thanks for the help Frank

babock · 10-12-2019, 12:45 PM

I would just get 2wd if you are never going to be in snow. I have 2 vehicles and both are 4wd but have 2 homes in the mountains. Never used 4wd unless there is snow.

Lloydg · 10-12-2019, 01:05 PM

I get it that you live in Florida, but have found a few times in Michigan where I used it. The last time was in February leaving for Florida and pulling out from the storage lot where there was ice and snow.

MR.M · 10-12-2019, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank4711

Might go with 4x2 on next TV ... looking at Ram 2500 diesel and 4x2 gets me extra 400 lbs payload ... owned 14 trucks last 30 years in business and never needed 4x4 here in Florida ... already use mid-grade so no price diff for gas ... understand more expense for oil changes ... my 5th is light 10,300 loaded ... tow at least once a month ... Yea I know 4x4 nice to have when you need it just never have ... when was last time you used your 4x4 ?? Thanks Frank

I use 4 wheel all the time . even in Florida when i pull down to the beach . But mostly out west where i head down roads for fishing where you may need 4x4 . not all the time but when i do it's there . for me a truck has to have 4wheel drive and a bed large enough for a full sheet of plywood with the tail gate closed .

Jeff from Burlington Ont · 10-12-2019, 01:17 PM

I live in Canada. My last TV was a Custom order F150 4 x 2, max tow econoboost. I traded in at 140,000k with 30,000 towing a 5th wheel When I Custom ordered a 4x2 dually F350 diesel in 2017 And have bone through 2 winters. I could not justify the extra cost of 4 x 4

HangDiver · 10-12-2019, 01:30 PM

Moved to Florida recently and have a couple acres of lawn. While backing my trailer into the back yard my rear tires started spinning in a wet rain soaked muddy area. I used 4x4 to get it the rest of way into a parking spot and not tear up the yard.

Never thought I'd need 4x4 after leaving Colorado. Only took a couple months to find out otherwise. That said, as long as you have the right tools for the job I can see not wanting a 4x4 if you're certain to be on pavement or roads with good traction.

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