I am thinking of picking up a 75 3/4 ton camper special as a tow rig and selling my Tundra ($1500 vs depreciation on a $22K tundra makes sense to me). It's a 2WD. It has a 14B so I will likely get a detroit for it.

For guys that park at Loon or JV, have you ever been stuck in 2WD where a 4x4 wouldve helped? I know towing in snow will suck, but that just doesn't happen very much with me and if I really need to tow in snow, my wifes 5.9 ZJ will work in a pinch.

I really don't need to lose $3-4k+ per year of depreciation on my Tundra, when all I need is a reliable 3/4 ton with AC and a cd player for the weekend trips up the hill and the dump/home depot runs. I have a DD 4 cylinder car for work commut that gets 30MPG and the tundra gets 1/2 that or less. So savings on depreciation, gas and insurance are very important right now.

Will I regret the 4x2 truck?

SeanP

I tried the 2wd tow rig for a while. It was "ok", but we park in a lot of fields to unload for the trailhead, and I tow junkers down to my farm through some woods and mud and got tired of getting the tow rig & trailer stuck from time to time.

I would think for just a couple thousand more you could get a 4wd version of the 2wd truck you are considering - why not go that route?

If not, add that Detroit to the rear, a good set of A/T style tires, and enjoy the $$$$ savings :)

Originally posted by DRM


If not, add that Detroit to the rear, a good set of A/T style tires, and enjoy the $$$$ savings :) ditto

Originally posted by DRM


If not, add that Detroit to the rear, a good set of A/T style tires, and enjoy the $$$$ savings :)

Now, you know I am such a cheap fawker that the back tires wouldn't match the front ones. And they would probably be totally different sizes, too :flipoff2:

I drove a 2wd for 3 years, even had it out in JV one time. I never was stuck anywhere but have come damn close with the 2wd and it has limited where I can put the truck. If you pay lots of attention and can avoid putting yourself in a bad spot you will be O.K. I've used the skinny pedal lots of times to avoid a stuck. You can manage with a 2wd, but may be much happier with a 4wd, just my experience after towing with the 2wd gig.

If you live anywhere that you get snow, spend the extra coin and buy a 4wd. You will appreciate it. Thats the only reason Im not getting a 2wd when I buy a tow rig. I visit my parents alot and they live up in the mountains where it snows.. I have this thing against putting on chains :flipoff2:
Scott

i got a 2wd powerstroke,next time it will be a 4-wd...

leaving the rubicon coming up the hill to the main road (not sure what its called but its the hill coming up the side of the dam) I was pulling my toy on a trailer and not only did I start spinning my rear tires but actually started to slide backwards also...scared the shit out me. locked up the brakes and a bud that saw what was happening ran up to the truck and locked my hubs for me...threw her in 4wd and cruised right up the hill. Right about then i decided all my tow vehicles would be a 4x4...

btw my old tow rig is for sale :D for cheeeap and its a 4x4

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=212879'

I live in the UP of michigan which is a little different from cali since we get tons of snow (right now about 1-2' in town and the snow was up to the bottom of the door windows in my stock f150) and have lots of mud and some of the trail heads arn't on paved or gravel roads. I've had my tow rig in 2wd a couple times in the snow and it just does't go any where with a load in tow and i see my buddy with a jeep with busted 4wd having all kinds of problems getting around town.

Have you ever used the 4x4 in your tundra while towing? Also if you do get the 2wd and hate it you can always sell it for what you paid and buy a 4x4 since that truck is pretty much done depreicating. I don't know about the 4x4 market by you but around here i'm finding decent 88-92 4x4 3/4 ton chevys with about 100k on them for 4 grand which seem like the best bang for the buck for used tow rigs and will probably be newer and have less issues than a 30 year old truck. I have enough problems with my 1990 i have right now that are pretty much due to age.

BarrelRoll

I scored a 1976 2wd k30 454/465 14 bolt hydro brake utility body for $200.00 from a local rancher who was gonna cut it up because he stopped driving it 10 years ago when he bought a new truck. I havent towed with it yet but well see how it does

ya i am in the same situation as you. i have a DD and my tow rig is 2wd. i wanted a 4x4 but i came accross this mint condition tow rig that was priced way to cheap not to pick up. i got it for 2700 bucks. new motor and tranny and front end, etc....

but like you i am a bit worried about getting stuck.
i defintely want a detriot and some MT's back there

Originally posted by BayAreaWheeler


btw my old tow rig is for sale :D for cheeeap and its a 4x4

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=212879'

Hmmmmmm......

I have never put my tow rig in 4x4 for towing. But I;ve only towed a few times to Loon parking lot, JV and Moab. Really not a problem. GOing on snow runs might be tough, but my XJ is still legal if not road worthy. The 4.0 just doesn't pull the grades with the 1 ton running gear and the 38 sxs on hummer rims.

I do like the advice that if I don't like it, I can always sell it for what I bought it for and track down another 4x

thanks for the replies.

SeanP

My big diesel is a 2wd, and she does okay off road, but you have to be careful. In most cases, if you but a fair amount of weight on the rear end it'll be okay, but 4wd would really be useful. Like, really useful at times. :) Been there, done that.

If it was me, I'd get a 4x4 mid 80's ford diesel, or an early cummins. I'm rather partial to the diesels, for reasons that most should already know, so I may be biased, but I would recomend doing that. Might cost a bit more, but I think you'll be happier.

You'll probably find that the chevy will pull just as pathetically as you're tundra going uphill, but it'll be alot more stable, and a much better way to do things. Personally, I dislike the idea of using anything smaller than a full size 1/2 ton to pull anything more than a 4x8 trailer. I'm sure some will disagree, but that's my $.02. Sorry, a bit off topic there.

Anyway, that's my advise. If you do want to look into a diesel, let me know, as I am fairly knowedgeable on the ford idi's and I've seen them come up for sale pretty cheap fairly often.
-John

I had no problems driving up to Loon or Ice House in my 8000# 2wd truck. the only time I've been stuck was in sand and I didn't want to air down. I had to give up on the flat towing and try things a bit differently. Haven't tried it with a trailer in the sand yet, but hopefully with getting OBA on my TJ, I won't have to care about airing down.

I didn't get a 4x4 until moving to the west coast. I never had a problem in a single field, stream, or whatever I was crossing back in Ohio. That was in a F150 Supercab, Caddy, Honda, or a Chevy Vega. I doubt you're going to have much of a problem with the 2wd.

EDIT: JRT did have the PSD spinning wheels at JV out by the comp area. Had a wrecked car on the trailer and it didn't like the loose rocks going up the hill.

I've got a 98 2wd CTD and wish I would have gotten a 4WD. JV was no problem, but have been stuck twice out at TDS and almost stuck at Ocotillo. My trick now is, since I flat tow my jeep, if it gets soft, I unhook the jeep and have the wife drive it. My truck seems to do OK without the extra dead weight of the jeep. It's got a limited slip rear end.