Buying a new tow vechicle, 2wd of 4wd?

[peters_skeeter]

So, I'm planning on buying a new Ram 1500 express in April, with the insentives that they are giving right now, I can buy a brand new truck for the price of a slightly used one.

The delema is, 4wd or 2wd? I hardly ever drive my truck in the winter because I have a work truck, plus with the weather we have been having, snow isn't an issue. (crap, I think I just ginxed us).

The concern I have is with towing. I have a 20' skeeter and the Dakota that I'm towing it with is just not cutting it on long trips. I'm just wondering if the extra $3k is worth it.

[bigmojet]

It will be worth it at  the first ramp your back wheels are spinning.

Resale will be greater/easier with 4x4.

[djkimmel]

I loved 4-wheel drive when I had it. There are some good lakes with crappy ramps that I could get in and can't now. There was some creative things I could that I keep telling myself now, "don't try it! Don't try it!" If I can ever get a new truck again, I want it to have 4 wheel drive.

[bigjc]

I agree that for my money its easily worth it, but there is more than just the $3K at purchase, to consider.

There are higher fuel costs (every stinking trip to the pump.)!
The additional maintenance costs are significant!
The 2 wheel drive has a significantly better turning radius.

However, on the other hand...

The resale if far better on the 4x4!
If you are ever on a slick ramp, it will be worth the extra money.
Every now and then it never fails that I find myself parking on soft ground, or pulling my boat somewhere on snowy/icy roads.  

It is back to 4x4 for me, on my next truck!!!

[SethV]

I'd rather have a bicycle than a Dodge...      ....but if you must buy one of those get 4x4.  Doubt that weak stinkin motor can pull a boat anyway, but you may as well look good with 4x4 when the Chevy pulls you out.   

[Durand Dan]

These days gas milage is just about the same on a 4x4 as a 4x2. I can rattle off several names of ramps I wouldn't go to in the early spring or late fall without my 4x4!

[Waterfoul]

4x4 without a doubt

[Ranger482v]

This is my opinion and I have owned both 2 and 4 wheel drive trucks.The fuel milage is pretty close and the cost to maintian a 4x4 is not that much more than a 2 wheeler but with owning a 4x4 if you need 4 wheel drive you have it I personally will not own another truck unless it's a 4x4

[peters_skeeter]

I'd rather have a bicycle than a Dodge...      ....but if you must buy one of those get 4x4.  Doubt that weak stinkin motor can pull a boat anyway, but you may as well look good with 4x4 when the Chevy pulls you out.   

You warned me Dan! lol

[bigjc]

I'd rather have a bicycle than a Dodge...      ....but if you must buy one of those get 4x4.  Doubt that weak stinkin motor can pull a boat anyway, but you may as well look good with 4x4 when the Chevy pulls you out.   

Seth lets be fair here...its not the weak Dodge engine that sucks about a mopar.  It is the Tranny that is not worth a crap when towing.  I got a hundo that says you don't get 100K miles on a mopar trans, pulling a boat.

[Redbone]

Never buy a truck without 4 wheel drive!!!!!

[Big dreams]

I had the same problem a couple of years ago.  I ended up purchasing the F150 2wd with the 4.6L V8.  Like everyone else is saying, the ramp has to be decent.  There are a few around where I live that I wish I could get to but can't with the 2wd.  The fuel mileage is 17 mpg where as my buddies 4x4 gets 16.  I think the main difference besides where you can go with a 4x4 is the cost to maintain.  If you buy new, you shouldn't have to worry about that though.  I love my 4x2.  Just wish it had better fuel efficiency as it only beats the 4x4 version by 1 mpg.

Good luck!

[Bender]

I was in a similar situation a few years ago. I drove my car 99% of the time and only needed a truck to pull my boat so I bought a cheap 2x4. My situation changed (wife crashed her car and started driving mine) and I was screwed. My truck couldn't get through the 4" of snow in my flat driveway. At less than a year old I traded it in for a 4x4 and have never regretted it. 90k miles so far on that 2008 Chevy an zero issues.
Edit: Never had a Dodge so I can't compare. 

