Just saw this (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278110) in tow rigs and trailers.

Charlo

sweet! too bad it has a rotary knob transfer case selector..i dont like those.

Awesome. Wish they would start offering a SFA as an option for there 2500HD's if nothing else.

IMO, they should do what Ford and Dodge are doing...IFS 1/2 tons, and everything else SFA. Even ford learned from their TTB disasterpiece.

IMO, they should do what Ford and Dodge are doing...IFS 1/2 tons, and everything else SFA.

Fawk that! My 2500HD tows 10X better than any SFA tow-rig I've ever used. SFA for LITTLE trucks that are small enough for trails would be cool, since nobody makes one. But, if you just HAVE to have an SFA 1-ton, you already have 2 choices.

TEX

There's a few pics here:
http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6269&st=200

With a rig of this size, the Navistar and Freightliner offerings look even better IMO.

IMO, they should do what Ford and Dodge are doing...IFS 1/2 tons, and everything else SFA.

Agree, I'd never understood 'why not'...!
(Beacuse the 'Camper Folk's' wan't comfort, howerver it's no problem offering SFA Rig w/ comfort..)

Fawk that! My 2500HD tows 10X better than any SFA tow-rig I've ever used. SFA for LITTLE trucks that are small enough for trails would be cool, since nobody makes one. But, if you just HAVE to have an SFA 1-ton, you already have 2 choices.

TEX

So you like IFS?

I personally hate it...having worked on a small fleet of 89-00 K2500 (6 and 8 lug) trucks, I must say IFS is utter junk. True, most of these trucks run plows...but they still spit parts out like crazy. When winter rolls around we stock up on cv's and axleshafts.

If you insist that IFS gives a better ride, then maybe it does in a car :flipoff2: but the leaf sprung SD's I have test driven and ridden in, as well as the couple of newer coilsprung Rams I have ridden in, both rode very nice.

So you like IFS?

I personally hate it...having worked on a small fleet of 89-00 K2500 (6 and 8 lug) trucks, I must say IFS is utter junk. True, most of these trucks run plows...but they still spit parts out like crazy. When winter rolls around we stock up on cv's and axleshafts.

If you insist that IFS gives a better ride, then maybe it does in a car :flipoff2: but the leaf sprung SD's I have test driven and ridden in, as well as the couple of newer coilsprung Rams I have ridden in, both rode very nice.

Yes, I like it for a tow rig. Not only does it ride better, but more importantly, it goes where you point it, unlike every SFA towrig I've ever owned or driven - including SuperDuties & late-model Dodges. IFS is a poor choice for snowplows (then again, coil-sprung fronts aren't much better) & lifts. But, for what I bought MY truck for (towing), it is w/o a doubt the best thing offered.

TEX

Fawk that! My 2500HD tows 10X better than any SFA tow-rig I've ever used. SFA for LITTLE trucks that are small enough for trails would be cool, since nobody makes one. But, if you just HAVE to have an SFA 1-ton, you already have 2 choices.

TEX


That might be true, and IFS does ride nice. But I honestly cant see where it would hurt GM to OFFER it as an option for the 2500HD or even the 1/2 ton for that matter.

Mass Produce your IFS all you want to IMO. Rides nice. But for the people that want a SFA it should be an option on the 2500HD+ .

People are always saying "oh gm has put to much money in there IFS to go back to SFA's" Ok, whatever thats nice. But they have not thrown any money away on there IFS developement by offering a SFA IMO.
I know DIE HARD Chevy fans that have bought Fords lately because they knew they wanted to take it big and wanted the SFA. That is a sale GM would have had if they had the option.

Just my $.02 :D

So you like IFS? I personally hate it...having worked on a small fleet of 89-00 K2500 (6 and 8 lug) trucks, I must say IFS is utter junk.

I don't like working on it either. However, you nor I get to decide what the consumer buys. The IFS 4x4 suspension has been a success in upselling 4wd to people who prefered the premium ride of a 2wd truck. As a result GM now has some interesting product differentiation... One, being the only one to offer IFS 4wd in a 3/4 & 1-ton. Two, the only one to offer the Allison trans in a light truck.

Its all about $$$ in pockets. :flipoff2: Nothing new.

p.s. Gotta stay off the hardcore 4wd circuit to get some idea on why this IFS crap even sells ;)

I understand that GM's only motive is money, but still...coilsprung sfa's still ride very nice. heck, even the few sd's i've ridden in werent that bad. I believe consumers thinking that IFS will solve all their ride quality problems is incorrect. It all involves spring rates...but does the average consumer know that? of course not. but here I am preaching to the choir (except for Tex :p)

I understand that GM's only motive is money, but still...coilsprung sfa's still ride very nice.

You're missing the point. It's not about ride quality. It's about HANDLING. The SFA trucks handle SO sloppily compared to IFS that it can mean the difference between wrecking & not quite wrecking in a crisis situation. When I have a load behind my truck & some idiot pulls out in front of me, I KNOW how my IFS truck is going to react. I do not have that same confidence with an SFA towrig - at least not with any that have been produced so far. And actually, if I HAD to have an SFA towrig, I would prefer it be leafsprung. The ride sucks, but the handling (while still not as good as IFS) is steadier than the coil-sprung trucks I've driven.

As for "hard-core" wheeling, trust me, the vehicle that rides ON the trailer is SFA. But, I didn't buy my 2500HD to wheel. I bought it to tow, period.


TEX