New tow vehicle

[GaryM]

Have any TBNers driven the new pickups with the four wheel steering? The ad on TV showing how the rear wheel steering helps back the trailer into a tight spot looks good. Also the part where he backs around the figure 8.

I probably wouldn't buy based on that alone. But if I were looking at two units and one had it and the other didn't...

How about higher purchase cost and repair costs?

Any information out there?

 

[gobbler]

I bought a new 2500HD in January. The dealer had of one those Quadrasteer on his lot. I did drive it. I can tell you that it works as advertised. Of course I didn;t have a trailer on it, but I can see how it would make backing a trailer easier.

Now for the sticker shock, it's a ~4500 option

I believe it's only available on 1500 & 1500HD. It also looks like a maintenance nightmare.

Just think about all the front end steering components and basically move them to the rear, but instead of being somewhat protected in the front, it's all exposed in the rear. Look like trouble waiting to happen...

Jim

 

[RanchMan]

<font color="blue">Look like trouble waiting to happen... </font>

I agree. More plumbing to get screwed up. I'd never own one as u-joints are far more prone to failure than a solid axle. May "work" but if I'm hauling something, I want as much strength as possible.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Wow. $4500 is a lot of dough to spend to avoid pulling forward and backing up a little to get the trailer to go where you want it. I suppose if you're the only guy in the neighborhood to have one, and that matters to you...but I'll let someone else have that honor and I'll buy $4500 worth of pretzels and Diet Pepsi to console me after doing all that work with the trailer...

 

[rocky2]

I traded a '01 4x4 2500 HD crew for a 1500 HD 4x4 crew with Quadrasteer. I now have about 4k on it so far and it does as stated. The 4ws does more than aid in backing up with a trailer, it adds lane change and general tracking stability. The 4ws is selective to "regular" or tow mode. The degree of rear wheel turn varies (10-12 degrees and directional) between 4ws and 4ws tow mode. Since you can selectively turn off the 4ws, I Towed my 30 foot, 7K lbs plus boat around for awhile and it does provide a noticeable highway stability difference. On a two lane winding road the trailer follows as if it's not there, traditional oversteer is virtually nonexistant. Trailer backing with Quadrasteer is slick. It takes a little getting used to if you're used to a traditional method. Towing capacity is reduced about 300 lbs due to the additional weight of the QS. Is it more technology to break? It's mechanical, it can break, but so can and do designs that have been around for 20 years. Is it more electronics to act up, look under any new vehicle hood now! Is it a pricey option I could live without, sure. But on the same hand, the backhoe for the tractor is a pricey option I could live without but I still got one.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I'm going to be real interested to see if the resale on these aws trucks is strong or not. I had occasion to chat with a GM rep in January who told me that the biggest problem they were having was resistance from the dealers, themselves. A lot of them not only didn't want to inventory these but wouldn't even order one to have available to demonstrate. That can't help sales or consumer acceptance.

I know the difference in value on the all wheel drive astro/safari GM minivans and their two wheel drive counterparts is negligible if not nil. If these aws trucks follow that pattern, they might be a great buy in a couple years or so. Sadly, the last I knew, the aws option was not available on extended or four door cab trucks (where, IMHO, it would have even great utility).

 

[GaryM]

Thanks for the input. I'm starting to think about a replacement for my '97 Expedition. Might go with an extended cab PU this time. Last PU I owned was a '74 Ford F-100.

 

[kokopelli2]

74 f-100s are great! i am in the start of my restoration of a 74 f100!

 

[GaryM]

I didn't know much about thrucks at the time, and maybe still don't. But I was disapointed to find that with a driver and one passanger and a full fuel tank, there was only about 400 lbs. left before you hit the max GVW.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

<font color="blue">But I was disapointed to find that with a driver and one passanger and a full fuel tank, there was only about 400 lbs. left before you hit the max GVW.</font>

I had a bud who had an F100 of about that year. We were talking about him getting upgraded wheels for it. I told him that Ford half tons and Jeeps had the same five on five and a half inch pattern. So if he saw a good deal on some Jeep wheels he could pick them up for his pick'em up.

Wrong! The F100 about then was based upon the station wagon for componets, smaller wheels, brakes, springs, etc. It wasn't a half ton at all but a look alike. They had the F150 as the half ton.