4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

[gtochris]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

It's a little depressing to see all of the car based cross over's knowing that the hay day is over. I'm of the opinion that you don't own a truck or a body on frame suv if you don't actually need it. fwd has almost never let me down. Usually when fwd gets you stuck like say in a car or minivan it is because the vehicle is too low and the snow hangs you up, not because of lack of 4 wheels spinning.

The Tahoe in my sig is shared between my parents and I and we have come to a conclusion that it is overkill anymore, I dont tow much, they dont need the capability, the MPG stinks! My dad and I both said when that goes it will be a passing of a era like large station wagons.

I too have had good luck with FWD in the snow, generally if I get stuck in my FWD car I realize I probably shouldnt be on the roads and it will only be worse.

 

[jkust]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

The Tahoe in my sig is shared between my parents and I and we have come to a conclusion that it is overkill anymore, I dont tow much, they dont need the capability, the MPG stinks! My dad and I both said when that goes it will be a passing of a era like large station wagons.

I too have had good luck with FWD in the snow, generally if I get stuck in my FWD car I realize I probably shouldnt be on the roads and it will only be worse.

Yeah the bummer is that gas is so darn expensive compared the the suv boom days. Growing up and first driving rear wheel drive late 70's and very early 80's rwd cars, we got along amazingly well considering we got a lot of snow back then and I lived in farm country where plows didn't come by for days. The days you are on the roads when you shouldn't be even when you have a 4x4 and high clearance truck and aren't affected by the snow, are the days you get plowed into by an out of control driver anyway.

 

[americaneagler77]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

I'm with Americaneagler77, boating is just something to do til the snow flies! I'd take temps from 20 to -20 on the farenheit scale all year if I could talk the wife into moving to a place like that. I don't know about the Arcticscrap though, I like Yamaha myself.

Oh, and I'll never be without a 4x4 ever again. I just had to use it to get my boat out of a lake on Sunday! Not to mention getting back to my hunting areas and the winter fun to be had!!!

i was taking a liking to you right up until yamahahog......sheesh. lol. i like the yammis, but i like to play in the open water, deep deep pow etc, i cant take the added weight across one mile of open water like i can on the old skool f7. ride on brother

 

[anymanusa]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

OK well here it is. I was wrong, but not that far off. For some reason I seem to remember that 7300lb number, but it is actually 7000lbs. Of course I never get even close to that.

I don't see anything resembling 7000lbs on that chart either.:facepalm: 6800 for the ext 2wd version is the highest I see. 6300 the second highest.

 

[Angrywasp]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

I don't see anything resembling 7000lbs on that chart either.:facepalm: 6800 for the ext 2wd version is the highest I see. 6300 the second highest.

EXT V8 with 3.73 gears.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

I don't see anything resembling 7000lbs on that chart either.:facepalm: 6800 for the ext 2wd version is the highest I see. 6300 the second highest.

Look again. EXT V8 2wd with 3.73 gear. 7000

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

I don't see anything resembling 7000lbs on that chart either.:facepalm: 6800 for the ext 2wd version is the highest I see. 6300 the second highest.

Wait a minute. Did you look at the attatched picture or the chart I quoted?? Look at the attatched pic, it is a picture of my owners manual's towing page.

 

[anymanusa]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

Wait a minute. Did you look at the attatched picture or the chart I quoted?? Look at the attatched pic, it is a picture of my owners manual's towing page.

oh. viewing on my mobile that picture was unreadable, and om still not seeing 7000 in the text above.

 

[CV16]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

i was taking a liking to you right up until yamahahog......sheesh. lol. i like the yammis, but i like to play in the open water, deep deep pow etc, i cant take the added weight across one mile of open water like i can on the old skool f7. ride on brother

I don't like to play in open water unless I'm in a boat!!! I do like my brothers F7, I don't really like the Yamaha-ha-ha Apex much. Wish I had kept my V-Max 800.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

oh. viewing on my mobile that picture was unreadable, and om still not seeing 7000 in the text above.

That is because, as I just said, it is NOT in the text. That text was a quote from someone else trying to prove my towing capacity wrong. As mentioned, you have to look at the picture.

