Looking at semi-retiring my old '93 Chevy truck this year (getting it ready for my 14 year old son to drive in a few years) and getting a newer one. I was wondering if getting a 4x4 would be worth the extra money. I don't do much off roading, but have been on some primative boat ramps that are hard to get up sometimes with 2WD. With the newer electronic 4 wheelers is there any MPG difference? Any other consideration I may be missing? Thanks!

Well it's pretty much up to you to decide how much you really need a 4x4. You can check with any manufacturer the 4x4's are more expensive to buy, don't get as good of mileage, and everything on a 4x4 is more expensive. Would the cost difference out weigh the benefit, it's your call.

Unless you get off road in the mud and sand a 4x4 is not worth the extra expense: lower MPG, maintenance, weight - tire wear, & of course cost. I have owned many 4x4s and I there was a time that I would not buy a truck that wasn't. After getting upset with the junk that Ford (here we go again) has been building lately I bought a Tacoma with an electronic locker. It has been a a great truck. I have also owned 2WDs with limited slip and they did real good on ramps.

personally i will always buy a 4 x 4. the last time i compared prices (years ago), the price difference was not huge. I hunt, fish, and pull plenty of 2wd trucks out. The mpg was like 2 miles different between the 2wd and 4wd. if you go with a 2wd i would atleast order it with a limited-slip rear diff. good luck with your decision.

I own a 4x4, had it for 6 months and it has already saved my bacon several times. Went to the ranch this past weekend and without it I would have been stuck in sand at least 5 times and mud once. That said, when I was still in my 2wd 94 chevy I wouldnt have driven lots of those places for fear of getting stuck. Its a waste till you need it then it is priceless. I will always buy one.

matt

Both my vehicles are 4x4. I almost never use it and can't really justify it. They do cost more and they do get worse economy. But I'll never get stuck hauling the trash down the alley. And if it ever does snow in West Texas....I'll be ready, by golly.

My truck is 2wd and i will never own another 2wd if i can help it. I take care of my parents farm and use my F150 all the time towing and doing fence work. In the next few years i will be building a house on the farm. I have gotten stuck enough times to never want a 2wd again. But thats only my situation, yours may not be the same. As far as ramps, i have never had a problem slipping on the ramp with all-terain tires and my truck has a non-limited slip rear end, and i have been on some steep ones too and most of the time my rear tires are always in the water on the ramp. My biggest problem was sinking an inch or two in wet soupy grass and not being able to move in the field. I have had to use the tractor a few times to get out. If ramps are your only worry, i would look for a 2wd truck with a limited slip rear end. It would be really nice if you could get a 2wd with a electronic locking rear diff, but i think that is only an option with the 4wd trucks.

I own a 2WD and I just don't drive places that will get me stuck. Do I enjoy being somewhat limited? Of course not. Is it worth the extra cost for the once or twice a year that I might not be able to go where I want? No way. 2 mpg isn't a big deal until you figure out that's over 10% of your gas money. Over 100k miles, a 2WD pickup that gets 18 mpg will save $2000 over a 4WD pickup that gets 16 mpg (assume $2.75/gal). With the extra initial cost, the extra running costs, and the extra maintenace/repair costs, it's not worth it unless you're doing quite a bit of driving around on ranch roads or other slippery places.

"With the newer electronic 4 wheelers is there any MPG difference? Any other consideration I may be missing? Thanks!"...My experience with the milage difference has been in the 2-4 mpg less range.I buy the 4x4 trucks just because I need it every now and then.The cost is not that much more when you consider the price of trucks these days.Maintenance costs are a little higher but thats just part of it.Having owned 3 over the last 15+ years I would not buy another truck unless it was a 4x4.

Thanks for all the answers. I like the idea of having a 4wd, but yes, slippery or old ramps are the main concern. I have been on ramps before that had buckled sections and if your truck backed in a certain way the front tire would fall behind the section of concrete and act like a block keeping the truck from pulling forward. With wet rear tires I've seen guys just spinning trying to get up that ramp.

In most of todays vehicles there is no difference in fuel mileage between 2wd and 4 wd while in the 2wd mode with the exception of a possible very very little extra fuel to carry the extra weight of the 4wd Now when you go putting on lift kits and bigger tires mileage can go down in a hurry. As to whether 4x4 is worth the extra money or not i have to say in a used vehicle typically around a $3000.00 add which im going to get back $2000-$3000 of the 4wd money back when i sell it Next i plan on getting some use out of it If not i had peace of mind it is there which is worth something in my book.

As the others have said, there seems to be about a 2 to 4 mpg difference. The price difference is usually pretty minor. I have had several that are both 2wd and 4wd and can tell you I'll never own a 2wd again. I dont use my 4wd that often, but when I do it's sure nice to have. A couple calls for a two truck or a buddy to come pull you out of the mud in the middle of the night will just about equal that extra cost you paid up front for the 4wd.

I have seen others slipping like that too, but its usually from them stepping pretty hard on the gas pulling their boat out of the water like they are in a drag race. Just a little throttle is needed and tires wont slip with all-terrain tires.

Maybe a maximal 2 mpg difference but 4 mpg difference is really pushing it. That would mean that alot of newer 4x4 half tons would be getting around 8 mpg and that isnt happening.

I am not seeing a diference in fuel milleage between my truck and other non 4x4 trucks like it, I dont think it makes as much of a millage difference as it used to.

I have a 4x4 because of ranch use and river fishing. If all I did was fish lakes with cement ramps I wouldnt need a 4x4.

matt