QUOTE(SidecarFlip @ Jan 27 2017, 12:42 PM)
Keep in mind that 4 wheel drive lowers the load capacity your truck is safely capable of... always.
I have it but rarely use it. I prefer manual hubs and manual transfer case myself.
On my 4th F 350 truck, all w/4x4. Prob used it dozen times since '09 on that truck but each time I used it was not because I wanted to, it was because I NEEDED to.
Think of 4x4 like a parachute, it only needed once to make it worth it.
For you folks that leave pavement. I don't mean climbing rocks or anything, but a LOT of roads out there in parks and other rec areas are just dirt they grade about once a year. Some of the roads are scenic and very long. One out in Utah is about 150 miles affords boondock camping and is very scenic, its on govt owned land and open to any and all. Friend of mine was up there and he slipped off the road, never figured out how, but he got his drivers side wheel off and efforts to get back on only pulled the rear of his ruck around further until both the rears were off. It was wet, but not raining. Where he slipped off was just steep enough that his truck began to slide backwards and the more forward gas he gave it, the more and faster he slipped until he was about 30 yards off the road.
He flat and safe, but ground just wet enough to not allow him back up. He tried to call me as I was in town, but no cell service. He is maybe 35 miles down the road and an all day foto trip. There is another truck with him and they head back till they get cell service, only now I am out of cell service, so its wrecker time. Wrecker has to drive about 55 miles one way to get to him. Wrecker arrive and strings out cable, hooks to bumper tow hooks and reels him in. Just that simple, no complex rigging, nothing, just long enough piece of cable, which if my buddy had had the other guy could have pulled him out. He took pics and I was stunned he could not get out on his own, but he lacked tools. Told him to drop his tire air pressue to about 15 lbs and he could have drove out, but he did not have a way of filling back up.
Cost: $2000 on the nose
My advice, if don't want 4x4, but a good winch!