People aren't taking huge Tahoes offroad lol, these are made for gravel roads, some backwoods getting to the cabin, snow and highways. Personally I'm happy to see SUV manufacturers taking some of the offroad ability people never use away and exchanging that with better onroad abilities which everyone enjoys. Makes them better vehicles for what 99% of owners do with them.

 

Yes. their BOF frames are durable enough for off-road use, but the long wheelbase (particularly with Suburbans) and low approach/breakover/departure angles aren't suitable for clearing off-road obstacles.

 

Fair enough but it sort of neuters it as a truck. There was nothing wrong with the solid axle. They sold like hotcakes.

FWIW I've given my old GMC hell beating it to death off road. It's doesn't have LX capability but very very solid truck bones, solid 5.3 V8 engine, and auto 4x4 with low range. You can throw a lot at it.

The examples you are citing are what crossovers handle. I don't think GM should have sacrificed ground clearance like this for the IRS. Did you see how low to the ground the IRL bits are?

 

Why? Whats wrong with a solid axle is it delivers a lesser quality ride and it takes up space from the interior that makes the vehicle have less interior room...and for no benefit. These will sell just as well if not better.

Its old. Nobody is buying a new $70k Tahoe and beating the hell out of it offroad. Maybe when its 15+ years old, but by then GM doesnt care what people think of it because they're not the primary buyer.

Crossovers can't tow like this vehicle can. Who cares how low it is? Like I said its not going to be an issue for 99.9% of buyers, in fact they will prefer this vehicle because it has more space and a better ride.

I never would have bought a GM SUV over a Ford for this reason, they were too small inside for the size of the vehicle and they didnt ride as well because of the live axle. The current Expedition was just a better vehicle in every way and these changes have narrowed the gap.

Cars used to have all kinds of old tech, recirculating ball steering, leaf springs, etc. Live axles belong in the dung heap of history with all that old tech.

 

If I were going to tow regularly over a long period of time a solid axle is better. I don't have a problem that they switched...but have you seen what I'm talking about? Look in person when you see one. I was behind an Outback today, it looked to have more ground clearance than a new Tahoe.

You would be surprised. I've been on LX forums since I got it, people regularly buy brand new $100k LC/LXs and put ridiculous tires on them and have at it with boulders and stuff at Moab. This Z71 Tahoe looks legit for off roading. People will take them off road. Not the majority though, sure.

The IRL is too low. It's as bad as the ES300s until like 2007 where part of the exhaust hung down below the car and was noticeable.

You didn't mention towing in your descriptions. But sure, any decent crossover will handle light duty off the trail. But these Telluride commercials where they are mudding, kind of a joke.

Recirculating ball steering I believe was what was used in BMW's golden era late 90s early 2000s, like the E39 5 series. BMWs used to have some of the best steering in the world, hands down. Now BMW is just a mess. I personally would prefer a truck with a live axle.

 

I've been behind them several times, they don't look too low to me.

Very, very few people. Makes no sense to make compromises to a vehicle that will detract from its appeal to 99.9% of buyers for the benefit of the .1%.A Tahoe with an independent rear will do way more than the vast majority of buyers will ever ask of it.

Rack and pinion steering is superior in every way. Independent suspension is superior also which is why its almost completely replaced live axles.

 

It would be fairly easy to get stuck or slowed down from that low rear suspension. I'm not saying it wouldn't have the capability to plow right through it, though.

Fair enough, but at least with LC/LX it is not "very, very, very few people". I see Yukons with lifts and off road tires all the time, I did today actually. That new Z71 and Off Road Yukon have some legit off roading stuff. Yukon has a setting where if you're in sand, etc. the whole truck will do a 360--sitting still. People will buy these and take them off roading.

Steering systems I don't know the nitty gritty. I agree independent suspension is better with cars but not trucks.

 

For towing?.....absolutely. That is beyond debate. Live axles are, in most cases, known for their durability. That's one reason why Ford stuck with them on the Mustang GTs for so long, despite the fact that Mustangs aren't used for towing, Ford knew that lots of the young kids in Mustangs drag-race and do burnouts......the live axle on the GT was more resistant to damage from that abuse than the IRS on the Cobras, which were more set up for better handling.


Yep....again, you're correct. Past-generation BMWs wrote the book on how to do tactile power-steering.

 

too low for what? What does that even mean? You go IRS for the far better on road ride quality, handling, and increased interior volume. A Tahoe/Suburban isnt going to be rock crawling

 

A Tahoe with the Z71 package might go rock crawling. It has lots of off road goodies.

And I mean it's too low as in it compromises ground clearance. The IRS you can clearly see, it's too low.

 

Just because a Tahoe has a lift and the Z71 package doesn’t mean they are going to go off-roading with it lol. I see a ton of lifted modified vehicles without a spec of dirt on them. Remember that lifted Jeep that rear ended me last year? You think that’s ever seen anything but a gravel parking lot?

IRS is just better for a passenger vehicle, and that’s what these vehicles are, family haulers.

And yes, very very few LC and LX buyers take them off-road either.

 

an LX has off road goodies yet the spare tire is under the vehicle, the one spot you dont want it to be for true off roading because it reduces ground clearance and you cant get to it when you need it

 

And by the way, I looked it up...the new generation GM SUVs have exactly the same ground clearance as the previous generation with the live rear axle. 7.9 inches. A 2005 Tahoe was 8.4 inches, so the modern ones have 1/2 inch less clearance.

 

It does not reduce ground clearance. I assure you the spare was placed there purposely rather than an afterthought. I wish it had a cool looking exhaust too but it doesn't, the exit pipe looks awkwardly placed but that was on purpose too. No LC/LX person ever complains (that I've seen) about the spare being in the way when they're off roading, if anything people are glad a legit, full size spare is there.

Yeah I just looked it up too. The Z71 will raise it by 2 inches with its air suspension. 7.9 IMO is pretty bad but to raise it to 10 inches is good.

Like I said, I think the Z71s will see adventure. The regular ones, no.

 

The point is its the same as the previous version, so it has nothing to do with the IRS.

Your own Tahoe you "thrash around offroad" only has half an inch more clearance lol, somehow you muddle through.