2wd or 4wd?

[Dolfan0925]

Getting a new tow vehicle, previous one left with the ex. Narrowed it down to a Ford Explorer. However, in s. Florida there is not an overwhelming amount of 4wd vehicles, being that there are no hills or snow. Looked on Autotrader and in a 75mi radius there are 120 something 2wd and 5 4wds. So I'm wondering how incredibly important 4wd is. Old tow vehicle was front wheel drive, and I remember seeing people going to pull their boats out with rear wheel drive trucks and spinning the tires. This is only my second tow vehicle so I'm not sure how serious of an issue it is, or if these people spinning their tires are just in too big of a hurry, or if I really need 4wd. Thoughts?

Thanks

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

I live in wisconsin so I actually do have a need for 4WD once in a great while. If I lived in FL I probably would go with 2WD unless I had a very heavy boat and the ramps were slimy. Why expose yourself to extra possible repair costs (more moving parts) and a little less economy if not needed? If they put a couple of rocks in the bed of their pickup and eased down on gas pedal they probably wouldn't be spinning wheels anyway.

 

[coopin87]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

IMO not really needed for your application unless your boat is extremely heavy. 2wd's are normally better suited for towing and work just fine for most applications (used correctly). as George said 4wd's have more parts that can fail. In the end its your call but you should be fine with the 2wd.

Random Fact: Most 2wd versions of the same vehicle have a higher towing capacity than their 4wd counterpart.

 

[colding]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

Stick with the 2WD. If it becomes a concern, have a locker installed.

 

[lncoop]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

My Expedition has four wheel drive. I use it from time to time, but I have yet to need it on a boat ramp, and I tow a party barge. Same can be said of my previous trucks (all Z71s). It's nice to have, but given where you are I wouldn't get too hung up on it.

 

[jkust]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

2wd always have a slightly higher tow capacity due their lighter weight. It's not a mystery. Living in MN, I think it'd be difficult to give a 2wd truck away because of our obvious greater need for the extra drive wheels. If I were you and I could erase my MN experience, I would do a couple of things. Ensure that your 2wd tow vehicle has a locking rear differential. Not a limited slip but a locking diff. There is a big difference between the two. Newer trucks have in some cases gone to an electronic version of what a locker does but they simply don't work as well. Some will have a true locker and the electronic version as well that is also part of the stability/rollover mitigation system. 2wd drive vehicle as you have noticed with an open differential become a one wheel drive. A 4wd vehicle with open differentials becomes a 2wd vehicle.
The other thing I'd do is make sure I had grippy tires which make a pretty big difference at a slippery ramp. Left footed driving helps and a traction device for when you are really in a bind. It is a little hard to ignore the substantial MN experience I have where everything but a 4wd with a locker will fail regardless of tires and driver skill but in FL I'm sure I could get by with 2wd. The difference is that here in MN the one time you absoultely need 4wd can be the difference between freezing to death or making it home. A body on frame truck with only 2wd here in MN is like a nice new Cobalt 222 with a 3.0 in it.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

Living in MN, I think it'd be difficult to give a 2wd truck away because of our obvious greater need for the extra drive wheels.

Meh, never have any trouble buying them or selling them - all I buy is 2wd trucks.

 

[jkust]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

Meh, never have any trouble buying them or selling them - all I buy is 2wd trucks.

Having bought two 4x4's in 2011, There just weren't many 2wd's for sale. The very few I saw never sold but were each from southern states. Most SUV's, the body on frame kind all come with AWD like the Escalade or selectable 4wd like the Suburban if bought new in MN. If I didn't tow snowmobiles into precarious places, or have to deal with really crappy ramps, and just drove a truck because I like to burn gas, I could live with a 2wd and a locker. Was up at Mille Lacs last weekend and it was like a 4wd truck convention and not a 2wd in the bunch.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

Funny thing is that I spend all winter either towing a jeep around, going to ski areas or pulling sleds. For a couple years I was towing the kids car back and forth to Montana. Never really got into anywhere I wished I had 4wd.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

Based on where you live, I think you will be just fine with a 2wd.

 

[jkust]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

Funny thing is that I spend all winter either towing a jeep around, going to ski areas or pulling sleds. For a couple years I was towing the kids car back and forth to Montana. Never really got into anywhere I wished I had 4wd.

