willald
NC
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Joined: 07/15/2002
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Hmmm...One line post, asking one of the age old questions that always stirs up 50 page debates, gives NO specifics of what OP wants to do with the truck, and is never heard from again in the thread?
Sniff, sniff.....I smell a troll, just lookin' to stir up some #%...
Will
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SWD
Republic of Western Canada
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Joined: 06/07/2005
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In the OP's sig he has a 2004 F250 4x4. If you are thinking of getting a newer truck , stick with the 4x4 option, unless you are so hard up for cash then go to 4x2.
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okraman
White Hall, AR, USA
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Joined: 08/20/2004
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I bought 4wd on my truck when I bought it. I haven't had to use it in regards to my TT. But it has been handy in some snows we've had. That being said, my neighbor purchased his TV without 4wd. He has had several occasions where he said he wished in 20/20 hindsight he had gotten the 4wd. There are a couple of places we go, that although the road is paved, in certain weather conditions 4wd will probably be necessary to get out of the campground/National Forest.
2004 GMC 2500HD EC 6.0L 4.10 4X4
'05 Jayco Eagle 298 BHS
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Surfingfool
California
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Joined: 08/15/2007
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If you go with a 4x2 I would make sure you get a limited slip rear diff. If you get one wheel to spin / breakloose, it will continue to spin without the limited slip and never power the opposite rear tire.
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rosspulliam
Lawrence, KS
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Joined: 08/27/2005
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While limited is slip is handy, I'd forego the 4x4 and limited slip, and have an aftermarket locker installed (such as the ARB Air Locker).
I find it is just as effective as 4x4 anywhere I've ever been.
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MFinCA
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
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Joined: 06/09/2004
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The 'Burb in my signature is a K2500. I've never needed 4WD when towing my TT.
I've used 4WD in the snow and it is nice not to have to put chains on--even though I carry them (California Law).
Where I'm really glad having 4WD is when I'm towing my buddy's 24' Cabin Cruiser. A lot of boat ramps are very slick. Both my buddy and I have gotten stuck on a ramp trying to pull the boat out of the water with 2WD pickups--simply not enough traction.  We ended up having 3 guys sit on the tailgate to get the boat up the ramp.
My buddy now has a GMC Sierra 2500 4x4 and it makes pulling the boat out of the water a lot easier. My 'Burb also does a good job when I engage the 4WD on the ramp to pull it out.
MFinCA
2004 Homestead Settler 255RS
1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500
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Vulcaneer
Northern New England
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Joined: 10/17/2007
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Edwardo wrote:Do I need a 4X4 or can i go with a standard 2 whl drive F350 ford i don't do any off road.
Edwardo
You don't need a 4X4 F350 for towing on dry paved roads. But I don't know where you would ever find a 4X2 F350, unless you order it. Then when it get time to sell it, you may have a heck of a time getting rid of it in BC. That is a very rare truck. And rare for a reason.
2006 F350 V10 4X4 SC SB SRW 4.30 22,500 GCWR
Keystone Sprinter 33'9" 12,500 GVWR
Pullrite Super Glide 18K
Super Duty, Super Cab, SuperGlide
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92DakotaHD
Indiana
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Joined: 09/13/2006
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Doug and Cassi Glass wrote:4 X 4 is nice to have, but nobody has mentioned the single biggest difference between 4 wheel and 2 wheel drive. In a 4 x 4 when you're stuck you're really stuck.
A 4 X 4 pickup is very light in the rear end so throw some sand bags or some kind of weight in the bed for better traction.
A 2WD has the same amount of weight in the rear doesn't it?
I'll share one story. Saw a guy at a local CG who'd backed his 5er up on a hill. Had a good weekend and then found something out. The 5er was the reason he got up the hill backing up, it took him a very good bit of throttle control and about 45 min to get up to hook up the 5er. Had he had 4WD he'd have made quick work of it.
As the other state, you may never need it but when you do damn you'll be thankful and in the situation above unless they go get your camper for you a 4x4 won't be able to "help".
1992 Dakota 2WD 5.9L V8 (NOT Stock)
Headers, FMS Injectors, Ported TB, MP PCM (not good for towing),
2005 Chevy Tahoe Z71- Bermuda Blue, A/T Revo 265/70 "E"
Prodigy Controller
08 Passport 24RB, YAY SPACE!
Gone Racing!
A newbie, any tips please share!
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PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
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Joined: 03/19/2005
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Amortized over the 20 years that I keep my trucks, the extra cost for 4wd in very low. I haven't been without it since I bought my first truck in 1980.
I learned to drive off road in a Boy Scout Explorer Post, that was essentially a jeep club. That was around 1969.
I'll always have 4wd, but it isn't for everyone.
Wayne in San Jose
TV1:2002 Chevy 1500HD 4wd Crew Cab,Valley Odyssey brake ctlr,McKesh mirrors
TV2:2008 GMC 2500HD long bed 4wd Crew Cab,GMC brake ctlr,GMC mirrors
TT:Trailmanor 2720
Honda 2000
Yamaha WR250R,Polaris Sportsman 700 X2,Polaris Scrambler 500
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Oldtymeflyr
Littleton, CO
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Joined: 04/18/2004
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For towing, no! In the rain its just not necessary. A big 4X4 off road can be a real a pig. Forget deep mud, forget deep unbroken snow, absolutely forget side slopes in these conditions. In mud, if its soft you can go right to the axles and its over.
Frankly if you really need traction its hard to beat chains.
In terms of mileage, 4X4 costs about 1-2 mpg, thats somewhere right about 10% decease in mileage. There is good 500# to 700# of additional weight with the transfer case, axle and driveshaft.
Where 4X4 is helpful is in snow on a paved roads, sometimes on gravel if its slippery.
Weight in the back end of a pickup can made a huge difference, chains will do everything a 4X4 will do, just slower and more inconvenient.
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