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New User
Posts: 1
Location: Montezuma Iwa | How often do you use or need your 4 wheel drive ? Or if you have a 2 wheel drive... Have you gotten along fine without 4x4 ?Thanks |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 714
 
Location: Minnesota | I wouldn't be without it. For me, it isn't how often I use it, but will I have it when I need it. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434
Location: Brooksville, Fl | I don't use it often but when I need it, it is invaluable. I had a truck without it and nearly got stuck a few times. I would never own another truck without it. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1069
Location: MI. | Will not be without one. Wet grass, snow, mud etc. |
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Member
Posts: 6
| If you live in the desert SW and never get off the pavement, you probably don't need it. If you live any place else and trail ride, I wouldn't own a truck without 4x4. |
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Member
Posts: 39
Location: Southwestern, Indiana | I wouldn't be without it. I had to use it when it wasn't expected. Wet grass, loose gravel and loose dirt with a small incline. I've stayed away from the snow and the mud, but I have it when i need it. |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | Have 4 vehicles...2 tractors. Everything but one is 4WD. Pulling trailers, you never know when the rain might turn the campsite to slick mud, we ride year around except in the worst heat, and have used ours numerous times in primitive camping and even in fairgrounds and campgrounds... also haul cattle, and 4WD low lets you back up slowly and carefully without slipping and jackknifing, to precisely place your trailer ... and that's a great thing for hauling horses, as well. And, any worn out 4WD truck, if it will run and roll, will bring more than a worn out 2WD, just let fall and hunting season roll around. Would not ever have a hauling truck without 4WD and find the added expense is worth it in resale value, and not damaging your vehicle or trailer in slipping... |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
Location: TN | Another vote for "wouldn't be without it"! Wet grass is a bigger issue for me than anything else. It does snow here too and it is nice to have for that! |
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 Veteran
Posts: 274
Location: Memphis, TN | 
Originally written by cutter99 on 2012-06-07 8:12 AM Another vote for "wouldn't be without it"! Wet grass is a bigger issue for me than anything else. QUOTE] Same here......getting your big rig and trailer stuck on wet grass is SOOOOO embarassing! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: central IL | Years ago we trailered from IL to Tucson, AZ to camp/ride. Little did we know that to get to the camp, we had to cross a wash. We drove a 2 wheel drive 1/2 ton at the time. We pulled up to the wash and just sat, wondering what to do. Backing up the gravel road was impossible. So I got out and waded into the water to see how deep it was, and we chanced it. Water was up to our running boards, and we made it. We didn't want to chance rain and getting marooned there; we left in a couple of days. I'd have NEVER recommended that horse camp. BTW, the owner's site was way up a high bluff overlooking camp. I heard the story why. Couldn't wait to get out of there. Yes, we now pull with a 4 wheel drive 3/4 ton diesel. Smart move. |
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Veteran
Posts: 282
Location: southcentral pennsylvania | 4X4, without a doubt. Pulled for a number of years w/o it - wet grass, unexpected rains = mud, etc.= STUCK! I would skip a fancier interior, etc., to have 4X4, if that is what it came down to. |
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Veteran
Posts: 186
| Another vote for 4 x 4 and wet greasy grass is where I have needed it so far this year. I grew up in Upper Michigan driving a 2 wheel drive truck. In the winter when school was called off, for snow days, I would make it to the ski hill (three times farther from home than the school) to be first in line at the chair lift. Yes it can be done - good expierenced driver or not I wouldn't pull my horse trailer without 4 x 4. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376
Location: Missouri | Sure can see who has the bucks and who doesn't. I've always avoided the 4X4's, mainly because of the cost of repair, and a much shorter time till major repairs. We travel a lot, and have never needed a 4X4, yes, occasionally it would be nice, but not nice enough to warrant the extra initial cost and especially the much large repair costs when it needs repairs. If I were to go with the 4X4s I'd want to be able to trade up at least every 3 years. I drive a 1998 Ford F-350 dually and a 1995 Volvo. The Ford has almost 200,000 miles on it, and the Volvo just turned over 700,000. Neither one has had any major repairs.
Edited by bbsmfg3 2012-06-19 7:22 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434
Location: Brooksville, Fl | We have a 98 Chevy 3500 4X4 with 120,000 miles and has never needed repairs on the four wheel drive. My husband uses the 4 wheel drive extensively when he hunts. Never had a problem. We have owned 4 trucks w/ four wheel drive 94,98, 01, 08 and never had to fix the 4x4 on any of these (all Chevy's, not that that's a big deal). The 94 had 150,000 miles on it when we traded it. FWIW. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah | It's more than just having the 4x4 traction. I also use mine just for the low range in the gearing. Most 4x4 trucks have a 4High and 4Low in the transfer case. It is often more comfortable to creep along a forest service road in low range at 10 mph than being in the same gear in high range at 25 mph. Also the extra power to pull out of steep hole. Instead of having to get the RPMS up high and fly out, by using the low range, you can get the RPMS up for power but still be moving at a slower more manageable speed. |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
Location: Indiana | "I drive a 1998 Ford F-350 dually" But Bob-- you don't pull your lq trailer with that 98 Ford-- I vote for the 4X4. We have a 2002 GMC Dually - it's a wonderful truck. |
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Member
Posts: 42
Location: MO | Well we have four wheel drive and would not have a dually without it and no we are not filthy rich either. Bob, everyone who has a four wheel drive truck is not rich. The way we use our truck, it would be very hard for us to get by without four wheel drive. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1069
Location: MI. | Hey, pulled LQ out and around to the front of the homestead and while in the back of the property (turning) the trailer around I got stuck in a small sand "pit." Had to use four wheel drive to get out. Yes tractor was available but if this were to happen away from home.... See what I am saying?
