Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

[lrlima]

Current tow vehicle is a 1996 Explorer V8 with All wheel drive. I pull a 1993 Four Winns 18 foot boat w/4.3 motor. I havent officially weighed everything, but my estimate on weight for boat, trailer, gear, gas, is aprox 3500lbs. I tow about 1 mile to the launch ramp and the exploder has no problems yanking the boat out of a relatively steep ramp and it tows this weight overall pretty well, especially for the short distance I tow.

I have the opportunity to pick up a newer tow vehicle for cheap - a 2000 Explorer also with a V8 and a lot less miles than the current one. Diffrence is this one is a rear wheel 2wd only. Living in Charlotte NC, we dont get a lot of snow so i dont really need the 4w capabilities. My concern is losing traction at the ramp or just overall decrease in traction by losing my current AWD setup.

Ramp is pretty steep and long, but is well kept and smooth.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

See if the newer vehicle has an anti-slip rear axle. If it does, I would see no problem getting it depending on the type/condition ramps you use.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

i've been towing a close to 5,000 lbs, with a surburban, rear wheel drive, never had a problem, even in the FL Keys where ramps, are fairly steep.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

Grippy tires and locking differential will work just fine on all but the very slippery or unimproved ramps.

 

[rndn]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

I have 4wd and have yet to use it at any boat ramp. As stated above rear wheel drive with good tires and a limited slip is really all that's needed.

 

[lrlima]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

I have 4wd and have yet to use it at any boat ramp. As stated above rear wheel drive with good tires and a limited slip is really all that's needed.

thats kinda what i figured. I just couldnt tell cause my current one uses full time AWD so i dont know if its helping or not. I believe the 2000 V8 exploreres come standard with tow package and limited slip. But i need to check to be sure...thanks for the replies.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

All the ramps i have been to in this area i have never had to use 4WD.
The Explorer should do a great job with that size boat.

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

I have a ranger and pull 5K with just with an open rear. not once did I need to put it in 4x4.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

I have never used a 4x4 to pull a boat out. If fact even when I had a 4x4 I never though about using four wheel drive when I had traction enough with two wheel drive.

Of course in those days you use to have to get out and lock the hubs.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

Interesting. I have never NOT used my 4wd low when pulling up the ramp. Mind you I have a standard so it pulls up nicely at idle and you wont stall it in low. If I had an auto I'd probably try 2wd.

 

[arboldt]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

When we first got our boat, we had a front-wheel-drive vehicle with a 5-speed manual transmission. When I pulled the boat at most ramps, I ended up spinning the wheels. It really was underpowered as a tow vehicle (plus 12 years old and 145K miles), so we replaced it with a 4-wheel drive. No problems ever since. I would not consider a tow vehicle that wasn't 4-wheel drive.

However, spend some time just watching people at the ramps, particularly with vehicles similar to what you're considering, and see how they function. If you're not sure if it's 2 or4 wheel drive, ask. I'm sure if people know why you're asking, they'd be happy to help.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

I'd love to hear comments from anyone here who has knowledge on how the Explorer's AWD system works. AWD and 4WD are not the same thing - they work differently and AWD does not have a low range gear set. It also doesn't include the limited slip differentials that are found in most 4WD setups.

A lot of AWD systems really aren't AWD unless slippage occurs on the primary drive axle, which is most often the rear axle. In these vehicles, the AWD system is really 2WD until a problem occurs. Since most trailer retrievals at the boat launch don't require 4WD, such a vehicle rarely uses the AWD capability anyway.

That said, there a a number of different AWD designs so, the Explorer system might be engaging the AWD function at the ramp. I think at least one of the Ford AWD systems also has a 4WD lock-in feature via a switch on the dash. While this system still won't have a low range function or limited slip differentials, it would offer better traction.

