2wd or 4wd

[nbhybrid]

2WD is all you ever need. With good driving skills a 2wd can go many places a 4wd can. Especially towing a trailer I hope you are avoiding off road situations anyway.
Growing up all we had was rear wheel drive wagons and sedans to tow with. My dad didnt have any issues

[Camping Couple]

Originally Posted by mcfarmall

In your case based on where you live and the information you've provided I personally would opt for 2wd with either a limited slip or electronic locking differential.

My situation is different as I live in an area of Michigan that experiences some very unpleasant winter weather and I routinely use my 4wd. I also run the 4wd every time I pull off pavement just to exercise the system and keep things working freely.

What Mcfarmall said i will second his opinion. I live on the other side of town from him. Last June I purchased a 2500HD 4x4. Before that I had a 2wd 1/2 ton. Last winter I was glad I opted for the 4x4. Our parking spot in our yard for the TT is on a slope. I always use the 4wd to back in. With the 2wd, the wheels would spin when the grass was wet.

[Bobx2]

Originally Posted by nbhybrid

2WD is all you ever need. With good driving skills a 2wd can go many places a 4wd can. Especially towing a trailer I hope you are avoiding off road situations anyway.
Growing up all we had was rear wheel drive wagons and sedans to tow with. My dad didnt have any issues

That's a mighty broad statement, and terribly inaccurate. Maybe, if you live in the south, and only stay in paved campgrounds, that might be true. It is a rare event that I set up anywhere near a paved road, and often times it's little more than a trail. I would never be without my 4x4 truck, and not even your dad would be able to put a trailer where I usually go, without 4x4. You might get down to my spot, but you would never get back up the trail. Most rv's are plenty capable of taking off the pavement, and when you do that, there is always a chance that 4x4 will make your life 100 times better when it's time to get back to the pavement.

[howie]

Originally Posted by Bobx2

That's a mighty broad statement, and terribly inaccurate. Maybe, if you live in the south, and only stay in paved campgrounds, that might be true. It is a rare event that I set up anywhere near a paved road, and often times it's little more than a trail. I would never be without my 4x4 truck, and not even your dad would be able to put a trailer where I usually go, without 4x4. You might get down to my spot, but you would never get back up the trail. Most rv's are plenty capable of taking off the pavement, and when you do that, there is always a chance that 4x4 will make your life 100 times better when it's time to get back to the pavement.

I agree!
LOL...I had typed a reply similar to this but got sidetracked before I posted.

[nbhybrid]

so how did they always do it in the past?

Most people never had a 4x4 truck

[RVer-Bill]

Originally Posted by nbhybrid

so how did they always do it in the past?

Most people never had a 4x4 truck

Called a tow truck, like I had to when my 2WD truck and 5er got stuck in a campground. I was on grass, but it started to sink in even before I tried to move the rig. As soon as I lowered the pin on the truck, it sunk into the soggy ground about an inch. From that point, and being slightly up hill, no amount of skill would have gotten the rig out.

[howie]

Originally Posted by nbhybrid

so how did they always do it in the past?

Most people never had a 4x4 truck

Most people only camped in developed campgrounds back then & today.
I avoid the RV parks with paved roads and concrete pads where they pack you in like sardines.
We stay in some National Forest campgrounds that are developed and you most likely would have no problem with a 2wd. However, we also stay in the National Forest at areas that are not "campgrounds". We have a few places on private property along the river that we camp. 4wd is a must in those places. 4wd is almost a necessity to get up my gravel driveway without spinning the gravels out.
To say 2wd is all you will ever need is a broad statement without knowing where/how the OP prefers to camp & travel.

[KiltDog]

I live in the northeast and really appreciate the 4x4 come the winter months when things are snowy and icy. Since my TV is also a daily driver, I never considered anything else. Not sure if you will be traveling/towing out west in snowy conditions, but if it's a possibility I would highly recommend going with a 4x4.

[Brownie]

I've read articles that have said a 2x4 with snow tires will actually give you better traction than a 4x4 with "all season" tires. That being said, the decision to go with 2x4 or 4x4 is (like the decision to buy a TT, 5th Wheel, or Motorhome) largely a personal matter. So much of it depends on where you live, drive, camp, and what else the vehicle is used for. I live in Michigan, where we had 141" of snow last winter (see my avatar). I pull my camper, hunt and fish in some pretty rugged terrain. I had two trucks w/ 2WD before I got my first 4x4. 2WD trucks are notorious for being light in the back, and you can spin the tires when someone spits on the pavement. I've had to be towed out of slick spots a couple of times while hunting with 2WD vehicles. The ground was frozen when I pulled in, but turned as slick as snot when it thawed in the afternoon. Never had a problem with a 4x4, and would never have a 2WD truck again!

