4 wheel drive to travel

[Sail96]

Hi all, we hope to go out west sometime this year and I was wondering about the need of 4 wheel drive as a general need to pull off the road for a night or 2 while boondocking and maybe state and BLM lands. I know I won’t be able to pull up on the sand at beaches but not familiar with road conditions out west. We will have a Chevy 3500 express van with posi traction. Thanks, Glenn

 

[Second Chance]

You won't need 4WD on surfaced roads unless there's snow - and then you'll likely need chains, too. Off-road is a different story, and then it depends on where you're off-roading. I've encountered situations twice (really deep gravel) in "civilized" RV sites where my rear-wheel-drive-only diesel dually was almost not enough. BLM lands in AZ can be sandy with places you can easily get stuck. If you're careful about where you try to go and check surfaces out first, you'll probably be OK.

Now for a funny story... I grew up in New Mexico in the '50s and '60s near a NASA Apollo site. When the contractors (LTV, Grumman, etc.) started moving families from the PNW and New York to New Mexico for the project, some of my new classmates had some interesting stories to tell (mostly the New Yorkers). One family was going to leave behind their electric appliances and get Coleman gas stoves and lanterns (didn't know if they'd have electricity). Many bought firearms for personal protection. Another family was trying to arrange to have a large fuel storage tank delivered and arrange a tank truck to fill it with gasoline a couple of times a year. I think they were surprised to find, when they arrived, that we had electricity, paved roads, gas stations (my dad owned one), telephones, TV stations in El Paso, and all the modern conveniences.

Rob

 

[jkwilson]

4WD is most useful to me at State Park and Federal campgrounds. Uphill into site surfaced with fine gravel is tough going.

But I’ve always believed a locking or limited-slip rear axle is the first thing you should get to improve traction. When I was a kid, a friend of my dad’s had had a 2WD Chevy truck with limited-slip and granny gear. It would go almost anywhere. It helped having 3 teen-aged farm boys along to work as mules and ballast in the back of the truck, but the truck did most of the work.

 

[Ynot4me2]

On our last trip of the season last fall all we got was strong down pours day after day. When we got to Wasaga Beach we were given a full grass lot. After simply waking on it before we backed up I looked at the grounds keeper and told him that we were going to leave marks. He acknowledged. As we were backing up, when the truck got on the grass we started sinking and then spinning. Slapped it 4x4 and we were good.

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[GeoffnCheri]

I have owned 4wd for 45 years and an RV for three and change. Only one time in three years at a COE park did we need 4wd for the RV. This was a narrow back in site, up hill with a sharp turn and I could not keep my TV on the pavement and back in to the site. A 4wd is definitely not a "must have". It is a nice to have when you need it.

 

[Richter]

I opted for 4WD on the truck when we ordered it. It has paid for itself three different times, all with the trailer, and all in grassy areas. I don’t regret having it at all.

 

[SolarPoweredRV]

I opted for a F350 4x4 Dually, I have engaged 4wd a few times and have been thankful each time that I had it available. The first time I used it with the 5th wheel in tow was to back out of a road that was just not a real road that we followed by mistake. I was glad I had the front wheels to assist with backing the camper up hill. I have used 4wd backing into a site that was super sandy and the rear wheels had started to slip, instead of "Digging In" (which would have been my only option with a 2wd) I was able to switch into 4wd and get into the site without any more slippage.

Bottom line, I am glad I have 4wd available.

 

[briand]

Hi all, we hope to go out west sometime this year and I was wondering about the need of 4 wheel drive as a general need to pull off the road for a night or 2 while boondocking and maybe state and BLM lands. I know I won’t be able to pull up on the sand at beaches but not familiar with road conditions out west. We will have a Chevy 3500 express van with posi traction. Thanks, Glenn

So you are not towing, just the van? If that is the case, you are likely good to go on any road that DOES NOT state 4x4 only. Experience is key though. I.e. it is easy for 4x4 to get stuck in mud or soft sand. Big obstacles should be obvious, i.e. turn around.

I speak mainly of road is UT, CO, NV, CA. Might really help to know your target areas and/or if you are towing.

 

[Calnca]

Needing 4X4 is like needing a gun......when you need it, only IT will do, everything else comes in second place.

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

Hi all, we hope to go out west sometime this year and I was wondering about the need of 4 wheel drive as a general need to pull off the road for a night or 2 while boondocking and maybe state and BLM lands. I know I won’t be able to pull up on the sand at beaches but not familiar with road conditions out west. We will have a Chevy 3500 express van with posi traction. Thanks, Glenn

Okay, I have to weight in on this. As a rule, this is purely a preference. Most people prefer a 2wd truck for the better gas mileage and truck CCC. For me, I would rather have it and not need it, then need it and not have it, like a gun. Although, I have used it in the snow/ice and in mud with the camper.

We were at a state park here in New Mexico. It rained most of the weekend, which is very unusual for here in the southwest. Being sa state park, most of everything was gravel road and pads, however, most of the gravel had sunk into the dirt. I did need to engage 4x4 to get the camper backed into our spot as the rest tires kept slipping in the mud, and the camper was inching toward a tree. I was glad I had 4 wheel drive on that one.

