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 Veteran
Posts: 231
 
Location: On My Horse! | I’m in the market for a new truck. I’ve decided on a Dodge 3500. I’ve been looking at trucks and all I can find is 4x4. I’ve never had a 4x4. How many of y’all pull a horse trailer with one? Any issues? What should I know? I was told I could order a 4x2, but looking at 6 to 8 week wait. I currently have a 2008 F350 4x2 dually and I plan on trading it in. Just curious as to why the majority of bigger trucks are now mainly 4x4? All insight is greatly appreciated!  |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
 
| I can't go anyplace in the snow with my 4 x 2 but I see you are in Florida so never mind! Lol |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I've actually never pulled with something that wasn't four wheel drive... either 1/2 or 3/4. I just got my first one ton last week and it's four wheel drive. I've never actually had to haul using the 4x4 except once when I needed it to get unstuck in a parking area.
My logic as to why most of the large trucks are four wheel drive is that they're inteneded to be work trucks.. and sometimes work is off road. |
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: On My Horse! | LOL. It's not really needed here too much. Maybe here and there in the summer. I'm just curious as to how they pull? I'm sure I would have to adjust the neck of my trailer so my horses don't ride at an incline, but other than that? |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| If you live in Florida, you don't have snow or massive amounts of mud
I have only ever driven/hauled with a four wheel drive truck. |
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Expert
Posts: 2457
| JRJ - 2015-01-12 3:35 PM LOL. It's not really needed here too much. Maybe here and there in the summer. I'm just curious as to how they pull? I'm sure I would have to adjust the neck of my trailer so my horses don't ride at an incline, but other than that?
Should ride about the same. The 4x4 obviously sits higher but that's about it. |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | If you don't really need it, then I probably wouldn't spend the extra money on it... but keep in mind resale. |
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 I Sell Dreams
Posts: 1654
 
Location: Freestone TX | My 4x4 Dodge rides a lot stiffer than my previous Dodge 4x2. Both were 3500 duallies. Like you, I couldn't find a 4x2 in the newer Dodges. I use my truck exclusively for pulling my LQ and I'm certainly not going off road with it! So the 4x4 is a waste for me. Also, the 4x4 doesn't get the fuel mileage empty that the 4x2 got. |
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 Road Rash Expert
Posts: 5501
Location: Near San Antonio, TX | Even though it is a 4x4 it is really still just a 4x2 unless you have it in four wheel drive. So no difference I don't think. I would not even consider buying a truck that wasn't a 4x4. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | I went from a F350 4x2 to a Dodge Ram 3500 4x4, simply because I couldn't find a 3500 4x2. Doesn't pull any different than my Ford 4x2 did. Surprisingly, I get better mpg with the dodge when I am not pulling than I did with the Ford, even though it is 4x4. MPG is about the same when pulling. The BIG difference I have noticed is how much rougher the Dodge rides vs the Ford. It is much stiffer and rougher riding, both pulling a gooseneck and when not pulling. Other than that I like the Dodge. I want to go back to a Ford but can't find what I am looking for in my price range. |
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: On My Horse! | I can't find 4x2 anywhere! I mean I've been looking and calling places for weeks! One dealership must have thought I was crazy looking for a 4x2. The response was like "Pause...huh?!" lol. Just curious as to what others think about their 4x4 and how they ride and pull. |
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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | I will never be without 4x4. We went to the BBR finals a few years ago and you would be amazed how many 4x2 trucks pulling big trailers we had to pull out of the mud. That's pretty much all my husband did one morning until I ran. Although we live where it snows, that was enough to convince me to never be without one wherever I may live. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | Well in our neck of the woods 4x4 is a must have. We travel to places for camping/riding that having 4 wheel drive can sure come in handy. We don't go crazy off road...but even nice places can get soft with a decent amount of rain and getting out is MUCH easier. (Some places we wouldn't have gotten out without it)
If the back of the truck is a little "butt high"...just get a leveling kit for it.
There are things that can be done to soften up a stiff ride as well. You can get "helper springs", air bags etc if the tuck squats under the weight of the trailer. Lots of little things that can be done to make the ride smoother as well.
As far as fuel mileage..again....things can be done there to help optimize it. For one...what is the gear ratio for the rear end? Wheel/tire size? Makes a difference in whether the truck runs at a lower RPM at highway speed. Lower RPM equals better fuel economy. The 4x4 aspect in itself shouldn't cut MPG...but some of the things that often come with the 4x4 package can. (bigger tires/different gear ratio for rear end). But those are options and things that can be changed.
On the 4WD I always say...better to have it and not need it...than to need it and not have it! |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Id never get a truck that isnt a 4 x4.. pulls the same.. but you have that in case |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | There is no pulling difference with a 4x4 versus a 4x2 unless you are in inclement weather or extremely muddy conditions. But around here that is only what people pull with is a 4x4...4x2 are around, but not marketable in my area because of extreme winter conditions (like we are having now with over 2 feet of snow). Besides, as long as the weather is good you leave a 4x4 in the 2x4 mode, and it pulls just the same.  But you'll only find us haivng 4x4 trucks...anymore, after this winter especially.
Edited by mtcanchazer 2015-01-12 6:12 PM
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I'm a Cry Baby
Posts: 3780
Location: n.c. | We didn't feel we needed the 4 x 4 when buying the F350 and F250.
Had to order both of them to get the two wheel drive.
Didn't see the need to have something extra that wasn't really needed.
You don't see any 4 x 2's on lots anymore. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Resale is better on a 4x 4.
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: On My Horse! | Thank you all for your responses! |
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| Alright, don't let this come of as rude or snarky or anything! But 4x2's in any truck are next to pointless, especially in a diesel. You never know what condition you could get into that has your trailer in the middle of a muddy area, and if you have a 2 wheel drive "truck" you aren't going anywhere. They aren't going to pull any differently, they don't get different mpg, all four wheel drive trucks are a 2 wheel drive until you put them into 4wd. I wouldn't go through the trouble finding a 2wd!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 729
Location: south central usa | driven a 2wd dually for the past 15+ yrs - here are my takeaways
- 2wd will get better mileage all around. simple physics, less air flow restriction going down the road
- i like the the lower bed height for everyday uses and not having to either block up the trailer or worrying about it getting into the bed
- downside is that the 2wds used to also be lower in height than 4wds, but for the past 10 yrs the GMs have been esentially the same height and noticed recently that the new dodges are signifcantly taller than say a 2010 model, but still not as talll as a 4wd
- 2wd costs less to maintain (front hubs, 4wd engagement - if i had a 4wd, i'd want a manual shifter instead of electronic --- been stuck twice in 4wd b/c it wouldnt shift into 4wd)
- although im not in a heavy snow area, i count on getting stuck about once a year, which has "always" been at the house.
- 4wd will of course give you peace of mind "if" you get in that situation, but also can give a false sense of security as all the diesels are heavy in the front end...example - ive been stuck in more 4wd diesels than 2wd simply b/c i thought, "yeah i can make it b/c its 4wd"
- 4wd will have higher resale and will also cost you more on the front end. the difference has always been a wash when i trade (ie 2wd costs $3-4k less and sold the truck for $3-4k less than a 4wd of the same truck
- if im hauling cattle and backing up to sale barns, holdings pens, using on the farm, or live where there is snow/ice for months on end, the 4wds have their place...but i use mine going up and down the pavement with the weekly trip out to the barn
that sounds like a bunch of 4wd bashing, but i that is just the way i see it...just go with what you want/can afford
Edited by runnink 2015-01-13 8:36 AM
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