[Jeff61]

My last two TVs were 4WD. Make sure your trailer towing capacity is enough for the weight your pulling. I've seen some greasy areas where the 4WD was a real nice thing to have. My latest TV is a 2014 GMC 2500HD, CC, 4WD, 6.0L gas, 4.10 limited slip. Tows great, rides good, you don't feel the weight. Rear camera and integrated brake controller are very handy. Pretty much a nice ride, but, towing on the interstate with the AC on at 65 it gets around 7 mpg. 2 lane no AC maybe 9.3 mpg. With camper shell on the box, about the best it'll do is 13.5 combined hwy/cty. driving. Definitely not a commuter vehicle if you're driving it 50 m/d

[Luvthenw]

I would add one 4x4 advantage that i did not see mentioned in previous posts. Now this is probably not as important to lighter trailers, but I sure do love using 4x4 LO for backing into tight spots. I love the extra control of the granny gear in backing my fiver beside my house and into difficult camping spots.

[DocBrown]

I agree with this being a little bit personal preference and lot of how you camp/where you go, and the type of vehicle you have. I've had several 4WD vehicles and lots of 2WD. With my 2WD Suburbans they were so heavy I never felt I needed 4WD, ever. With my old Trailblazer, that thing couldn't handle accelerating from a stop in moderate snow without turning on the 4WD. Once many moons ago, I got stuck in wet grass with my PUP and '92 GMC Safari. Could have used it then!

If you look at GM and you don't want 4WD, make sure to at least get a truck with a tow package and/or Z71 option. Both of these options include the G80 locking rear end. Its not limited slip, it's better. Both my old Trailblazer and my current Sierra have the G80.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdND6o9Vsqo

[33 RLDS]

My Avalanche has the rear locker. If I stop at my mailbox in the winter that just means both Goodyear Silent armors spin in place on my driveway. I need 4wd to make it up..

[Paulx213]

Originally Posted by RVer-Bill

Called a tow truck, like I had to when my 2WD truck and 5er got stuck in a campground. I was on grass, but it started to sink in even before I tried to move the rig. As soon as I lowered the pin on the truck, it sunk into the soggy ground about an inch. From that point, and being slightly up hill, no amount of skill would have gotten the rig out.

I've never called a tow truck. I learned to drive back in the 70's when few pick ups were 4x4s and we managed just fine. When I was a kid my dad towed our trailer with a Plymouth Fury wagon and I don't remember him ever getting stuck


I say it's more of a nice to have occasionally rather then a must have. It will always cost you money and performance though.

[DocBrown]

Regarding performance hit and lower mpgs, that's minimal. This isn't 1975. Like a modern gas engine, the technology and tolerances are far better today so unless you drive in 4Hi all the time, there will be very little difference in performance or gas mileage. not enough to make a real difference. What you will lose is some towing capacity and more important, payload. Generally I think the trade off is worth it though.

Originally Posted by 33 RLDS

My Avalanche has the rear locker. If I stop at my mailbox in the winter that just means both Goodyear Silent armors spin in place on my driveway. I need 4wd to make it up..

Must be a steep hill! Seriously, having the G80 is better than not having it. And isn't meant to replace 4WD, but augment it. Watch the video.

[33 RLDS]

Yes I am glad I have the G80 and 4wd. I am not as skilled as pualx213 dad !!!

[RVer-Bill]

Originally Posted by 33 RLDS

Yes I am glad I have the G80 and 4wd. I am not as skilled as pualx213 dad !!!

I guess his skills are just too awesome for me to comprehend. I've been in situations in the winter on hunting area trails where 4WD was almost not enough. Never got stuck with 4WD though, except when my father-in-law and I thought it would be fun to drive through the farm pond muddy supply stream. Oh well, he had a tractor to pull it out. It was a lot of fun though. Until my wife discovered that we had gotten her vehicle stuck.

[howie]

Originally Posted by Paulx213

I've never called a tow truck. I learned to drive back in the 70's when few pick ups were 4x4s and we managed just fine. When I was a kid my dad towed our trailer with a Plymouth Fury wagon and I don't remember him ever getting stuck

Did y'all camp in the mountains or cookie cutter campgrounds?

No way a Plymouth Fury is getting a camper into some of the places we have been.

I've never called a tow truck either. Then again my dad wore a harness and pulled the camper like a mule. We never got stuck.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by howie

I've never called a tow truck either. Then again my dad wore a harness and pulled the camper like a mule. We never got stuck.

I've only gotten stuck bad enough to call a tow truck twice. Both times were with a 4x4. It was a 1988 Suburban, and both times we had it up to the rocker panels in mud. No way was that thing going anywhere!

Anyway, my point is that if you have 2wd, you know not to attempt something that will get you stuck. I've never gotten any of my 2wd vehicles stuck for tat exact reason; I know better than to try it. The 4x4 gives me a bit of false confidence (my own weakness).

[33 RLDS]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

you know not to attempt something that will get you stuck. I've never gotten any of my 2wd vehicles stuck for tat exact reason; I know better than to try it. The 4x4 gives me a bit of false confidence (my own weakness).

Recently I was just trying to get into a camping spot after a rain storm and without 4wd I would not have made it. If I had 2wd I still would have attempted it. I mean I drove all the way there