4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

Thinking about purchasing a new truck...do I go 4 wheel drive or 2 wheel drive? will be used only to tow a 24ft enclosed trailer?...truck will not be used as a daily driver....truck is a 2500hd 6.2

Thanks for your help,
Joe Mocci

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

Two

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

Buy a 2 wheel drive, lower cost, less to go wrong,and fix.

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

If you don't already have a 4WD in the household I would spring for that. Mother Nature can be a fickle master at times and there's been a number of times when a 4WD truck came in handy (even in South Georgia) when parked on wet grass or especially in some of the muddy holding areas. Any more I just about get an extended warranty with any new vehicle, they've become so complex that a single repair beyond the factory warranty period can put you ahead. Don't particularly care for jacked trucks with 37" tires but I do enjoy the vantage point offered by the bit higher stance of a 4WD. You might also consider higher resale value.

Just my 2 cents...

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

Joe - I used to tow a 24' enclosed with a Silverado 2500HD 2WD 8.1L, Allison tranny. Towed great and found the 2WD worked fine.

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

Spring for 4wd there will times when it come in handy at track. Wet grass soft wet grass. It will help on resale also.

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

I would go with the Two wheel drive. The tow vehicle is going to get crappy fuel mileage anyway. I would opt for the biggest brake and HD transmission package if available. Towing in and around North Jersey and Pa. ( like Numidia ) Biggest brakes are a must. Mostly "just in case". That's my two cents, but it might just add that slight edge you might need in an emergency.

Respectfully,
Henry Kunz
1534 H/SA

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

Having grown up in New England , I only had one 4 wd truck. Found I didn't need it. Why add the extra cost and weight of 4wd if you don't need it. I drove my 2wd trucks all year round in deep snow with no problems. So don't waste your money on 4wd. Do spend it on a towing package and some other towing items.

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

Joe, have had both.
All you need is a 2500 with 2wd, big engine and transmission to tow the trailer safely, big brakes and a great trailer brake controller come with.
Diesel is better and a matter of choice and pocket depth.

Would recommend paying up for 4wd.

When your trailer is sitting on grass for a few days it sinks in the turf more than you would like. Add some rain or dew the first move to pull out of the ruts can cause the drive tire or tires slip (if you opt for locking diff which you should have with either) the next move clogs them and you are stuck. Been there done that......... Highway tread tires are a culprit, all terrain may be better, dual rear wheels may.....

With 4wd before even trying to move put it in low range 4wd and 1st gear and just drive off the grass on to solid ground put it in 2wd and enjoy the AC on the ride home.

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

Unless you need 4 WD for something other than towing your race rig I would get 2 WD. You will get better fuel mileage and less repair cost.

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

I'm just impressed you can find a new 3/4 ton for sale. Around here they are very rare this year.
I would get the 4 wheel drive for resale and for the few times you may need it while towing. I use mine on the 1/4 mile of hilly gravel road between my house and black top.

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

I have owned both 4WD and 2WD Ram trucks.
Unless you live in a place that snows a lot, I will get a 2WD.

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

I tow an open trailer and the bed is 'stuffed' with extra stuff. Had a 2wd and went to 4wd, never use the 4wd, but the heavier suspension etc. worth the lower gas mileage, tows / stops sooo much better.

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

To me it's the Front End or the Back End. Spend 4 $4000. more for the 4 wheel package and get the $4000.00 back at the back end if you sell the truck. Same goes for the 2 wheel drive , you will spend $4000.00 less for a two wheel drive and get $4000.00 less when you sell it. To me if you don't need the 4 wheel for Winter driving then stick with the two wheel package. There are still plenty of buyers out there who will buy a two wheel package. JMO.

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

I'd never buy a 2 wheel drive living in NJ even if I never used the truck in winter.

I bought a new GMC in '96 and got stuck in the mud at Maple Grove as soon as I puled in the grass field. A 454 4x4
I had to unload the race car just to get out and covered my new truck and trailer with mud in the process.

Replaced that truck with a Duramax and it's a 4 wheel drive and my daily driver...

One trip coming home from Cecil with the Duramax I was losing a rear U-Joint....barely made it home.....

With a 4x4 I could have pulled the rear driveshaft and made it home in 4 wheel drive.......Not likely that would ever happen but in my case it almost did.....

I was looking at trucks a few months ago....2500 HD 4x4 6.? gas ext cab long bed......$50G's and up

My good friend bought one and a co worker also bought one .....Chevy....

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

I vote for 4WD

I have owned them all and Mileage Difference
was noticeable.

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

In the late 80's I took an '88 Chevy 3/4 ton suburban 4 WD and built a "pulling BBC" for it. Pulled a 24 ft enclosed. I kept it till '93 and the one & only time I used 4 WD pulling was when I had my trailer in the yard beside my driveway and my back tires were off the concrete. I did use 4wd on some camping & motorcycle trips in the Ozarks. That is the last 4 wd I've had.

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

It doesn't work that way.

All things being equal, 4WD REDUCES a truck's payload capacity- 2WD and 4WD versions of the same truck will have the same GVWR, but the 4WD truck will weigh more, which means less payload capacity.

Re: 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive??
 

Although many people WANT 4WD, nearly everyone can get by without it.

2WD is less expensive to buy, simpler, has less to go wrong, less to maintain, less to repair, easier to work on, less depreciation, greater payload, greater fuel mileage, better acceleration, smoother ride, and in many cases less expensive to insure and register.

My wife and I recently faced this decision, and purchased a new 2WD truck with the optional electronic locking rear axle. We actually use it for off-roading, but not the kind of off-roading that would require 4WD. We installed larger BFG All-Terrain tires on a set of 17" Method Racing wheels, a "shorty" performance exhaust system, a pair of Deaver rear leaf springs, and got in line for a 10-month wait for a $3,500 set of adjustable King 2.5 rear shocks and front ride height adjustable coilovers, both with reservoirs.

A few months ago, before we bought our truck, we rode out the worst snow storm in 40 years here, which helped us with our decision after we realized that we didn't actually have to go anywhere when there is snow on the roads. And when the snow turned to ice, all the vehicles we saw stuck in the ditches, were 4WD.