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04-26-2017, 02:59 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 24
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2WD or AWD for TV?
Hello,
Looking at upgrading from tent camping to a light travel trailer, possibly an R-Pod. In the process I'm researching potential tow vehicles, preferably 7-8 passenger SUV.
Is AWD recommended over 2WD? What should I consider?
Possibly looking at the following options:
- Honda Pilot (5000lb.)
- Dodge Durango (6200lb.)
- Chevy Tahoe (8600lb.)
Thanks for the input,
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04-26-2017, 03:01 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,916
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They still make 2X4 vehicles?
__________________
2017 Puma 297RLSS
2005 Ram 2500 4X4 diesel SMOKER!!
I love puns, irony and tasteless jokes...
born in Texas.... live in Arkansas
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04-26-2017, 03:24 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Portage wi
Posts: 668
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First thing is to pick your camper then pick the tv that has the payload wheel base and towing capacity for what you decide for a camper. Also if you are considering the small to mid size suvs frontal area can be an issue too.
Personally I would cross off an and and get a 4wd no sense in powering all the wheels all the time and many of the auto track type systems the power is applied too late to do any good
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04-26-2017, 03:49 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,505
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If it's snowing I'm not going!!
2 wheel drive for me.
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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04-26-2017, 03:56 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 24
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Thank you Jmkjr72. May I ask for a bit of clarification.
>>First thing is to pick your camper then pick the tv that has the payload wheel base and towing capacity for what you decide for a camper.
Looking at an RP-178 (20ft long, 3600lbs. 268lbs hitch weight)
>>small to mid size suvs frontal area can be an issue
What do you mean by that?
>>I would cross off an and and get a 4wd no sense in powering all the wheels all the time
Sorry I missed the point here. Do you recommend AWD, 4WD or 2WD?
Apologies for all these newbies questions, and thanks for the help.
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04-26-2017, 03:59 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 137
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You want to look at PAYLOAD capacity on the vehicles you're looking at. If it's 1000lbs and you put a lot of passenger/cargo in it, you will have little to no payload left for a trailer, or it will limit you to a very small trailer.
I agree with others that it's better to decide on a trailer and see what's required to safely tow it.
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04-26-2017, 04:47 PM
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#7
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Scoundrel
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Montrose, Colorado
Posts: 2,786
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Remyx
Thank you Jmkjr72. May I ask for a bit of clarification.
I would cross off an and and get a 4wd no sense in powering all the wheels all the time.
Sorry I missed the point here. Do you recommend AWD, 4WD or 2WD?
Apologies for all these newbies questions, and thanks for the help.
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A true 4WD vehicle can be switched between 2WD (better gas milage) and 4WD. AWD vehicles typically cannot be switched on or off. The payload capacity of your tow vehicle is most often the limiting factor of what you can pull. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) refer to the maximum payload capacities of the tow vehicle. By buying a tow vehicle first, you may be limiting what type of trailer you can pull.
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04-26-2017, 05:19 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: x
Posts: 12,423
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My advice would be to first think about the type of camping you will be doing and where, if it improved campgrounds 2 wheel drive will do anything you want, if it is true boon docking then maybe a four wheel drive, it may surprise you how many folks never use their four wheel drive but spend the extra money because it makes them feel safe when they leave the paved road to the gravel drive in a campground. Pick a tow vehicle that will actually fit your future needs not just the camper you are buying. Tent to light camper to ?? JMHO
__________________
Retired Navy
Jake my sidekick (yellow Lab) 10/04 - 05/20
2017 RAM 2500 CC 4X4 Cummins Diesel
2016 Flagstaff 26 FKWS
AF&AM & El Korah Shrine of Idaho
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04-26-2017, 05:32 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,363
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HangDiver
A true 4WD vehicle can be switched between 2WD (better gas milage) and 4WD. AWD vehicles typically cannot be switched on or off. The payload capacity of your tow vehicle is most often the limiting factor of what you can pull. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) refer to the maximum payload capacities of the tow vehicle. By buying a tow vehicle first, you may be limiting what type of trailer you can pull.
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Unless the hubs lock/unlock (which is not very common nowadays), you are spinning the driveline and mileage doesn't vary much between 2 and 4 WD. My Expedition and Dakota were like that.
My F250's hubs have locking hubs (both manual and automatic), so my mileage varies about 1 mpg between 2 and 4 wd.
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04-26-2017, 07:10 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 557
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I must have four wheel drive, only way to get into our back driveway pulling the FW. My thought is this, it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
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04-26-2017, 08:08 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 459
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iwannacamp
They still make 2X4 vehicles?
