I use a front wheel drive Ford Transit Connect mini van and have never gotten stuck on a ramp. As a matter of fact I have pulled other folks up slick ramps (boats, trucks, & trailers). The best part about the van is that the motor is directly over the front drive wheels so it gets great traction even though it's lighter than a 2wd mid size pickup. Now days I use a kayak so I don't even need a ramp. My kayak even has it's own built in rear wheel, is 14' 8" long, and it only weighs 100lbs fully loaded. so I don't have to even get close to the water. I just grab the front handle and walk it like a wheelbarrow right in to the water. Although at my age and with my back problems the closer I get to the water to start with the better I like it LOL!!!!

It's all about who's driving

Never owned a 4x4 in our family, and I haul a boat heavier than all your bass boats and back down the same ramps y'all do! Even worse in low tide saltwater. Never a problem.... I would get 4x4 just to have it, but you don't NEED it for launching/retrieving a boat.

I go to Welsh all the time and have never had an issue with a 2WD with a limited slip differential and a 20ft boat, but I have a Dodge also. No issues anywhere with 2WD launching the boat.

But the gas mileage is terrible compared to most other auto makers.

Ok, you are the only person that has never had a issue with that ramp, LOL

Both true^^^^^^! Toyota’s are some pulling/dependable gas sucking pickups! 😀To the OP: have you needed 4x4 in the past? If not the answer is probably “NO”, you will be fine without it. Respectfully, base it on YOUR past needs.

Just stating a fact. If you don't want to believe it that is up to you, I don't care. Have you been out there since they fixed the ramp and the ruts in the hill going down to the ramp. Even the parking lot has been improved lately. BTW I know several people that go out to Welsh all them time because they are retired and go during the week and all of them have two wheel drive trucks. None of them have ever gotten stuck. Many of the trucks in the parking lot that I see out there are two wheel drive. Some are four wheel drive but you will see that at any ramp, both two wheel drive and four wheel drive.

I had an experience at Eagle Mountain Lake where the ramp was steep and slippery with algae. I couldn't get my Z519 out of the water. I will say I had road radials and AT tires may have made a difference. I hit the 4x4 button and went right up the ramp. That experience ensured every truck since has been a 4x4. If you can afford it, I would recommend it.

Good such with your truck hunt.

I've been pulling boats for 28 years, sometimes fishing 100 days per year, and never owned a 4WD.

Cool. I used mine tonight to pull a dodge and a basscat up a ramp after the trailer was backed off the edge of the ramp. First time I have had to use 4wheel drive at a lake, but it definitely helped get his truck and boat out.

The yotas do drink a little gas. But i get about 20mpg on the highway so I'm not complaining. And the resale is awesome. I think they are worth it. And that's all that matters to me.

I was out there a month ago, they have done a lot. very impressive!

I never had any issues at that ramp, but have seen others that have, because they hold the whole damn line up when they can't get up the hill, LOL

If you fish different lakes around the state that you don't know, there will come a time when you wished you had it.
If you only fish your home lake or lakes you know you'll never have a problem, then no you don't need 4 wheel drive.

It's like that saying, "it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it!"

Limited slip or electronic locking axle is all needed on concrete boat ramp. Heck most don’t even have that and do fine

I've never had a truck that wan't 4x4 since 1972. But I don't remember putting one in 4 WD at a boat ramp.

FUNNY STORY I was waiting for my turn at a steep ramp when an older Van was loading a larger cruiser. They got it on the trailer and when he started trying to pull up the ramp that van did not have enough guts to get the wheels rolling. He thought the tires were slipping so he ordered the 2 guys still in the boat to get out and stand on the trailer tongue to add weight. That didn't work and the clueless buddies didn't see what was happening. Two more guys standing around waiting saw the other 2 so they joined in. So 4 guys adding weight to the tongue to try to get traction. Another guy saw the cluster and told them them error of their ways and they all got off the tongue and started pushing on the back of the van. It finally got rolling and crawled up the ramp. I thought the tranny in that van was going to explode.