For Those of you with SUV's.....

[HersheyGirl]

I was wondering, for those with you with SUV's, how often do you use your 4 wheel drive.  Do you ever use it for towing?  Do you use it in winter?  Just when and how often do you use it?  Was it worth the added expense?
I have found a very nice SUV that I could use for towing, but it doesn't have 4 wheel drive...so I was wondering if it is really all that necessary.   Thanks for any comments.

[Kelly]

I've had two SUVs in the past and both had 4wd ... I only had to use the 4wd option in the snow.  Never while towing.  My current van has AWD that kicks in automatically when needed.  I love having the 4wd/awd option in Minnesota in the winter.  I've used it enough to feel it is worth the extra expense.

That being said ~ I know you've had cars/vans without it in the past.  Have you managed to get through the PA winters without much difficulty or need for the 4wd?  That would be my standard to measure by ... how much snow do you get there and how often would you really need the 4wd?

[mountainrev]

Most 4x4's have 3 modes to choose from:  2 high (rear-wheels only get the power), 4 high (front and rear axles get equal power), and 4 low (same as 4 high, except a very low gearing for getting out ditches, plowing snow, etc.).

My Durango is a 4x4.  However, it doesn't have a 2wd option.  It's normally in AWD, which means that all four wheels are getting power, but on dry roads, the rear wheels get most of the power--I think 80/20.  But if conditions change (wet or icy or snowy), the power will instantly shift to the non-slipping wheels.  This is what modern Subarus and other AWD vehicles have.

I can also lock the center differential, so that front axle and rear axle get equal power (same as 4 high above).  I don't have a 4 low option on mine.  

In a normal 4x4 that doesn't have AWD option, you don't want to drive on dry roads in 4 high.  So 90%+ of the time, 4x4's are really 2x4's.

Where I live, nobody owns 2wd SUV's.  With rear-wheel drive only, they are not very good on icy and snowy roads, which occur about 5 months out of the year.  But if you don't get a lot of snow where you live, or don't plan to drive on snowy roads, then a 2wd SUV might be just fine for you.  The truth is, most people who own 4x4 SUV's rarely if ever use 4 high.  And generally speaking, rear-wheel drive vehicles make better tow vehicles than front-wheel drive.

For my purposes, the AWD/4wd drivetrain in my Durango is perfect.  I have owned several AWD vehicles, and they are wonderful in slippery conditions.  And since it's rear-wheel biased on dry roads, it still functions very capably as a tow vehicle.

Hopefully, some of what I wrote makes sense.

[Funrover]

I have 2

    92 Range Rover..  It is always in 4WD. I only have the option of High and low

96 Jeep Cherokee This is the typical 4WD only when needed... Which in all honesty is not much. We have yet to HAVE TO HAVE it we use it when we go out and play..

As far as pulling the trailer.. You will be fine with 2WD!

[beacher]

how often do you use your 4 wheel drive.

Whenever the need arises.  At least twice a month.

Do you ever use it for towing?

During our maiden voyage with our sparkly new PopUp at Indian Flat RV Park at Yosemite we were assigned a back-in site that was uphill in very loose gravel.  Without the 4x4 we never could have made it into the spot.  The park manager was expecting to use his 4x4 to get us into position.  We have also been caught in the snow a few times, and easily towed through it.

Do you use it in winter?

Yes, see previous question.  And we also use the 4x4 without the trailer to go skiing, and to explore forest roads.

Just when and how often do you use it?

Knowing that you have 4x4, you tend to put yourself into situations that you never would consider without it.  Some examples:  If you want to go exploring for Springtime flowers the Anza Borrego desert for miles and miles off the main road, you can.  If you want to explore an old gold mining claim in the SanBernardino mountains miles from the highway, you can.

Near home, we don't need 4x4 on the paved roads, so we don't use it.

Was it worth the added expense?

I purchased a nice late model previously owned 4x4 5.9L V8 Dodge Durango.  There was no added expense.

I was wondering if it is really all that necessary.

No it's not.  Especially if you will never use it.  But you can have fun with it!



.

[fritz_monroe]

Is it required?  Nope.  We rarely use it.  But if you need it, it will really be worth the expense.

One thing that you may want to consider is resale value.  From what I've seen, an SUV with 4 wheel drive seems to hold its value better than one without.

[Azusateach]

I may be wrong, but I think I've seen that the towing capacity on 4X4s is less than 4X2s.  Don't know why, but if that's an issue, you might want to look into it.

As far as using 4-wheel in snow, in the mountains of California they often make you put on chains even if you've got 4-wheel drive.  Guess they figure we need all the help we can get, as we're not used to driving in the snow.

