Off-Roading with Quadrasteer

steppetoe · October 21, 2003

For those who might have wondered, I can report that Quadrasteer works very well off-road, at least it did for me this weekend in NH.

Plenty of abuse, mud (well, as much as a stock truck on highway tires can handle), climbing, very tight trails, etc, etc. Yes, I was careful about backing over anything that might have made contact with that tie rod, but other than that there were no worries. Comparing it to my non-Quadrasteer 98 K1500 I can tell you that having the rear wheels steering is a huge benefit on narrow trails with lots of sharp curves. Particulary when I had to back up along this tight winding trail for several hundred yards because I ran out of road and there was zero turn-around space.

Shaners · October 21, 2003

I would think Quadrasteer would be ideal for tight trails. I would be very cautious of all those components under the rear of the truck though...

Mega Dogmeat · October 21, 2003

well, heck, think about it ... the back end is basically just a Dana 60 ... which we all know can be built up to be very strong. The question is, *IS* the D60 these trucks built that way?

If it is, I would take a real serious look at getting a quadrasteer truck for my next pickup ....

Wingnut · October 21, 2003

I would look at getting a quadrasteer sytem at salvage, and slapping it under a shortwide

Now THAT would be a tight turn!

steppetoe · October 21, 2003

I would think Quadrasteer would be ideal for tight trails. I would be very cautious of all those components under the rear of the truck though...

Of all the hardware under there, most of it appears to be very strong. The only thing I think you have to be careful about is the thing that I think is a tie rod. It appears quite vulnerable. The rest of it looks quite serious. I do remember reading that the whole thing was built a little stronger than it had to be. I was hammering on the truck pretty good I might add.

Mega Dogmeat · October 21, 2003

I would look at getting a quadrasteer sytem at salvage, and slapping it under a shortwide

Now THAT would be a tight turn!

I think that'd be easier said than done ... Quadrasteer is all computer controlled, so it's all dialed in for exactly what length truck you have, etc ...

I would think that putting it on a shorter wheelbase than it was intended for with no way to reprogram it might be a good way to roll your truck when passing somone on the highway

I mean it probably wouldn't be that bad like that, but it'd definatley need to be "re-tuned" if you were gonna put it on a shortbed truck I'd think ....

But it sure is a hell of an idea ;)

make for one hell of a trail rig

Wingnut · October 21, 2003

I think that'd be easier said than done ... Quadrasteer is all computer controlled, so it's all dialed in for exactly what length truck you have, etc ...

I would think that putting it on a shorter wheelbase than it was intended for with no way to reprogram it might be a good way to roll your truck when passing somone on the highway

I mean it probably wouldn't be that bad like that, but it'd definatley need to be "re-tuned" if you were gonna put it on a shortbed truck I'd think ....

But it sure is a hell of an idea ;)

make for one hell of a trail rig

Nah, if you're going to dream....Dream big.

When you take the quadrasteer system, you also take the 'puter, and the 6.0 liter.

Wheelbase probably wouldn't be a factor in which direction (or when) the rear wheels turn, only in how far. The shorter wheelbase would probably enhance the effect...Would probably take about 13 minutes to get used to.

But yeah....Heck of a trail rig.

Mega Dogmeat · October 21, 2003

threads like these always get me thinking that I wish there was a forum called "Ask a GM Engineer Dot Com" or whatever so we could get answers from the guys who actually designed these things :rotfl:

Wingnut · October 21, 2003

threads like these always get me thinking that I wish there was a forum called "Ask a GM Engineer Dot Com" or whatever so we could get answers from the guys who actually designed these things :rotfl:

Nah, that would be above and beyond the current high-standards of customer service.

rjgogo · October 21, 2003

threads like these always get me thinking that I wish there was a forum called "Ask a GM Engineer Dot Com" or whatever so we could get answers from the guys who actually designed these things :rotfl:

There is a Delphi engineer that answers questions about Quadrasteer on this site

http://www.mrtruck.net.master.com/texis/ma...Catid=3e73f6ce3

chevy4x4trucks · October 21, 2003

To protect it for offroading would it be possible to weld some steel tubes together to make a cage for all the components? I'm surprised that a company hasn't offered such a product already considering they make protection plates for the rear axle anyways. Seems like a logical step to me.

Dave J · October 21, 2003

well the steering motor/diff does have about an 1/8 thick lil skid plate under it but those tie rods like the front end, are very exposed and could be bent. having Q-steer myself, I would have thought they might have made the tie rods more like 5/8'' or better! they are not! they are at 17/32" My ONLY compliant of my truck?? has heated leather seats! and the switch for that is too close to driverside window button!! so it inadvertanyly gets drvr side seat turned on and gets hot before one realizes its on!!

chevy4x4trucks · October 21, 2003

has heated leather seats! and the switch for that is too close to driverside window button!! so it inadvertanyly gets drvr side seat turned on and gets hot before one realizes its on!!

Done that numerous times

Wingnut · October 21, 2003

Yup, me too.

Nothing like it being 102 degrees out, and thinking your AC is on the fritz because you are sweating like a pig, then realizing that your keester heater is on.