Z71-Plus (Z72?)

[timcosco]

I'm not a radical off-road guy by any means, but sure wish the Z71 package had a bit more "bite". This is a "realistic" (in my mind) wish-list for a Z71 equiped Av, straight from the factory. Other than 17" rims and a firmer ride (still soft IMO), can anyone tell me the benefits of the Z71 option (which I have )?

<Disclaimer> It was a looooooong day for me today and I just finished my fourth Jack and Coke, so either bear with me or click the "back" button to read another topic.


First, what they did right (in my simplistic, amateur opinion):

1) Offer 4.10 Diff's

2) Offer an Acceptable Limited-Slip Rear Diff (but something like Eaton's ELocker would rule!)

3) Compromise Larger Box for Stiffer Frame (get coolers to boot!)

4) <Bowtie fans insert other stuff here, please>


What I'd like them to add:

1) More Ground Clearance
Another 2.5" of lift... 1.50" from suspension and 1.00" from tires. Doesn't sound like much, but that's really all you need to clear some of the small boulders on Tincup Pass in CO, for instance. 2002 model wheel wells maybe won't allow for a 1" taller tire, but maybe someday?

2) Skid Plates
Plates, plates, plates! "Vat in 'da sam hell's Visconsin" is a skid "shield"? Beef them things up and put one beneath the gas tank for cryin' out loud!

3) Eaton's ELocker
Not sure the general public could be trusted to use this device properly, however.

Hmmm.... well, I guess that's it factory-wise. Not bad, eh? I think Chevy would satisfy the needs of the majority of "light off-road" guys simply with larger wheel wells. Now maybe some "Nice 'ta Haves":

1) D-Ring shackles front and rear

2) Winch Mount Front Bumper
Maybe the 2500 has this?

3) Frame Mount Chassis Lighting
Side and rear floods to illuminate ground around and beneath vehicle for security and off-roading at night. I'm working on this provided Gandolphxx doesn't beat me to it.

4) Built in Power Inverter

That's all I can think of for now (fifth Jack and Coke now gone)... for me, living in Colorado, ground clearance is an issue. Time to start looking for a lift kit.

 

[chevy4x4trucks]

I'm with you on all of these, the best thing GM ever made off-road wise was the ZR2, it was actually a whole diferent truck and not a skid plate, shocks, and decal.

Some things that I'd like to see added as a "new" Z71 package in the future are:

Mild suspension lift to fit 33" Tires

Full skid plate coverage of all delicate areas

4.10 gears standard and 4.56 optional for those who will be going bigger

Instead of dinky floor mats get some catch alls or huskyliners

A good brushbar w/ a winch mount (I'm not a big fan of the GM AVY brushguard)

Rims that are 8" wide

 

[half-breed]

One benefit of the Z-71 is the posi which would be a $250 option seperately. I believe that it is the locking unit that works very well for mud/snow/wet/dry. Might not work well on rocks. I also liked the Goodyear ATS tires and wanted the skidplates. For how I use the Av I like the fact that the Z-71 doesn't ride too stiff. I used to have a Jeep CJ-7 with the factory off road package and it road increadibly stiff. In my mind too stiff for off roading other that very slow rock crawling.

 

[gandolphxx]

Timcosco - for a guy that claims that he is not a radical offroader, sure sounds like one - are you specing the military version?

How about a snorkel and run-flat system while you are at it.

 

[timcosco]

Timcosco - for a guy that claims that he is not a radical offroader, sure sounds like one - are you specing the military version?

Military version? Seriously? Hey, now... please don't tease me like this!

 

[gandolphxx]

Is this what you are looking for?

 

[pdxkevin]

Here are a couple things I would love to see, even if only as options. I am sure that most will never go further than this post but we can always dream.

1) If the cladding goes then offer Rhino-liner where the cladding was.

2) Thicker, functional skid plates with more coverage

3) Vastly improved approach, departure and break over angles. At least, start by improving the departure angle!

4) Bullet Proof Bumpers would help out with #3
http://www.bulletproofmfg.com/

5) Lockers front and rear (The 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is getting them)

6) Air compressor

7) Auto chains (very cool)
http://www.onspot.com/indhisfr.htm

That's a good start....

 

[pdxkevin]

...How about a snorkel and run-flat system while you are at it.

You know. I completely missed these. Great ideas.

add a real roof rack to the list too.

They should have some limited edition AVs to grab the off-road world. There is only so long those old broncos and suburbans can last on the trail no matter how much they get rebuilt. Why not offer up some limiteds?

