Do you REALLY NEED 4×4?

[Bossharp]

A few folks have said weight 250 lbs maybe a bit more. Complexity maintenance that goes with the added mechanics to it. I imagine a small hit on gas milage. If I really thought I would use it I would order it with 4×4..But cost percentage wise on the cheapest new F-150 you can buy is high. Adding it to a 60 grand truck is not much. And it costs a lot less on a Super cab or a Crew cab of any trim level. $3,800.00 or so vs $5,005.00 on otherwise identical XL Super cab for example. I kinda view the 2×2 XL short bed as almost a 'loss leader' in the new 2024 truck configurations. EVERYTHING else climbs way up in price real quick..I would not consider spending $50,000.00 or possibly much more for more truck than I need. Besides by the time I add just a few mods it will be a great looking Sport Truck!

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[The_Auto_Tech]

Besides expense - What is the downside on having 4x4 in contrast to a 2WD pickup for day to day use?

Adds weight, adds a lot more complexity to the driveline, adds maintenance, and small gas mileage loss.

Like Bossharp said, on an XL truck adding 4WD is 5,000 dollars on a 40,000 dollar truck when purchasing new. I paid 35,000 for my 2WD XL. 4WD ones were 40,000+ depending on engine. If it was a 5.0 4WD it was 45,000+, usually closer to 50,000, or more. I seen 5.0 4WD RCSB trucks with very light mods going for 60,000.

 

[Jaylars]

If you have ever been stuck in the mud, snow, sand, or on a slick boat launch, you know why you need 4x4. I live in Idaho, so I need it to get to 'that place' I want to be.

Pic is for reference. You can NOT drive to this location, but you can drive your 4x4 to the trailhead to this location 12 months a year. Pretty sure a non 4x4 won't make it to the trailhead in inclement weather.

 

[Spiffy]

I live dead center of Iowa. You be hard pressed to see any 2wd trucks around here. So much for a lower sales price when selling but the market looking for a 2wd truck is non existing.
No one talks about their 2wd customized truck at the watering hole. This is farm country!!

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

I live dead center of Iowa. You be hard pressed to see any 2wd trucks around here. So much for a lower sales price when selling but the market looking for a 2wd truck is non existing.
No one talks about their 2wd customized truck at the watering hole. This is farm country!!

I live in Des Moines, not sure how much more central you can be. lol

 

[Bossharp]

I'm in the middle of Florida and we have a LOT of 2×2 trucks and many Custom Sport builds too.. Of course lots of jacked up 4×4 trucks. Single cab short bed especially with HiPo motors are found at most car shows I've been too. At Turkey Rod Run at Daytona (Thanksgiving) I have seen the most in one place.

 

[JExpedition07]

4x4 High was needed last night, I must say I have been pretty disappointed in the handling of the pickup truck on ice. My Ford Expedition with open differentials was more capable than my F-150 with the rear axle locked. It’s all in weight distribution.

Last night I pulled over a frozen little mound (maybe 10” high) to get into my buddies city driveway. When I went to leave the truck spun and couldn’t get over the mound. There is no way to build momentum as the drive is so short. Locked the rear axle and no help besides now the rear end swinging back and forth more aggressively. Put in 4H and it pulled right over and out in 1/2 second.

I must say between my dad’s F-250 and now my F-150 I have learned lockers are only supplemental to 4WD, they are not very capable on their own. The lockers use in 2WD is very limited, and makes it behave like a dune-buggy with a live rear axle that is chain driven.

 

[Christarpher]

Personally, I'd go for 4x4 on a 150 just because of the resale value hit you'll take down the road if you choose to get rid of it. Demand for 2wd f-150's is fairly slim, whereas I think you might be able to get away with it for the 250/350 f-series as dedicated tow vehicles.

 

[Mtnman1]

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!

No clue if you do or not, but I do. Zero chance 2wd gets to my WV property and some other places I go.

 

[Pantherburn]

My wife’s car is a Subaru Outback. It drives on snow and ice like dry pavement. Of course where I live we only get that kind of weather maybe every two or three years thankfully! Yes, I only have a 2wd truck as it’s a highway queen. Currently Ram Laramie, but test driving a F 150KR 2wd with 3.5 eb. Very nice truck but can’t believe no heated steering wheel?

 

[Bossharp]

I've gone back and forth a dozen times 4×4 or not. But in the end it just makes more sense not to. I don't care about resale value because I plan this truck to be my last new one. I don't drive in snow period pull a boat or tow anything. I've never drove at a drag strip or plan to so any benefit of traction for a lower time. But with the light weight of the short bed and no extra from the 4×4 hardware it WILL be quick with the 5.0 maybe in to the 13's with tune?
The extra $5,005.00 will increase the payment over $100.00..

 

[ChazP89]

Just my 2 cents from my experience…. Background is I’m in Maryland so fairly mild winters but a few inches of snow a year, other than that normal pavement, maybe a muddy jobsite here and there. Went from a 2010 stx extended cab 4.6 4x4 on 35’s leveled to a 2023 xl 5.0 rcsb 2wd. I do miss the 4wd but as long as you keep a decent head on your shoulders and prepare when you can expect snow/anything other than regular pavement then you should be fine without 4wd. Not to say it isn’t nice to have but most people don’t absolutely need 4x4. Like others said, less extra crap is less crap to break/maintain

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

I can toss in an update here - been driving the 22 RCSB 2WD XL truck around with snow tires on it here in various levels of snowfall and ice over the last couple weeks. Besides the initial takeoff compared to 4WD, zero issues. My biggest problem when driving in the bad weather is other people, not the vehicle I have.

Also, people must not have gotten around anywhere for the first 70-ish years we had automobiles since they were almost all RWD. No way they got anywhere without 4WD!

 

[Old Bear]

If you pass on 4x4, then I suggest making sure that you have a limited-slip in the rear. Two driving wheels can make up for a lot of traction issues. Personal experience.

 

[Bossharp]

Old Bear the 2024 comes standard with a 3.73 locker 5.0 and tow hitch. All tho options are very limited it's exactly what I want. I just got finished looking at Dodge GMC and Chevrolet single cab models for the last time and the F-150 XL (Only trim for a single cab) is by far the better truck.

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