Hell of a Problem, 2WD or 4WD?

[6 Door King]

I have found myself with the worst possible problem to solve. I have at my disposal a 2WD crew cab dually, and a 4WD version, both with 454, TH400 and 4:10s. The question I pose for you all to weigh in on is this, Which would be more reliable in general for towing? The 4x4 is carbed and 2WD is TBI, 4x4 has 205 t-case and gooseneck hitch, where as the 2WD has fifth wheel hitch. Another concern is the fact that the 2WD has had a c-notch installed and it is less than a stellar install, which has me scared to do too much with the fifth wheel. Really looking for experienced haulers to comment and advise, also those that have towed with lowered or c-notched trucks. Thanks guys

[old Rusty C10]

I would take the 4wd .. the c notch thing would make me shy away from the truck.. plus 4X4 comes in handy if you really wanted you could convert the carbbed truck to tbi.. what is better for you a gooseneck or a fifth wheel?

[Rubble]

I would take the 4x4,same as rusty...the c notch would be a deal breaker for a towing rig for me.Plus you can lift the 4x4 too!!!!
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[86c20]

I got it. U taje the 4x4 and I will take the 2wgeel. I look at it this way. Even with a c notch I can add plate to box it and make it strong. It u are doing alot of highway towibg 2wheel if it is just in town then deff 4 wgeel. Akso you can take the lowering crap of and bring her back up.
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[6 Door King]

I know the 205 is the t-case of choice, but how does it handle long highway rides with heat build up? Also, as far as lifting the 4x4 I probably would not lift it beyond 4 inches due to the fact that the trailers I would be towing would soon be running up hill into the bed of the truck. Really looking to tow a fifth wheel camper, somewhere around 35-38 feet once I find the right one. I know the fifth wheel neck can be converted to goose neck and vice versa, are there advantages to one versus the other? Also, could the c-notch be fortified to be worthy? I have searched about that specific topic, but there was no clear cut answer other than it made everyone uncomfortable. I have access to a full metal shop with fab and plasma CNC if needed. One last question, weight difference between 4x4 and 2WD?

[Truck Guy99]

Weight difference is a decent chunk, but not so bad it makes a stellar difference. About 1 to 3 mpg depending on drivng habits. But if your driving across the country or a LOT of local driving that adds up, so use your gut on that one. Also if you ever need to get some grunt for a heavy load to start moving, the 4 low is nice to have. Not to mention the c notch thing on the other one. If you ever need to go down a dirt road with a dually after it rains, the 4x4 is VERY handy. Just engage it about once per month or so and keep it all lubricated. If the gooseneck in the 4x4 is in good shape, just buy an adapter that mounts on the trailer. It looks like a tube with a coupler and some bolts. If you buy the adapter that goes in the truck bed, it just takes up a bunch of bed area. I would go 4x4.

But if you ever gotta go through montains, injection is more balanced and less stuff to keep balanced.

Use your gut on this one and let us know!

[meatwagon83]

Take the 4x4 and dont look back!
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[86c20]

the notch can deff be bilt back up to stronger with the right boxing and plating. ask the fab shop. also remember that if the trailer is 15k it is less then 5 on the truck so it does not need to be as strong as one would think.

like i said before if your all highway 2 wheel it and go. but if you are say running scarp and suck around town and need to get to the junk then 4 wheel. go back to the basics. you could go with one and never use it the way you thought you would. like 4wheel if you are over the road. be honest with your self.

[motornut]

4X4. sounds like your already worried about the notch.then what else

[meter swinger]

Hard to speculate about the notch not knowing what it looks like.
I have towed a trailer over a bit of steep mountain grade in WA,OR& Idaho with my 2wd dually. the biggest PITA Is loose gravel in steep grade campgrounds. Rolling down the highway towing in decent weather is not an issue, but i have been chased out of montana in late spring by a snowstorm while towing, and wishing i had 4wd.

If you anticipate towing in a variety of conditions i would definately do the 4x. If its only summertime campimg trips rolling into easy access places do the 2wd provided the notch is safe.
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[andrewmp6]

I would take the 4x4 one it has more use and later on will be worth more if you wanted to sell it.

[6 Door King]

Well, since the vote is unanimously 4x4, it's hard to see any reason to fight for the 2wd. I was already leaning toward the 4x since it is the newest addition to the fleet. Just going to swap over the 2wd interior since it is nearly new and repaint the lemon/lime Air Force snot yellow ambulance color. I think I might actually keep the two foot deep front push bumper though, looks like a good spot for setting coolers, a winch or just big a$$es. All I have to do now is explain to my wife why I am removing both interiors. Best part of going 4x4 is the documented 51k on the clock versus my 2wd's 158k. Thank you guys for all the feedback and for reinforcing that annoying voice that was already telling me to go 4x4.

[meatwagon83]

happy to be of service!

[Truck Guy99]

Your forgetting one major problem. THIS THREAD IS WORTHLESS WITHOUT PICS!!!! Can you post pics of both? Pretty please?
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[6 Door King]

Here is the 2WD, the 4x4 is still at the previous owners house waiting to be delivered...

[86c20]

I tell u I will take it off ur hands lol
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[6 Door King]

I did manage to dig out a pic of the 4x4 also. Please excuse the mismatched bed/cab and the overall snot color.

[meatwagon83]

i would paint it all that snot green and put a different front bumper on it!

[Truck Guy99]

I take it back, box the 2x4 frame and sell that snot rocket. Looks like a LOT of rust in the unibomber's banana hauler. The 2x4 is in way better shape. Seriously, sell or part out that yellow one and just be happy. Just put the yellow one's rear bumper on the 2x4. Not to mention that scooped hood will help airflow to that injected one. I had no clue that other one was that bad. Seriously, just part out the yellow one. Or, swap the axles and transmissions and add the t-case. BOOM! Manly truck with less work than fixing all the yellow ones rust and genereal turd-likeness. If the yelow banana boat has better tires, switch those to. I had no idea I was encouraging THAT thing though. You can put peanuts on a turd, that don't make it a snickers bar.

[6 Door King]

In defense of the Banana Turd the truck is actually VERY solid with the black lines/paint only covering surface scratches. It has a rough drivers door due to the mirror having been ripped off multiple times, but the rockers are solid, cab corners are good and the floors are still painted snot yellow despite not having a floor mat in sight. The only real work to be done is repairing two dents on the back of the cab. I feel like they showed up after the previous bed (probably yellow) impacted the cab somehow. Previous owner denied knowing anything about why the bed was changed, but it was an Air Force ambulance so it might have been from the removal of the box body? Who knows, not me!

[6 Door King]

Originally Posted by Truck Guy99

I take it back, box the 2x4 frame and sell that snot rocket. Seriously, just part out the yellow one. Or, swap the axles and transmissions and add the t-case. BOOM! Manly truck with less work than fixing all the yellow ones rust and genereal turd-likeness.

If I were to go the route of swapping axles, is the 2wd frame going to accept the 4wd crossmembers and bracketry or will I need to just switch cabs?