Edited by Gone 2012-06-20 7:58 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376
Location: Missouri | "But Bob-- you don't pull your lq trailer with that 98 Ford-"
Used the Ford for 4 years before we got the Volvo.
I just can not see the extra cost of a 4X4 for pulling horse trailers. Now, you off the road, rough necks, yes, you'd be hung up all of the time without it.
Edited by bbsmfg3 2012-06-21 1:27 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 282
Location: southcentral pennsylvania | Did not know there is a problem with 4X4's. We have a '99 Ford 350 diesel, 4X4. No problems. Also, the trade in value is usually greater with a 4X4.
Edited by heritagelanefarm 2012-06-21 6:57 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
Location: TN | I have never had any issues with the four wheel drive on any of my trucks. I've had a '90 Ford F150, a '97 Dodge 2500, and a 2001 F350, that I still currently drive. It is very rare to park on a hardtop road here, even at shows. I trail ride and NEVER park on hardtop then. The only time I have parked in a parking lot has been at The Pennsylvania Farm Show Building in Harrisburg. For those of you not familar with Pennsylvania, our state farm show is in January, and I have used my four wheel drive to get in and out of the parking lot there! |
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Regular
Posts: 73
Location: MI | We have two trucks, both 1995 model years, a GMC 3/4 ton and a Ford 3/4 ton, both 4x4. Neither has had any problems with the 4x4 requiring shop repairs. My next truck will be have 4x4. If I were rich, would I drive/tow with a 17 year old pickup? |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | Lets see, Ford is a 2000 with 170,000 miles, Chevy is a 92 with 315,000, and Infiniti has 160000 miles and is a 98. Doesn't exactly sound like rich folks with new rigs... not that there is anything wrong with having money... using it wisely is also a good thing... none of these has every had a 4x4 repair. ' course, don't pull anything bigger than the lawnmower trailer with the Infinity, but the others have pulled heavy loads of cattle, hay, and horses, and 40' trailers etc, Have had em chained up and pulling in the snow in hunting season, after crossing Monarch or Loveland pass... so really, not an expense difference that makes much of a difference... YMMV...our 4x4 is not for showing out in the mud with drunk buddies, just for using in the real world where taking extra care of equipment and livestock really matters, that makes money sense to us.... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1069
Location: MI. | Originally written by bbsmfg3 on 2012-06-21 2:24 AM
"But Bob-- you don't pull your lq trailer with that 98 Ford-"Used the Ford for 4 years before we got the Volvo.I just can not see the extra cost of a 4X4 for pulling horse trailers. Now, you off the road, rough necks, yes, you'd be hung up all of the time without it. Off road rednecks? HaHaHa! |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | yeah.... have to say, in 40 years of hauling, never have hung up a truck, tractor or trailer... musta not been taking full advantage of that 4WD or my redneck heritage! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373
Location: Texas | 2001 Ford F350 with 4x4. 187,000 miles. The 4x4 has been flawless, no repairs or service needed. But, it is the kind you get out of truck and go manually lock the hubs on the wheels. Truck is also manual transmission.
If I am camping out in the middle of no where, not in a campground, and conditions change, such as a rain storm turning that perfect ground in to a muddy mess, I want to have the best chances of getting out of there on my own. We knew when we decided on the truck, we were not always going to be in perfect conditions, would take the back roads, and that when you need 4x4, you usually really need it. While we have only had to use it maybe a dozen or so times to get ourselves unstuck over the years since we got it (2001), we have used it for added traction on steep gravel roads, sudden snow/ice conditions here at home etc. more than that.
I'm a fan, and would get 4x4 again if we changed trucks. But its kind of like anything, you are going to get rave reviews from those who have it, and those who don't, will feel that same enthusiasm for NOT having it.
Each needs to decide where they plan to take their rigs, the type of camping, roads, and normal winter conditions to decide if it is worth it.
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Veteran
Posts: 155
Location: North Salem, IN | I agree with the majority of people on this thread. I for one will always have a 4x4. My 2002 GMC 3500 has 208,000 miles on it, and have never had a 4x4 related problem. When camping off road in grassy areas, or areas of steep hills, 4x4 is a must. I have had to use 4 low for the gearing to pull up a steep hill coming out of a camping area before on a gravel road. I have also had instances where 4x4 wasn't enough to get out after a heavy rain came through after being set up and the the truck and trailer settled over a 3 day weekend. Had to get pulled out with a tractor that time! I may not need to use the 4x4 very often, but its worth its weight in gold when I do!! |
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Question for the trailer pulling people here
