Have you ever regretted your two wheel drive tow vehicle

[Divecoz]

Its beyond time to trade up ... I love my Explorer but I need loonger wheel base so I am buying a late model full size Pickem Up Truck.
Have you fellows with Pickups ever regretted not having 4x4? Does having 350# to almost 500# on the hitch make the 4x4 a mute point?

[Paul S]

my 2wd chevy pulls fine, but is a bit at a disadvantage pulling the boat out of the water, especially if the ramp is wet. The 4wd Landrover we use is great, is inexpensive to buy used, fairly reliable (at least better than their reputation)

[Don T]

Nope, no regrets my van works great.

[Québec 1]

MY Buick Le sabre with the cargo coils, new shocks and transmission cooler does very well. Last haulled my boat over the Appalachian mountains with no problems...just kept to the speed limit and it was okay.

Q1

[pokerrick1]

No - - cause I NEVER had one - - - only 4 WD! I have, however, seen many OTHERS with 2 WD who had regrets, especially on steep and/or wet launch ramps w/ tires a spinnin and a burnin

I just relaunched my Mac the other day here in San Felipe, and the ramp was SO steep and wet that I wouldn't have been able to pull the empty trailer back up the ramp without 4 WD!

Rick

[Moe]

4WD makes a big difference when my rear tires are on ramp slime. I've tried without it and it's tricky.

[March]

I used to tow with a Caravan, FWD. It handled the weight okay--tended to get a little hotty upslopes, but driving slowly and stopping once on the way up always helped. Never had any problems with the transmission either, but maybe I just got lucky. Now I am towing with a 4X4 Pathfinder. Can't even feel the boat behind. Pulling it out on the ramp is a breeze--not that the van was much worse.

The only difference: the Pathfinder uses about 25% more gas, but it's worth it

[Divecoz]

I am looking at "06" Chevy Ford and Dodge Half Tons extended cabs ( Dodge quad cab) 4x4 or 2x4 are running very close in price but mpg is considerably lower on the 4x4. Dang it , I really shouldn't care about MPG with as little as I drive, but the two or three I have seen that I really like, are 2x4's . I am going to keep looking. I live outside Chicago so snow is a factor, and if you ever need it on the ramp its to late to order it hahaha.
BTW if you've been considering buying a gas hog this is the time to buy. a 2 year old truck with under 30,000 miles, that cost the original owner no doubt very high $20's to Mid or more $30's can be had for $12K to $15K.

[Moe]

I also live in the land of ice and snow, and wouldn't have a pickup without 4WD and limited-slip rear axle (4WD can be useless without it if the ice is on one side of the road). Weight in the bed isn't a substitute. My rear axle weight is near 3,000 pounds empty. Sand bags in the rear of the bed help a little with take-off traction, but they also add momentum that makes the rear want to skid out in curves. I'd rather not use them.

4WD also makes it easier towing the Airstream off-road or on gravel, where 2WD can result in the rear tires spinning, spraying mud or gravel on the trailer. Yes, there's a little fuel mileage penalty for 4WD, but it's worth it to me.

[Divecoz]

I also live in the land of ice and snow, and wouldn't have a pickup without 4WD and limited-slip rear axle (4WD can be useless without it if the ice is on one side of the road). Weight in the bed isn't a substitute. My rear axle weight is near 3,000 pounds empty. Sand bags in the rear of the bed help a little with take-off traction, but they also add momentum that makes the rear want to skid out in curves. I'd rather not use them.

4WD also makes it easier towing the Airstream off-road or on gravel, where 2WD can result in the rear tires spinning, spraying mud or gravel on the trailer. Yes, there's a little fuel mileage penalty for 4WD, but it's worth it to me.

I think your right MOE, it will be worth what little extra gas money I spend . I am now only looking at 4x4's. I will know I have it IF I ever need it, not wishing I had when the time comes that I need it.

[DaveB]

I pull my Mac.X with a 1999 f150 quad cab, standard Trans and 6 cylinder. I have taken it to keys 450 mile round trip and many ramps and only wish I had a automatic transmission for pulling up the ramps. I do have a new aluminum tandum trailer and wheels are never closer than 5 ft. from water and slime so traction is good with 350 lbs toung weight and around 500 pounds in truck bed with cap.
My other Sailboats that required more draft I would always carry a 5 gal. bucket of sand in the pickup and used it many times for traction.
My next truck will probably be a Dodge V8, 318 engine reg. 150 pickup with 8 ft. bed as I plan on doing some cross country Trailer sailing and includes mountains.
Here in SW FL the f150 4.2 litter 6 cylinder is fine for hauling a Mac.
Dave

[Divecoz]

I still desire to take the boat to Port Charlotte Fla. where my brother lives and I would really love to drag it to The Sea of Cortez Mexico. But there are Mountains between here and Fla and dang big hills between here and Mexico. The Ramp is a bit steep at North Point Marina and other places around here as well.
Cost for late model Used between 4x4 and 2x4 is all but neglible up front. Now can I find a 4x4 I like the looks of . . lots of silvers and blues I was wanting Red...

[Shane]

When we got the boat a couple of seasons, I got a good deal on older Dakota w/ V8. The only thing I don't like is it's the exetended cab instead of the 4dr quad cab style. Yes the extra length would be nice for balancing out the weight on the hitch, but more importantly.... my kids legs are growing too fast and they're starting to get more than a little cramped in the rear seats

Physically, I think they're the smallest p/u that has sufficient towing capacity. Like others here, I'm glad I don't have to put many miles on it, because the Magnum 318 cid is not quite a honda civic at the pump.

It was cheap (would not have been buying a new truck and a new boat), and does the job fine.

Regards,
Shane

[Terry]

I've watched many a time, those two wheel drive pick-ups trying to pull their boats out of the water and fail. I have even been one of the people standing on the guys' rear bumper to add weight and help with traction but still the guy had to get the park ranger to hook up a chain to his front end and help pull him out. The ramps are too wet and slippery for the back tires of a two wheel drive to cope with. I actually felt quite smug when my turn came and I easily pulled out my Mac with a Chevy Trailblazer 4WD, EXT. Owning a boat has its' costs, a tow vehicle and slip fees are just some of the costs.

[pokerrick1]

4WD makes a big difference when my rear tires are on ramp slime. I've tried without it and it's tricky.

Ramp slime - - - that's a great term, Moe, very accurate - - - and it's everywhere it's everywhere!

Rick