Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Tow Vehicles
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-18-2020, 06:09 PM   #1
Viet_Vet
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: BLOOMINGBURG
Posts: 52
Anyone tow with a 2 wheel drive?

To skip the long story of why, I am curious to hear from anyone out there that has or is towing a TT or 5er with a 2 wheel drive pickup.

If you are never camping anywhere with snow or.bad roads,
does it make a difference other than towing capacity? Are there any benefits of towing with one versus another?

Thanks for any feedback.


Wallace
Viet_Vet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2020, 06:17 PM   #2
jsb5717
Senior Member
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,389
I don't but my buddy does. It's mostly not an issue but there have been a couple times when he neede some help from my 4x4. Personally wouldnt be without a 4x4.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2020, 06:19 PM   #3
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,601
Wallace, I pulled my trailers, until 90s sometime, with 2 wheel drive. Just "got by" IMO after all these years.

In the mountains, unimproved place (think NF) and the rains came. I wasn't 100 yds from the main road (gravel) but the rain literally locked that trailer in place and the truck had zero ability to move it (black mud). Never had anything but a 4wd since in anything that I own. On good days, in good places...no need for 4wd, but I've encountered so many places, due to unknown "oh no's", that it is just a given for me...family SUV or truck.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2020, 06:40 PM   #4
Gegrad
Senior Member
 
Gegrad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Monroeville
Posts: 1,548
I towed for 5+ years with a strictly 2WD truck and loved it. Up here in PA I couldn't find a 2WD truck at all when I was looking in December. Never thought I would ever own a 4WD truck until our life's adventure brought us up here.

Does not make a lick of difference unless you just really need to take your trailer offroad somewhere. Better fuel economy, higher payload capacity, tons less maintenance, less junk to break... gee is that all the advantages of a 2WD truck? LOL. If you live anywhere in the south I personally would NEVER own a 4WD truck. Personally, the negatives of a 4WD far outweigh the positives for me and my hobbies.
__________________
2014 Bullet Premier 29bh in Charocal
2019 Ram 2500 HD 4x4, CC, 6.4L
2011 Passport 2510RB (Sold)
Gegrad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2020, 06:52 PM   #5
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,237
I’ve used a 2WD from day one. We don’t go “off road” and I do my best to avoid snow. My only requirement for towing is DRW.
__________________

2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.

Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2020, 07:01 PM   #6
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,601
Realize that you don't need 4x4 just to "go offroad" either with the truck or the trailer. 4x4 offers so many advantages over a 4x2 I couldn't begin to start; even in flatland south country (I live there). Day to day need to go somewhere, lots of rain? 4x2? Stay on pavement. House "out there"? Stay in town. Taking a trip and have a sudden, unexpected heavy snowfall? 4x2? Slide in the ditch as I've seen so many. 4x4....carry on. You can live all day long in a place but when you get a bit of rain, on clay, you can/will go for "a ride".

I've owned "a" 4x4, or multiple, since 1980 (my first). I couldn't imagine the traveling I do, the back roads (with family, GDs etc. - not 4x4 in any way) we take without having the reassurance of 4x4. Seen too many (and pulled them out) that thought otherwise. JMO
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2020, 07:36 PM   #7
Badbart56
Senior Member
 
Badbart56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: USA and Canada
Posts: 870
I've had both. The 2 wheel drive had a smoother ride as I recall, but I have gotten stuck a few times. Even on wet grass! 4 wheel drive is a cheap insurance policy in my opinion. I have better things to do with my time than sitting around waiting on a wrecker. Never had all the issues some here claim to have had. Maybe I'm lucky.
__________________


2010 FZ 405

2011 F350 6.7 Dually w/Banks Power making 510 hp and 1065 ft/lbs torque
Badbart56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2020, 08:03 PM   #8
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,601
Quote:
Originally Posted by Badbart56 View Post
I've had both. The 2 wheel drive had a smoother ride as I recall, but I have gotten stuck a few times. Even on wet grass! 4 wheel drive is a cheap insurance policy in my opinion. I have better things to do with my time than sitting around waiting on a wrecker. Never had all the issues some here claim to have had. Maybe I'm lucky.

