Looking for a Dually 4X4 or Not?

[first time 5er]

Looking for some advice. i have 2015 F250 4X4. i am looking to upgrade to a 350 Dually. Before i take the plunge i'm Looking for some opinions whether the 4 wheel drive option is really needed. thanks

[bitten]

I have used 4wd in my own yard on wet grass. F350 dually.

[Lee]

Hi,

Only you can answer that question based on how/when/where you operate the truck.

Do you go off road? Mud/sand...

Do you go to climates where snow /ice could be encountered?

Lee

[Tbos]

I known people that needed to use 4wd to get out of a campground. A storm changed path and dumped a huge amount of rain in a short time. Better to have it and not need it is my thought.


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[xrated]

When I bought my new 2011 F250 Crew Cab, I was going to get a 2WD truck and started searching for available stock around the area I live. Almost none available and the ones that were, was the "work truck XL" most of the time. As it turns out, I read that when you get into the F250/350 Crew Cabs and such, the total sales for that market is only about 13-15% 2WD trucks. That got my attention as to resale value at a later date if I choose to go with a different truck someday.

We have a gravel road to access our driveways, and when leaving, you are on a slight uphill incline.....maybe 5-7 degrees. If I'm pulling the trailer and have to stop because of oncoming traffic, I either have to back down the hill a little ways or put it in 4WD so that I don't throw gravel everywhere.

[66joej]

I agree. Better to have 4X4 because when towing an RV as noted above there will be times when it will get you out of a potential sticky situation.

[PARAPTOR]

4x4 Dually, only way to go go, Only takes one time getting stuck in a muddy campsite and/or getting there on a muddy back road to realize what a genius you were making that selection. Believe me it happens

[canesfan]

4WD, for all the reasons stated above and others not yet stated or thought about.

[chuckster57]

Never had, never needed 4X4. Extra maintance and stuff to go wrong.

[cmsmith22]

Originally Posted by first time 5er

Looking for some advice. i have 2015 F250 4X4. i am looking to upgrade to a 350 Dually. Before i take the plunge i'm Looking for some opinions whether the 4 wheel drive option is really needed. thanks

We have used ours on several occasions. One of the must haves when we upgraded our truck.

[Ken / Claudia]

If your really asking do DRW get better traction than SRW. No they do not. If you have never needed 4x4 maybe you do not need one. After all there are towing CO.s and others with 4x4s that can pull you out. My life style never would be without a 4x4. 11 trucks/SUVs I owned all had 4x4 and it was used in each one. likely at some point each year. Never had a tow co. help nor a friend pull me out of wet grass, mud, soft shoulder, sand or ice and snow. I do drive in all those.
I do have a friend and co worker who will never buy a 4x4 because of the extra cost. He also never drives when snow or ice happens. His hunting trips are done in the summer and he does not have a RV.
I enjoy the freedom of what a 4x4 does allow me. They do cost more and they also sell for more than a 4x2.

[JRTJH]

It really depends on where you live and what you intend to do. We lived in Louisiana and had 2wd trucks until I started quail hunting. After one trip down a logging road made of "gumbo mud" I traded that truck for a 4x4. Until then, I'd only been stuck once, in my back yard. I just left the truck parked until the lawn dried up and then drove it out carefully. If I'd had 4x4, I wouldn't have been stuck. Back then, buying a 4x4 at a Ford dealership in Louisiana meant a special order. They simply didn't sell there at the time. Now, they do sell better, but there are still more 2wd trucks on the lot. Up here, in northern Michigan, it's just the opposite. The local Ford dealer hasn't had a new 2wd truck on the lot in the past 3 or 4 years. If you want one (usually commercial trucks) you'll have to special order it.

It goes without saying, trying to sell a 2wd truck "up here" will not give you a good return on your investment, simply because few people are looking for that kind of truck. We have one forum member who currently is trying to sell his 2wd truck. He lives in Canada and is having a terrible time finding a buyer at a price that's even close to realistic.

Personally, for my situation, I wouldn't consider any vehicle, SUV or truck, that is 2wd. That's because of the need to maintain transportation "in the woods" of northern Michigan, where plows are not frequent. It's not the same in Florida, so consider your use, your needs and your initial investment/resale. If it makes financial sense and won't hamper your use, I'd say get 4wd. If it doesn't make financial sense and it would hamper your use, then I'd recommend a 2wd.

Ultimately, the choice is yours, for me, having the option is important in how I use my truck, so it's in the "must have" category. Maybe it wouldn't be as high on your list????? Something to ponder before buying, that's for sure...

[66joej]

Up here in rural BC (Columbia/Kootenay) I personally don't think I have seen a local with a 2WD truck or SUV. Heck most of the cars are AWD. We see some tourists with 2WD vehicles (summertime only). Even the rentals are 4X4. But as John said it is mostly a regional thing. Couldn't give a used 2WD pickup away around here. JMHO.

[first time 5er]

I was leaning toward the 4x4 for the same reasons. thanks everyone

[notanlines]

We wouldn't be without 4WD and we "live" in Memphis. If you tour the country as we do just the added confidence is worth the added cost. Two years ago when we towed to our site in Florida it had rained for four days. Only 4WD got us into our site. No matter the part of the country, 4WD will return its value on resale.

[gearhead]

Two weeks ago there I was somewhere around Jena LA and Nowhere LA looking for a cemetery. It's gotta be back here somewhere behind this church. Nope. I better turn around, at this gravel driveway, it looks dry, back it in, go to Drive to pull out, I'm not moving. Hmmm, the back tires are red. OH! I'm stuck. OH! I have 4x4. YEAH!

[marcortez]

I got stuck in sand twice with a 2X before.
It's not fun......
Went and bought a 4x4.....no more stuck.

Maintenance on that 4x4 had been zilch for two years I have owned it.

Having 4x4 opens up so many more opportunities.....
You go ahead, your non 4x4 buddies go back to asphalt.

[Pmedic4]

Actually, this post is one of the reasons why enjoy reading this forum. The comments about the need, versus the requirement for 4X4 on your truck. One of the comments which someone posted, said only 12-13% of trucks in these category are 2WD.

That was my experience when I bought my truck (it's a 2500), there weren't 2WD trucks available in the 2500 or 3500 size. I went to 3 different dealers, and they all searched for a truck with 2WD, and there just weren't any. I procrastinated on getting my truck for about 2 weeks, thinking it was just a timing issue of eventually finding one, but it didn't happen. Got the 4X4.

Next part of the experience, on a trip to Florida, got stuck in some sand when leaving the campground hooked up. So, definitely glad I had the 4X4.

[Desert185]

2WD or 4x4, make sure you get a rear limited slip differential. When living at Tahoe, There were a lot of seasonal "4x4's" that were traction-challenged because of no LSD. They did work great in Marin County, though.

For my needs...4x4 and limited slip.

[Hansel]

For years I thought I never need a 4X4 truck, well a few years ago some lady totaled my 2wd truck, and I replaced it with a 4X4. After getting stuck in my backyard in some wet grass, and getting unstuck because I had a 4X4, I will ALWAYS own a 4X4 truck.