Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > Tow Vehicles & Towing
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-21-2010, 01:17 PM   #1
ols1932
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids
Posts: 4,876
M.O.C. #1944
Saved by 4WD again

Spent the last nine days parked on grass. For five of those days it rained. When we went to pull out this morning the grass was so slick, the ground so soft, that all the rear wheels did was spin. Put old reliable in 4-wheel drive and walked right out the spot. Didn't need to call a tow service.

Orv
 
ols1932 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2010, 01:27 PM   #2
noneck
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Wappingers Falls
Posts: 1,303
M.O.C. #6263
Send a message via AIM to noneck
Yeah...and did you do the "Tim Allen" while you crawled out? The days of 4x4 being high Maintenance and Gear train drag are gone, just can't get away from dragging the extra weight but a small price to pay for being self reliant.
noneck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2010, 02:31 PM   #3
boylanag
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Grand Blanc
Posts: 2,508
M.O.C. #5965
I've had 4X2 gassers all my life and just this January got my first 4X4 diesel. Never had to use the 4X4 yet but have used the diesel pulling through the mountains. I can't believe the peace of mind that I now have knowing that I have these options. Have been in situations like you mention, Orv - wet grass and having to be pulled out of a site and also crawling up hills with engine screaming - no more!
boylanag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2010, 07:00 PM   #4
clutch
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: St.Maries
Posts: 1,010
M.O.C. #7329
Yup, you can't beat having 4x4. Around here you can't sell a 2x4 and the dealers don't want them for trades. 2x4 is too hard to sell in snow country.
clutch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2010, 02:54 AM   #5
LonnieB
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Texico
Posts: 1,917
M.O.C. #6150
Send a message via MSN to LonnieB
I bought my first 4X4 in 1981 after getting stuck in the middle of the road 30 miles from the closest town, and 175 miles from home. Fortunately, an old non english speaking Mexican gent that worked for a nearby rancher happened by and offered to pull me to dry ground. Six weeks later I traded my 2 year old 4X2 Ford for a new 4X4 GMC and have never bought another 4X2.
LonnieB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2010, 03:30 AM   #6
Farmhawk
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Libby
Posts: 98
M.O.C. #9080
4x4's are a necessity in the northern mountains. Every February we go to Yuma for a couple of weeks and need the four wheel drive to back the trailer up an incline into its storage place. I wouldn't be able to park it with out four wheel drive because of the snow and ice.
Farmhawk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2010, 05:22 AM   #7
junglejim
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Millbury
Posts: 188
M.O.C. #9245
Have had 4WD all my life. I work construction and NEED it. But even if I didn't need it my motto is "Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!"
junglejim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2010, 07:17 AM   #8
grampachet
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Portland
Posts: 1,107
M.O.C. #8045
I read the 4WD as wd40 and had a moment of wondering how wd40 helped get out of a stuck situation.
I was stuck once with an old International 4x4 with a load of cement. I had driven out into a field to abandon a well and after getting about 100 feet out into the field I stopped moving on the soft slick wet grassy clay ground. I tried everything I could think of, used everything I could find and was getting nowhere. I broke open a sack of cement and covered the tires and some on the ground. The dry cement allowed me to begin to move again and after a number of applications I was able to get out. I was always told "necessity is the mother of inventions," and when desperate try all available resources. I was surprised it worked but happy to get "unstuck."
I wouldn't want to be without a 4x4.
grampachet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2010, 10:36 AM   #9
CamillaMichael
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Land O Lakes
Posts: 2,783
M.O.C. #10246
Knew we made the right choice in buying a 4x4!
CamillaMichael is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2010, 12:58 PM   #10
sgtpp214
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Washburn
Posts: 591
M.O.C. #1782
Been there done that not only on grass, but on snow and ice. This is our first 4x4 and I am so glad I spent the extra money when we bought the Dodge.
sgtpp214 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2010, 03:09 PM   #11
camper4
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: corning
Posts: 694
M.O.C. #6635
I have known the benefits of the 4X4 since I was a kid. My wife did not until we moved out of town and her front wheel drive car couldn't make it up our driveway in the winter. We got her a Subaru and let's just say, she is a quick learner. We will not consider a 4X 2 anything!
camper4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2010, 05:43 PM   #12
Farmhawk
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Libby
Posts: 98
M.O.C. #9080
Living in the mountains of Montana where our forest roads go miles into the hills with no outlets. I once overheard a young son, probably about five or six, ask his dad what was the difference between four wheel and two wheel drive. His dad thought about it a minute then respond "Oh about five miles further to walk!"
Farmhawk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2010, 02:08 AM   #13
Tom S.
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
Another good use for four wheel drive is low range. When you put the transfer case into low gear, it makes it real easy to move an inch or two at a time with a very moderate touch on the accelerator. I've had 4x4's since 1973, and wouldn't buy a truck without it.
Tom S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2010, 03:20 AM   #14
junglejim
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Millbury
Posts: 188
M.O.C. #9245
Oh, and one other thing. My dad told me when I was young that I better learn how to drive a 4WD and know its limits, or all your gonna do is get stuck worse. I did one time so bad I had to get our dozer to pull it out. Lesson learned!
junglejim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2010, 08:59 AM   #15
TLightning
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Kville
Posts: 2,865
M.O.C. #7871
I'm glad you fellas like and enjoy your 4x4s. Guess I'm the lone desenter...been driving a pick up since 1972, on truck #9...never had a 4x4 and never will. The advantages/disadvantages have been listed before, so I won't repeat them.
TLightning is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2010, 10:57 AM   #16
farmboy
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: North Vernon
Posts: 261
M.O.C. #9087
Send a message via Yahoo to farmboy
I am with you Tom. On my 4th one since '86. Same reasons too.
farmboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2010, 01:24 PM   #17
Art-n-Marge
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Murrieta
Posts: 5,816
M.O.C. #9257
Send a message via MSN to Art-n-Marge Send a message via Yahoo to Art-n-Marge
Having a 4x4 means that you can get yourself stuck a lot worse than if you have a 4x2. A 4x4 means you don't have to think about getting stuck, but might get stuck anyway. There are two types of 4x4 drivers, those that have gotten stuck, and those that will.