Ha, you need a heavier boat, more sleds or some crappier ramps. Beyond that the AWD mode with stability control allows handling in the worst snow conditions as though it is a dry summer day. My suvs handle so well in the winter due to the AWD mode and stabilitrac (not traction control) it feels like you are defying physics. The first time I experienced it I was amazed how far technology has gone past a straight up 2wd truck. I don't flat out need the 4wheels being driven nearly as much as it is a benefit in winter conditions. I do like being able to use the unmaintained sand ramps when no parking is available as the good ramp. There is no getting out of some of the ramps even with my roller trailer without the front wheels driving.

 

[rallyart]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

2WD is fine. Just try to find one with a limited slip differential or get one installed. It won't be a problem. I don't buy anything without AWD but If the worst you have to do is get up a Florida ramp the 2WD will get it done. I've pulled a 21' boat up a bad concrete ramp with a FWD minivan.

 

[jc turtle]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

I got stuck on a boat ramp many years ago with my 2wd Astro van. It was low tide,
and it was the slipperiest ramp I had ever seen. I was finally pulled up the ramp by
another truck with a chain . I vowed then to never tow my boat with a 2wd again.
Since then, I have only bought AWD or 4wd vehicles. My 2 cents. John

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

Getting a new tow vehicle, previous one left with the ex. Narrowed it down to a Ford Explorer. However, in s. Florida there is not an overwhelming amount of 4wd vehicles, being that there are no hills or snow. Looked on Autotrader and in a 75mi radius there are 120 something 2wd and 5 4wds. So I'm wondering how incredibly important 4wd is. Old tow vehicle was front wheel drive, and I remember seeing people going to pull their boats out with rear wheel drive trucks and spinning the tires. This is only my second tow vehicle so I'm not sure how serious of an issue it is, or if these people spinning their tires are just in too big of a hurry, or if I really need 4wd. Thoughts?

Thanks

depends on the condition of the ramps. When I am in Florida, most of the ramps on the ICW would be covered in weeds and other funk. 2WD wasnt cutting it. there was an F350 dually with the Navistar diesel attempting to pull a 27' grady white out. the truck just sat there spinning the tires on the funk, even after loading 4 people in the bed. I thru the durango into 4WD drove down the ramp (with my boat still on back). hooked up the tow strap to his truck, and pulled him out

Everyone except me was having problems launching and retrieving boats

when you need a 4WD, you need it. I will never go without for a tow vehicle.

and your right, you wont find much on 4 wheel drive trucks in south florida. however if you go north a bit, they start becoming prevalent. you may have to go as far north as Tampa/Ocala/Orlando area. Also, use searchtempest.com to search craigslist

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

I pull my boat (5,800 lbs on the trailer) with a 2wd Avalanche and have zero issues with launching. I am sure it depends on the ramp also but so far, So good.

LK

 

[choppywaters]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

Stick with the 2WD. If it becomes a concern, have a locker installed.

Yep! You wouldn't believe how well posi traction works. One of our plow trucks has posi rear end and most of the time it plows in 2wd. The others are "limited slip" and they're always in 4wd.

 

[JB]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

If you are going to use the ramps in Ft. Lauderdale and Pompano Beach that I used back in the 80s you will be glad to have AWD or 4WD. They got slimy every weekend.

 

[colding]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

Yep! You wouldn't believe how well posi traction works. One of our plow trucks has posi rear end and most of the time it plows in 2wd. The others are "limited slip" and they're always in 4wd.

A good rear locker is better than an open differential 4WD. But a 4WD with lockers up front and in the rear is a tank.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

... . Narrowed it down to a Ford Explorer. ... So I'm wondering how incredibly important 4wd is....

The 4 wheel drive is not as big of an issue as the Explorer is.
You may want to choose another model.
Contrary to what you would expect, the reliability of the Explorer as a tow vehicle has been found to be extremely poor by many.
Search this forum for "Ford Explorer" and you will find many horror stories.

 

[inthedirtagain]

Re: 2wd or 4wd?

I owned a 94 Explorer and towed my dirtbikes and snowmobiles everywhere with it, and my mom used her 93 Explorer to pull camp trailers or her heavy tri-hull all over Idaho. They aren't as bad a people suggest, and most issues can be traced back to lack of driver education (aka...stupidity). My brother had a 92, and my friend also has a 94 for his current family vehicle. When treated properly, they can last quite a long time and be reliable. With a skilled operator behind the wheel, they can be very capable vehicles. They aren't the most comfortable, nor the most powerful, but they can definitely do the job. I wouldn't hesitate to own another one, but my 4dr Dodge truck does a better job.