Do you REALLY NEED 4×4?

[Aron]

When looking to order my FY22 F150, I *WANTED* 4wd, but I also wanted a lot of other things, and I couldn't afford the ~300lb hit to payload from the 4wd system. My truck was purchased primarily to pull a travel trailer while also carrying a family of 5, and payload was a top consideration. We don't generally pull the trailer off of pavement or gravel roads, so 4wd was the option that I chose to give up to make all of the other numbers work.

I have a 2015 Expedition with 4wd, and I think that it's been used maybe 3 times in the last 9 years (only once off-road). After owning my truck for a year, I still think that I made the right choice for my use. Others have different use needs and would likely benefit more from the added capability.

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[Zengineer]

I'm in Florida so no issues with snow. Budget IS..I'm a 100% disabled Navy vet, 69 years old and buying a new truck to drive off into the sunset lolol! I built and priced the identical XL short bed and the difference in MSRP is about 5 grand. I'm not sure that is worth it that's why I posted this thread. Sure I guess it's better to have it and not need it but in the last few years inflation has absolutely had a impact on my pension. I know I can make the payment either way but it would make some difference. To many folks here I know it doesn't. More than anything I wanted to ask the opinion of folks who actually own,drive and use what I'm getting.
Having good off road tires and the locker will probably suffice in my situation. No boat,dont tow and actually don't drive many miles period. I'm going to look at a front winch as a option but I have the feeling some recovery gear on the truck will probably do.

I see zero reason for you to spend the money on 4WD and unless you left something out the same goes for a winch.

 

[Severdog]

I debated the same thing two years ago on my order. Three reasons why I need it:

• I've gotten stuck in 2WD at new-build construction sites before. Pop into 4WD and no problem.
• I do maintenance on my truck on a sloping driveway. Placing the unit into 4WD gives me better peace of mind.
• Resale, as if that would ever happen.

Run it 99.999999% of the time 2WD. There if I need it. Worth it to me.

 

[DEEPDOWN]

I'm ordering a 2024 F-150 XL single cab and wanted to ask yall do you really need or use 4 wheel drive for most of your back country adventures? The basic truck is a 5.0 with a 3.73 locker that I imagine is fairly capable with quality all terrain tires but I have no first hand experience. I bought 2 new 4×4 SUV's (Kia Sportage 1998 and 2002) and never actually had to use it! But I did NOT venture into really bad or muddy territory. We had family in West Virginia and snow could have been a issue but never actually was. I'm in Florida and most of the family up there moved down here so not really a factor now.
I've never owned a single cab short bed truck before but but what little I have heard is that for most back county adventures it is a great platform!
So what has been your experience? Do you find you can get around in 2 wheel drive just fine or do you engage the 4×4 as a matter of course when you leave the pavement? My thoughts were quality tires made a big difference with a rear locker and if I really got worried about getting stuck a small front bumper winch might be a viable option..But I have no real experience. Mom always said ask someone who knows lolol!

1/ 4X2 Harder to sell
2/ Though not available on an XL, I use AWD in heavy rain and post-rain slick roads; true 4x4, not so much. Don't do much off-road (if you don't count other people's lawns ), but here in Windsor, ON Canada AKA South Detroit, the occasional snow, makes it worthwhile IMO. YMMV
3/ Again, this may vary by geography, but dealers here, won't carry 4X2 on their lots, for reason # 1/

 

[Deleted member 15247]

I'm ordering a 2024 F-150 XL single cab and wanted to ask yall do you really need or use 4 wheel drive for most of your back country adventures? The basic truck is a 5.0 with a 3.73 locker that I imagine is fairly capable with quality all terrain tires but I have no first hand experience. I bought 2 new 4×4 SUV's (Kia Sportage 1998 and 2002) and never actually had to use it! But I did NOT venture into really bad or muddy territory. We had family in West Virginia and snow could have been a issue but never actually was. I'm in Florida and most of the family up there moved down here so not really a factor now.
I've never owned a single cab short bed truck before but but what little I have heard is that for most back county adventures it is a great platform!
So what has been your experience? Do you find you can get around in 2 wheel drive just fine or do you engage the 4×4 as a matter of course when you leave the pavement? My thoughts were quality tires made a big difference with a rear locker and if I really got worried about getting stuck a small front bumper winch might be a viable option..But I have no real experience. Mom always said ask someone who knows lolol!

Well, you don’t really need 4x4. Until you do.

