quote:

Originally posted by wxl:


A must have for my truck for the insurance

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

quote:

Originally posted by wxl:


A must have for my truck for the insurance

I think he means the 'peace of mind', not the actual coverage.

I went AWD for the reasons stated prior. I tow a PWC (Yamaha Waverunner) and the main ramp I use has algae on it so the AWD becomes highly beneficial when the ramp is slippery. There also can be inclement weather on my trips. My PWC trailer does not have brakes so it's all up to the truck to sort out.

I have a G2 Ridgeline but the G1 Ridgelines could be a very solid fit for what you are looking for. Most of the owners are anal about maintenance and the motors in them are good for 300k miles before major repairs.

^He's comparing it to having insurance, as in you may never need it, but that one time it makes it all worth it. It's a poor argument for 4wd and for insurance. In 1998, I bought a $10,000 motorcycle for which insutance was go in to run me $5,000 a year. I still have the motorcycle and have never insured it. I dropped flood and wind insurance and paid off my mortgage on my house when the insurance got up to $8,000 a year. That was 15 years ago.

People are making great arguments for 4wd here, none of which have anything to do with the OP. One, he's specifically looking at a Tahoe and never mentioned a Tacoma. Two, he's not moving hay bales on the farm.

A locking differential will come in handy. It has for me.

On second thought, I wouldn't tow a jet ski with anything less than an F450 diesel for the tighter turning radius, the safety margin of two extra tires in the back, and the off chance some one at the boat ramp in a 2wd truck needs help pulling out their 40' Regulator.

I'm not opposed to a pickup either, I just find that they tend to be overpriced for what they are.

Thanks for all the responses!

Probably not needed. But nice to have. The low range in an actual 4wd can be very handy when and if needed.
If I was going to buy a full size rig it would be 4wd unless I found a really nice diesel truck for a steal of a price.

Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by ubelongoutside:
Some boat ramps you'll be glad you have it.

This ^^^^^

Our powerboat was only an 18' bow-rider, yet sometimes, on some ramps, I wasn't going anywhere on that ramp in 2WD. Switched to 4WD and up & away I went.

Now maybe, if my 2WD had been front-wheel, rather than rear-wheel (2007 Chevy TrailBlazer), 4WD would not have proven necessary. The tops of boat ramps are usually no more than a bit wet. It's the bottoms of the ramps that are often slick as cat snot on a glass doorknob.

I used 4WD in the wintertime, when conditions called for it, because I had it, but it was on those boat ramps it really proved its worth.

4WD is for people who don’t want to put on chains. I’ve out climbed the 4WD guys with my 2WD truck, 600 lbs of tractor weights in the bed, and some resized semi truck chains installed. Only stopped because I was pushing too much snow with the undercarriage.

Last year, I got stuck horribly in my 4WD Tahoe without chains. If I had put chains on the Tahoe, it would have been fantastic. My point is when you have 4WD, you usually think that’s enough and do nothing further to prepare. If you’re willing to do a little extra work every once in a while, a 2WD will do the job.

PSA for boat ramps:
If you are in a 2WD and get stuck, don’t put it in park and get out. Set there WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE and holler out the window for help. No need to sink your ride.

quote:

Originally posted by Pyker:


I think he means the 'peace of mind', not the actual coverage.

Derp. OK. You have to admit it was curiously phrased.

To do what you're doing and tow a waverunner. NO, 4wd is not a necessity, even on steep ramps as long as you know what you're doing. Keep in mind a Tahoe has more weight over the rear tires than a pickup truck. If you step up to a 20'+ boat then yes, it could come in handy on some boat ramps, but even then it's rare. On a 25'+ center console with twin 200 hp outboards and larger, then yes 4wd is approaching a necessity.

Keep in mind you'll lose a little gas mileage with a 4wd vehicle, it'll ride harsher, and more things to go wrong on a vehicle of that age.

On a boat ramp, when launching put emergency brake on first, then put transmission in park (to keep the vehicle from jostling around). When leaving put left foot on brake and hold, put transmission in drive, then release emergency brake, give it just enough throttle that the suspension is preloaded, release brake and slowly give it just enough more throttle to start moving forward and exiting the boat ramp.

Do you launch at the boat ramp 6 times a year?
Or
6 times a month ?

quote:

Originally posted by Pyker:

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

quote:

Originally posted by wxl:


A must have for my truck for the insurance

I think he means the 'peace of mind', not the actual coverage.

Yo

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
Do you launch at the boat ramp 6 times a year?
Or
6 times a month ?

No boat or jetski currently, travel trailer and possibly a jet ski planned.

I've had 4wds since 1976. Bronco, 2 Blazers, 2 CJ7s, 2 Cherokees, a Grand Cherokee, wouldn't be without one.

My father in law said he didn't need it and has had to be pulled up a boat ramp twice now. He's kicking himself that he didn't get 4 wheel drive.

I've always had 4 wheel drive trucks. When I moved to Arizona I tried a 2 wheel drive Silverado thinking I didn't need 4 wheel drive. My son came home on leave from the Navy and I took him shooting in the desert. We got stuck on the flat road twice (sand). After that I said never again and am back in a 4 wheel drive.

The boat ramp I use ends before my trailer is back far enough, which creates a 4-5 inch drop that I have to pull the trailer up onto when trailering the boat in my dodge ram. I've got a limited slip rear end and the tires will spin in 2WD if there is water on the ramp. I use 4WD everytime just to get the boat out of the water. (boat/trailer around 5500 lbs). I used to have a 99 2WD pathfinder that would pull it up the ramp without an issue.

The only other time I've used 4WD in my truck is to drive around in my yard since it's steep and I don't want the rear tires spinning and digging trenches in the yard.

I look at 4wd just like I do a firearm or a fire extinguisher. You may not need it often, but it's worth every penny when you do.

quote:

One, he's specifically looking at a Tahoe and never mentioned a Tacoma.

Its in the default SF waiver, you can't discuss a truck without incurring a suggestion to buy a Toyota

I know a
dozen people that pull campers every summer, up too 250 miles w/o 4 w.d.

a man has got to know his limitations

With age & experience, I’ve seen that the “just in case” scenarios - that I used to justify optional equipment - rarely happen and thus such optional equipment sits idle. Increasingly, I try to avoid that trap when now making a purchase.

Get 2wd.