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

[wynot]

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.

Used it most backing into campsites uphills that have wet leaves and softish gravel.
 
Our last camping trip this season was in Charles County...

[Funrover]

With my 4wd the only time I have actually warrented using it is when I towed my camper on a 4wd only road!

[spicetrader]

I'd have to say, if you can't get a 2wd truck where you need to go...do you really want to take your PUP there?

I know some would not agree...but hey, it's just an opinion thing.

NOW, That being said, go for the 4wd...because once I get set up camping, sometimes I take my truck on the not so nice roads to explore!
Had I not had the 4wd low in AR, I'd not have gotten up and out of one road!!!

You live in PA for goodness sakes,  lots of different weather up there.
I lived in upstate NY for years and wouldn't not have a 4wd.  Shoot, I live in TX now and still have one.

[flyfisherman]

Ah, yes the 2WD vs the 4x4 debate ....

A lot depends, of course, where you live and just what outdoor activities your into. I come from an era when 2WD was all you could get ... even locking rear differentials were uknown. Somehow, someway, we all seemed to have gotten by ... maybe it was the tire chains?  I live in an area where snow is a rare happening and so I drive 2WD vehicles. Not that I have'nt had a 4x4, the only thing is that the last one I had I only put it into 4WD a couple of times ... and that was just to engage it to see if it really worked, not because it was needed!

To be sure, 4x4's cost more and their fuel economy is less than their 2WD counterparts. Plus, for my part anyway, a 2WD is quieter. Don't even have the locking rear end on my present model GMC pick-up because the last one that did, you could hear the whine from the rear end at a couple different speeds. Like I say, I like the vehicle to be reasonably quiet.

I do spend a lot of time in the western NC mountains and I've managed so far to get back where I want to go and do what I want to do. Now, I'm sure if I lived in that area year around where snow is a common factor I'd be having 4WD! But being here on the coast, I just can't see the expense for something I don't use.




Fly

[wynot]

I do spend a lot of time in the western NC mountains and I've managed so far to get back where I want to go and do what I want to do. Now, I'm sure if I lived in that area year around where snow is a common factor I'd be having 4WD! But being here on the coast, I just can't see the expense for something I don't use.
 
Fly

Not just the snow for HersheyGirl, but their driveway, omigosh.  (But you have a BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, Beckie!!)  Driveway kinda reminds you of climbing the first hill on a roller coaster...all you see is sky ahead...

[AZsix]

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.

If you plan on using it in the snow then it's worth having. I have a Ford Expedition that is 2wd. We don't plan on camping or towing in the snow. For what we use it for the 2wd sufficient.

If I still lived in MA I would probably have 4wd.

[Mike Up]

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 use it all the time. I simply can't see how anyone would consider any truck based vehicle without 4WD. The few who do have 2WD Pickups say it was 2WD strictly because of cost. In this area, I've never seen a truck based SUV without 4WD. To be honest, it would be a very poor decision as resale value would be so low on a 2WD, the loss would make it more economical to keep it.
 
I use 4WD all year around. I find the all wheel drive (sometimes called Full Time 4WD) car version (used on many SUVs and on a few select pickup trucks) useless. The reason is that for 4WD to work, you need equal torque to all wheels if you don't want to get stuck in mud, sand, loose dirt, or snow. All wheel drive is traction control for wet roads and with todays vehicles, it has little use except on high performance cars that benefit from the AWD traction is in cornering and from a stop, acceleration. If you are using AWD, the delay in the center differential locking will be what gets you stuck. Once you've slown down or stopped, no 4WD will help in the thick stuff. The whole idea is to maintain traction so you don't slow or stop in the thick stuff. Some AWD systems spit torque through a special center differential while others use an electronic clutch on the transaxle to switch from 2WD to 4WD when wheel slip is detected by sensors. If you're in snow, mud or sand, get the vehicle out of AWD mode and put it in true locked (sometimes called part time 4WD) 4WD drive mode. Unfortunately, true locking 4WD is only optional on some vehicles as the Dodge Durango which has AWD only on the lower models.
 
Also look for limited slip whether it's computer control individual wheel braking sensed by wheel slip sensors (the best) or the mechanical limited slip differential. Otherwise, without limited slip, you're still really only getting 2 wheels driven at once, only one on each axle. Sadly, this was one of the reason why I passed on the new Durango. While it has this is traction control, it can't be used without it. In deep mud and snow, traction control has to be turned off because when extreme wheel slip is detected, it retards the timing or cuts throttle and the slowed motion will get you stuck. Read it in the manuals but had to experience before it stuck. So with the Durango, no limited slip with traction control turned off. If you can't tell, the 2 SUVs I was considering were the 2005 Dodge Durango and the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The Pathfinder won for several reasons. At the time, they both were the same price with the employee discount. If Durango adds limited slip and flat folding 3rd row seat, I may get one on the next round.
 
As for use, I use it alot where I'm parking in wet soil for concerts, fairs, and other events where parking it limited. I use it for extreme rain storms where there's a lot of standing water on the road. For this, you need true 4WD drive or what they others call part time 4WD. When I'm in 2WD and hit puddles, the vehicle wants to hydroplane as the front wheels stop rotating and act as skis. Now with 4WD drive engaged, the front wheels are rotating through the deep water puddles and actually cut through the water and do not hydroplane. I've witnessed this on my Nissan Xterra, Nissan Titan, and now the Nissan Pathfinder. I also use 4WD when driving in the Indiana Dunes where some roads are completely covered with sand from high winds. I also use 4WD when camping or fishing near the many rivers I visit. Usually the soil is wet and muddy so the 4WD determines whether I get stuck or keep moving.
 
As it's obvious, I use the 4WD all the time in the snow. I've had 4WD on most of this week only turning it off when roads were snow and ice cleared.
 
However, 4WD will not help on ice. You'll just spin all 4 tires instead of the 2. The only time it helps when there are dry patches and when 1 of the 4 tires can hit it. Also, don't assume you can take turns without worry in snow with 4WD. Just because you have traction on the rear, straight tires, doesn't mean you'll have enough traction on the front rotating tires to follow through the turn. You'll need to slow down and allow the front tires to grip and guide you through the turn.
 
Remember only use it in the extreme rain only. Regular rain should not have true (part time) 4WD engaged as there is usually enough traction to cause binding of the drivetrain and drivetrain or tire damage could be damaged. This is where AWD comes in. However with traction control and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC that helps you stay on your steered path), you have all the control you need.
 
If you don't have electronic true (part time) 4WD engagement up to 60 mph, then AWD has advantages. My old 2000 Xterra could only have 4WD engaged below 25 mph so I could not switch it in and out as needed for ice or snow patches. Slowing down to that low of a speed in a hurry was just not possible. In that case, the true (part time) 4WD couldn't be used for mostly clear, but snow patched roads.
 
As for towing in 4WD, you bet. In a few occasions, the campsite was muddy or the road was snow covered where the 4WD did just what it was designed to do.
 
For the average $3000 more for the 4WD option, to me, it's pretty silly not to get it for all the extra safety it provides your family in poor weather and not having the hassles of being stuck.
 
Of course this is my opinion so no offense to those who feel their 2WD or AWD are best.
 
Hope this helps, have a good one.