I can't find one (the ultimate thead) but there must be. I simply can't decide on the 4x4 option. I think it's something like $3500 and since this will be bought outright--or paid off within a few months when the money comes in--it really is like 4x4 or all the upgrades we want in our kitchen. I live in SoCal and this will be mostly a daily driver. The plan is to buy a travel trailer in about a year (no need for discussion here about towing) and a few weeks a year in the summer we will use the truck for that. We are teachers so our vacations (road trips) limited to summer. With the trailer, it would be (presumably) only to the normal campgrounds with lots of passenger cars. I have lots of experience camping all over the west and the Rockies (national and state parks) and have never seen anything that suggests 4x4. The most likely thing is going up to the mountains occasionally in the winter to experience the snow, but I did that for years in a Ford Escort. BUT, someone here said something like I might find myself backing into a spot that kinda goes uphill. A passenger car can do it because it's not pushing all that weight and it's got more traction with the wheels up front with the weight of the engine and angle of everything pushed on the car's front end. But now I'm thinking what about all that tongue/rear axle weight and the weight of the trailer pushing on that back axle. And I'm thinking about the expense of, possibly, leveling out the truck--assuming the 4x2 is leveled, but I don't know. There is the fact that I will have a higher resale value with 4x4, but $3500 worth of resale vale? Even then, I have to think I won't sell for $3500 more (not here, at least) with the 4x4, but if it's $2000 more in resale, then the 4x4 only costs $1500 for some peace of mind. If I lived in some parts of the country, I couldn't even sell a 4x2. But in some OTHER parts of the country, I'd get grinded down on selling price because the buyer (being honest or shifty) says he doesn't even want 4x4, so he/she just doesn't want to pay for it, and pushes me down to the 4x2 prices.

I am very leery of of the 4x4 for lots of reasons, but I'm willing to listen to what I may be missing.

Please help. "Stuck" in SoCal.

Getting Lariat, 3.5 Eco, Screw, Max Tow, and maybe 4x4

 

I can honestly say after owning my first 4wd (my previous truck) that I will never have a 2wd again. I don't need it for weather here very often but when I do it sure is nice.

 

Well you're thinking through it logically, especially given your location and market. Any plans on selling the house any time soon. Kitchen upgrades may help be more bang for the buck. However having 4x4 and needing it ONE time with your family with you is worth something too.

Given your intended uses 2WD may be the way to go.

 

If I didn't think I would ever use or need 4WD, I wouldn't buy one.

I'm guessing you might have a happier wife that has a new kitchen than 4WD. Easy choice.

 

I don't "turn the switch" or press the "magic button" (previous vehicles) very often - but when I do I am so happy to have 4x4. For the times I've needed it I have been very happy to have it. That being said, lots of folks get by fine without it. It's a major consideration if you will be driving in snowy conditions a lot, as a 2wd pickup is far worse on bad roads than a front wheel drive car IMO. If you're only doing the odd winter mountain trip and can avoid bad roads then 2wd should be fine. Good winter tires and a little weight and you will be ok.

 

I'd rather have it and not need it.

But you can get a lot of tows for 3500. Lol

 

Years ago when I bought a truck without 4x4 I thought I won't need it and to be honest I didn't then. But the next truck I bought did have 4x4 and the world opened up. I like to camp and fish and like I said i was able to go to so many more places. The added bonus was winter driving is a non issue now. I can't imagine not having 4x4 now.

 

I guess I could have made this clear. We have some money coming in from an estate which is why we will be able to buy this outright or if there is a delay (we are ordering this week, which will take about 8 weeks to get) pay it off in a few months, and we will still get our whole kitchen done regardless, and the water heater, the furnace, the A/C, the backyard, the washer/dryer, the....the list goes on. I was only saying that when you think about payments, you think about how much per month that will cost--and that's only for the length of the payments. But when you have cash, it all comes out of your pocket at once--you think, wow, that's a whole furnace.

But still, thanks for the opinions. I was am still am a little worried that a forum of truck fans also means it's a forum of 4x4 fans.

 

Buy what you need. I didn't go 4x4 to keep cost lower and I don't need it personally. I work from home in bad weather and don't go off pavement much. I don't have to worry about CV angles when leveling/lifting and no transfer case issues some people have. Just easier for me and less stuff to go wrong.

Benefit of 4x4 is more options for leveling and lifting if you want that. Spacers work fine for my asthetics.

End the end, buy what you want. Resale will be higher on 4x4 but that is expected since you pay more it anyways.

 

I have had both at different times. If you have 4X4 You will go different places just because you can. If you don't have 4X4 you will stay out of those places.

I don't do serious off roading, but you might like going into the desert in S. Cal., you might go to the mountains more often. I have camped in places with a small trailer and 4X4 that I couldn't get to without it. I have camped a lot with 2 wheel drive. It is difficult to justify 4X4 based on need unless you are working in places you can't get to without it.

I have 4X4 now just because I can. It is worth it to me just to know that I can go to those places. You are the only person who can know if the extra cost is worth it to you.