Is a 4X4 Necessary ?

[tow n slow]

Hello all,
I am anxious about my RAM 2500 payload capacity of @ 2100lbs. I have been considered buying a 5er, with a GVWR @ 13000lbs which is well within my towing capacity of @ 17000lbs.

BUT most 30-32 ft 5er's have a pin weight of 1900-2300lbs which does not leave me any room for cargo in the tow truck.

I am considering upgrading my 2018 RAM 2500 SRW 4X4 to a 1 ton SRW drive.

My question is to you long timer's 5th wheel pullers, is 4X4 necessary?

We DON'T plan on any primitive camping. Just State parks, private camp sites for longer stays and maybe a one time trip up the Alaska Hwy in the summer.

I know I'm going to take a bath on selling or trading my 2018. But if I do upgrade I save myself some money by just getting a 2 wheel drive?

Your Honest feedback is appreciated!

[GlennWest]

I always had 4X4 when I used LDT. Never once needed it. With all that pin weight on the axles it gets good traction. Now if you go off road with truck only may need it. If not, not really needed. 4X4 have better resale value also.

[Notanlines]

We have close to as much pin weight as anyone and we still use 4x4 about three times a year. We are waiting delivery on our new F450 and yes, 4x4.

[GlennWest]

Where do you go to need 4X4? Been full time for 10 years now. Never needed it towing. Now if you like snow, yes. We don't. My current truck not either.

[wingnut60]

Most everyone can go forever without needing 4WD--but the one time you do...
I can't take my 450 on too tight a trail, but been on many I have used it when not towing. Your expected use and type of camping may never show a need, but if you do need it and don't got it, well...

[tow n slow]

Hey Glen I have to ask what is LDT?
thanks

[MTK46]

Have had three F-350 SRW 4x4. The F-350 dully I have now is a 2wd. Never needed the 4x4 towing. Did use it for off roading & parking in the wash in Quartzsite. I looked at 4x4 dullys used. For the $10k extra in price they wanted I settled for this 2wd. Handles the 2 tons of pin weight just fine.

[GlennWest]

Basically all pickup trucks are LDT. Next class is MDT, then you have HDT like mine.

[fjr vfr]

Our previous truck was 4x4 and the whole time we had it I never used the 4 wheel drive. Most, maybe 90% of these trucks are 4x4. When we went shopping for a newer truck I found a nice 4x2 and bought it. So far happy with the truck. I found the 4x2 was easier to get level with our 5th wheel.
One other thing is you get a couple hundred pounds more payload...not a big difference. Basically only you know what you need. It is good to hear other peoples experiences though. And it's better to have more truck than you need. Good luck

[Rhagfo]

Originally Posted by tow n slow

Hello all,
I am anxious about my RAM 2500 payload capacity of @ 2100lbs. I have been considered buying a 5er, with a GVWR @ 13000lbs which is well within my towing capacity of @ 17000lbs.

BUT most 30-32 ft 5er's have a pin weight of 1900-2300lbs which does not leave me any room for cargo in the tow truck.

I am considering upgrading my 2018 RAM 2500 SRW 4X4 to a 1 ton SRW drive.

My question is to you long timer's 5th wheel pullers, is 4X4 necessary?

We DON'T plan on any primitive camping. Just State parks, private camp sites for longer stays and maybe a one time trip up the Alaska Hwy in the summer.

I know I'm going to take a bath on selling or trading my 2018. But if I do upgrade I save myself some money by just getting a 2 wheel drive?

Your Honest feedback is appreciated!

You won't need it until you need it!! I see it as cheap insurance.


I see no since in upgrading your 2018 RAM 2500 for a 2018 Ram 3500 SRW, in my opinion it is a lateral move and the only real difference is the VIN sticker GVWR number, and maybe tires with a higher load rating. True that will likely place within the TV GVWR as RAM 3500 SRW has a GVWR of 12,300#, you should save a step and go to a DRW, for Ram it is a $1,295 option. Then you get 14,000# GVWR.
I will say they are really nice looking!


This is our newly acquired 2016 Ram Laramie 4X4 6.7 CDT Aisin with 3.73's

[Notanlines]

MTK, where do you shop that the 4x4 option is $10K? Ain't gonna happen. Probably $12-1400.

[MTK46]

Originally Posted by Notanlines

MTK, where do you shop that the 4x4 option is $10K? Ain't gonna happen. Probably $12-1400.

When looking to buy a used 2014 F-350 the dealer wanted $10k more for the 4x4 with 70k miles compared to the 2WD I bought that had 82k miles.
Both were comparably equipped except for the miles, color.

[Notanlines]

When pricing our new F450 I priced all three on line and none were over $1400. When comparing used trucks it would be virtually impossible to price out one option on two different trucks.

[Rhagfo]

Originally Posted by MTK46

When looking to buy a used 2014 F-350 the dealer wanted $10k more for the 4x4 with 70k miles compared to the 2WD I bought that had 82k miles.
Both were comparably equipped except for the miles, color.

Well some has to do with trim level, but the NADA price difference was $4,400 clean Retail, both Crew Cab Lariat's. $37,075 to $42,375.


For reference I ran my new to me 2016 Ram Laramie 4X4 CC 6.7 CTD, and it priced to the dealers asking price, we got that down about $1,000, and better than offered trade in..


In today's market you really need to do your homework! I used a Ram VIN decoder that provided a build list for each VIN. I used CarFax to check the trucks history, and NADA and CarFax for pricing information.

[Suite Sweets]

tow n slow Not to let this post get high jacked, like notanlines, we use 4 wheel drive a couple of times a year while towing. When we have used it, we were stuck - we were not going to get that 5th wheel out of wherever we were, without a tow, 4 wheel drive, or may have been able to unhook, re-hook from a different angle, and then pull out. These were at state parks and private campgrounds with grass. May have been able to wait for several days for the grass or leaves to dry out, but just put it in 4 wheel, only drove 20 feet, to get the rear wheels onto pavement, and then back to 2 wheel drive. So for close to free ('cause you'll get most of your money back when you sell), get it !

[Sundance55343]

I personally wouldn't tow a 13,000# rig with anything buy a 1 ton with DRW.

The extra stability of DRW is well worth it.

As others have said........ 4X4 is useless until you need it. And you will need
it at some point.

[Rhagfo]

Originally Posted by Sundance55343

I personally wouldn't tow a 13,000# rig with anything buy a 1 ton with DRW.

The extra stability of DRW is well worth it.

As others have said........ 4X4 is useless until you need it. And you will need
it at some point.

I towed 12,700# with the 2001 Ram 2500, no issues, I bought the DRW as I felt even a new 1 ton SRW would be a lateral move. That and with a DRW we are future proofing a larger 5er.


I feel that 4X4 is cheap insurance.

[clev]

When I bought my truck, it was my first. I've never had, nor needed one. That being said, I started looking on line for F350's, specifically 2 wheel drive. At that time, I was 65 and had never needed a truck, let alone a 4x4. But, everyone that I spoke with, friends, family, and dealers, stated that there was little demand for a 4x2; resale would suffer, trade in would suffer, private sale would be next to impossible. So, I bought a 4x4 on my 2012, and have never needed it; I do engage it occasionally to lube the moving parts.

[Dave A]

Do you need 4wd? No you don't! Is it really nice to have if you get in trouble pulling something that weighs more than your truck, yes it is. It's saved my rear a couple of times. I always get 4wd!

[Goober]

I needed my 4x4 today. It’s something that isn’t needed often but if you go to raves or other events where you have to get off the pavement, it’s priceless