Best picks for 4wd?

[nemo]

Originally Posted by Ryland

Or if it's only a few times a year that you use the boat, rent or borrow a vehicle, that is what I've done with my boat.

If use only a few time a year rent the boat. No need to tow, store or maintain it.

[Mad Adder]

Yea, it would cost much less than owning a boat

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

For those who seek for a fuel-efficient 4WD, there is nothing better than a Suzuki Vitara. An uncle of mine had a 4-door one with a Volkswagen 1.6L Diesel and it got 42MPG constantly.

[JRMichler]

I have lived in snow country most of my life. I have never owned a 4WD vehicle. I do keep a set of tire chains, which get used about once every two or three years. When you look at all costs, good snow tires are much cheaper than 4WD. All costs include tire cost, gas mileage, maintenance, and purchase cost.

I was able to pull about 2000 lbs of loaded trailer in heavy wet snow (the absolute worst kind) without putting the chains on. That was with my truck in winter of 2011-2012.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by JRMichler

I have lived in snow country most of my life. I have never owned a 4WD vehicle. I do keep a set of tire chains, which get used about once every two or three years. When you look at all costs, good snow tires are much cheaper than 4WD. All costs include tire cost, gas mileage, maintenance, and purchase cost.

Knobby rear tyres, and eventually a differential locker, can do little miracles in slippy road conditions without the extra weight and friction losses from a more complex 4WD driveline.

[VX Fuego]

Originally Posted by Idratherbeflying

What about an 80s model chevy k5 blazer with a 6.2 diesel. Ive gotten 22 mpg on the highway in mine and i've heard of others getting 25. The four wheel drive is great and it will deffinately pull a boat and haul the family around. Just remember to plug in the block heater if you want to go anywhere when its cold

haha, those trucks are BEASTS! I've had about 5 of them and they're huge (which I love) but they're the LAST thing I would think you could save gas in. But, I'd certainly love to have one with a turbo diesel if I could get 20+mpg out of it.

[B440]

See if you can find the weight of the boat with trailer. My '02 CR-V is rated for 1500 pounds, has AWD, and gets 23/26mpg average. Also hauls a family of 4 with luggage in the back.

[bestclimb]

I get similar numbers out of my Forester, 27 average (dropping now that I am slogging through snow and cold) It will tow 2000lbs (It handles twice that with a little caution). It will drive up a 35 degree slope with snow up to the bumper (not with a trailer I suspect)

I had very mixed feelings about retiring the front wheel drive econobox but I find that I use the greater capacity enough to justify it.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by VX Fuego

haha, those trucks are BEASTS! I've had about 5 of them and they're huge (which I love) but they're the LAST thing I would think you could save gas in. But, I'd certainly love to have one with a turbo diesel if I could get 20+mpg out of it.

Sure they're huge, and heavy, but have many spots for weight-savings and the body-on-frame layout allows replacing old sheetmetal with fiberglass or other lightweight materials easier than in an unibody. But instead of the boat-anchor V8 I'd rather get a 4-pot Cummins (with a 5-speed ZF)...

[Superfuelgero]

My 91 is the same body. I'm getting 10-12 on a lifted, mild 350/4l80e, on 37's setup. Great for its purpose, but you go broke daily driving it. With the vx as my dd, it doesn't make sense for me to ecomod a backup vehicle.

The 82 was special and rare as all get out today. If you've got one, hold on to it. But if I was the OP, I'd wouldn't look for one.