 

[Cruzomatic]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

My .02 is to go with a 4x4 hands down. Here in Texas the lake levels are down and 4x4 helps out tremondously. At my local lake, I watch guys spin out and have to wait for some one to come with another truck and tow strap to get them and their boat out of the water and up the ramp. Years ago that used be me and nothing but fustraition for me and my family. I now put it on 4x4 and crawl up the ramp making it easy on the truck, me and everyone around. In fact, I traded my perfectly running '99 F150 4x2 years ago for my current F150 4x4 and have never regretted it. Now I just chuckle when I see 4x2's trying to get out of the water and up the ramp. Those days for me are long gone.

I highly recommend a 4x4 especially if you think you might ever need it. The difference in fuel mileage is minimal and added maintenance is almost nothing.

I'll never go back to a 4x2....for me and my needs anyway.

Good luck.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

Sounds to me like this all depends on your location, and what else you might do with your vehicle. Since mine is just a DD for the wife and the boat tow vehicle, I have not needed a 4x4. I guess the dozen or so ramps I use must be much easier than what these guys that insist on 4x4 use, because I have never had tire spin, much less gotten stuck. Strange, with all the warm water and slime we have on most of our ramps. Or maybe it is just experience. I dont know.

I too insisted on a 4x4 til we got our current vehicle. Like I said, we kept the 4x4 for a while after we bought this one. But we never needed it, so we sold it. Wife really didnt want a 4x4, and I didnt see a point in insuring an extra vehicle for just towing the boat.

 

[americaneagler77]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

i love this 4x4 4x2 bull crap, people justifying 2wds etc. im amazed someone thinks a 2wd with a limited slip is just as good as a 4x4 etc.......just amazing......you cant sell a 2wd up here! ive had both, ill never go back to a 2wd. id rather not get stuck towing my snowmobile trailer in a storm and freeze to death.....down south etc, if its a highway queen, you dont need 4wd, but some of the comparisions im seeing are just stupid. replacing 4wd u joints every 2 years? um no, my 4wd is 10 years old with 72k. no 4wd related issues or extra expense.......keep ranting.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

i love this 4x4 4x2 bull crap, people justifying 2wds etc. im amazed someone thinks a 2wd with a limited slip is just as good as a 4x4 etc.......just amazing......you cant sell a 2wd up here! ive had both, ill never go back to a 2wd. id rather not get stuck towing my snowmobile trailer in a storm and freeze to death.....down south etc, if its a highway queen, you dont need 4wd, but some of the comparisions im seeing are just stupid. replacing 4wd u joints every 2 years? um no, my 4wd is 10 years old with 72k. no 4wd related issues or extra expense.......keep ranting.

Sounds to me like you are the only one ranting. Trying to justify what you have. Give me one reason for me to pay extra for the vehicle, insurance and gas of a 4x4. I know its not much but it does add up. You have an extra axle to lug around and take care of.

Lets put it in perspective. You cant sell a 4x4 down here, and they are not available in most vehicles. Likely due to the first part of that statement. It uses a bit more gas. It cost more to buy. There is more maintanance involved. We dont have snow, so I doubt I am going to get stuck and freeze to death. Wife drives ours to work and back and it is only 5 years old with 100k and no issues at all. So 4x4 makes no sense. Never in 5 years have I had an issue on any ramp. So again, why incurr any more expense??

I never said they are any more maintainance, and I have stated that I have a 4x4 for playing off road. Just cant see paying a premium for a vehicle I wont be able to sell, so my wife can drive it 75 miles a day on the highway. Jeep is too small to tow the boat, but will go through anything. So I have both. One to play, one for work and wife to dd and tow our boat. I have a company car, so I take what they give me. Thats all.

So as I said, your primary use will have to dictate which you get. Plain and simple.

 

[supercrewser]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

All I have to say is that there have been more times a 2wd was a problem and 4wd was a blessing.Never ever will I own a truck/suv that is not a 4wd. If you can buy a boat you can justify the expense of owning 4wd. Would you own a sports car and cut off half the cylinders of the motor?Trucks are a big tool and you limit yourself with 2wd.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

All I have to say is that there have been more times a 2wd was a problem and 4wd was a blessing.Never ever will I own a truck/suv that is not a 4wd. If you can buy a boat you can justify the expense of owning 4wd. Would you own a sports car and cut off half the cylinders of the motor?Trucks are a big tool and you limit yourself with 2wd.

