Over here on the west coast.. Unless the pickup is only going to pull a trailer and pound pavement.. I will only buy a 4wd.. to many times that a 2wd gets stuck.. but thats just my 2c, locker does help, but not always as much as 4x4, especially when the locker will automatically unlock at 20mph in 2wd or 4hi and at 56mph in 4lo

 

I agree with what you say. If I knew that I would only be on pavement, well maintained gravel roads and RV campsites going 2wd would be worth the risk. Using what seems to be an average 4.30 gears towing report in the forums of 10 mpg (give or take) with a bumper-pull TT of about 9000-9500 lbs., if the difference in towing fuel economy between the two is less than 2 mpg 4wd would be a no brainer.

Does anyone have fuel economy figures for 2wd towing with 4.30 gears?

 

After a bit of research, it seems that when all else is the same, a 4x2 version of a truck does get better fuel economy than its 4x4 counterpart. From what I've found, with naturally aspirated v8's the difference in highway mileage is about 1 mpg, and with naturally aspirated v6's the difference is about 2 mpg.

It appears that larger more powerful engines handle the added vehicle height and reduced drive-line efficiencies better than less powerful engines.

Intuitively, it also seems that the 4.30 gears would pull through the wind resistance at highway speed with less load on the engine than a truck with 3.73 gears. Reports on the forums also indicate that towing MPG will benefit from the 4.30 gears. Of course, engine RPM will likely play into this at some point.

Unless someone has experience to counter this, I think a 4x4 6.2 F250 is what I will go with; the small penalty (≈1 mpg) in fuel economy will not be enough to sacrifice the utility of a 4x4.

Comments?

 

I think you're making a wise decision.

But personally, when it comes to an HD truck, especially a gasser, mileage really isn't that high on the list of concerns. As I mentioned in another MPG thread, life is really too short to worry about mileage. I mean, what's the monetary value/difference between 14 and 16 MPG? It comes out to a 60 mile difference per tank, and if my math is right, at 14 MPG, that's $8.40 extra per tank at $2/gal. Outside of making sure there's nothing wrong with the truck with a glance at mileage every now and then, just fill her up and drive. The money just isn't worth the quibble. I think you'll enjoy the truck and the drive much better.

 

I agree. Get the 4x4. Where you live/drive may make a difference.
I live at 6200' elevation in Colorado. Saying that, every pickup I have owned has been a 2wd, including my current 2012 F-150 V-6 2wd. I get 17mpg with the bigger tires and 18mpg with the standard tires. I am ordering an F-250 with the 6.2 in a 4wd.


I am told the new F-150's (4x4, V-8) get over 20mpg on the highway. I just do not like the looks of the F-150's (they look like Toyota's). Remember, I own one.


Smart move to get the Super Duty 4x4.

 

Given the high altitude of where you live, can we assume you'll also get the 4.30 gears?

 

One thing to consider on 2wd vs 4wd mileage. There is a huge difference between 1mpg when your averaging 13-14 mpg vs when your talking 30-31 mpg. The savings of 1 mpg with low fuel mileage vehicles is much for significant.

With that said, there is no way I'm buying a crew cab 2wd, these trucks may not be as heavy as a diesel, but they are still extremely nose heavy. I've had to use 4wd to park my utility trailer numerous times where a regular cab f150 2wd had no issues backing right up the small grade. If you can carry momentum, your fine, especially with the locker, but back off the edge of a driveway with a little grade, and your stuck without 4wd. Especially with stock tires. 4wd also keeps me from tearing my yard up.

 

Not disputing anything else that you say, but how can these trucks be nose heavy with 1500 lbs. - 2000 lbs. in the bed?

Remember that horrible ice storm that paralyzed Atlanta for over a week in January 2011? I got caught in that in my 2010 2WD 6.4 PSD (even nose heavier than a gasser), pulling about a 4000 lbs. trailer. Unplowed 3"-4" snow. No problem at all. No slipped, no sliding. Traction control never even came on.

I have also pulled the same truck/trailer through torrential rains (not on purpose) that slowed me down to 45 mph on the interstate. The truck never missed a lick, never felt squirrely.

That being said, if you are going to drive on anything other than hard pavement, 4WD is the way to go.

 

Uhmmm... don't know what you disputing, I never said anything about 1500-2000 lbs in the bed. My trucks 1st priority is a daily commuter, so I try not to make a habit out of carrying around an extra ton.

I lived in Atlanta as a kid for a while, if that ice storm had hit here in East Tennessee, you would have definitely seen the traction control light, with or without weight on the rear end. Our flat areas are steeper than your hills. I think we got 6-8" of snow out of that same storm.

 

Yes but SportsCustom was asking about 4wd vs 2wd pulling a 9500 lbs. trailer, not in every day commuting unloaded.

My point was that pulling that kind of weight, you might be surprised at how good of traction you get out of a 2wd. As I only tow on pavement, 2wd has been more than enough for me.

I love these FWD, car-based SUV claiming 4000 lbs. - 5000 lbs. towing capacity. You dump that much tongue weight on one of those back behind the rear bumper, you will have no traction at all. Might lift the front tires off the ground.

Ford had to hang a huge deadweight on the *** end of the Econoline pickup when it first came out in 1961 because they would not go up any kind of hill in the rain.

Same principle.

 

This post specifically mentions being unhooked on unimproved roads. If your just on a gravel road in perfect conditions, then obviously everything is going to be ok. I have fine example of a gravel mountain fire road that I was on and everything seemed great. In 2wd and had crossed a creek. Water was way down from a drought. Got to the second creek crossing and utv's had put a huge rut in the bank just under the water line. The hole swallowed the right front tire and the truck was sitting on the radius arm and rocker panel. Several miles from the main road, with my family, mid day Thursday and no cell service. The 4wd was worth every penny.
I now have a 2wd valance.

 

Did a 150 mile commute to Cheraw, SC yesterday. All secondary roads, cruise set at 60 mph for the most part. Averaged 15.7 mpg on the way there. By the time I got back home, it had dropped to 15.1 mpg due to in-town driving. Best mileage I've seen to date on the new truck.

 

That's awesome tjkadar. I do about that when I can stay on the rural hwy's around here.

 

Getting decent mileage would be easier if Ford hadn't made such a great sounding motor that pulls off the line so blasted nicely.

 

Oh I hear you there. The 4.30/6.2 combo is tough to keep leashed down.