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

[NSBCraig]

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

If you have 4wd and you haven't tried towing your boat up the ramp in 4 lo, you really should try.

It will blow your mind.

Just take your foot of the brake and a 41' boat comes right up the ramp!

 

[Frank Acampora]

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

I hear ya! pulled my S10 out of hubcap deep mud in the backyard with my Jeep in 4 lo. Never touched the gas pedal and it just slowly slipped the truck out. So, I'm not saying 4WD ain't handy, just saying if you don't have it, you use any trick you have learned.

 

[45Auto]

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

I'd say it depends on the ramp conditions where you're at. Any kind of half-way decent ramp is no problem with 2WD.

However, here in southern Louisiana we get some slimy ramps sometimes. A couple of the steeper ones get interesting when slimy. I've had to use 4WD on my Cherokee maybe 6 times since 1997 to get the boat up the ramp. I've also seen about that many 2WDs that had to be pulled up the ramp by another truck on firm ground. Haven't seen any 4WDs stuck on the ramp.

 

[lrlima]

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

thanks for all of the replies and comments. overall the conditions of the ramps i launch at are kept very well and are maintained by the county. My first tow vehicle was an old Bronco II w/ 4WD with a 5-speed tranny. I had to put it in 4WD low to get up the ramp - and the expereince of having to do that is what got me started on this post. It was a second vehicle at the time, but I didnt feel comfortable towing, which is why I have the current AWD explorer.

 

[Captain Caveman]

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

If you're confident that you'll never need the 4x4, then don't worry about it. Here in Minnesota, some ramps can be coated in milfoil when you try to pull your boat out. Then again, early and late in the seasons the ramps can have an ice slick.

I rarely use my 4x4 on ramps, but certainly have a few times. I never would have gotten my truck and boat out unless I had a winch or 4x4.