I now own a 4x4 and the only thing I think about now is pretty much nothing. There's a lot of fun in that. If you get stuck, there will some other proud 4x4 owner that welcomes the chance to get you unstuck. The difference between getting a 4x2 out of trouble and getting a 4x4 out of trouble, is the 4x2 owner will hear, "You're a wimp, get a real truck", where the 4x4 owner will hear, "Yeah Baby, let's try that again".
Art-n-Marge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2010, 01:48 PM   #18
junglejim
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Millbury
Posts: 188
M.O.C. #9245
"If you get stuck, there will be some other proud 4x4 owner that welcomes the chance to get you unstuck."

Yeah Art, Usually a differant brand so they can brag!
Good thing we drive Fords so we can do the braggin
junglejim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2010, 02:56 PM   #19
Red939
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Logan
Posts: 104
M.O.C. #7928
In my part of the country (northern Utah) there is lots of snow. However, they do such a good job of keeping the roads clean that the schools virtually never have weather days. And, no, I do not have 4wd...I will admit to getting stuck once...in my own driveway trying to get to the clean street. When towing, I avoid areas that might cause a problem with traction.
Red939 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2010, 01:25 AM   #20
ols1932
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids
Posts: 4,876
M.O.C. #1944
There have been too many times that I ended up in a situation where the 4X4 pulled us out. We originally bought the 4X4 when living in Iowa and it was very useful when snowstorms hit and we had to be someplace and it would have been very difficult otherwise. Since we have been full timing (Nov 2000), there have been many times when through no fault of our own, the rains came and made our parking places "greasy" such that the 2-wheel drive would not allow us to move, just like I mentioned in this post. That's why we like the 4X4

For those who do not like the 4X4 and would never have one, that's a choice each one of us have to make. If you are one of those who just will not have one, the next time you get stuck (if you ever do), what if that guyi with the 4X4 wants a tow fee? Would you be willing to pay him?

Orv
ols1932 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Fan saved the evening! Artemus Gordon Sitting around the Campfire 5 07-23-2014 04:20 PM
Saved a little feller today Allen in MT Sitting around the Campfire 10 11-17-2013 06:41 AM
Saved my customer $15,000 today Ozz Sitting around the Campfire 27 07-20-2012 12:51 PM
Saved $1300.00 DQDick Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help 11 04-23-2012 02:28 AM
Saved by the breaker.......... Rondo General Discussions about our Montanas 5 10-06-2009 02:39 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:40 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.