In 5 years of ownership I have never needed a 4x4. At least not for towing my boat, and that is what this thread is supposed to be about. Please explain how I am missing something and why it is required for me to have 4x4 to tow my boat. What are these things I must do with my 2wd that I cannot because it is not 4x4??

Do you not tow your 4x4 to the woods when you plan to go play?? I can make a case for that. What if it breaks? Mine has. So for that one time it might break, should I drag around a trailer every time I want to take out my Jeep? That is basically what you are all saying. For that one time you claim will come, but hasnt for me in 5 years, I should buy a 4x4?? Everyone towing a boat should buy a 4x4?? My buddy has been towing with 2wd vehicles for nearly 25 years. I kept telling him he needed a 4x4. Guess what, he never has in all that time.

I still say it all depends on where you live and how you use your primary tow vehicle. Mine is used by the wife as a dd. Again, WHY do I need 4x4 for her to get to the Elementary school 35 miles away each day??? It hauls all my boating crap, tows nicely, never slid on a ramp, and most importantly, I was able to find it in Florida. Please find me a Trailblazer EXT V8 4x4 in Florida. Or a meduim sized SUV that will tow 7000lbs. Should I buy one in Maine and have it shipped?? I just dont get it.

 

[sschefer]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

I own a big old F350 4x4 Superduty with a 6.4 L Power Stroke Diesle. I don't need it tow my boat but launching in low water ramps is a different story. I have a 8" lift with 35" tires and in 4 low I can put my boat in just about anwhere and get it out nice and slow without haveing to do much more than idle.

I won't tell you which is better for towing but I can tell you that there's no really useful 4x4 that rides like a 4x2 and on a long trip that can really make a difference in your attitude at the end of a day. Mine is one rough riding brute but if that's what I need then that's what I take. I also have a Chevy Tahoe 4x2 that I use occasionally.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

Just like you cannot sell a 4X4 in sunny south. Glad you have 72K on a 10 year old. My 2X is 37 months old with 81K, what difference does it make? Actually, unless in mud or snot there is no reason for a 4X4. Had them from 1976 until I wised up and moved south 10 years ago.

 

[supercrewser]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

In 5 years of ownership I have never needed a 4x4. At least not for towing my boat, and that is what this thread is supposed to be about. Please explain how I am missing something and why it is required for me to have 4x4 to tow my boat. What are these things I must do with my 2wd that I cannot because it is not 4x4??

Do you not tow your 4x4 to the woods when you plan to go play?? I can make a case for that. What if it breaks? Mine has. So for that one time it might break, should I drag around a trailer every time I want to take out my Jeep? That is basically what you are all saying. For that one time you claim will come, but hasnt for me in 5 years, I should buy a 4x4?? Everyone towing a boat should buy a 4x4?? My buddy has been towing with 2wd vehicles for nearly 25 years. I kept telling him he needed a 4x4. Guess what, he never has in all that time.

I still say it all depends on where you live and how you use your primary tow vehicle. Mine is used by the wife as a dd. Again, WHY do I need 4x4 for her to get to the Elementary school 35 miles away each day??? It hauls all my boating crap, tows nicely, never slid on a ramp, and most importantly, I was able to find it in Florida. Please find me a Trailblazer EXT V8 4x4 in Florida. Or a meduim sized SUV that will tow 7000lbs. Should I buy one in Maine and have it shipped?? I just dont get it.

Living in Florida i wouldnt expect the need but up here it gets snowy and its a real plus to have it when its bad out. I drive 160 miles round trip to pick up my daughter every other week and when its bad on the roads the 4x4 makes life easier.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: 4 vs. 2 WD and Tow Vehicle Recommendations

Living in Florida i wouldnt expect the need but up here it gets snowy and its a real plus to have it when its bad out. I drive 160 miles round trip to pick up my daughter every other week and when its bad on the roads the 4x4 makes life easier.

That was my point. It really depends on where and how you use it. That is about it. It just seems like no matter what the discussion is, somebody always has to post up that their type of truck, boat, car, mouse trap is better than anyone elses, no matter the use or location of use. I try to post my own experiance, not just a you should only consider what I have because that is all that there is. We are already talking about getting the wife a convertible, so our next tow vehicle will likely be a 4x4 because I will be the primary driver. But for now, this has served us well and NO we do not HAVE TO HAVE a 4x4 here and I am not planning on moving to snow any time soon.