Re: 2wd or 4wd?
Don't know if anyones mentioned it...
However, I have a 2wd Dakota w/318...it'll tow almost anything I can attatch to the hitch.
I've had no trouble with lauching/recovering boats, and if the ramp looks sketchy I simply deflate my tires a little(down to around 30Psi), grab the boat, then re-inflate with my portable air tank(if up north), or when I get home(about 2 miles from the launch).
I've also gotten into the habit if running my tires "on the low side" when I drive in the winter. I live in "the frozen tundra" of NE Wi and have another house in the Northwoods. Not my primary vehicle, but it's seen it's fair share of snow. Three tubes of sand, and a good driver have never been stuck yet!