GM HD Trucks Many with AWD instead of 4WD

I build these trucks.... it is either 2 h 4l/4h. Or those 3 plus the auto.... depending on trim pkg

The truck I'm considering is a Chevy 2500 HD with the 11,350 GVWR and upgraded RAWR and other towing capabilities. It's "in transit" from Michigan to Buffalo. What that means exactly, I don't know and neither does the new truck sales manager. He has requested updates every 5 days from GM. It's been "in transit" over a week now. In all fairness, it's probably on a truck carrier going who knows where and could even be in Canada somewhere. (shortest route from Flint, MI to Buffalo, NY is through Canada). On the Chevy website it says it's 4WD, on the dealers website it says AWD and on the window sticker from the dealers website it says 4WD. The sales manager says its a 4WD model as well. Who knows at this point. It might get here and I'll find out it's a 4 cylinder Chevy Sonic.

time2roll wrote:
If it applies the brakes to any wheel to transfer the torque then it is weak and is for moderate conditions at best. JMHO

I have TrueTrac limited slip front and rear along with the locked low range as needed. Works great for what I need.

The brake thing works fine. Not a locker but it works.

People have been doing it for years manually.

I have had a tire hanging in the air and the brake based torque biasing system worked perfect.

Can someone point me to these supposed AWD transfer cases in HD GM trucks?

All the ones I see are true 2 speed cases. They may have an Auto Mode with computer controlled clutches, but they also have dedicated 2WD, 4WD, and 4WD low ranges.

I know some of the Denali SUV's may have AWD single speed cases, but these are still true, robust transfer cases, that will do the job just fine for 90% of people. They are nothing like what people envision when thinking of the "AWD" mini SUV's.

If it applies the brakes to any wheel to transfer the torque then it is weak and is for moderate conditions at best. JMHO

I have TrueTrac limited slip front and rear along with the locked low range as needed. Works great for what I need.

i think you are mistaken on what you see... some trim levels have 4-h/l 2-h and auto... not just a north thing... just watched one go down the line headed to TX that way

I've driven both ...

AWD is great for family vehicle, and running around town, occasionally rain, mud, or dirt roads.

True 4x4 will save your personal rear-end when you need it.

I traded my mini-4x4 Chevy for a AWD Van in 1999 - a Safari - thought, great don't have to sweat it, just drive and never get stuck. Most times it was great, snow, mud, whatever ...

I drove the White Rim Trail in that AWD - got stuck once, took a couple hours to free myself... shovel, boards, etc. Got stuck again, same hassle. I envisioned myself with a $5000 towing bill at one point, but got out. Turned around, drove out of WRT, finished my trip, and the next week drove home, bought a 4x4 again and have never been without one since.

If you need a run-around vehicle, in town or on reasonable roads, AWD is better than one wheel or FWD. If you ever go where you need 4x4 and don't have it, you're cooked.

mkirsch wrote:
AWD and traction control probably would have worked well in that situation.

Traditional 4x4, even with a limited slip or locking rear diff, is at best a THREE wheel drive system, and that one front wheel that's spinning doesn't bring anything to the party except some slung mud. If you've got open diffs front and rear then you're down to a TWO wheel drive system, and the wheels that get power are always the ones with the LEAST traction.

AWD doesn't let you get to that point. If you're stuck, you're truly stuck because all four wheels have no traction. You're not stuck because the two wheels that might be able to get a little bite are just sitting there while the other two spin.

AWD will cover 99.99999% of cases, except maybe rock crawling or mud bogging. If you're doing those with a brand new production vehicle, I'd call your sanity into question.

I have seen a AWD stuck spinning each wheel, then taking power from the spinning wheel, until finally. It took power from all the wheels. and it just sat there doing nothing.

MFL wrote:
This thread is an interesting read, and I was waiting to hear of an actual owner of a new GM heavy duty, with the AWD. I read something about 3 drive shafts, with the 3rd one splitting the power to wheels needed. Myself, I'd want to know everything about it before going that route. This is not saying I am against buying the AWD for Rob's intended use. I also don't believe that GM would design a HD truck with AWD, that would not be excepted by most, as a GOOD thing.

My wife's Escape Limited has AWD, and it works well for her use. Still not the same use as a HD truck. While we all know Ford is best...I trust GM knows what they are doing. :)

Jerry

I really do like the Ford trucks. I only have one issue with them. They are a couple of inches taller than the Ram and GM trucks (unless they have changed the height on them) so it wouldn't fit in my garage. I only have an 81" clearance. I can't seem to get past the idea of having a 24'X40' garage that I can't park a truck in without the huge expense of putting in a taller door.

mkirsch wrote:
AWD and traction control probably would have worked well in that situation.

Traditional 4x4, even with a limited slip or locking rear diff, is at best a THREE wheel drive system, and that one front wheel that's spinning doesn't bring anything to the party except some slung mud. If you've got open diffs front and rear then you're down to a TWO wheel drive system, and the wheels that get power are always the ones with the LEAST traction.

AWD doesn't let you get to that point. If you're stuck, you're truly stuck because all four wheels have no traction. You're not stuck because the two wheels that might be able to get a little bite are just sitting there while the other two spin.

AWD will cover 99.99999% of cases, except maybe rock crawling or mud bogging. If you're doing those with a brand new production vehicle, I'd call your sanity into question.

I'm not doing those activities in any vehicle which is strange in a way because in my teens and twenties, I loved riding dirt bikes. Why those things never appealed to me I have no idea.

This thread is an interesting read, and I was waiting to hear of an actual owner of a new GM heavy duty, with the AWD. I read something about 3 drive shafts, with the 3rd one splitting the power to wheels needed. Myself, I'd want to know everything about it before going that route. This is not saying I am against buying the AWD for Rob's intended use. I also don't believe that GM would design a HD truck with AWD, that would not be excepted by most, as a GOOD thing.

My wife's Escape Limited has AWD, and it works well for her use. Still not the same use as a HD truck. While we all know Ford is best...I trust GM knows what they are doing. :)

Jerry