as the saying goes "4wd is priceless when you are slipping down a ramp with no help in sight!"

Next Tow Vehicle Advice??
 

I sold my 2500 4x4 Dodge diesel because I was tired of paying such high insurance (24yo with a DUI). Then I traded my 21' baja for a 29' fountain so I'm going back to another diesel. I'm going to buy a pre-dpf model so 05-07 chevy or dodge. I don't trust the 6.0 psd. Few years old help out on insurance also.

So hear is my question and I think I allready know the answer... Would I regret buying a 2wd? I haven't had any problems at my boat ramp but maybe going somewhere else such as cumberland. What about in the rain? Would I have and problems if it was a drw? A 2wd would save me on insurance, fuel, and purchase price. Is it worth it?

Thanks for any advice!

as the saying goes "4wd is priceless when you are slipping down a ramp with no help in sight!"

My 2wd dodge manual trans pulls my baja up the ramp with no problem. Zero tire slip. I even back down till the rear tires are 1/4 under water.

Every ramp is different...and 4wd is nice to have. But it can be done with 2wd.

Worst case you add tongue weight. Better tires. Lower tire pressure

If you end up at a ramp where the lake level is low and you get the rear tires in the algae you could get in trouble depending on the steepness of the ramp. The first year I owned a boat back in '98 had it not been for the 4WD in my '94 Suburban my truck, trailer, and wife would have been in the lake due to a fairly steep ramp and low water levels.

I towed with a 2wd dually with limited slip for a long time... I never had an issue at the ramp. I just traded it for a 4x4 because it wouldn't pull the boat up my new driveway. 4x4 sure is nice to have, but not an absolute requirement for pulling a boat in my opinion.

2WD for those that enjoy a little drama at the ramp!

I've gotten my dually stuck on a wet grass field (before engaging 4WD) towing the boat, not to mention a slick ramp.

+1 2001 Chev 3500 DRW 6 sp. Couldn't pull a Baja 302 out at Jamestown, Lake Cumberland on a rainy day several years back. Had to borrow another dude's truck to get to the top of the hill. Not a fun day. Sold the truck the next week.

My F350 won't pull my current 342 out if ramp is wet. I always use 4x4 on the ramp. No desire to be "that guy" again.

I've never put mine in 4WD at the ramp - but I have found many other uses for it lately it seems.

I have memories of standing on the tongue of my buddies trailer when he towed with his van. Once a guy said, "Beautiful boat. Too bad the owner can't afford a decent tow vehicle." There was always drama every time he towed. I have a 4x4 for my 29' Fever and would recommend the same.

I have never needed 4X4 but its nice to have "just in case":evilb:

I just bought a 2011 Ford F-350 powerstroke loaded and I have to say it is one of the best I have ever had!!!! just sayin

I am a professional boat hauler. i have three pickups and we average about 200k miles a year on them. We pick up anything from 2k lbs to 18k lbs. All three of my trucks are 2wd long bed Dodges. I can tell you we can not get every boat from every ramp. We sometimes need help getting out if the ramp is slippery or the boat is really heavy. I would not buy a 4wd truck though. Proper technique is usually more of a factor than anything. I also believe in the Cummins motor. One of my trucks has over 1 million miles on the original block. That truck pulls like an ox. In the end, I think anything under 13k lbs really doesn't need 4wd.

Confucius say, "better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it".

4wd and no need help at slippery ramp thanks confucius

Thanks guys
 

Thanks for the advice... I probably will go with another 4x4... Better safe than sorry. I have no clue in what I'm going to get... Least I have a few months.

4x4 is priceless, you never know what you may run into or when it may be needed. I would go for a one ton truck, and a dualley. Then you should be covered for most anything or boat size you may need it for.

If your looking used- look at horsetrailerworld.com, or truckpaper.com

Lots of trucks and some good deals.

Thanks i'll check it out.... i've been on truck paper before.

I love the 08+ f450s. I like the looks of the 10 lug wheels. But i think that is too much truck for what i need.

You don't say if mileage is a consideration but F450s have 4.88 gears so the mileage likely won't get very far out of single digits even if you're not towing.

:evilb::drink::evilb::drink:

I figured it wouldn't be all that great... figured a dpf delete would help some.

Another nice feature of a 4x4 is that if you have a steep ramp and/ or a very heavy boat you will have the option of using 4x4 Low range. A lot easier on the transmission.