Jump to content

"Off-Road Suspension" of the Z-71

Epsilon Plus
 Share

Recommended Posts

Epsilon Plus Enthusiast

Epsilon Plus

Posted
Posted (edited)

Greetings.

 

This may have been asked before, but I've had trouble finding anything concrete in past threads dealing specifically with the 2020+ HD and the exact differences of the vague "Off-road Suspension" in the Z-71 package. I plan on ordering (such a great time to do so :rolleyes: )a very specific and basic truck. Its easy to see that the package has Rancho shocks, Hill Decent programing..etc..etc. but what makes the suspension "off-road suspension" specifically? Different/thicker torsions? Heavier springs? If so, keep in mind the Camper springs can be ordered with Z-71 so I'm not so sure about front springs being different or those packages would likely clash knowing GMs ordering system.

 

So what is, part for part, the "Off-Road Suspension" adds of the package on 2020+ 2500/3500 HD?

 

Thanks for the responses.

Edited by Epsilon Plus
  • Epsilon Plus changed the title to "Off-Road Suspension" of the Z-71
  • 4 weeks later...
Guest Phobby

Guest Phobby

Posted
Posted (edited)

hill decent control is probably one of the least used options GM ever installed on a truck IMHO. They also change the shocks to the cheapest mass produced Rancho shocks available. It's pretty much a sticker. 

Edited by Phobby
newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted
On 11/8/2021 at 1:58 PM, Epsilon Plus said:

Greetings.

 

This may have been asked before, but I've had trouble finding anything concrete in past threads dealing specifically with the 2020+ HD and the exact differences of the vague "Off-road Suspension" in the Z-71 package. I plan on ordering (such a great time to do so :rolleyes: )a very specific and basic truck. Its easy to see that the package has Rancho shocks, Hill Decent programing..etc..etc. but what makes the suspension "off-road suspension" specifically? Different/thicker torsions? Heavier springs? If so, keep in mind the Camper springs can be ordered with Z-71 so I'm not so sure about front springs being different or those packages would likely clash knowing GMs ordering system.

 

So what is, part for part, the "Off-Road Suspension" adds of the package on 2020+ 2500/3500 HD?

 

Thanks for the responses.

 

 

On HD trucks, the Ranchos and the hill descent.  That is it.  No spring changes, control arms, nothing.  

 

You can order the Heavy Camper spring or VYU plow prep with Z71.  Camper or VYU will raise the front GAWR with a heavier rated torsion bar.  If you are planning for a plow, get VYU.  

Njmurvin Enthusiast

Njmurvin

Posted
Posted

Mine came with full weather proof Z71 floor mats.  I don't know if those come with all Z71 packages but, for me, that's the best part. Not having driven a non-Rancho equipped truck, I don't know what the difference is. They seem to do an OK job with my fifth wheel.

Lifesgood Enthusiast

Lifesgood

Posted
Posted
18 hours ago, Phobby said:

hill decent control is probably one of the least used options GM ever installed on a truck IMHO. They also change the shocks to the cheapest mass produced Rancho shocks available. It's pretty much a sticker. 

Hill descent control is useless. I used it once in my jeep and it sucked. And now i have it in a truck? A vehicle not designed for off roading, unless a gravel road and farm trail is considered off road. Trucks are for hauling, not descending 35 degree slopes

Guest Phobby

Guest Phobby

Posted
Posted
17 hours ago, Njmurvin said:

Mine came with full weather proof Z71 floor mats.  I don't know if those come with all Z71 packages but, for me, that's the best part. Not having driven a non-Rancho equipped truck, I don't know what the difference is. They seem to do an OK job with my fifth wheel.

A lot of people mention the Rancho shocks leak under normal use. 

Stand By Enthusiast

Stand By

Posted
Posted

Ranchos are made in the south west. The RS9000s I had on my old lifted grand Cherokee road nice, but by the second winter up here, they looked like 20 year old rust buckets. 

Guest Phobby

Guest Phobby

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Cheekster96 said:

What are good replacements for the Ranchos?  I live in Northern Maine...where everything rusts.  

Toss up between Bilstein and Fox from what I’ve heard. 

Dunn Senior Enthusiast

Dunn

Posted
Posted
On 12/8/2021 at 9:48 AM, Phobby said:

A lot of people mention the Rancho shocks leak under normal use. 