 

[mrmushroomman]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

I don't think it matters to have 4wd. When i bought my first boat i used my father in law's 2002 Chevy pick up which had 4wd.Boat weighed about 3500lbs. One day i was pulling boat out of the water up a steep ramp and was in 2wd and wheels started spinning. I threw it in 4low and still couldn't make it up ramp. I eventually had to go up the ramp at an angle so the tires would grab dry pavement. I now have 2001 Chevy blazer 2wd and have never had a problem getting up a ramp and have never spun tires up a ramp. I'm sure now that i have said that, i will proably spin tires up the ramp on my next outing and wished i never mentioned it.

 

[KM2]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

I believe the Explorer AWD system is fulltime with a differential in the transfercase.

The Ford limited slips are next to worthless, only offering a slight improvement so don't worry too much about that. Use only good ramps, keep the tires on the concrete and avoid the slime and you should be OK.

I would think you would pick up a mpg or two with the 2wd.

 

[QC]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

Non-issue unless it's a slimey ramp . . .

 

[MercGuy]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

I guess it depends on the ramps you are using. I used to tow with front wheel drive, and on some ramps not even a hint of a problem. Other ramps became troublesome.

As my wife and I became more adventurous we started looking for more remote locations to go boating, and the quality of the ramps started to deteriorate.

We bought a Jeep Cherokee, and I've never regretted it.

There have been many times that I know we would not have been able to get up the ramp with 2WD, and a couple of times that we had minor trouble with 4WD.

4WD gives us the peace of mind to go almost anywhere we would like.

 

[rocket1968]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

Not sure on this, but my tow is a 2WD 1995 explorer. I have had good luck with it, but am used to towing with RWD vehicles. I do make sure the wheels are always dry, which only caused an issue once. I was on a ramp and the person giving direction wanted me to back up further, but the wheels were at the edge. They thought it was 4WD. I actually think the 2WD is a stronger setup than the 4WD, at least for towing. I am sure someone will chime in here to correct my statement. (See my post on bumper hitches, everyone has an opinion, which is a good thing!)

 

[kyle f]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

4WD is just one of those things you don't know you need until you need it. All the trucks I have are 4WD, and I will never buy one wihout it. Its a lot more flexable vehicle with it.

Plus there is peace of mind that come with it for me. I have it on my Diesel and on my Bronco.

Only once has the Bronco needed the 4WD to get out of somewhere with the boat, but I have had to use it multiple times to get out of muddy conditions. Oh and the Diesel one time couldnt get over a curb at the boat ramp without 4X4. I viseted a friend whos house boat is on a slip during the low pool on our lake. We drive down the ramp and park in dry slips so we dont have to drive so far. Well there is a significan (about a 5") lip of concrete drop off from the ramp to the gravel on the side. I parked in a slip easy enough (I have 36" Tires) but when I cam to get out, whenthe front tires hit that lip and the weight of the diesel holding them down, and then all the torque to the rear wheels.. yup the real wheels started spinning. On flick of the switch on the dash and I was gone.

 

[mpsyamaha]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

a 2wd suv will pull up a ramp just great. the only time i have ever had to use 4wd was on a poor ramp that was wet with a 5 speed tacoma. it was just so light in the back. SUVs seem to get better traction than pick ups. my current tow rig is a 2wd xterra with limited slip... i have backed it a foot deep into the water on uneven, slimy florida ramps and it has never missed a beat.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Do I lose a lot by going from 4WD to 2WD?

Even with 2WD and no limited slip, if one wheel starts to spin, you stop. Then you lightly ride the brakes as you slowly feed in power to accelerate (creep) up the ramp. Works every time for me. S10 towing 3200 lbs trailer and boat. OK! OK! So ONE time I needed to load up the bed with rocks.

Riding the brakes lightly loads both axles equally, the differential will not function, so the tire with less traction will not spin. Human equivalent of a limited slip differential.

However, to do it properly it is a skill that must be developed. And if you are real good, you can do it with just the emergency brake, however, being mechanical, the emergency MAY not load both sides equally. Easier many times to just have a couple of people at the ramp jump in the back.