 

[MyBigToy]

Definitely more ground clearance and better skid plate coverage.

I agree with the vastly improved departure angle but you gotta have tradeoffs somewhere!

How about a factory 33" tire option?

 

[midlifecrisis]

It is pretty obvious from everyone's informative comments that the Z-71 Av was not designed for super serious off-roading enthusiasts. I guess Chevy was looking at the customer who uses 4WD on occassion and spends the rest of the time on the road.

 

[justhrowit]

I totally agree with you in raising the av a bit. An inch bigger on the tires and another 2 in suspension would be nice. I'm sick of pulling next to Fords and Dodges and seeing them higher than me. I want a lift, but can't afford one. Whats a guy to do?

 

[barnesgw]

This entire thread gets at the core of what CAFCNA is all about. Why would you ask the factory to build for you what you can build better and cheaper yourself. The platform (Avalanche Z71) is a great starting point for us to develop exactly what suits us best. I have not heard of any 2 built exactly alike by their owner. I doubt that any 2 of us would agree on "exactly" how a truck should be built.

Ain't freedom grand (but not free)

Gerry

 

[Crexis]

Some comments (I don't know HOW I missed this thread the first time around!)...

Chevrolet wanted to make the truck so that vertically challenged people could get into it without mountain climbing gear. 90% (or more) of Avs sold probably never see a dirt road.

Now, a limited edition (Z72?) would be AWESOME, but when you consider what it would cost for them to do that (and pass the cost on to us) it's far more economical to just build it to your taste yourself. The down side being that you may not be able to finance the add-ons...where if it were a factory limited edition you could roll off the lot with payments on the whole deal.

Specific concerns:

Angles: Departure angle could be helped a bit, but you'd likely have to sacrifice trailering ability. It could be helped at the corners a lot by a good aftermarket bumper (haven't seen a back bumper I really like yet...) Approach angle is helped a LOT by a good front bumper (there are several pictured on this site). Breakover angle is a symptom of a long wheelbase and the only cure is more lift.

What the Av REALLY needs is less restrictive fenders. That would solve almost all of the problems in one shot by allowing larger tires. Being able to bolt on a set of 315/75's with no aftermarket lift would be AWESOME. There are lots of threads on here that discuss body vs. suspension lift, but the bottom line is that the MOST effective "lift" is that attained with larger tires...gets your axles, as well as the rest of the truck, farther off the ground.

It seems like there's enough upward travel room, just need to modify the body design to get rid of the low narrow openings of the wheel wells.

The problem with all of this is that then you need lower (ratio, high numerically) gears, and then the torque of the new gears and the big tires is going to start to break other things. By the time you upgrade axle shafts, bearings, brakes, etc to match what you've done to the gears and tires, it becomes rather expensive. *sigh*

In the meantime, I'll continue to drool over 4W&OR's project Avalanche THAT is a true off-road Av!

 

[biohazard1.2]

Call it a Z77, to match the Z66.

add at least 30HP...drop in the LS1, 5.7L
lift it at least 2"
give it 33" tires, stock on 8" wheels
add HID option
add freer flow exhaust w/better collectors (manifolds...headers)

and, keep it to NO more than $2500 as an option.

SOLD!

 

[Theosblutruk]

CHA CHING on that I would be in line for it.
This would be a monster compared to the upgrade 4x4 platforms the others have.
Theo

 

[TXAVy]

Some things that I'd like to see added as a "new" Z71 package in the future are:
[snip...]
Mild suspension lift to fit 33" Tires
[snip...]
Rims that are 8" wide

The AV already accomodates 33" tires without any mod at all. Mine is running 285/70R17 MT/Rs which Goodyear rates at 32.9" OD and there is plenty of room around them. The people who have trouble fitting 33" tires are the ones that are changing the rims too for whatever reason and decide that they need wider rims with less backspacing than the stocks. That's what's causing rubbing today, not the fenders/tires.

Also, the stock rims are 7.5" wide already. Adding a half inch isn't going to change what tires you can run by much. Heck, even a 305/70R17 is rated for an 8" tire and I'd have no worries dropping it on a rim 0.5 less than that. Those are almost 34" tall tires. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind an 8" wide rim, but I wouldn't pay much (if anything) more than I already did for what it buys me over a 7.5" rim.

In the meantime, I'll continue to drool over 4W&OR's project Avalanche THAT is a true off-road Av!

Point me at a web page/link/thread. I wanna read up on that truck too.