I'm looking at buying an 06 Ram 3500 dually. I've had 2 previous 4X4s. I've not used the 4X4 in my current '98 2500. I bought a new 36' 5th wheel. I'm not off roading & generally not in snow - Pacific Northwest.

GVW
4x4 - 12200
4x2 - 11500
What's your opinion?

 

I have what you are looking for in a 4x4. To be honset I hardly ever use the 4x4 but there is just something in me that says" it's there if you need it"! I mainly use my dually for hooking up the fifth wheel trailer and traveling in the summer. I do have an exhaust brake which I highly recommend helps slow you down and less wear and tare on your service brakes. Only time I use the 4x4 is to back up the trailer on an incline because of the clutch grab. When it snows here we use the Chev Tahoe 4x4 goes great in the snow and saves me from putting miles on my truck or denting it.

 

Of the four trucks I've owned only the first was 2wd. While it's true most of us don't use 4wd often it is sure great when needed. As to the extra cost I've found the 4x4s sell a lot easier and usually the difference in cost is mostly recouped in resale. To me it just makes a more usable truck. I am also a real believer in limited slip axles.

 

4wd is a tool that I keep it for when I need. Come to think of it, I never have owned a 2wd truck. I guess I get it from Dad, he never has either.

I don't go offroading like in the play around sense. But when the truck does get off the pavement for random tasks I do use 4wd (firewood /unloading, the beach, stump removal). With the big heavy C up front those front wheels are great pullers. I have had a few instances in my yard where I tried to stay in 2wd, but in order to not tear up the ground I was traveling on I used 4Hi (so the rears don't spin unnecessarily).

Anyway, I have thought about having a 2wd but I always go back to I won't have it when I need it. Much like another tool

 

Mine isnt a dually but 2x4, first one I have owned, I tow a 36 ft 5th wheel and it is great, I get real MPG when empty, way better than most 4x4`s I didnt know if I was going to like it at first but would not go back now, I just didnt use the 4x4 that much, just extra parts to ware out.

 

I live in SoCal and have only used my 4x4 a handful of times. Once, on a fishing trip near June Lake, I went down a steep driveway to a cabin where the parking area was gravel. With 2WD, the rear just spun trying to get out of there. I threw it into 4WD and drove out like I was on pavement.

Mostly, though, I use it when parking my 5th wheel in my side yard. I have to back it up a curb and over some dirt (bridal trail). I put it into 4LO and it just creeps right over everything like butter. Trying the same task in 2WD results in a lot of spinning and swearing.

 

I have to agree with most on here. I have used my 4x4 a hand full of times but I do remember 2 in particular that I got into a bad spot unexpectedly and needed 4x4 to get out. I know I would have been in those same 2 places no matter what truck I had and if it was a 4x2 I would have been hoping and praying someone would have been able to get me!

So like Shorts says, think of it as another tool you would hate to be without when needed.

 

With 4wd, you can use 4W-Lo to move the trailer around if you need to. Pretty handy for backing up a hill.

I have not tried it, but I have heard you can remove the front drive shaft for normal driving. Then you could use the low range on pavement.

 

4WD has a higher initial price not offset at re-sale. And, far worse, it has a maintenance schedule that is comparatively expensive, and an R&R schedule that is mandated (it seems) to drive the truck cpm way up.

If someone has IRS-deductible miles (business use) it can be justified. Otherwise, no.

The accummulated insult of higher purchase price, maintenance, repairs and cutting fuel economy is far more expensive than (what seems to be) 95% or more of owners ever consider.

Over less than 350k miles I can almost save enough in fuel ($30,000 @$4/gl) to buy another truck compared to the FE of most 4WD/auto trucks. Add in re-building the front end and steering more than once and I can buy another truck.

(And we won't start on lift kits and tires/wheels or tuners or auto trans, etc. That can push the price differential past $50k in a hurry).

In other words, 4WD sure better be worth it. It's worth the price of a second new truck to spec the first one with it. Business or toy? The value of money or money to burn? That's what it comes down to as no truck is cheap. Ever.

.

 

Devils advocate here
To get to 350k miles the average driver will take 14 years at 25k / year.
You will have to Assume that in those 14 years that diesel will stay at $4 per gal and there will be no other factors that make your mileage go down or up from wear and tear.

Now let's say I get a loan for 7 years to buy my truck. I don't worry about the maint costs or any other factors. I just drive my truck as most people do. After those 7 years I keep putting the same amount in a "Special" savings account that earns interest even if it is a small %. After another 7 years I can still buy a new truck, paid in full and still have 350k miles on the first truck.

Not trying to argue at all because you do have some great points. But it really comes down to is what do you REALLY need. Most people will not look into it as deeply as you describe or even have the knowledge to do so.

 

Plus 1 on that.

 

Well if you have NEVER used the 4wd in your current truck then I'd say you are ok without it in your new one.

Myself I use it almost every week, even in summer.

Also consider that 4wd trucks have a much better resale. Up here(Canada) its almost impossible to sell a 2wd truck without drastically cutting asking price on the truck.

 

When you need 4x4 its priceless....

I cant count how many times ive tried to pull my boat out of a ramp in 2x and just spun...pull the shifter and away you go. Also dirt/gravel roads, wet fields with the trailer, backing up with a trailer, etc......

I use mine all the time and it saves me alot of time/embarassment/ calling a buddy for help....

 

like everybody has already mentioned....when you have it you dont use it, and when you need it you dont have it.

 

Keep your 98 if you need 4 wheel drive. I bought an 07 4x2 and got stuck numerous times on gravel and sand. I hated it! I got such a good deal on it I thought I would never need 4 wheel drive but I was wrong. I ended up selling it after a trip with the wife up a local "small" hill to go shooting and we had to back down the dirt/rock road with no snow. It freaked her out, and that next weekend we sold it. The previous owner sold it to me because he could not pull his boat out of the water in the rain and snow. Even chains did not help. I have always had 4 wheel drive prior and thought the same thing. But I did use it and forgot about using it because it was always there. Hope this helps, and I love my 4 wheel drive. I will use it to park our 5er, drive on the beach while camping and up the hills to go shooting (our favorite past time).