Years ago I had a Ford Courier truck and I’d haul a floor jack and some wood planks to help me when I’d get stuck in sand. Saved me every time. I look back on the fire road trails and places I took that truck and realize how dumb a teenager can be. Never gave it a second thought assuming I’d be fine. Then when I got my first brand new truck, a 1989 Ford Ranger with 4x4, I got that bitch stuck in the snow. And I mean stuck. If it hadn’t been for some snowmobiles that were out for a morning ride, I’d of died up there since I was a good 15-20 miles in and at mountain elevations. I was under the assumption that if you had 4 wheel drive you could go anywhere and do anything. I guess the moral is be smart and don’t take the vehicle beyond its capabilities.

 

[Superstock 3740]

Last week I stopped over to a friend's house and inadvertently backed into little drop off from his concrete to his yard. It was dark and I felt the back of the truck just drop a tad bit. I was STUCK! Looked at my wife, switched over to 4 Wheel and pulled out in a heartbeat. I told her "If this would have been 2 WD we would have been screwed" Yea, if you need it, it's nice

 

[MattV]

I got 4wd just so I didnt regret it. I have no other use for it.

My last truck I had for 12 years and used 4x4 once. Still ordered the new one with 4wd. It’s odd really; would do again.

 

[DNASMART]

I had a 2018 2wd XLT crew cab. Never required 4wd (New Jersey) traction control w/ good tires in snow key & avoid hills. But, when I would go to New England in winter, I would have snow ANXIETY - big time - for that reason alone my 2023 has 4WD. Plus re-sail value. My MPG's have not changed from 2->4wd

 

[EcoBeastCA]

If you live in Florida, Texas, Arizona, etc and keep it on pavement, no.

If you live in Canada, yes.

 

[Ziggy73]

I'm ordering a 2024 F-150 XL single cab and wanted to ask yall do you really need or use 4 wheel drive for most of your back country adventures? The basic truck is a 5.0 with a 3.73 locker that I imagine is fairly capable with quality all terrain tires but I have no first hand experience. I bought 2 new 4×4 SUV's (Kia Sportage 1998 and 2002) and never actually had to use it! But I did NOT venture into really bad or muddy territory. We had family in West Virginia and snow could have been a issue but never actually was. I'm in Florida and most of the family up there moved down here so not really a factor now.
I've never owned a single cab short bed truck before but but what little I have heard is that for most back county adventures it is a great platform!
So what has been your experience? Do you find you can get around in 2 wheel drive just fine or do you engage the 4×4 as a matter of course when you leave the pavement? My thoughts were quality tires made a big difference with a rear locker and if I really got worried about getting stuck a small front bumper winch might be a viable option..But I have no real experience. Mom always said ask someone who knows lolol!

Each person's geographic location and use case will determine if you need it. For me, I do live in Texas but there are times when I need to launch a boat on a slippery ramp, pull a 40 ft dead tree down to the pasture, One time on the way home during a thunderstorm a tree fell across the road and I drove through the ditch that would have been 100% impassable without 4x4, then for me I go on ski trips with the family, so it's a priceless function on my truck that I won't do without, maybe when I turn 90 I might get a truck that's two wheel drive, but until then all my trucks are going to have 4x4. On the plus side you do get several MPGs better with a 2x4.

 

[Suns_PSD]

Like others, don't need 4x4 most of the time, but when I do it's so valuable. The main time I need it, and I certainly do, is I live on a 2 lane formerly country road that has fast moving traffic. Pulling out in cold rain is totally sketchy in a 2wd because the tires just spin and the TC shuts off all acceleration.

I probably would not add $4K to a single cab 5.0 build personally in FL. It's just a cost thing.

 

[WalterMitty]

If you live in Florida, and don’t off road, I don’t see a reason why you would need it. Same goes for a winch. And I don’t think getting stuck once in a 5 or 10 year ownership is even a good reason to get 4wd.

All my trucks have been 4wd but I use it many times a year. Even the kid’s shared CRV is AWD, but I feel that it’s needed with the snow that we get in Illinois and Michigan.

 

[WalterMitty]

To make a Super Cab XLT from 2 wheel drive to 4×4 is just over $3,800.00 to make the single cab a 4×4 is $5,005.00..and a single cab is the only way to get a 8' bed. Things I guess really changed for 2024. Content for the XL single cab really went up too.

You lost me a bit. What is your ideal configuration?

 

[Graygoose2021]

56 years old in Oklahoma, only had one 4x4, was a Tahoe. Have never needed 4x4, and we get little snow, but alot of ice.

 

[TexasTruck]

YES ...even when we lived in fl...4x4 made pulling boat out of water a breeze

I watch too many 2WD owners at the boat ramps in panic mode trying to pull their boat up and out of the water and not turn their truck into a submarine. That's when they yell for bystanders to jump up and down on their rear bumper. Terrible feeling......

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