thanks! are the 454's decent overall?

I never owned one, but a plenty of folks on here have. "Wally" had one jacked up on 37s, full tilt dually etc., with a 454.
They are just good old fashioned TBI and almost any mechanic can work on them.

I was raised die-hard GM fan. But I absolutely LOVE my 2000 7.3 PSD Ford Dually. It's got 93,500 miles on it, and I just had the drivetrain/suspension gone through with wheel bearings and ball joints, as well as a FULL fluid flush on the whole truck. It ought to be good for another 100,000 miles. I've also got mine chipped, with intake & exhaust. "OutlawMark" here on OSO who installed my mods said mine was the fastest stock turbo 7.3L PSD he had driven.

Not only that, but when you do want to change your truck up a bit, many 1999-2005 parts are interchangeable.

If your only using the truck to tow the boat in the summer then stick with the 2wd (limited slip rear). Less gas,more towing cap,lower insurance.

DON'T DO IT. Get the 4wd. If I could go back and find something like what kind of truck I have in 4wd I would. In 2001 I was looking for a GM diesel Dually. I had a 1992 2wd 454 dually and pulling a trailer it got 12 mpg empty and 6 mpg pulling a 28' car trailer. The diesel get 15 mpg empty and 9 mpg pulling the trailer. Yes the 6.5 TD is a dog (but at the time I could not justify 45000 for a brand new Duramax) and the 454 is stronger, but on the flip side the 454 will need to be rebulit around the 100,000 mile mark. Try looking for a 2003 and up Duramax. The chassis, brakes and transmission is much better.

IMO these are NOT good reasons to forego 4WD - and 99% of the people on here that tow on a routine basis will agree.

I'll take my 4WD and never have to use, but I sure won't ever have to worry about not having it either....

Joe/Guy's... I'm just basing this on my own experience only. Could give 2 chits to the 99% you believe agree seaford. Who goes to a different ramp to launch every weekend? From the Chesapeake to Florida would of come in handy once in 30 years.

I have a 4X4 ,,,and never needet it on a ramp.

Next one is going to be 2 WD !

Independent front suspension rides as good as any 2WD. In the long run 4WD will hold better resale value. My KV and trailer is 14,000 loaded. I use 4WD everytime I pull it out. Why put all the torque and strain on one axle.

That's why I said In My Opinion.

I have never had to put my truck in 4wd either....DOUBT I ever will because I do use the same ramp 9 out of 10 times I launch the boat.

The Day we sea-trialed my boat the guy I bought it from HAD to have 4wd at his ramp so it just depends on the ramp. I like knowing that if a ramp is suspect I don't have to worry about it.

IN MY OPINION- The premium you pay NOW for 4WD will be returned to you when you sell the vehicle for the most part. Fuel consumption differences are marginal, and if you are running an offshore boat that small difference is neglible in your annual fuel bill anyways - same for insurance.

Not to get in a pizzin match but if you have to have 4WD at a ramp your not running anywhere near correct tonge weight off the trailer. In 40+ years I've never seen a truck sliding backwards down a ramp either, some boats off roller trailers though. 2WD's of today are more then capable of towing any boat up a ramp if correctly loaded and re-sale is not as hard as you'd think, I've actually found it easier in my experience due to the limited number of 2WD vs 4WD in my area..
Not worth the extra 3K IMO if your never gonna use it but once or twice and you'll never re-coup it. I love my softer ride and larger load/ tow capacity but to each their own I guess.