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[Rtrenbeath]

I hope you’re not considering replacing your 2-wheel drive van. A much less expensive solution would be to replace the street tires with more aggressive mud/snow tires and throw some chains in “just in case”. More road noise but far cheaper solution and with some weight over the drive axle, will work 99% of the time. I wouldn’t recommend this if driving in MT mid-winter (except with chains), but there are lots of people who do it!

 

[The_Lovells]

Needing 4X4 is like needing a gun......when you need it, only IT will do, everything else comes in second place.

That and the fact that a 4X4 truck will sell more easily and for more that its 2WD cousin at trade in/selling time. But of course it costs more up front.

 

[north channel novels]

Hi all, we hope to go out west sometime this year and I was wondering about the need of 4 wheel drive as a general need to pull off the road for a night or 2 while boondocking and maybe state and BLM lands. I know I won’t be able to pull up on the sand at beaches but not familiar with road conditions out west. We will have a Chevy 3500 express van with posi traction. Thanks, Glenn

We've towed three different 5th wheels ... all 27 to 28 feet with three different two wheel drive diesel Rams. With the 900 pound engine, the trucks are heavy on the front end and when I'm not towing, that's when I cross my fingers going over soft ground. With the trailers in tow, there's plenty of weight over the drive wheels to assure traction. We crept into one pretty questionable "road" to a beautiful BLM site in Utah and never had a problem.

BUT on one occasion in Nova Scotia, both truck and trailer dropped four inches through wet sod, all at the same time, into greasy subsoil that clogged the tire treads. Having worked my career in the bush with 4X4s I know that even if I'd had a 4X4 I would still have needed a tow. The most embarrassing thing about that event was that we got pulled back to firm ground by a Chevy!

 

[GaryS1964]

This couple are full times and pull their trailer with a 4x2 and boondock 95+% of the time. Sometimes way off the beaten path, usually on BLM land and getting there on unpaved roads. They have been doing it for four years.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChOqiLlC-SZdoIQ68tsTgBw

Having said that I have a 4x4 truck.

 

[goducks14]

I've been towing in the PNW for the last 10+ years. Started with 2wd then had several 4wd trucks. I now have a 2019 2wd 3500 CTD SRW. In those 10+ years I've probably used 4wd 2-3 times max. No need for it on dry pavement. 99% of all the CG's (RV parks, St parks and FS) are relatively flat.
I would never tow in the snow and we don't tow down road that need 4wd.
I also don't have the maintenance of the front diff.

I can't imagine the CG's outside of the PNW being any different in terms of conditions. There's always going to be that CG with that spot where 4wd might help. But in my 10+ years I've only been in that situation a couple times.

FWIW I also have a CCL and have never even come close to needing it.

 

[Calnca]

Well Duck, you should have been here in NW Arkansas a couple of weeks ago. We needed 4X4 just to get to the store and Tractor Supply for Propane. With 1/2" of ice covered with 8" of snow the safety factor was well worth the upfront cost.

 

[goducks14]

Well Duck, you should have been here in NW Arkansas a couple of weeks ago. We needed 4X4 just to get to the store and Tractor Supply for Propane. With 1/2" of ice covered with 8" of snow the safety factor was well worth the upfront cost.

I guess if you're full timing and always driving your truck in who knows what state then 4wd would be smart. If you live where it barely snows and when it does it only lasts a day or two or you're retired and don't need to go to work then 4wd is a waste.
YMMV.

 

[Dadeo6472]

Get four wheel drive not just for the snow and mountains and beaches.

Get it because you also want to make sure you can get into and out of campsites and other areas that can be just a few feet off the pavement! I've had to pull off the road a few times onto greasy, wet, muddy soil to get around construction and accidents. And many beautiful campgrounds have unpaved sites. There are National, State and local parks with unpaved dirt sites that turn muddy at a drop of rain. We were outside Great Bend National Park two years ago and watched the entire campground turn to mud for a day after a rare thunderstorm. Only 4wd tow vehicles moved that day. If you go to a local winery near us they have only grass sites. The dry grass turns wet with any rain, and only 4wds will move for a day.

Then there are the tons of places that have loose and/or wet sand, stone, and inclines. We went to Chaco Canyon last year. It's not really that remote, but the last 20 miles are unpaved dirt roads with loose gravel, dust, ruts, washboard with washouts thru dry stream beds. It will take you over an hour in dry weather. But it's impassible in a 2wd if it rains as those dry stream beds turn wet.

Get four wheel drive. Only a 4wd allows you to confidently access the best camping country that isn't on a paved or well graded road.

 

[jsm180]

4 low comes in handy climbing leveling blocks.

 

[uwskier]

2wd is for passenger sedans and CUVs. Truck needs 4wd. 2wd truck is like buying a swiss army knife but not including the scissors, tweezers, or toothpick.