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David D
Newbie
Joined: 27 Apr 2015
Location: San Jose, CA
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Posts: 26
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Topic: F 150 4x2 or 4x4 Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 12:47am |
Doug,
Good points.... ok, you've got me considering 4WD for future vehicle. Thanks for the info.
David
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2015 R-Pod 179
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WillThrill
Senior Member
Joined: 04 Jul 2014
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Posts: 298
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Posted: 11 Aug 2015 at 3:22pm |
My current TV has 4x4, and we live in eastern Washington and travel there and in northern Idaho all year, so 4x4 is a must. But even if you don't live in a cold climate now, you never know when you'll need 4x4. And it's cheaper than one accident that could have been prevented by it.
While not exactly on topic, I was checking out Ford pickups while my car was getting serviced yesterday. Several of the models had rear cameras (invaluable for hitching up by yourself) and extra large 36 gallon fuel tanks. Both of those features would be highly desirable were I ready to purchase a new TV. And like others have said, the towing package is a must, and you can even have a brake controller installed from the factory, though I'm not sure how it compares to after-market models.
I must say that I was shocked at how many of the F-150s on the lot had 3.5 V6 or even 2.7 V6 engines. With a full-sized truck, I cannot imagine why you wouldn't go with a V8, especially if you were even remotely considering towing anything. The MSRP price difference was only about $1,600, which is peanuts considering that the total MSRP of the trucks is over $40k.
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"Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien
2014 Hood River 177
2005 GMC Envoy XL
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
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Posts: 9059
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Posted: 11 Aug 2015 at 10:28am |
David D, we have an annual winter pod campout in central PA and several years ago I pulled my pod there in a blizzard. I never would have made it to the interstate, up one of the hills on the interstate (still unplowed), or from the interstate to the campground w/o 4WD. At one point a few miles from my house there is a very steep hill and someone was slipping in a rear-wheel drive car near the top. I had to stop quickly to avoid hitting them (as they slid backwards). I was able to continue to the top of the hill from a dead stop as if there were dry pavement. I had all-terrain tires on at the time which probably helped, too (and I will again when my current set wear out).
An extreme case, yes.
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Leo B
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posted: 10 Aug 2015 at 10:29pm |
Think Happy thoughts
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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David D
Newbie
Joined: 27 Apr 2015
Location: San Jose, CA
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Posted: 10 Aug 2015 at 10:22pm |
I own a 2015 179 and a 2007 Ford F-150. I drove from CA to MO to pick it up in February. On the trip back, I kept it 2WD until I hit snow on the freeway. I then dropped it in and out of 2WD/4WD depending on how serious the snow was. And, there were a couple of times when 4WD was a true blessing....
(1) Heavy new snow on freeway in New Mexico caused slipping of truck and trailer when switching between lanes of freeway because I had to "jump" from one set of tire tracks in the snow to a different set of tire tracks in the other lane.
(2) When at a stop on a freeway off-ramp that was uphill with fresh snow on the ground, truck lost traction when light turned green. Switched to 4Low, and was able to get out of that pickle. Full sized 2WD truck in right lane next to me struggled and slid back a bit.
All that without chains....
Having said that, and looking back at my poor decision to drive across country in February, I don't know if my next vehicle would need 4WD, because I've learned my lesson.... no more winter snow driving for me with trailer.
However, at the risk of sounding macabre, another scenario comes to mind where 4WD could save me. What if the trailer blew a tire on one of the many steep switchbacks heading up to Kings Canyon National Forest? Trailer could start to swing over the side, pulling truck with it. God forbid that were to happen, but it might be nice to quickly flick to 4WD. Sorry fellow R-Podders, sometimes I think perhaps a bit too much about "worst case."
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2015 R-Pod 179
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shroomer
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Joined: 24 Aug 2013
Location: New Haven, CT
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Posts: 236
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Posted: 30 Jul 2015 at 9:19pm |
I always felt that four wheel drive was for plowing and people who live on mountains so I've always relied on 2 wheel. On one of our first outings with the camper however, I had to back it up a long gravel road uphill. When my wheels began to spin in reverse, I suddenly saw the usefulness of 4 wheel drive. My next TV will probably have it. And an automatic transmission too.
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Larry and Debbie w/Rosie the mutt. Old: '13 177, '06 Silverado V6
New: '15 Whitehawk 20MRB '14 Silverado V8
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Keith-N-Dar
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 03 Apr 2011
Location: Mayville, WI
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Posted: 30 Jul 2015 at 8:29pm |
Originally posted by john in idaho
Don't forget the factory trailer tow package. |
I have that on my F150 and it works great. I don't have a WDH or sway bars and have never needed them. Brake controller ks flawless and easy to adjust.
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Keith-N-Dar
Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers)
2011 R-Pod 177
2010 Ford F-150
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john in idaho
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Joined: 04 Nov 2014
Location: Eagle Idaho
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Posted: 30 Jul 2015 at 1:14pm |
Don't forget the factory trailer tow package.
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp
Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
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Posts: 6128
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Posted: 30 Jul 2015 at 8:35am |
Expedition has auto mode too.. But yeah, a couple CG's we go to, 4x4 is pretty handy getting to "the best" sites..
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp
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Location: MD
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Posted: 29 Jul 2015 at 10:51pm |
Glad to see the convincing is already done, but I'll throw in more info related to towing. I've had to switch into 4WD on gravel when trying to pull the camper onto blocks (for leveling). Did that twice on this trip after spinning the wheels. I've often turned it on (or at least Auto mode) during heavy rain to be safer, which I will sometimes do w/o the camper, and I've now made Auto my SOP when towing all the time. On the Chevys, Auto pre-engages some of the 4WD mechanism so the computer can quickly turn it on when needed.
I had two incidents in the last few weeks when crossing loose gravel in the middle of the road while crossing from one side to the other - once I would have jack-knifed if I hadn't acted quickly. In that case I was already using Auto all the time but had turned it to 2WD the day before when we did a trip into town w/o the camper and I forgot to turn it back on. The rear wheels kicked free and the camper started pushing me sideways. Also - oddly - I've found with my heavy camper (about 7000 pounds loaded) Auto mode has made it much more stable at highway speeds. Maybe it is briefly locking the rear diff? I don't know. At first I thought it was in my head, but I did lots of testing on and off, and the real proof was days where I still had it on 2WD after a day sightseeing and then got on the highway headed to the next destination and felt that little bit of instability again - until I turned Auto on again.
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