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As a Truck person and outdoorsman I would never have a truck without 4X4. Better to have it and not need it than to not have and need it because of a heavy snowfall or icing conditions. I had 4X4 when living in New Mexico, OK, Arizona, & Texas. | |||
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I need 4WD backing my trailer uphill in the driveway after returning home whenever the grass / gravel is wet. With 2WD I couldn't park it under those conditions. For most conditions you don't need it. Our new F 150 has an auto 4WD that engages when it senses wheel slip that is reassuring with slick roads, remembering that it doesn't help stop the truck. Even though I probably use 4WD <1% of the time, without it I'd have been stuck a dozen times. I'm glad I have it. Light bender eye mender ___________________________________________________________ Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may. Sam Houston | |||
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MAGA |
I always opt for 4wd. Cost is a little higher up front and resell price has always made up for that. _____________________ | |||
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| Conveniently located directly above the center of the Earth  |
I towed my own trailer from PDX to Ohio & around the south, all without 4x4. Clearly "not necessary ALL the time". Managing to get by WITHOUT 4x4 is not necessarily the same trip as getting by WITH it but not having to use it. Once road trip from PDX to Tampa, we encountered an ultra-mile long jam on an old divided state highway through somewhere around Alabama. Could see several miles ahead with bumper to bumper fully stopped, bad news on radio and approaching black cloud weather front. A quick maneuver and rerouting on parallel side roads saved hours. 2x4 would. not. have. been. adequate. Certainly one can manage without it. And just as obvious, there are uses and pleasures I for one would have missed without having it available. And at least once I did pull a 4x4 out of the muddy barrow pit with my 2x4, when he got one side of his new shiny red truck off the gravel on one side. I made him promise to tell his wife what happened so I wouldn't have to call her up to report the story. **************~~~~~~~~~~ "I've been on this rock too long to bother with these liars any more." ~SIGforum advisor~ "When the pain of staying the same outweighs the pain of change, then change will come."~~sigmonkey | |||
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I suggest 4WD for all of the good reasons. I can give reason after reason for 4WD, but just like a firearm, it is better to have it when you need it... Retired Texas Lawman | |||
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I have lived in MN and IL for many many years, and have owned many SUV's with 4 WD. Have also pulled/ launched many different boats/trailers on public ramps. How many times have I used 4 WD? Maybe 3 times while playing in the snow. Why did I have 4 WD drive vehicles? I guess, "just in case." Dan | |||
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The day that someone designs,builds and offers a front wheel drive tow vehicle To the public is the day That will go down in infamy . It would cut 4 w.d. sales by 1/3. Instead, we are driving r.c. robots on Mars ( roll eyes) Safety, Situational Awareness and proficiency. Neck Ties, Hats and ammo brass, Never ,ever touch'em w/o asking first | |||
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This right here... it would be a requirement for this reason alone. | |||
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I'm in my seventh decade of life. I've had (2) 4WD trucks both proved to be benefitual. The current truck I have now is a 2007 with a locking differential rear end. Its OK but its no 4WD. This past December we acquired a 2019 Toyota Highlander with AWD. We get occasional snow where we live. There may be an extended period of time when we do not need the AWD feature but there are occasions when we would really need it in the mountains of North Carolina. | |||
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My 2 cents... In the south the boat ramps get very slick with algae below the water line. I have seen many get stuck not because of needing more power but just because the back tires couldn’t get traction. I boat 6-8 times a month. Every weekend. I wouldn’t have anything but a 4wd but I am also pulling a big boat (7500lbs) Tahoe’s are great trucks. I have owned mine since 2004 (2001 model) it’s not 4wd and it will get stuck on wet grass. So it stays on pavement or gravel and doesn’t pull anything that might get off-road. As others have said, better to have 4wd and not need it then not have it and need it. | |||
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| Edge seeking Sharp blade! |
The best operator of a 2WD truck can make wise decisions to never require more traction than a positrac rear axle provides. This requires expert and careful evaluation of many factors, none which can be neglected, for all is precarious without the backup safety factor 4WD provides. One misinterpretation might require calling a buddy or a tow truck, both subtract from the investment of initial 4WD gear upcharge. I consider myself at the upper end of high probability operators of not making mistakes, but I still make them. 4WD means I flip a switch instead of making a somewhat embarrassing phone call, and waste time waiting. I then get to sit while being somewhat annoyed and lamenting my cheapskate decision that I could forego the expense of 4WD. As noted, 4WD always increases the value so the initial expense is paid back. Yes there are some increased operating expenses, usually worth it. | |||
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Over the past 15 years i have driven trucks for the coast guard pulling mostly 10+k boats on trailers for close to a million miles. Our work trucks are F350s or F450s all 4x4, i used it at least once a week pulling 25 or 29ft aluminium boats up ramps. Most of the ramps the dual wheels would just spin. For my personal trucks i always buy 4x4, in Alaska they stay in 4x4 for the winter with studded tires. | |||
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I’m thinking the Honda Ridgeline fits that bill. I would have to search for their capacity, but I’m guessing the front wheel drive version could pull a good sized boat around. I would think you’d want rear drive to pull you up from a boat ramp since the trailer weight is on the tongue coupled with the angle. Seems like front tires may lose traction. I’ve pulled boats MANY a mile with Ford LTDs, and I don’t ever remember not being able to leave a boat ramp. Still, it is better to have 4WD than to not have it. Retired Texas Lawman | |||
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Seeker of Clarity |
Do you need extra weight and worse gas milage? I don't think so. I live in Western PA and spent more than a few years with RWD and winter treads. Unless you believe that the boat launch might be slippery and in that case, maybe so.  | |||
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from o.p. Safety, Situational Awareness and proficiency. Neck Ties, Hats and ammo brass, Never ,ever touch'em w/o asking first | |||
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Peripheral Visionary |
I believe I will take the advice for a 4wd or AWD vehicle. Going to look at a Honda Pilot and a Ridgeline today, both AWD. I am thinking 5k lbs towing capacity should suffice for what we have in mind with enough margin. The trailers we are looking at aren't over about 3300lbs GVWR.   | |||
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This I use 4wd in torrential downpours mostly. boat ramps Can get super slick. I’ve seen more than a couple 2wd slide down some ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Live today as if it may be your last and learn today as if you will live forever | |||
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Do the new Pilots have towing capability to 5K? My wife 2013 Pilot can tow 3500lbs. it is not AWD though. I bet the Tahoe with 2WD would be fine but I understand the desire for four wheel drive. | |||
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| Peripheral Visionary |
So what I discovered, the new Pilot can tow 5k, but only if it has a specific tow package that includes a transmission cooler and AWD. The one I looked at could tow 3500 as is, but would need $1k in options to boost it to 5k lbs. Meh. | |||
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