2016 Z71 Four Wheel Drive Capability

[Billy346]

So, for the most part, I drive a more fuel efficient vehicle for my work, but when I am working in an area that requires a little more traction, I use my truck.

 

We recently had some icy snow in my area, and I had to look at a job today that was located on a farm off of a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. The farmer that owned the property never bothered to clear off the dirt trail he had for a driveway, so it was a combination of frozen wet snow and patches of ice. I put my truck into the "Auto" setting and drove right up the driveway like it was dry pavement. I didn't have one wheel slip. I never even felt the four wheel drive system operating. It was incredible. My last truck would have been sliding sideways with the wheels spinning, even in four wheel drive. To put icing on the cake, another guy tried to come up the drive way in a delivery van. He slid sideways and ended up in the yard next to the driveway and almost knocked over a tree!

 

I must say that I am very pleased with the four wheel drive system on this truck. I'm sure the BFG All Terrain tires and the better weight distribution (my new truck being a crew cab vs. my old truck being an extended cab) had a hand in it also. I just thought you guys would like to know.

[newdude]

GM's Autotrac system is quite nice. My 2012 Z71 had it, and my Colorado has it now. Worked wonderfully in the storm this week.

[Andy Seibel]

so it was a combination of frozen wet snow and patches of ice. I put my truck into the "Auto" setting and drove right up the driveway like it was dry pavement.

 

So why not put it in 4HI then?

 

Maybe it wasn't as bad as you thought if you never felt any wheel spin. You can drive through a surprising amount of snow in 2wd without difficulty. That van you saw spin out obviously gave it too much throttle.

[Billy346]

So why not put it in 4HI then?

 

Maybe it wasn't as bad as you thought if you never felt any wheel spin. You can drive through a surprising amount of snow in 2wd without difficulty. That van you saw spin out obviously gave it too much throttle.

 

It's possible that it never used the front wheels. Either way, the truck handled the snow and Ice well.

 

I had it on "auto" because I was on a dirt road that had patches of mud, snow, ice, washboard, and dry hard packed dirt. I didn't want to cause the system to bind if I was on a dry patch while making a turn.

[KARNUT]

When I had my 4WD for my work, I used auto for all 4WD uses except in the rare times I used low range it worked that good.

[Krusty]

So, for the most part, I drive a more fuel efficient vehicle for my work, but when I am working in an area that requires a little more traction, I use my truck.

 

We recently had some icy snow in my area, and I had to look at a job today that was located on a farm off of a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. The farmer that owned the property never bothered to clear off the dirt trail he had for a driveway, so it was a combination of frozen wet snow and patches of ice. I put my truck into the "Auto" setting and drove right up the driveway like it was dry pavement. I didn't have one wheel slip. I never even felt the four wheel drive system operating. It was incredible. My last truck would have been sliding sideways with the wheels spinning, even in four wheel drive. To put icing on the cake, another guy tried to come up the drive way in a delivery van. He slid sideways and ended up in the yard next to the driveway and almost knocked over a tree!

 

I must say that I am very pleased with the four wheel drive system on this truck. I'm sure the BFG All Terrain tires and the better weight distribution (my new truck being a crew cab vs. my old truck being an extended cab) had a hand in it also. I just thought you guys would like to know.

 

 

 

Z71 has the Eaton G80 Locker that helps tremendously too......

 

 

 

 

[Knightfall]

I've been galavanting all over northern NY in this blizzard in nothing but a 2WD with a G80 and Duratracs ?

[Static]

 

 

 

Z71 has the Eaton G80 Locker that helps tremendously too......

 

 

Its not just the Z71's mine has it and its just a 4x4 LT. I dont know if all the 4x4s have it but mine is listed on the build sheet

[Krusty]

I've been galavanting all over northern NY in this blizzard in nothing but a 2WD with a G80 and Duratracs

 

Its not just the Z71's mine has it and its just a 4x4 LT. I dont know if all the 4x4s have it but mine is listed on the build sheet

 

 

The G80 rocks - I would NOT own a rig without the G80 locker - Included with the Z71 package and Max Trailering package - optional in most other trims.

[15 Z71]

I'm surprised by the amount of people who use auto when roads are bad. I use 4hi when roads are snow covered. I like to know all four wheels are engaged. I feel the auto setting is more for stop and go and in and out of parking lots. If roads are good and parking lots are slick.

[Billy346]

I'm surprised by the amount of people who use auto when roads are bad. I use 4hi when roads are snow covered. I like to know all four wheels are engaged. I feel the auto setting is more for stop and go and in and out of parking lots. If roads are good and parking lots are slick.

Don't forget, you live in Ohio, which is a completely different animal when it comes to snow storms. I live in Virginia. Sometimes we get a good amount of snow, but its nothing like you guys deal with.

 

It rarely gets bad enough to make the main roads snow covered in my area. Usually if we get a huge snow storm, the back roads will be patchy with some having deep snow, some having ice, some being wet and some just being dry. I like the auto setting because I don't have to keep shifting it into and out of 4 Hi as I drive around town, and I don't have to worry about the system binding if I hit a dry patch and need to make a turn.

 

I envision 4 Hi being more for an off-road scenario in mud, sand, or uneven terrain where you need constant traction from both the front and rear end.

 

4 Lo.....Well I guess that's for pulling boats out of the water or popping stumps out of the yard.

[amxguy1970]

It's possible that it never used the front wheels. Either way, the truck handled the snow and Ice well.

 

I had it on "auto" because I was on a dirt road that had patches of mud, snow, ice, washboard, and dry hard packed dirt. I didn't want to cause the system to bind if I was on a dry patch while making a turn.

 

Dry dirt won't make the system bind, dirt has plenty of give, it is concrete and asphalt that cause binding.

 

I've been galavanting all over northern NY in this blizzard in nothing but a 2WD with a G80 and Duratracs

 

This right here, 4wd isn't needed nearly as often as people think, especially with a descent set of tires. Cracks me up when people buy it south of the mason dixon line for the "weather". This far south they rarely plow, and very few actally need to go out in it for the 1 or 2 light storms. Stay home, those that think they need 4x4 for something like a southern weather in fairly flat areas shouldn't be on the road in the first place. I can count on one hand the number of times 4wd came in handy in Chicago or Minnesota (Marquette was a different story). We mostly owned 2wd vehicles and very rarely had an issue and the 4wd rarely went in to it. Unless you offroad down here you don't need it most likely.

 

Tyler

[dave07]

Tires. Tires make a huge difference but the 4wd system is very nice.

[scott19677]

Gotta love those full power auto4 launches when it's time to smoke a few Rams and Furds. Auto 4 works great.

[Donstar]

 

Dry dirt won't make the system bind, dirt has plenty of give, it is concrete and asphalt that cause binding.

 

 

This right here, 4wd isn't needed nearly as often as people think, especially with a descent set of tires. Cracks me up when people buy it south of the mason dixon line for the "weather". This far south they rarely plow, and very few actally need to go out in it for the 1 or 2 light storms. Stay home, those that think they need 4x4 for something like a southern weather in fairly flat areas shouldn't be on the road in the first place. I can count on one hand the number of times 4wd came in handy in Chicago or Minnesota (Marquette was a different story). We mostly owned 2wd vehicles and very rarely had an issue and the 4wd rarely went in to it. Unless you offroad down here you don't need it most likely.

 

Tyler

I lived and worked in northern Canada for many years without 4X4 but always owned great tires. If the roads weren't covered in snow they were often deep in mud! I now live in the southern west coast of Canada and have owned a 4X4 for the past 8 years. I like to play with it in the snow and it allows me to ride on OEM tires!