what exactly is a chevy Z-71 and how does it compare to the Ford Off-road (pre-97) and FX-4? and whatever dodge uses?

 

Its basically their Off-Road package, 4x4, better tire and gear ratio setup, suspension may be tweaked a little better. The best off-road package before 2002 was the "off-road" package from Dodge on the last few years of the old design, they actually lifted the truck about 2", had heavy duty shocks&springs, LSD, and larger tires, Ford had the next best but not as aggressive as the dodge, and the chevy was never that great because it basically labels that their truck has 4x4.

 

i thought the Z-71 was basically a sticker package. as for the dodge off-road package i remember now, that was probaly the best outta the bunch but i do remember reading in Petersons 4wheel/Offroad that te shocks hit the frame rails and it wasnt to impressive.

 

Yeah that isn't good, I think basically the chevy is a sticker package because out of all the trucks, the chevy's have the worst ground clearance. The frame rails are really low, you can see the entire thing from looking at the truck from the side!

 

Actually, the Z71s have an automatic locking differential, which is better than the limited slip on the FX4. They also have more skid plates and better shocks than the FX4...not to mention 4-wheel disc brakes. If I had to pick a truck ONLY based on it's off-road package, the Chevy would win hands down. I hate to admit that.

 

And the FX4 doesn't have 4 wheel disc???

 

I test drove an 01 Ram with the Off-road package. Loved it. Very high, rode great. The only reason I didn't buy it was that it had 95000 miles and looked throttled. It road and drove good though.

Mike

 

GM's Z71 package includes only:

Heavy-duty shocks
Off-road suspension bumpers and stabilizer bar
Skid plates under the front axle and transfer case
Z71 stickers
Heavy-duty air filter

That's from the 2003 sales book. The locking rear diff and 4.10 gearing are optional and available on non-Z71 models as well.

I had an '01 1500 Silverado Z71 with a 5.3L (knocking of course), 4.10s and a locking diff and it got much better traction offroad and in snow/ice than any stock 4x4 F150 I've been in or my current F250 with LSD. Of course their ground clearance stinks but for traction I have to say GM has the upper hand right now.

I love my Ford but a GM 1500 Z71 with the 4.10s, 5.3L and locking rear-diff with a good set of all-terrain tires is as good a stock off-road pickup as any. Like I said, the one bad thing is the low frame and body clearance, and Ford wins out on that. The solid front axle on the Superduty series is also a big plus.

 

My 03 FX4 has 4 wheel disc brakes. How are their shocks better? The FX4 has some pretty nice Rancho shocks. I also don't think they have more skid plates.

 

snow and ice? locking diff??

do you do much snow/ice driving?

sorry, but i drive in ALOT of snow, and ice... and a locker is not what you want. sure is fun being all over the place, but in normal commuting, it is just plain scarry.... i do like the idea of selectable tho, i give generic motors a thumbs up there, but i would prefer an LSD with a lock option, barring that, and LSD only...

i had my PSD SD in 20" of snow just yesterday...OMG was that fun! very stable, went straight as hail....my 78 on the same road, it was all over the place... with far better snow tire.... very tightly packed clutch tuype rr diff, acts like a locker thats stuck locked unless on dry pavement. nearly got stuck twice, although it was alot more fun than the 03 was :P

as for bigbluebronco43... LMAO again!

look who brought a dodge to a chevy/ford thread.....AGAIN!

i was wrong, your not a closet dodge boy, your just a dodge boy!

anyhoo, not trying to pick on you, just see it in most threads that do not involve dodges, you bring em in!

 

According to GM's brochures, Z71 comes with the automatic locking differential which IS nicer than what we have. They do have more skid plating, particularly up front where it really matters. Ranchos are nice, but I think anyone who knows off-roading would pick the Bilsteins first if they had the choice. And the disc brakes were always an option on Ford, standard on Z71 but that may have changed this year I'm not sure. The heavy duty air filter and HEPA filtration on the climate control system on the Z is nice for those dirt roads also. I'm not saying GM makes a better truck..no way. I'm just saying their off-road package is a nicer package for the $$$.

 

I know 4 wheel disk brakes are standard on all 2003 F150 FX4 trucks. Perhaps this is not true for Rangers. I think discs were even standard on F150 4x4 without FX4 for 2003. Also, I like my 17 inch wheels much better than the smaller diameter ones on the chevy.

 

I do plenty of snow/ice driving during the winter months. I also drive in mild offroad condtions in 4wd a few times a week and put in a few miles per week driving on some poorly maintained dirt and gravel roads.

The Chevy 1500 Z71 I had got better traction in ice/snow(assuming the snow's not too deep) and offroad. The Eaton auto locker they use is not "scary" and never caused me any problems in snow. It quietly and smoothly engages and unlocks when it detects wheel slippage and in my experience it's a superior traction device in all conditions to Ford's LSD. Don't believe me? That's fine-but I've owned both and driven them in all sorts of condtions.

Last winter I drove my F250 to work in 25" to 30" of unplowed snow and it did great. I'm certain the Silverado would have let me down due to it's low clearance. I think the Superduty has the advantage in deep snow (over 12") due to it's height and weight.

 

My 84 F150 4x4 has a locking rear diff! Sorry! I just had to be a smart A$$!

 

I'm sorry but the Dodge did have the best offroad package. Highest, came standard with 32 inch tires and deep gears 3.92s I think. Just line up the big three and you'll see.

Mike