Living in Louisiana I am having a hard time to find a 4 x 4 Crew Cab which I really like. The most trucks sold here are 4 x 2 (there is no snow ever...).
Do you think I really need a 4 x 4 truck? I am planning to pull a boat with it and I am thinking the Diff. Lock might just be enough. What is your experience with your 4 x 4 or 4 x 2 truck? For the 4 x 4 truck owners: Did you really use it that much or is it just a "nice to have" feature?

I was always thinking spending more than 45.000 $ on a truck should have everything you could ever need (there is the 3.000 $ price difference between the 2 different trucks of course).

Thanks for your input!

FrankEdited by: mahalkita

It looks better. That's enough for me http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Thumbs Up.gif

Added resale value and traction are a windfall. I've found the need for 4x4 when pulling on hills and grassy surfaces. Heck, I pulled a minivan out of a ravine. It wouldn't do it in 2 wheel on asphalt. Just burned rubber. Hot sunny day.

And just like diesel engines... you get a faster sale when it's older and you get it all back. You don't realize how many people want it till you put it up for sale and the first thing they ask is ... "Is it four wheel drive?" Mean time you enjoy having it.Edited by: hoot

I use 4x4 most of time when the road is snow and/or ice covered (I'm from NY). But I also have use 4x4 sometime when I am off road such as on soft grassy lawn or muddy dirt road where 4x4 is needed. Those also are the times when I sometime have to use 4x4 low range because when I have a dump trailer fully loaded with firewood or top soil, I couldn't get the traction without 4x4 low range on a soft ground.


So even if you never seen snow there, you still might want 4x4 if you plan on taking a heavy trailer somewhere on soft ground (probably not ideal to do but such as for when camping out).


I am sure someone else will have a better opinion for you.

Do you think I really need a 4 x 4 truck? Frank


No question about it. It's kind of like AC used to be, once you've had it, you won't go back...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Hug.gif

4X4 also gives you the low range good for stump pulling!

I only get 4x4 on trucks i snow plow with 2wd tow better

If you haven't needed a 4x4 truck yet you probablly won't, so get the 2wd.


You'll have a higher towing capacity you'll probably get some better fuel milege and better performance cuz the truck will be lighter and less drag without the 4x4 stuff.


So if your not concerned with resale cuz you plan on keeping it a while and won't be in any winter weather or go off road get the 2wd with the locker rear. Sounds good enough to pull a boat around with.

This boat your pulling, do you put it and take out of water all the time? Those ramps are slippery and 4x4 is nice pulling up wet ramps. I had a 4x2 and got stuck going up a hill pulling my 25ft sail boat (fixed keel = heavy) in the rain. Had to have Ferd 4x4 pull me up the hill.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif

Jim

Ive used it 10x more than I thought I would.

Front end heavy trucks with 2wd isnt a good mix.

I've used 4x4 a couple times on mine pulling the boat out of the water and i have the G80 locking diff. Nice to know it's there when/if you need it. Wouldn't own a truck without it.

Do you think I really need a 4 x 4 truck? Frank


No question about it. It's kind of like AC used to be, once you've had it, you won't go back...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Hug.gif





Frank,


Ditto what Zeeb says! You will not be unhappy making that choice and besides it will add to the resale value "if" you ever decide to sell.

Thanks for all the responses. I also think the truck with 4 x 4 has a much better resale value and I like to have peace of mind in case I really need it here in a flood, mudbog...or just on wet grass or in the sand at the seashore. I used to drive only 4 x 4 vehicles (Landcruisers) before.
The problem is only that I found a nice truck which is 4 x 2, if I want a 4 x 4 I have to wait until the end of this year to get one for a good price. I was told the best incentives for new trucks will be in the late fall close to Christmas, so I will have to order maybe in August to take delivery in Nov. / Dec. to get a good deal on it.

A crew cab that's on the high road all the time would get a 4x2. However, you do live where the bodies float. I would get the 4x4, hands down. G80's are nice on dry pavement and loose gravel parking lots but, they will not pull you out of a ditch, out of the sand, off a slippery boat launch or in a heavy rain storm. Although G80's work very well they work much better with 4x4. There is nothing worse than pulling in your buddies yard and getting stuck because you need to back out of the grass. It need not rain for this to happen, just a little dew or a slight incline will leave you right there. Actually, go grab a "24 hour" test truck from GM and test it for yourself. You will be surprized how easy it is to stick a heavy truck.....even on flat ground.





Burner----------------> http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


.......... How about that Duck Hunt'n? Been just south of there a few times, it was great!

I live down south also and pondered the same thing. I finally chose the 4X4. I never have regretted it. The back of these truck are so light that the rear wheels spin a lot. Just backing an empty 16 foot trailer up a small incline on grass made mine spin. Limited slip didn't help at all. Just drop that thing in 4 wheel low and no problems. You will never regret getting the 4X4. There is slightly more maintenance, but I just look for a reason to get under my truck!!!!!! What other option can you buy, use all the time, and get most of your money back on when you trade it in?

mahalkita


im also in LA and just happen to work on boats for a living, so i have seen my fair share of 2wd trucks spinning at the launch trying to pull a boat up that may only be 25' in length, come to think of it yesterday i saw a 2wd d/a spinning trying to pull a 25' pro line fishing boat up the launch, but finally pulled it up


now granted most of the boats we work on are usually over 30' and up to 50' and can weigh up to 20k lbs, we have to have a 4wd truck and the 4wd comes in handy quite often, especially with all the rain we have had lately, these launches can get mighty slippery, so if i were you, dont even think twice about getting the 4wd, just go ahead and do it and you wont regret it

yes, get the 4wd!

EVERY person I have ever seen w/ a diesel 2wd that has ever driven it off of the pavement wishes they had bought the 4wd option. The standard saying with everyone I talk to is: If you NEVER get off of pavement for any reason, you might not need 4wd.
I have gotten stuck (tires spinning on dead grass) turning around in a dry center median on the hwy (middle of July 105 deg & NO rain for 3 weeks) I had to put the truck in 4wd to move it. The diesel is VERY heavy in front & it digs into the ground very well! I believe that if you do not get the 4wd, you will really regret it! (any you can forget about going ANYWHERE in sandy soil!).

Just my $0.02

PDS Edited by: Aggie91

I have an 02 CC silverado 2500HD LB 4X2 and I'm constantly having to pull it. It gets stuck on level wet grass, one time it got stuck going down hill! I don't think they should even make the trucks without 4X4.


Just my two cents


Ox