[mountainrev]

I may be wrong, but I think I've seen that the towing capacity on 4X4s is less than 4X2s.  Don't know why, but if that's an issue, you might want to look into it.

I'm pretty sure that the slightly lower towing ratings that 4x4's are given is due to the increased weight that goes along with 4wd.  

Most 4x4 SUV's have way more than enough towing capacity to handle pups anyway, so I don't think this should be much of a consideration.  

Perhaps of greater consideration is the fact that 4x4's get slightly worse gas mileage than their 4x2 counterparts.

[sacrawf]

Back when I was a farmer, I used the 4 wheel drive almost daily. Since changing occupations, 4WD is used seasonally for snow, ice, and muddy gravel road driving as the need arises. I would estimate 10 to 30 days a year, depending on the weather.  But, when it is needed, nothing else will do.  My last vehicle had full-time automatic 4wd that sensed and directed power to where needed.  My newest is also automatic full time, but has a lock-in high and low 4WD.

It seems that when shopping recently for a new vehicle, I found that the cost of adding the 4WD may be less than the cost of adding the back-seat entertainment system, and will end up being a lot more useful.

[Dee4j]

I chose no 4X..the insurance and the maintenance is more. I don't ever seeing me towing my trailer anywhere I would need 4 wheel drive.

[PattieAM]

I have a Dodge Durango with the 4x4....and have used it on several occasions other than snow.  Once during a torrential rain in Florida - to help keep from hydroplaning (the rain only lasted 5-10 minutes), then once after heavy rains deteriorated my driveway to oozing mud, and once when trying to pull a stuck vehicle out of my front yard (vehicle slid in snow and wasn't my favorite lawn ornament).

As to towing a camper in 4 wd, I don't believe it is either necessary or recommended.  Might be advantageous if backing up an incline.

[Kelly]

Might be advantageous if backing up an incline.

hmmmmmm ~ didn't think of that.   Do you ever back the PU up that driveway of yours, Beckie?  

[batsignal2]

I was wondering, for those with you with SUV's, how often do you use your 4 wheel drive.  Do you ever use it for towing?  Do you use it in winter?  Just when and how often do you use it?  Was it worth the added expense?
 I have found a very nice SUV that I could use for towing, but it doesn't have 4 wheel drive...so I was wondering if it is really all that necessary.   Thanks for any comments.

I would not get one without it, especially in our area.  Rear wheel drive only in a 4x2 and slippery roads can be an issue I feel especially on days like today!  I have 4 wheel drive and used it on the way home today.  I also use it occasionally to park the pop-up next to our house as we have a slight incline.  When the grass is wet, sometimes traction is difficult so I use it to back it up to the house.  Overall, I use it far more during the winter.  If I use it 3 times during the summer, it is a lot.  Now if it was just a tow vehicle and not an everyday vehicle, I might think about getting a 4x2.

[HersheyGirl]

hmmmmmm ~ didn't think of that. Do you ever back the PU up that driveway of yours, Beckie?

I can hardly get down that driveway going forwards....so no, I have never tried to back up it, or back down it either.  Actually, I did it once, and ended up in the bushes and had to be pulled out by a very big tow truck.  :eyecrazy:

[wynot]

I was wondering, for those with you with SUV's, how often do you use your 4 wheel drive. Do you ever use it for towing? Do you use it in winter? Just when and how often do you use it? Was it worth the added expense?
I have found a very nice SUV that I could use for towing, but it doesn't have 4 wheel drive...so I was wondering if it is really all that necessary. Thanks for any comments.

Beckie,
 
Yes, we use 4WD when towing when the road conditions warrant. (Tahoe has an AutoTrac feature which engages and disengages 4WD as needed).
Silverado (pickup you haven't seen yet) also is 4WD.  We use it in campgrounds when wet, soft, fallen leaves.
 
Used it today.
 
OK, your question is whether or not you want 4WD in an SUV.  First depends on what the SUV is.  Is it a truck base or a crossover?  Truck base usually are RWD, Crossovers are usually FWD.  2WD SUVs aren't particularily friendly in snow unless you have true snow tires and even then it can be suprising when the rear end kicks out and tries to pass you.
 
A 2WD SUV would be like the Moose in snow and ice.  Do you want to drive up your unplowed driveway with it?  Also, they tend to be hard to sell in areas like ours where all SUVs are 4WD/AWD.
 
Worth the extra expense?  We have 4 vehicles, 3 of which are 4WD/AWD.  The RWD one is parked in the shed right now because of snow.  P says her next car will also be a Quattro (like mine).