I fish on sand beaches and everyone says to get a 4wd however, looking at the options, the 4wd is like say $4000 extra. I have a HD winch

What are your thoughts on 4wd verses just having a winch with a pull-pal. Will be used only on sand beaches in Corpus Christi

 

Sandy beaches, with tides? 4x4 AND a winch, and a second vehicle nearby.

 

Not many places to attach a winch on the beach.

 

I have a 14000 lb pull pal...you hook to winch and it digs like plow...used by military for getting out of sand

 

I would consider 4wd a necessity for driving down Padre. That said, I've seen a Taurus rocking a donut spare diving along 7 miles south of the 4wd sign. I think you'd spend a lot of fishing time farting around with a winch.

 

seen as I have put lots of 4x2 cars in places people just say WTF how did you do that without 4x4. its all how you drive and knowing how to drive it! get a 2x and learn the art of driving off road. 90% of people who have 4x4 don't even know the proper way to use it little lone when to use it! that said get you a good air tank to refill tires and let the air down to like 7 LBS each tire. most sandy spots you will glide over and some will hinder you but you will learn when its to much and you will get the hang of it!

 

Concerning the $4K extra for 4WD, you'll get the money back when you sell and get the enjoyment of it in the mean time. 2WD trucks are near worthless in the used truck market.

 

I personally carry a good air compressor and drop the pressure in my tires. I don't get stuck when I drop pressure.

 

Go with a 4x4. Yes you can make it work with 2wd but why put the extra stress and load on the truck. Just get a 4x4 and you don't have to worry about. I drive Galveston beaches a lot during the summer. From high island to crystal, and down at San Luis pass. Most of the time 4 is not needed but there are those days when it really comes in handy.

 

I agree... 4X4 may cost more, but you'll not waste as much fishing time winching, and you will likely retain more value when you go to sell the truck later on.... That being said, don't forget the E-locker!

 

I got the e-locker and wish I had the posi. E-locker disengages so quickly (20 mph) that I find it useless for anything other than something really slow like a boat ramp. I'd get the posi.

 

to get the trac-lok you will need to step up to the HD payload, or step down to the XL/STX w/3.55's or a supercab with 3.7L v6, or get the open diff and spend the money in the aftermarket. ford is just pushing their e-lock like that.

if you need your e-locker at speeds above 20mph, utilize 4-low where it will stay locked until 50mph (IIRC).

edit: i just looked it up and it says it stays engaged until 62mph in 4-low, and re-engages at 50mph. I've never driven that fast in 4-low, but that's not to say that i wouldn't if i saw the need

 

Carpet strips are helpfull for getting out of being stuck in sand too. Or plywood too just incase.