The less weight of the 2WD truck also contributes to more MPG. Sure, it isn't a great amount, but it is there. A 2WD truck is usually rated to to a little bit more weight than a comparably equipped 4WD truck, but again it is a minor difference.

It's like this. Most of us slobs who do not drag a trailer for a living tend to take trailers into nasty places where having 4 wheel drive is an advantage. Slime covered boat ramps, wet grass, snow, mud, horse pastures......places where you WANT 4 wheel drive to get you out of the place you just took your trailer. (OK, it's a guy thing, I'm sure.) For us, saying "You don't want that camp site. You have to back it up a short steep hill with a 90 degree left hand turn at the top." is just a challenge.

People who drag trailers for a living don't usually stick the trailers into areas where they will need a 4x4 to get them out so they do not need 4 wheel drive.

So, in order to answer the question on whether you do need a 4x4 or not, ask yourself what you are towing and where you might end up with it.

 

Let's say you drive 20,000 miles a year. That makes about 1333 gallons of diesel at 15 mpg or $4000.
5% more for 4WD makes $200 year after year just on fuel cost alone.
Make it 50k miles a year and the difference is $500. I think I can find lot of tow trucks that would pull my trailer if needed twice a year for $500.

 

Exactly. It completely depends on your definition of "choice" camping locations!

The last serious stuck I had with trailer was with "Big Red", the F350 dually 1WD (didn't even have LSD). Well, I guess since it was a dually it was kinda 2WD....

Anyway, driving after dark and hit a patch of playa mud on the edge of the Black Rock Desert in far north west Nevada. About, ohhh, 15 miles from cell phone reception. 40 or 50 miles from nearest tow truck... More like 150 miles from one that would respond on a weekend! Traffic on that road was rather sparse - 0 vehicles came by for the entire week we were there. Less than 1% grade, but that playa mud is like greased snot and there was no moving. Fortunately, we had other folks coming in the next day with 4WD and they were able to get us out.

Oh, wait, the year after that, the now re-named "Big Red Anchor" also buried itself out on the Oregon Sand Dunes. Tow trucks wouldn't even come out there. Fortunately, we had two 4WD SD's to pull it out. It literally took 2 4WD's to pull just the F350 out! We had already unhitched the trailer.

We bought Booger (see signature) the next month. For us, it's not just the financial cost of a tow, but the annoyance of potentially being stranded for days.... Yes, we are totally self-sufficient in the trailer and would be fine for days, but where we got stuck was definitely NOT where we were wanting to camp!

 

What being crazy enough to go camping in the mud that nobody else go has to do with towing on paved roads?
Next reply will suggest to buy crawler for camping.

 

Maybe you should buy a crawler for camping.


(Sorry, couldn't resist)

 

Even paved campgrounds can have grassy areas that turn to...MUD...when it rains. Round our neck of the woods a 2WD truck with a 5th wheel or gooseneck hitch is rare.

 

The Starcraft RT comes with offroad tires and lifted axles... better ground clearance for taking the ATV to those backwoods deer camps
STARCRAFT RV - Folding Camping Trailers - RT Highlights

 

No good unless it is a crawler.

 

Than on West Coast the last time I have seen 4WD motorhome was over 20 years ago. And it was small 20' thing that only single man could enjoy.
Don't take me wrong. I spend long hours digging my motorhomes from sand, but on the average it happened once in decade and it was only because I am risk taker who can't resist nice beach

 

Not many 4wd motorhomes around here either, but then most owners of motorhomes around here never leave the pavement. And if they do and happen to get stuck, there's usually a 4wd truck to rescue them. Years ago we had a 23' motorhome, 2wd, and three of us, wife, myself and young daughter did 6000 miles in a month, and never felt cramped. But then we never left the pavement either. Can't say the same for our 5th wheel.

 

Well... here is my conversion on the beach in Baja.




No 4WD necessary.

 

BTW I found out that 22.5" wheels on my conversions give way better off road traction than small wheels on pickups.
The same with 19.5" wheels on my Superduty.

 

The OP did not state whether he was an "adventure" camper or "mall" camper so I wanted to provide the other perspective.

 

I buy 4X4 for our snow, ice, mud, wet grass, loose gravel, etc. needs.......but when you are ready to sell/upgrade.......it moves a lot better if it's 4X4....at least here in the Valley.

 

you call that other perspective?
THIS IS OTHER PERSPECTIVE