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01-25-2014, 07:39 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New York
Posts: 33
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Tow Vehicle Advise Needed
I currently pull a 12,000 lb Jayco 5th wheel with a 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel with added air suspension. I am looking to upgrade my tow vehicle to a dually and I was wondering if it is better to get a 4x4 or stick to a rear wheel drive to save gas. Any recommendations?
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01-25-2014, 10:08 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Some place
Posts: 190
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It depends on where you live. I have a 4WD truck and wouldn't go back to 2WD. If the roads are nasty a a quick turn of the knob makes traveling much easier. I have used 4WD in campgrounds even. Trying to back up on levelers in tiny loose gravel at one campground in particular necessitated 4Wd. I even used 4 low and idled the trailer onto the ramps. If your daily driving conditions require 4WD I would get it. If you stay on dry pavement I wouldn't worry about it. You just need to evaluate your needs and go from there.
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01-25-2014, 10:31 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Twin Falls
Posts: 930
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Personally I don't think you'll see enough fuel savings to warrant the loss of 4x4 when you need it. The cost between 4x4 and 2wd will be more than the fuel savings.
I wouldn't give up 4x4 for anything, I think you would be sorry in the long run
__________________
2011 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins
2012 Starcraft Autumn Ridge 297 BHS
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01-25-2014, 05:06 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Port Hope
Posts: 308
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i would never give up 4wd, its great for the camp sites so you dont tear up the grass and with my boat i never have to worry about the ramp i am backing into, i would say go for it cause it only really hurts your fuel econ when you are using 4wd, if your in 2wd you will get close if not just as good as a similar 2wd counterpart
__________________
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW 6.7 cummins
2014 Eagle HT 27.5 BHS
1998 Tahoe Q5 4.3 (My Baby)
2006 Ford F150 5.4, (SOLD Oct 2014)
2014 Jayco Jayflight 26BH (SOLD Feb 2014)
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01-25-2014, 05:20 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: White Rock, BC. Canada
Posts: 374
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If you currently have 2wd have you found yourself in a situation where you wished you have 4wd? Is so themselves it's likely worth it. If not the you'll find the dual rear wheels give you lots of traction.
I really don't think you'll save much on fuel going 2wd on a truck that big but you will save some on the purchase price and long term repairs and maintenance.
__________________
]2013 Jay Feather X213
2003 Ford Expedition
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01-26-2014, 09:38 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Saskatoon Sask Canada
Posts: 10,726
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I have 4x4 and found it is just a pain... wish I had rear wheel drive truck.. (dealer would not even order one for me)
__________________
Seann
2004 Chev Silverado Duramax optioned past the max. 2009 Jayco Eagle 308 RLS 900watts of solar, Lithium batteries (400amp hour), 2000 watt (4000 surge) whole house inverter.
145days /2023 2022/151 2021[/COLOR]
93/2020,157/2019219/2018 206/2017,215/2016, 211/2015, 196/14, 247/13, 193/12
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01-26-2014, 09:47 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Shelbyville Ill. in summer South Texas in winter
Posts: 92
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First trip with then new camper and new to me truck. Parked on grass. Very wet when ready to leave needed 4x4 to get out to road. Have used it many times since. Next truck will be 4x4 as well!
__________________
2008 V-10
Ford F-350 DRW
2014 Eagle Premier 321RLTS
Vietnam Vet USMC
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01-26-2014, 11:26 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Utah
Posts: 892
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Where do you live, and where/how do you camp? For me, it takes 4x4 just to get home from work if the plows haven't run during an afternoon storm. Our favorite place to boondock takes us up a nasty fire road. I swear it rains just before we go, every time. We would never make it without 4x4.
__________________
2014 Ram 2500 Mega Cab Laramie 4x4 6.4L HEMI 4.10s with antispin
2014 Jayco Jay Flight Swift 287BHBE
Equal-i-zer 90-00-1200(new 90-02-4900 shank)
2x Honda 2K
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01-26-2014, 09:15 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: North Idaho/Arizona
Posts: 5,446
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We live in North Idaho where we get winter driving conditions. Dealers don't want two wheel drive trucks of any kind as they are hard to sell.
__________________
2011 Eagle 330RLTS with just about every option.
2017 Silverado 1500 4x4 5.3 with tow package. (no, we don't tow the Jayco with it.)
2018 Surveyor 265RLDS well equipped.
Life in the slow lane is still life.
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01-27-2014, 12:21 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Kincardine Ontario
Posts: 163
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Sean45 - how do you find 4x4 to be a pain?
__________________
Owenssailor
Ont. Canada
2017 Chev 4x4 Crew Cab 5.3l 3.42 8 spd trailer pkg
2011 Jayco JayFeather Select 28U
Equal-i-zer 1400/14000
Rotochocks
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01-27-2014, 02:44 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Finger Lakes of NY
Posts: 89
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Yes, I wonder what would be a pain also. I have always had 4wd never once did I know it was even there until I used it.
