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4WD experience #11014948 08/02/15 03:26 PM
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IIIMag Offline OP
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I've been driving a rear-wheel drive Tahoe for 10 years as my tow vehicle. Love it. Now I am considering trading for a '13 or '14-preowned but want to consider 4WD because I've had a few instances where 4WD would've made loading/unloading my boat less nerve wracking. What is the Forum's experience re 4WD...overall performance for everyday driving...susceptibility to more issues than 2WD, etc.? I'm not just interested in people who have Tahoes...interested in views of people who have opinions re 4WD v. 2WD on pickups too. Thanks.

Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11015025 08/02/15 04:11 PM
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I've always had 2WD and never had a single instance where I needed 4WD. I need a truck for the towing capacity and open bed cargo area, not for the off-road capability.

I might have been more apt to drive on the ice with 4WD, but I just stay home when it gets like that. My job isn't worth tearing up my truck, whether it's 4WD or 2WD you still have to worry about other idiots on the road.

As for boat ramps, I've never seen one where 4WD was required. But that's just me. If you know how to feather the gas pedal before you let off the brake you can get rid of the slippage when you first start up the ramp.


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Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11015026 08/02/15 04:13 PM
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One more thing: you'll pay more for 4WD up front, more in maintenance, and more in gas. You will get more when you sell it, but you'll be lucky if that offsets the "more you paid up front" part (especially on a Tahoe).

Most people don't need 4WD. If you don't know if you do or not, then you don't.


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Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11015186 08/02/15 05:45 PM
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I have no real need for a 4x4 but there have been times where it was nice, ice or snow. I'd rather have a locker on a ramp.

Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11015735 08/02/15 10:51 PM
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I have a bass lease and a deer lease. I have to have it for when it rains. I use to have to have the 4wd everytime I launched the boat, but I finally poured a concrete boat ramp and if it's dry I can get in and out without putting it in 4wd. 4wd also gives me peace of mind when it's snowing and icing. For service wise your probably going to put in about $500 extra per year. I put about 35,000 miles per year on my vehicle. and I go about 10 years between vehicles and I never pay for an overpriced new vehicle, and I only buy Chevy's.

Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11016282 08/03/15 05:30 AM
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I drive a 4x4. As far as mileage vs a 2wd expect 1-2 mpg less, I'm not sure about maintenance because mine is used and I have only had it for 4 months. There have been a few cases on steep ramps during a rain when I couldn't pull a boat out w/o it. Ive heard great things about the locker for steep wet boat ramps, so maybe the locker might be the way to go for you. For me the reasons for having a 4x4 are for off-road purposes, but having it for the occasional steep slippery boat ramp certainly doesnt hurt.

Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11016691 08/03/15 03:32 PM
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You will pay more up front for 4x4, it will sell for more down the road, but I would consider that a wash.

There are more parts to break... some people will have to some will put 300k on it and sell it without ever even changing the differential fluid.

I don't think the fuel mileage difference is as big as it used to be. My brother and dad both drive almost the exact same 3/4 ton gm diesels and they get the same mpg's. I drove a 1500 chevy 4x4 and 2wd and the mileage dif between the two was less than 1 mpg.

That said if you don't need it its a waste. I don't consider a concrete boat ramp a need and it seems like you don't either.

Last edited by redchevy; 08/03/15 03:33 PM.
Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11016744 08/03/15 04:04 PM
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I drive an 2004 F250 SD Diesel 4x4, in the winter month s I use 4x4 sometimes daily in the pasture feeding, I would not have a truck anymore without it, I fish 2-3 trips a week and tow my boat with it 140000 miles on it now. I have only used 4x4 pulling out others big boats to assist them on slippery ramps, I pull a 20CC with it and never hardly know I am towing it. In hay fields with my 32' gooseneck 4x4 is a must have.

Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11016933 08/03/15 05:35 PM
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If you do not need it off the road then you are just wasting money. I have run into one ramp where I needed a 4wd and it was on Travis. Now this was back when I did not have LS or a locker. A locker probably would have worked fine. A 4wd is going to cost you more upfront, hurt your mpg slightly, and cost you more in maintenance. I would look for something with a locker. I have all kinds of traction goodies on my Toytota including LS on both axles and a electronic locker. I have never put it in 4wd on a ramp.


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Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11017011 08/03/15 06:09 PM
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I drove a 2wd up until last September when I bought my new truck (pre-owned) with 4x4 and I don't think I will ever go back to 2wd. I can no longer get away with 2wd as I do way too many solo duck and deer hunting trips to risk getting stuck. It saved my rear end multiple times last season. I haven't had to use it for a boat ramp yet.


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Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11017807 08/04/15 12:00 AM
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This is all helpful. Thanks for your input, guys.

Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11018883 08/04/15 01:44 PM
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Simple truth right here. It will pay for its-self the first time you HAVE to use it, if you NEED it and don't have it then you will be sorry. I mean when you really need it and no one is around, if you don't go places like that then just make sure you get limited slip in the rear end.

Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11018887 08/04/15 01:45 PM
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I think there is a big difference in todays 2WD trucks and trucks of say, 10 years ago. Locking rear ends and traction control have really made the 2WD slip issues a thing of the past on wet boat ramps. I had a 2006 Titan and pulled a Z9. If the ramp was wet and that right rear tire broke traction you were spinning and smoking that tire all the way up the ramp assuming you could get enough traction to move.

Having said that I still go 4WD for one big reason that hasn't been mentioned. Most trucks have a 4WD Auto mode that will automatically kick in power to the other wheels if it senses slippage. It is computer controlled and happens in milliseconds, you never feel it. It is very nice to have on wet roads, slushy conditions, boat ramps, etc. Makes your pickup drive like an AWD.




Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11019141 08/04/15 03:54 PM
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I've had a few instances where it would have been nice to have 4WD, and didn't. I now have 4WD and since I have had the latest 4 WD, (5 years now). I've never needed it at the ramp. I have needed it on other occasions, and quite frankly will always have it.


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Re: 4WD experience [Re: IIIMag] #11019412 08/04/15 05:33 PM
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After reading about all the people who don't have a use for a 4x4 but have one just in case im pretty sure having one must make your wiener feel bigger. No wonder America has debt problems. breakdance

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