In all my miles of driving 4x4s, well into the hundreds of thousands I'm sure, I've never had a failure of any kind with the associated 4x4 equipment; Ford transmissions another story. That does not include 4x4 toys that I use for just that.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2020, 08:21 PM   #9
Summergirl
Member
 
Summergirl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Surrey
Posts: 93
We tow with an two wheel drive 2003 F250 5.4L S/C long box 6 speed manual tranny. Had it for 17 years now..
__________________
2018 Premier Bullet 22RBPR
2011 GMC 3500HD 6.6 Durmax
Summergirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2020, 03:21 AM   #10
FlyingAroundRV
Senior Member
 
FlyingAroundRV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 708
We tow a TT with an F250 2WD. I deliberately chose it after looking at the payload numbers between 2WD trucks and 4WD trucks. Also, all that extra running gear in the 4WDs is just something else to go wrong. Hauling all that extra weight eats fuel.
We've had 2 seasons with our truck and not had a problem. That said, we don't go offroad with our rig and don't intend to. We bought an ultralight TT and I doubt it would stand up to offroad use.
__________________
Regards,
Scott
2015 F250 2WD Crew Cab
2018 Outback 272UFL

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCscotthendry
FlyingAroundRV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2020, 03:33 AM   #11
notanlines
Senior Member
 
notanlines's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,308
We haven't been in a 2WD truck in 40 years. All Fords and never a problem with anything associated with the 4WD. When pulling 20K of RV and parking in grass in different RV parks there is a level of confidence I'll not be without.
Comfortable ride? Better mileage? Less maintenance? These are supposed to be work trucks, not purchased because they are so economical. Take Grandma to the market in your daughter's Subaru instead!
__________________
Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
notanlines is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2020, 04:11 AM   #12
gearhead
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Liberty, Texas
Posts: 5,021
Quote:
Originally Posted by notanlines View Post
We haven't been in a 2WD truck in 40 years. All Fords and never a problem with anything associated with the 4WD. When pulling 20K of RV and parking in grass in different RV parks there is a level of confidence I'll not be without.
Comfortable ride? Better mileage? Less maintenance? These are supposed to be work trucks, not purchased because they are so economical. Take Grandma to the market in your daughter's Subaru instead!
Well said.
Here's a story for ya...last month we were on the way home and had a reservation at Catherines Landing RV Park. Betty was navigating as usual. She found a route that avoided downtown Hot Springs on Google map. Seemed OK at first, but the road became more narrow and less paved the further we went. We were in the woods with no possibility of turning around. We rounded a curve and OH ****. It looked like a creek was crossing the road. I got out and looked. It was mostly gravel, maybe 12-18 deep, and flowing. I'm thinking a 8,000 pound truck and a 18,000 pound trailer this ain't gonna be good. How much is a heavy duty wrecker gonna cost to pull us through this. Well I have to try. Put the Dodge Brothers in 4 wheel low and jumped in the water. Never lost forward momentum and pulled through to dry ground. If I was betting on making it I would have lost.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 Laramie CC DRW LWB 4X4 Cummins Aisin 3.73
Reese Goosebox 20K
2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4 LB Cabover
gearhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2020, 04:25 AM   #13
German Shepherd Guy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Norwood, CO
Posts: 667
I use both. For going to our dog shows(yes in the storied past there was such a thing) I use a I ton GMC duelly box van 2wd. We are always on pavement or graveled fair grounds. In other circumstances I will use either my Chev. 1/2 ton suburban 4x4 or the GMC depending on weather conditions. Towing in the mountains in October can be like full winter blizzard sometimes and then I like having the front wheels being able to engage. Beats having to chain up and drive 15 mph.
__________________

German Shepherd Guy

2018 Keystone 26RBPR
2014 Suburban 2500, 6L with 3.73 rear

German Shepherd Guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2020, 04:40 AM   #14
Javi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,456
In a past life I wouldn't be without 4X4 but I will freely admit that it often got me into places I really never needed to be... never a hill I couldn't climb, never a creek I couldn't cross and never a mudhole I went around..