[cameraguy]

Definitely 4x4. Even a ramp like Harley Ensign can get slick when a bunch of weeds wash up on the bottom of the ramps. I've had my rear wheels spinning there and just pushed a button to engage four wheel drive, popped right out.
I don't know why all of the Dodge bashing here. I had Dodge trucks for years and never had any problems. Oh well, everybody has their preferences I guess.
Something that hasn't been mentioned here but is important (maybe it is a given to everybody but I'll throw it out there anyway as I didn't think about it in my younger years-a long time ago  ). Get the towing package. You get a factory installed trans cooler and oil cooler in addition to the hitch. Maybe it will get that "...not worth a crap..." tranny to 100k miles. 

[Mike S.]

Do those have a spare transmission option from the factory now?  I'm not going to slam Dodge, out of respect for fellow members, but you really have to look at the track record. Every truck can break, but which one is most known for it?  A transmission is not a cheap repair. I have almost 160,000 on my Silverado, and all it does is tow. It's pulled everything from my 24 foot enclosed car trailer to boats and so on. Still on the original drivetrain from front to back. I have done one wheel bearing, and a couple of u joints since I bought it.

No matter what you buy, make sure it is four wheel drive. I barely use mine, but its there when I need it.

[thedude]

 i would still always go with 4wd. You might only need it once, but you'll be darn glad you have it.

i'm not up to speed, but i think most full-size trucks have limited slip rear ends now. my first truck was a 2wd ranger with an open rear and i could get that stuck on flat black top with a little snow or ice. When i moved up to an FX4 f150, with limited slip, it was worlds of difference - that truck would go through some nasty stuff in 2wd - still found a use for the 4x4 though.
Now i'm rolling front locking hubs in a 8000lb truck......

[Waterfoul]

My 94 Dodge 5.2L 4x4 towed my 6000 lb Baja Outlaw for 5 years, 146,000 miles and the tranny never skipped a beat.  My 98 Dodge 5.9L 4x4 pulled the same boat to about 120,000 and then had to have the tranny rebuilt.  At 167,000 the crank shaft broke and tore the motor to pieces.   My advice if you get a Dodge... plan on selling it or trading it in as soon as it hits that 100,000 mark.

So I'll take that $100 that says you can't get a dodge tranny to 100K while towing.  Need my address?   


I'll add this quick note:  My 98 Tahoe 5.7L 4x4 has 207,000 miles on it and tows my Triton like it's not there.  All original drive line.  Original owner only towed a 16' aluminum v-bottom with it, but it has still towed nearly all it's life.

[Mike S.]

Very envious of the Ford, Justin. I have always been a Chevy guy, but the next go round will land an F250 quad cab diesel in my driveway.

To add to what Mike said about his Tahoe, I had a 94 Suburban, and when I sold it, it had 201,000 on it. It came from the original owner, who pulled his enormous travel trailer all over with it. Drivetrain was 100% original. If I didn't want a diesel so bad, Is buy another Chevy in a heartbeat. But, I don't like the look of their bigger trucks anymore.

[stackenem]

Don't matter what I drive the tranny goes out. (2) 94 z71 pickups=5 trannys. (1) 2000 dodge ram 1500 =1 tranny. All of these were 4x4 trucks which is all I will have. I just can't seem to keep trannies in my trucks. Maybe I just baby them to much. The other problem with the dodge is the front u joints for the wheels if you don't keep them lubed you will go thru them every 15 to 20 k. Found that out the hard way. Not a cheap fix either $500.00+ to replace.

[thedude]

Very envious of the Ford, Justin. I have always been a Chevy guy, but the next go round will land an F250 quad cab diesel in my driveway.

yeah, well... you'd be less envious of all the fun that comes along with keeping a 13 year old truck on the road! The good news is on a 3/4 ton, you can use a hammer to "fix" just about anything.