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01-27-2014, 09:13 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Saskatoon Sask Canada
Posts: 10,726
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Quote:
Originally Posted by owenssailor
Sean45 - how do you find 4x4 to be a pain?
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Extra maintenance required for them. Servicing the transfer case. Mileage penalty even when in 2x4 mode. (I do over 20,000 miles a year towing) I have found that a limited slip or posi rear end is as good as 4x4 for 99.975% of the time
__________________
Seann
2004 Chev Silverado Duramax optioned past the max. 2009 Jayco Eagle 308 RLS 900watts of solar, Lithium batteries (400amp hour), 2000 watt (4000 surge) whole house inverter.
145days /2023 2022/151 2021[/COLOR]
93/2020,157/2019219/2018 206/2017,215/2016, 211/2015, 196/14, 247/13, 193/12
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01-27-2014, 03:28 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: da U.P.
Posts: 352
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I have to say 4x4 is the way to go.
This past summer we went camping after several days of wet weather. The grassy ground was full of moisture, not muddy, but still damp. As I was adjusting the final parking position of the trailer, the moist ground decided it didn't want to offer any more traction to either rear tire. There was no more moving the trailer in 2wd. Thankfully I had 4wd available so I didn't tear up the campsite much. Without 4wd I may have buried both rear wheels up to the axle to no avail.
__________________
Kent
FAA licensed A&P aircraft mechanic, ex-RV dealer parts dept
Retired B-52 Gunner/Flight Examiner, B-52 Crew Chief
2016 Jayco Eagle HT 29.5 FBDS w/ 15,000 BTU AC, 50 amp service, upgraded counter top, thermal pane windows, elec. stab jacks, outside grill, backup camera and MORryde pin box.
2011 GMC 2500HD DURAMAX/ ALLISON
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01-27-2014, 07:59 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Tacoma, WA
Posts: 102
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I would only have a 4x4 truck. The Pacific NW is hilly and I frequently need the traction when backing the trailer up a hill or pulling out up a hill. I also do a fair amount of off-road driving, so I get my money's worth there as well. I do my own maintenance/fluids so no worries for me there. Resale difference is huge around here - I'm not sure about other parts of the country. I know in the southwest I notice a lot more 2x4 SUV's and trucks on the road.
__________________
2012 Jay Flight 29QBH
2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins H.O. 48RE
Equalizer 4-pt sway control hitch
Honda EU1000i
2006 Jayfeather 29Y - past Jayco
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01-28-2014, 01:37 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Finger Lakes of NY
Posts: 89
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We went out to my BIL's hunting land to boondock this summer. Pulled up hill half a mile on a muddy tractor path. At the top I used 4 low to jockey the trailer into position. No 2wd locking or not would have made it a hundred feet off the service road. I am no stranger to 2wd trucks.
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01-28-2014, 01:53 PM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1
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A no brainer in cold climate
There is nothing more frustrating than having tons of power and weight on the front of the truck and be held back by a patch of ice under the feather light rear axle. With a 1/2 ton, 2x4 is acceptable, but 3/4 ton and higher, it's worth having traction on the front as well.
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01-28-2014, 02:43 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: White Salmon, Wa.
Posts: 550
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I have had both and would never go back to a 2 wheel drive truck. Even the DW her car is 4x4
__________________
Randy
Washington, State.
2011 Jayco G2 25RKS
2004 Dodge 2500 CTD
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01-28-2014, 03:27 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,859
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I have been prevented from going to any campsite I wanted but once w/ my 4X2, that said, I am glad we have a choice.
__________________
Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
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01-28-2014, 07:53 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Utah
Posts: 892
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Quote:
Originally Posted by norty1
I have been prevented from going to any campsite I wanted but once w/ my 4X2, that said, I am glad we have a choice.
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That's why asked the type of camping. 90% of ours is boondocking on BLM land. 4x4 is a must.
__________________
2014 Ram 2500 Mega Cab Laramie 4x4 6.4L HEMI 4.10s with antispin
2014 Jayco Jay Flight Swift 287BHBE
Equal-i-zer 90-00-1200(new 90-02-4900 shank)
2x Honda 2K
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01-29-2014, 07:50 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Kalamazoo, West Michigan
Posts: 1,817
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Having owned 2wd trucks my whole life, I broke down and got my current truck (2011) with 4wd and from here on out, I'll never go back to 2wd. I use it very frequently and most recently during our blast of wintry weather have not taken it out of 4wd in about 5 days straight. As others have stated, just a twist of a dial and I can pull out of the sloppiest intersection or travel down a drifted country road. Nope, I'm not going back.
4wd option = $3500
Peace of mind = priceless.
__________________
2006 23B Hybrid with 10k round bar WDH
2011 F150 4x4 SCREW Ecoboost, Max Tow, Integrated TBC, 3.73 LS axle, Firestone Ride Rite airbags.
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