Velosprout

It depends on what and where you are towing. If you are towing a 4-wheel wagon of seed soybeans from the farm into a field so they can be put in the plantedr, or pulling a 4-wheel hay rack from the hay field to the barn, the primary concern is the towing capacity, which is the rating of the truck to pull that weight without overloading the transmission and engine cooling capacity and placing too much strain on the drivetrain. Payload is not a concern at all, as the weight of all four wheels on the wagon bears the weight of the hay or soybeans. And, certainly in these conditions, moist, soft soil, fording creeks, inclines, and gravel roads, 4x4 is greatly appreciated as you have the contact patch of four wheels doing the pulling instead of just two.


If instead you are pulling a camping trailer, cargo trailer, gooseneck trailer, or even livestock trailer, some of the weight of the trailer rests on the hitch of the truck, between 10 and 20% usually.


With these trailers, your limitation is going to be payload before the towing capacity limit. If a 4x4 truck weights 300 pounds more than a 4x2 truck, your towing limit of payload will be less. Here you have to weigh whether more payload or more traction in slick conditions is more important in your specific application and whether you will occasionally be off-road.

acdii

Well, other than the boatramp example, unless you are towing in snow, or on a farm, there is no added benefit of 4x4 for towing. In fact I dare someone to try to tow in 4WD! LOL Guarantee it would be an adventure!

I have always said, a 2WD with good snow tires and limited slip will always handle better than a 4WD with all seasons. I just need to get an LS installed in mine.

Velosprout

Even better than a 2wd with good snow tires and limited slip for driving in snow is a 4x4 with good snow tires.


For pure highway towing, 2wd is better. (Otherwise you would semi-tractors on the road with powered front axles.) If you are buying a commercial pickup truck to haul a cargo trailer to trade shows or antique sales, you might never have a need for 4x4. However if that commercial pickup is towing a concession trailer to fairs and festivals, or hauling livestock on the show circuit, or hauling the antique show farm tractor to farm shows, getting out of that slick, grassy fairground the night after a 4-inch rain may well require either your own 4x4 or a helping tow from someone who does have one.

solarity

Good tires are more important than 4x4 in snow. 4x4 only helps you from getting stuck and gets you out of a situation, where you would normally be stuck in a 2wd. Also 4x4 aids you when accelerating in slippery conditions and accelerating around a corner. I have both 4x4 and aggressive tires.

Last year a huge storm hit when people were going to work in the morning. Stupid city didn't declare an emergency, until it was to late. A normal 25min commute turned into 2 hours on the interstate, until I exited about half way to work. Took me only 15 minutes to get back home on the back roads. It was so bad on the interstate that people had to get out of their vehicles to remove snow from the windshield as it was accumulating that quickly. Saw many cars off the road and on a slight grade saw a couple RWD pickups spinning their wheels as I passed them. Idiots went out in these conditions with their sub-par tires in the small fuel efficient 2WD cars and caused grief for people like me who had no issue driving in the conditions with a properly equipped vehicle. As roads were blocked, plows couldn't get through and more people got stuck. My boss who lives near me took 4 hours to get to work, he only stayed for a couple hours, before going back home.

Bill14STX

I have a gravel driveway that is a little rough and steep, and I pull a toy hauler that weighs about 5500 lbs loaded up. About half the time when I pull up my driveway, I lose momentum halfway up and have to switch on 4WD to get all the way up. 2WD is fine for towing if you are never leaving the pavement, otherwise get the 4WD.

Trailbreak74

Here is a good video debunking that myth.


Cliff notes: 2wd with snow tires vs. 4wd with all season tires. 4WD wins by a lot.

92497pmu

exactly.
Good tires make a difference
Snow tires make a bigger difference
4x4 makes a difference
4x4 with snow tires makes a huge difference

However - what's between your ears makes the biggest difference. The biggest factor is driving sensibly, below the speed limit, travelling appropriately for the conditions and factoring in the dummies around you.
You don't see too many wrecks because people were going "too slow" or because their tires or chains were "too good"

Welcome to Colorado (or many other northern or mountain states)

Ricktwuhk

30+ years ago we drove from Michigan to Aspen in a Datsun 280Z. Rearwheel drive, snow tires on the back, big heavy engine. When we got to where we were going, no one could make it up the hill, about 10 vehicles sitting there. I backed up, turned around, and proceeded to drive right up the hill backwards, with the snow tires biting their way up the hill.

1) What's between your ears. Most people are freakin' clueless.
2) Snow Tires

Velosprout

You don't see accidents at all from any of the drivers that have enough sense to stay at home when the conditions are questionable.