Nowadays, if it ain't paved or at least graveled and with full hookups; I ain't going
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
Javi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2020, 04:43 AM   #15
rhagfo
Senior Member
 
rhagfo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,180
Quote:
Originally Posted by Badbart56 View Post
I've had both. The 2 wheel drive had a smoother ride as I recall, but I have gotten stuck a few times. Even on wet grass! 4 wheel drive is a cheap insurance policy in my opinion. I have better things to do with my time than sitting around waiting on a wrecker. Never had all the issues some here claim to have had. Maybe I'm lucky.
This covers it pretty good. DD had horses and the thought of being on a slight downward gravel driveway with a trailer hooked up and needing to backup and turn at the same time made 4X4 the easy choice.
__________________
Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
rhagfo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2020, 05:45 AM   #16
Badbart56
Senior Member
 
Badbart56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: USA and Canada
Posts: 870
Quote:
Originally Posted by sourdough View Post
In all my miles of driving 4x4s, well into the hundreds of thousands I'm sure, I've never had a failure of any kind with the associated 4x4 equipment; Ford transmissions another story. That does not include 4x4 toys that I use for just that.
Once Ford went to the current 6 speed transmissions their issues are practically nonexistent, much like when Dodge went with the Aisin transmission. My transmission tech said the 6 speed was developed to go 250K miles and tested as such under max load with schedules service at 150K miles. He changed my fluid in my current truck at that mileage and he said it was dirty but not burnt. The Ford 6.7 has two cooling systems with one dedicated to the transmission and the turbo. Seemed a bit overkill when I first heard about it, but obviously it works well. I'm anxious to see how the new (relative term) 10 speed transmission does in the Fords. This would be the joint venture between Ford and GM that has been used in their lighter duty vehicles for the past few years IIRC.
__________________


2010 FZ 405

2011 F350 6.7 Dually w/Banks Power making 510 hp and 1065 ft/lbs torque
Badbart56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2020, 05:52 AM   #17
roadglide
Senior Member
 
roadglide's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: nm
Posts: 1,833
With Duramax 900 pounds of torque unload Driving very careful keeping my foot off the Excelerator the tires will spin 4x4 is a must have . At 34 Thousand miles and rotating the tires every 5000 miles I’m looking at new tires on Michelin 60,000 mile warranty.
__________________
2018 1 ton 4x4 c.c standard bed GMC Denali
Anderson ultimate hitch
2015 311 Impact Fusion toy hauler
2018 Milwaukee 8 FLRTU roadglide glide ultra
2018 800 Z force spot BUGGY.
500 watts of solar enough power for boon docking.
roadglide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2020, 06:24 AM   #18
CedarCreekWoody
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Trinidad,TX
Posts: 968
Although I now gave a 4x4 I towed thousands of miles with a 2WD Ram 1500 with no problems. But this was in the southern US on paved roads. A 2WD typically has a couple hundred pounds more payload than a similarly equipped 4x4.
__________________
Woody
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Laredo 290 SRL
2019 Ram 2500, 4x4, Cummins diesel
Andersen hitch
CedarCreekWoody is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2020, 06:48 AM   #19
B-O-B'03
Senior Member
 
B-O-B'03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,085
We are in our fifth season towing with a 2WD truck, although it has an electrically locking versus open differential.

Have never been stuck or had any towing issues, so far, have had to lock the diff a couple of times.

-Brian
__________________
2014 Bullet Premier 22RBPR - let the camping commence!
2013 F150 Platinum - 5.0 - 3.55 ELD + towing package
B-O-B'03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2020, 07:54 AM   #20
jsb5717
Senior Member
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,389
Over Memorial Day weekend we camped at a nice full hookup park. All of the pads are gravel. The upper loop is only a couple years old and the gravel is deeper than the lower level. My buddy, in his 2WD, was trying to ease his rig onto leveling blocks and the wheels spun. Just like that he was up to the axle in gravel. Without 4WD I might have gotten stuck as well and I wouldn't have been able to pull him loose.

We don't boon-dock and like to camp in parks with finished roads, etc. In nearly 40 years of camping I have rarely needed the 4WD. But I have one for those Just-In-Case moments and, like the gravel incident, there are those unforeseeable times. And I don't want to find myself in a situation that is avoidable by just having the 4WD. For me it's just another insurance policy that I have needed in the recent past.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
tow

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:30 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.