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Guys need some advice. I'm looking at purchasing a F 150 wtih a 5.4L V8. I generally tow my boat twice a year. Dunk in, take out, all of 4-5 miles from where I keep it. Would like to take it to a few other spots during the season maybe all of 20-30 miles round trip each time. Other than that, I would have no need for a 4x4. So....Will a 2wd do the job? Ramps by the way are not steep, generally in good shape and usually not slippery at low tide. Thanks in advance for you recommendations.
I like having 4x4 for the peace of mind it provides. My ramps are also not very steep, and I haven't needed 4x4 on a ramp, but I've used the 4x4 in snow (before moving to FL) and hunting (mountain trails). But I know that if the ramp is slippery from slime, I have an extra 2 wheels that can help pull me up.
I would think 4x4 might come in handy in Massachusetts...I know you guys get snow there!
There are lots of arguments both ways about the added weight and complexity of 4WD. But without a limited slip, a 2WD is really a 1WD. Buy the limited slip no matter if it is 2WD or 4 WD. The option is not expensive and really helps on the ramp.
I have lots of friends with pickup trucks here in MA, only 1 of them does not have 4 wheel drive. He wishes he had 4 wheel drive.
The $3000 or so that 4X4 costs when buying new stays with the vehicle at resale time. Other than giving up maybe 1 MPG, I can think of no reason for not having 4 wheel drive.
4WD is one of those things that you don't use all that often but when you do need it, you're very happy to have it. It comes in handy at the ramp but where it's a must have is in the snow. I don't know what you're currently driving but a full size pickup in the snow can be pretty miserable if you don't have 4WD. In MN, I'd say about 99% of the full size trucks are 4WD.
I have NEVER spun a tire at a launch ramp with 2 wheel drive. Including launching my 32' 10,000 lb Edgewater.
And I've run off the end of a ramp at an extra low tide with a 20'CC and was unable to pull it out in 4HI. Thank goodness for 4LO. I think the ramp and the tide are bigger variables than the boat.
Thanks guys. It will be a third vehicle specificially for the boat and lanscape/dump runs so when it snows it can sit if need be. Have an AWD SUV and have had several Audis with AWD so I know how handy all wheel or 4 wheel is in the snow. It's not that I don't want a 4x4 I have just found a pretty good deal on a very nice 04 but it's 2wd and would rather not spend a large chunk on a limited use vehicle. Thanks for your opinions, open to hear any more..
Hauling 13' - 26' boats with 3/4 tons I don't use FWD much. Depends on the steepness of the ramp and slime mainly.
I dumped the trailer wheels on a 20' Outrage off the end of the concrete apron once. I was completely screwed. 4LO did nothing but spin, I had to build a mini ramp of boulders to get the trailer back on the ramp.
My personal truck is a 2WD 3/4 ton. Less machinery to break and fewer hassles with front end alignments. I've needed 4WD a few times, trying to back up to a hay barn on a wet grassy *****, and a couple of times in the winter during snow. If I didn't live in the one corner of Canada that doesn't get snow in the winter I'd have a different opinion. Here all I need are good tires, weight in the box and salt at the first sign of a snowflake.
Since it can sit in the snow and your infrequent use with the boat-go positraction rears and just get 2wd and avoid the expense of keeping the 4 wd going and the extra fuel use.
Guys need some advice. I'm looking at purchasing a F 150 wtih a 5.4L V8. I generally tow my boat twice a year. Dunk in, take out, all of 4-5 miles from where I keep it. Would like to take it to a few other spots during the season maybe all of 20-30 miles round trip each time. Other than that, I would have no need for a 4x4. So....Will a 2wd do the job? Ramps by the way are not steep, generally in good shape and usually not slippery at low tide. Thanks in advance for you recommendations.
I've had several trucks and SUV's. I'll never own a non 4wd/awd vehicle again unless it is a high end sports car
I used to keep my 24' boat at a marina that had very gradual ramps. There was one guy that routinely launched/retrived a 35' ish go fast using his enormous 3500 quad cab duely. It was a struggle for him to pull that thing out of the water, spinning all 4 rears - no 4WD.
My girly 1500 Silverado would pull my boat out at high tide without spinning (non posi) in 2WD - usually. Forgetaboutit at low tide, had to use 4WD then.
Point is, you just won't know if you need 4WD until you actually need 4WD, and that will surely be the wrong time to find out.
Ah, the Internet. Teaching me once again that there actually are limits to my curiosity and things I don't want to know. I'll be sure to avoid discussions on interpreting graphs.
I'd agree with ss3964spd - there are a lot of variables and if you actually need it you need it. Maybe hang out at your local ramp for a while and watch how others do?
I used to keep my 24' boat at a marina that had very gradual ramps. There was one guy that routinely launched/retrived a 35' ish go fast using his enormous 3500 quad cab duely. It was a struggle for him to pull that thing out of the water, spinning all 4 rears - no 4WD.
Dan
I'm not surprised. Duallies seem to lose traction by spreading the weight over four wheels instead of two. They certainly slip and slid in the rain here a lot more than single rear wheel drive.
I'm not surprised. Duallies seem to lose traction by spreading the weight over four wheels instead of two. They certainly slip and slid in the rain here a lot more than single rear wheel drive.
Towing Help - 2wd or 4wd
