Do you notice a difference in Highway ride...2WD vs 4WD?

[TruckNut]

I ask this because I see a 4WD Ram in my future. I have to back a new and larger trailer up our gravel hill and the '15 2WD is a balancing act. So, I took a 2018 Longhorn 4WD out for a test drive. I swear, it rides better-tighter and more planted (no air bags) and tracks much better than I expected. Truly surprised. Am I nuts??

 

[Ken226]

My last truck was a 2010 ram 5.7 2wd.

I moved to the Pacific Northwest and had to get a 4x4. I got a 2013 sport 5.7

My 2010 2wd had more power, and was smoother on the highway.

My 4x4 is infinitely more useful

 

[CBTBOB]

I bought a 2018 1500 Southfork Edition Longhorn and it rides like a dream. You'll be very happy with the ride quality of a new 4x4.

 

[TruckNut]

Well, I've got a couple of dealers on "prompt" and if they need to meet numbers they'll call me first with a better price. I might jump if they get low enough. Not too anxious as I would take a $9,000 to 10,000 depreciation hit on my truck and it only has 24K--it's been perfect. Buying some more aggressive Hankook Dynapro tires Wednesday. Hopefully to increase traction I get over these lousy GoodYears that came as original equipment. A gamble in order to save 12 grand to move up to a well equipped Laramie 4WD.

 

[Black W900]

My '15 Longhorn 4x4 rides smoother than my wife's Grand Caravan.
It rides damn near as smooth as my '94 Cadillac STS rode.

 

[Sweetee]

Our 2012 Ram 1500 RCSB 4x2 with a Leer topper rode so much better than any truck I've ever owned (6 previous). This past summer we stepped up to a 2017 Ram 1500 Laramie CC 4x4 with the Pentastar and a Leer topper. This truck is wonderful. Good luck on your search! Watch for some additional $ as we get closer to "auto show" season!

 

[TruckNut]

My '15 Longhorn 4x4 rides smoother than my wife's Grand Caravan.
It rides damn near as smooth as my '94 Cadillac STS rode.

Do you have the air ride? Local dealer has a beautiful 2017 Laramie, two tone, Ram boxes, roof etc for a little more than $15k off. Tempting but not sure I want the boxes or air ride, although I hear the ride is amazing.

 

[Black W900]

Do you have the air ride? Local dealer has a beautiful 2017 Laramie, two tone, Ram boxes, roof etc for a little more than $15k off. Tempting but not sure I want the boxes or air ride, although I hear the ride is amazing.

No air ride on mine, I keep my trucks a long time and didn't want to have to deal with the air ride when it gets some years/miles on it.

 

[usaf2006]

My old 06 4wd rode like a dumpster. My new Rebel 2wd with air ride is a hundred times more smooth than my wife's grand caravan. Haven't been in a new 4wd in a while tho. I wouldn't be worried the ride quality.

 

[Black W900]

My old 06 4wd rode like a dumpster. My new Rebel 2wd with air ride is a hundred times more smooth than my wife's grand caravan. Haven't been in a new 4wd in a while tho. I wouldn't be worried the ride quality.

My '08 rode horrible too...Good truck though.

 

[Addicted2fishing]

Better to have and not need. I need a 4x4 tho.

I wouldn’t hesitate. You don’t have to use it all the time [emoji12].


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mbrigh3]

My old 06 4wd rode like a dumpster. My new Rebel 2wd with air ride is a hundred times more smooth than my wife's grand caravan. Haven't been in a new 4wd in a while tho. I wouldn't be worried the ride quality.

They make Rebels in 2wd? I had no idea, I assumed they would all be 4wd.

 

[wiggy999]

Surprised how smooth my old 06 2WD with stock 17" wheels drives... I don't have anything 4X4 to compare to tho..

 

[usaf2006]

They make Rebels in 2wd? I had no idea, I assumed they would all be 4wd.

Yessir. Gives me about 350lbs extra payload too over 4wd guys, and my truck sits the same height as a 4wd.

I just preferred the styling of the Rebel, as I dig prerunner looking trucks, and the front bumper has that style. I just have no need for a 4wd truck.

Best of both worlds I guess!

 

[Bob Hall]

Agressive tires will not help your ride quality, 2 wd or 4wd.

 

[rpr]

In my opinion the air ride is a bit stiffer, and you can get pretty severe wheel hop over speed bumps. I didn’t want it on mine but I had no choice as I wanted the Laramie Limited (2014). Now I love it. The slightly firmer ride is not an issue for me, and I love the different ride height settings and auto leveling. I would not be able to get into any parking garages without the ability to lower the suspension due to my ~4.5” lift and 35” Mickeys. Now I at least have a shot, the pucker factor remains pretty high though when doing that...

Either way, air or non-air, these are awesome trucks. If I upgraded my 2014 it would be with another new Ram. I am always upgrading things, but there’s actually no need with my truck because the ‘14 is awesome.

 

[chrisbh17]

My 2000 RPM vibration is more pronounced in 4WD, but other than that the truck drives exactly the same. My 01 Frontier was basically the same way (other than wheel binding if trying to make an extreme turn, since it had a "traditional" 4WD xfer case)

 

[Dusty]

I had a 2010 1500 Big Horn and the first thing people would say after they rode in it a few miles is how smooth it was. Before I bought the 2014 I test drove a 2wd and a 4wd on the same day..within minutes, actually. I couldn't tell the difference in ride.

Regards,
Dusty

2014 Ram Big Horn 1500 Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP70, 3.92 LSD, factory dual exhaust, 20” wheels. Now at: 071863 miles.

 

[Brianj53]

Can’t comment on ride, but you might find agressive tires track differently on the highway. I got a 2017 Outdoorsman, when I took it for a test drive I had to make constant little steering corrections; the 1998 F150 it was to replace went down the road better. Salesman had me take an SLT with stock Wranglers out, it went down the highway straight as an arrow. They swapped those tires on to the Outdoorsman, I got it and all is well. Depends what you do, I don’t do serious 4x4 stuff and I run separate winters, but my experience was that the LT tires did not track well on the highway. Stock 17 wheels.

 

[HitchHiker]

Do you have the air ride? Local dealer has a beautiful 2017 Laramie, two tone, Ram boxes, roof etc for a little more than $15k off. Tempting but not sure I want the boxes or air ride, although I hear the ride is amazing.

Love the air ride on my 2018 Limited so far. Came from a 2012 Laramie with no air ride. I had wheel hop and steering wheel jump problems in my 2012 over major highway bumps and such, have not been able to reproduce this at all on my 2018 with the air ride in comparison. Huge fan of the ramboxes, we use them constantly when running errands, surf fishing, outside parties we use them as iceboxes for drinks even. Next on the list is gun rack inserts for the ramboxes. With the rambox locks tied into All Secure, easy to securely store stuff as well. Good luck with your decision! [emoji4]