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4x2 for towing

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Polaris2k

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I am still trying to decide on 4x4 or 4x2. How do you guys with 4x2 find it for towing? Is there an advantage to having a 4x4 because the trailer puts weight on the back end and makes the front end lighter?
I’m not planning to use the Patriot for any serious offloading, just transporting dirtbikes up the roads to the trails. My small trailer with two bikes on it would still be under the 1000lb towing limit.
 
#2 ·
Get the 4x4 if you have an option and a little extra cash. more towing capacity means better control. 4x4 means better handling in the winter, offroad, in the wet muck, snow, sand, etc....

I've never regretted my 4x4.
I've been stuck on the boat ramp with a 4x2.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Thanks for the advice. I have decided on the 4X4. I'm getting a black north edition with tire/wheel group, media center 430, sun/sound group. I had some concerns about the sunroof but it was my only option as I am stuck on the color. I did manage to get the price down to near what I would have paid without the sunroof, speakers and heated seats though. I'm hoping to take delivery tomorrow.
 
#7 ·
You will want the 4x4. I would rather have it and not need it, then need it and not have it.

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#8 ·
FD II is the best option

FDII 4X4 allows you to have a granny gear especially useful pulling a boat out of a steep muddy launch site or your snowmobiles on a backroad. With the oil cooler you can tow 2K, but according to a Mobile Oil "answer man" on their 1-800 # there are drawbacks to oil coolers such substantial dirty oil left in cooler during an oil change and long warm ups in the winter. This causes oxidation of the oil due to unburned moisture on short trips. There is a work around according to Mobile (unofficially due to EPA constraints placed on manufacture recommendations) and that is to run a 5W-30 or even a 5W-40 when towing in the heat without an cooler. Synthetics are obviously more thermally stable and the better option. Its what I run in the summer towing my 2 K boat w/o cooler and no problems. No need in the winter OAT (Outside Ambient Temp) is much lower and I stick to 0W-30 in the Fall or 5W-20 in the winter(0W-20 if you can find it). A 4x2 is just fine on the highway towing and gets much better MPG than FDII CVT. It depends on your driving habits off-road :banana:a lot $X$ FDII trail rated, once in a while 4x4 FDI, hardly ever, just cruising the city streets a 4x2. :Racing::Racing:
 
#9 ·
Just for the record, I use my 4x2 to haul scooters (<1K lbs) and I've never had any issues, other than gas mileage (goes down to around 17 mpg with a fully loaded trailer). I've put at least 10K miles on Patsy with the trailer behind her. Sometimes the trailer's empty, sometimes it has 1 scooter, but most times it has 2.

Image
 
#10 ·
I may be doing some towing in my 4x2 in the next month or so. VA to OK with a tow behind Uhaul or the like. I'm leaving the Navy and going to School. All my furniture is crap and I'm moving into a furnished house so I'm selling it all. Ill have a few book shelves, a bunch of totes and boxes, aquariums, and guitars. I'm going to have all my animals in the jeep with me (2 dogs, cat, 4 snakes, 2 turtles, and a chinchilla) So I won't be able to put much else in there. Any towing suggestions? Ill be going through the appalachians and part of the ozarks on the way and it will be late december/early january.
 
#12 ·
I have a 4x2 with 105,000 miles on it now, a decent portion of that towing or carrying something (rafts, kayaks, etc) on the roof. I've towed my driftboat (1000lbs when full of gear) up to about 8,000 feet up some pretty steep little roads... no trouble at all. Gas mileage suffers a lot while towing (usually 22ish mpg vs. 29 usually) but it's actually better while towing than with something bulky on the roof (19-20mpg).

That said if I were to do it over I'd get the 4x4. There have been a couple of times when I've wanted to push a little in terms of little trails out in the middle of nowhere...
 
#15 ·
You can do quite a bit of towing with a 4x2--today I took nearly 5,000 lbs to our local dump--of course, the roads were flat, I didn't rush to 55 mph or stop quickly either. However, when I was on the mushy soil of the land fill, I did spin the tires a little while backing up. But, I am happy with the utility of my machine.
 
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jack.allwardt
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