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HUR HUR SO FUNNY!
What sort of situation are you getting your camper in that you need 4x4 to get out of?
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04-26-2017, 08:21 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Frederica DE
Posts: 1,223
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lugoismad
HUR HUR SO FUNNY!
What sort of situation are you getting your camper in that you need 4x4 to get out of?
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I have to use 4low to back up into a very steep site with gravel roads. Its a great improved CG and great site but very tricky to get into. Wet grass can give you a 2wd headache quite easily.
__________________
2016 Ford F250 XLT 4X4 6.2L
2015 Rockwood Signature Ultralite 8329SS
Hensley Arrow
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04-26-2017, 08:44 PM
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#13
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Scoundrel
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Montrose, Colorado
Posts: 2,786
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uhduh camping
I have to use 4low to back up into a very steep site with gravel roads. Its a great improved CG and great site but very tricky to get into. Wet grass can give you a 2wd headache quite easily.
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Same here. My driveway is gravel and if I'm not in 4low backing up the hill I'm slinging rocks everywhere.
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04-26-2017, 08:49 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,916
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lugoismad
HUR HUR SO FUNNY!
What sort of situation are you getting your camper in that you need 4x4 to get out of?
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Wet grass
__________________
2017 Puma 297RLSS
2005 Ram 2500 4X4 diesel SMOKER!!
I love puns, irony and tasteless jokes...
born in Texas.... live in Arkansas
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04-26-2017, 08:53 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Portage wi
Posts: 668
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Remyx
Thank you Jmkjr72. May I ask for a bit of clarification.
>>First thing is to pick your camper then pick the tv that has the payload wheel base and towing capacity for what you decide for a camper.
Looking at an RP-178 (20ft long, 3600lbs. 268lbs hitch weight)
>>small to mid size suvs frontal area can be an issue
What do you mean by that?
>>I would cross off an and and get a 4wd no sense in powering all the wheels all the time
Sorry I missed the point here. Do you recommend AWD, 4WD or 2WD?
Apologies for all these newbies questions, and thanks for the help.
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A 3600 lb trailer will not have a tounge weight of 268 lbs more like 540 lbs plus the hitch weight 10 to 15 % perfect is 12%
So if you weigh more then 150 lbs add that to the 540 plus the weight of anything else you are going to put in the tv
Frontal are how much surface are re is the front of the trailer take my dodge nitro it's rated for 5000 lbs towing 500 lb toung weight 1150 lbs cargo and 64 Sq foot frontal area. Before I even get started I'm over the toung weight with a wdh hitch I only have 500 lbs for stuff in the vehcile. And if the camper has a front surface area of more then 8x8 it will buck too much wind
A 4wd or area 2 wd
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04-26-2017, 08:57 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Stromsburg, Nebraska
Posts: 1,682
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uhduh camping
I have to use 4low to back up into a very steep site with gravel roads. Its a great improved CG and great site but very tricky to get into. Wet grass can give you a 2wd headache quite easily.
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This is so true. Many times, even on dry pavement, 4lo sure helps with needed power and control. I've also had sites that were more mud than gravel and couldn't have gotten in or out without 4wd. I don't NEED 4wd, but I sure enjoy the option many times each year.
__________________
Joel and Teresa
2016 Sabre 34TBOK
2006 GMC 3500 CC LB DRW 4X4
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04-26-2017, 08:57 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Portage wi
Posts: 668
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lugoismad
HUR HUR SO FUNNY!
What sort of situation are you getting your camper in that you need 4x4 to get out of?
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Well the state park a few weeks ago I needed 4x4 because the ground was soft and wet. Back in March even at the year round resort with frost coming out of the ground the gravel pad was so soft I needed 4wd. Yes I even need it in the yard if the ground is wet.
It's better to put it isn't 4wd and not need it then to have been n 2WD spin them and grease the wheels up and make it worse
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04-26-2017, 09:10 PM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 24
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Thanks to all for the insightful replies.
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04-26-2017, 09:17 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Big brown desert
Posts: 3,003
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If you want the Pilot, you MUST get AWD and trans cooler to get to 5000lbs. Recommend getting the 6 speed trans over the 9.
__________________
2014 Stealth Evo 2850- "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Crawler TRD 5.7- "Clifford"
2013 Honda Accord Coupe V6 w/Track Pack- "Julia"
Just glad to get away
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04-26-2017, 09:27 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,363
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Honda: I dig their stuff, however a TV is not what I think of when I hear their name! LOL.
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