2WD or 4WD???

[Klute]

I am going to buy a 2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab and I am having a difficult time justifying the extra $ for a 4X4.

I live near St. Louis MO and occasionally we get snow/ice/sleet. I have a fairly long driveway that is on an uphill grade of about 8 feet high of 40 feet length.

Everyone (salemen) says that all I need is some weight in the backend and I will not have any problems. I am not so sure. I would hate to get a 2x4 and have to park it on the street during winter storms or have problems traveling in the snow.

I really have no practical use for 4x4 other than that.

Are these salemen right (don't trust them) and if so, how much weight would I need?

Thanks!

[CraigStevenMiller]

I have had both 2 wheel and 4 wheel drive Dodge trucks over the years and live in Virginia where the snow is not that horrible so I would say that except for my recent need for towing, we are in similar positions.

When I had my first 4 wheel drive I thought it was nearly wasted because I did not think I used it enough, but when I switched back to 2 wheel drive and found that while you may not need 4 wheel that often, there is no substitute during those times (I was standed at home for 3 days several years ago because of 18" of snow). Also, I use 4 wheel in solid pack conditions where 2 wheel may be capable of traveling but not with anywhere near the stability of 4 wheel.

Craig

Originally Posted by Klute

I am going to buy a 2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab and I am having a difficult time justifying the extra $ for a 4X4.

I live near St. Louis MO and occasionally we get snow/ice/sleet. I have a fairly long driveway that is on an uphill grade of about 8 feet high of 40 feet length.

Everyone (salemen) says that all I need is some weight in the backend and I will not have any problems. I am not so sure. I would hate to get a 2x4 and have to park it on the street during winter storms or have problems traveling in the snow.

I really have no practical use for 4x4 other than that.

Are these salemen right (don't trust them) and if so, how much weight would I need?

Thanks!

[Bronco2]

If you decide on the 2wd, make sure it has the locking/posi/limited slip ((whatever their buzzword is) rear. About 6 to 8 50 lb bags of playsand should be plenty. Also, if things get real bad,a set of chains does wonders.

[oakland1964]

To me it's a no-brainer. Get the 4X4. The resale value is more, If you ever have to take off from lets say a sloped boat ramp 4X4 is valuable and in ice a snow it's unbeatable for stability. Trust me if you get a 4X2 and ever get in any of these scenareos you kick yourself for not going 4X4.

[slacker_53]

I'm with oakland, the resale and ease of resale make 4X4 even a better choice.

I look at 4X4 kind of like air conditioning, Even if you never use it, it will always make your vehicle worth that much more and also more saleable.

-slacker

[s10frameoff1993]

Without a doubt, get a 4wd......if you live some place which gets snow even once a year, it will be worth it. I have 2wd right now, and I live in NY, (Long Island - 50 miles E of NYC). I am kicking myself right now for not buying 4wd.......Not only because I'm not able to plow with 2wd, but just to go out in the snow, get stuck in 2wd, put it into 4wd, then get out from being stuck, and just to "play" in the snow is priceless. I'm selling my 2wd this summer. I will not go through another winter here without 4wd. Use it once a year, and it's worth it. Also, I have a house upstate, and I can't get to it because I don't have 4wd........never buy 2wd again!!

[Michael Foote]

I have a two wheel drive and get along fine if I use the gas peddle correctly 300 lbs.and chains does help. I've driven four wheel drive and they are nice. I believe that they also get less gas mileage than two wheel so there's extra cost. I do not pretend to understand you as a person but that is what this decision is about what ever you decide is what you will use. I have seen more 4x4's in accidents than 4x2's and have seen them stuck, though not very often. I feel that the reason they are in so many accidents is because the people that drive them think that since they can take off so good they can stop better than a 4x2 which of course is not true. There is a higher cost of repair on 4x4's so if you plan on keeping it along time that would factor in too.
What ever you decide I hope it serves you well.

[amac209]

go for the 4x4 up here in alaska it's suicide driving a 2x4. it does cost a bit more to service and repair 4x4's sometimes a lot more but if you take care of it it will take care of you. 4x4's hold their value better too.

[Michael Foote]

In Alaska I would have nothing but a 4x4 and that's a fact, but in MO. I would have more options and I could think about 4x2 verses 4x2.

[Klute]

I am picking up my used 4x4 today!

I just decided that I could not afford a new 2x4 and that the price on the 4x4 was pretty good.

[Michael Foote]

I hope you get exactly want you want and wish you the best with it. I love my old 88 4x2 and I do again wish you the same.

[indyram]

I live in central minnesota where of course we get a lot of snow. I have a 2wd and don't have any problems. I have had it for 3 years and have been happy. I just put 3 60lb sandbags over each tire and it rides better all around so I leave them in all year unless I need the space. As for pulling a boat, I have a 26' boat that I have no trouble pulling out of the water.

[Michael Foote]

That's pretty much how I feel too. Only in Alaska or northern Canada would I consider a 4X4 since the likelyhood of snow is much more there.

[GreenlandMopar]

with out question 4x4 i work at a dodge dealership and it is so hard to move the 2 wheel drive trucks off of the lot. So why would the salesman give you alot for the truck if he knows that he wont be able to sell it??

[Michael Foote]

I know you're right from a resale point, but, this whole thing started with the guy on top who did not ask about resale but from a use and cost perspective which brings up more questions that resale.