I took mine off a new truck, compressed one of them by hand and blew a seal, oil spewed out everywhere........complete garbage

 

And they are twin tube versions which are even worse

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • Atlas
      Gas Prices

      By Atlas · Posted

      87 down as low as $5.14 here... winning!
    • Atlas
      Wow I'm in a pickle. (Broke down truck) and a story.

      By Atlas · Posted

      Progress... sort of.   Intake is disassembled, spider is out, fuel lines removed. Used a torch on the stripped screw with the lower intake off, much easier when I've got the intake sitting on my workbench, I made it talk. Walked right out with a pair of vice grips once it was nice and toasty hot.   New parts are piling up on my service cart waiting to be installed. Distributor, temperature sensor, new gaskets, fuel line kit, themostat, water neck.   My new pickle is I don't want to spend $600 on a replacement spider. I'm not sure IT is bad. I'm probably splitting hairs. Or it's $300 to send mine away and another 3 weeks of the truck just sitting. I have half a mind to assemble everything with the old spider to see if I can get away with just replacing the fuel pressure regulator to be safe. The obvious issue was the gushing high pressure fuel line which will be replaced. Getting to the spider really isn't that hard, and now I know what I'm doing , swapping it would be a breeze should it absolutely need one. Stupid, or smart?   The part that gives me pause is replacing the distributor. Well, it's already out. And I didn't mark it, whoopsie! Engine was at TDC when I removed it, I know that, so upon correct reinstall the metal tip on the rotor should point to the TDC mark on the distributor because that's where it was pointing on the old distributor. Worst case I'm a tooth off and have to re-stab it.   But then, what? I assume the truck will start. It doesn't appear the timing can be set. Here's the problem: These distributors can't be rotated but a degree or two, by design. What I read is Cam ****** needs to be -2 to +2 degrees, ideally at 0 (and checked/set above 1000 rpm). There should be enough wiggle to get that properly set, but checking the reported value is another potential issue. My Actron 9185 scanner says it supports enhanced GM PIDs and Cam ****** is one of them but it's unclear that I'll be able to correctly see it over OBD 1.5. I can see why people end up junking these things with life left in them. They're an absolute nightmare with tweener-year diagnostics/electronics and unobtanium parts.   Fingers crossed it starts and idles nicely. There can be hope, right? I'ma buy a lottery ticket the same day just in case.   Next steps..DO IT. I have not installed an intake before so I've been reading and watching a lot. Some say NO RTV except on china walls, some say DO RTV on water ports but not fuel/air intake. 1/4 or 3/8 bead on China walls? I think my strategy will be, obviously, RTV china walls with overlap on the gasket corners. Chapstick-style RTV the water ports. Leave intake ports dry. The only set of intake gaskets I could find locally are Edelbrock performance gaskets (uh...for an asthmatic 190hp V6? LOL) so we'll see how they do.   #NoToolLeftBehind. It took an hour, but my recovery mission for my deep 10mm socket was successful. It had rolled down the bellhousing and wedged itself between what I think are the fuel lines? I couldn't see it at all, but with a junk antenna I had laying around, I blindly went poking/sweeping for it, heard it clink, raised the truck, and caught a sliver glimpse of chrome with a flashlight way up there in Narnia. I had pushed it farther along the lines holding it captive, but within access of severely improvised tools, poking and cursing at it to finally knock it free to where I could get a fingertip on it to bring it home.    Not much to see.      
    • RyanbabZ71
      Gas Prices

      By RyanbabZ71 · Posted

      Thats crazy considering im right next door (Indiana)
    • Black02Silverado
      New Retail & Commercial Promo

      By Black02Silverado · Posted

      For a limited time, retail and commercial accounts receive an AMSOIL Vinyl Tool Tray with their order of $500 or more when they use code TRAY726 at checkout. The promotion runs through July 21, 2026.   Order at https://syntheticadvantage.com   Want to use AMSOIL in your business or sell at your store, apply here.  https://www.amsoil.com/business-opportunities/?zo=521390  
    • KARNUT
      2027 GMC Sierra: Official Discussion

      By KARNUT · Posted

      It wouldn’t have happened if the government hadn’t mandated outrageous fuel mileage standards. It does very little for the consumer. It adds cost. Back during Covid there was a chip shortage. They gave a rebate for your truck if it didn’t have the chip to turn on cylinder deactivation. It was 50$ because at best you may see 1/2 a mile increase per gallon. Splitting hairs each fuel mileage trick wasn’t mandated. The government doesn’t do the engineering work and say use this until it’s already in use and they like it. The fuel mileage was mandated. And those add ons the results. There’s a mandate and they are the results.

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...