Colorado - full locking dif vs. auto locking dif

[BobsCreek]

Personally I would stick with the z71 Crew/Long Bed.

It simply has more versatity than a short bed, and in the end (as other have said) the rear locker issue is nominal though a front locker is nice, if you are inclined to get into more "extreme" offroading.

I admit, I'm biased. - 2015 Colorado, z71 cc/lb

 

[Sleeping Bear]

The auto locker works very well in sand, mud, snow, ice, and other low traction surfaces you will come across off road. It can be a little awkward in rock crawling situations, as getting enough wheel spin to get it to lock can seem somewhat "against the rules" of off road driving. You just have to keep your foot on the throttle until it locks, and when it does lock, it is abrupt. However, it is definitely workable for the level of "rock crawling" that a stock height Z71 is capable of navigating.

I understand the short bed can be a bit of a deal-breaker on the ZR2 crew cab. I would not want a bed that short either. If you are ok with the extended cab though, you can get a 6ft bed on a ZR2.

I actually like the look of the extended cab long bed better than the crew cab short bed, but there is no way my wife and I and my 6ft teenage son are all fitting in an extended cab lol. So yeah, really leaning z71 crew cab long bed.

I'll be putting an AT habitat camper on it, so the extra foot in the bed will give us a tad more space back there too. I can't wait until it is all done.

 

[rkj__]

So yeah, really leaning z71 crew cab long bed.

I'll be putting an AT habitat camper on it, so the extra foot in the bed will give us a tad more space back there too. I can't wait until it is all done.

The Z71 gives you a better payload rating, and a much better tow rating than the ZR2 as well.

 

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

With your driving profile the Z71 will will provide everything you need and more.

 

[Sleeping Bear]

Well quick update I went ahead and bought the truck, or at least they are working on a dealer trade. Couldn't find a long bed with the options I wanted anywhere so ended up getting a short box z71, the orange crush color- lol. Hope it looks awesome with the black habitat camper I'll be ordering soon!

Thanks for all the input fellow members who have far more wisdom than I do.

 

[rkj__]

Well quick update I went ahead and bought the truck, or at least they are working on a dealer trade. Couldn't find a long bed with the options I wanted anywhere so ended up getting a short box z71, the orange crush color- lol. Hope it looks awesome with the black habitat camper I'll be ordering soon!

Thanks for all the input fellow members who have far more wisdom than I do.

Congratulations on getting a new truck headed your way.

The orange colour is cool. I had an Inferno Orange Canyon (first gen), and the colour got a lot of complements.

I also found that the crew cab short bed was far more popular on dealer lots than the crew cab long bed when I was looking at the second gen Colorado. I ended up going for a double cab Sierra.

 

[BobsCreek]

Congratulations!

Check out Colorado / Canyon Enthusiasts
https://www.facebook.com/groups/478145272353999/

For myself, I drove 600 miles to find the truck I wanted :-D

 

[Sleeping Bear]

Congratulations!

Check out Colorado / Canyon Enthusiasts
https://www.facebook.com/groups/478145272353999/

For myself, I drove 600 miles to find the truck I wanted :-D

Thank you very much, I submitted my application to the admin.

 

[roving1]

I find the locker discussion somewhat moot as the suspension in the ZR2 is the best suspension going for midsize trucks at the moment. It's leagues above the Z71 in every environment. Street and dirt. The money saved is not worth it missing out on that suspension IMHO. Probably has way better resale value too if that matters to you...oops I see it was bought already. Oh well.

 

[TernOverland]

Realizing that every vehicle and driver is a bit different; I can say that I will never again put an automatic locker (not a limited slip ; I mean automatic LOCKING differential i.e. Detroit locker or one of its cousins) in a vehicle that is going to see slippery conditions; lived with a rear Detroit locker for well over a decade and it tried to kill me in the slippery several times (besides having the habit of allowing the vehicle to go into something approaching free fall on vey steep, mogully, descents; where alternate tires are come clear of the ground... the approaches to the Eisenhower tunnel here in Colorado can be very entertaining with a rear automatic locker since the crown of the highway is enough in some conditions to make the rear differential go sideways in the slippery.
I suspect that most new vehicle will not come with an actual automatic locker but some thing that is digitally controlled or the (overly complex and somewhat fragile on occasion) traditional GM gov-lock.
Just because the label says lock/loc or lok does not mean that it is a true locker... mostly they are trying to fool people and are some form of limited slip differential, in my experience.
I am a fan of driver actuated lockers (ARB air lockers specifically) because once locked they stay (truly) locked until released; however relatively few drivers will go into terrain where a locker is actually needed; although they do cover a multitude of driving sins...
Most recently, I put a Torsen limited slip (gear driven limited slip; avoid anything with clutches , IMO, or any thing that requires special lube or additives) into the front of the daily driven Explorer and an ARB air locker into the rear (came from Australia by slow banana boat (mostly they are in stock but mine was not) ... it was worth the wait.

BTW a locker or two is not a guarantee against getting stuck (though it can help, even limited slips can help)... the driver must still pick and follow an achievable line... and have good accessories like high traction tires. (If you are getting lockers but planning on using all terrain tires you are not going for, nor going to get, maximum traction, IMO).

Enjoy!

This exactly ^^^. It is the unintended locking that is the problem. If you lack experience, then get it. Find a good mentor or take a class to start. Don't rely on auto systems to do your thinking. You will rarely need the lockers, but they are nice to have! Another instance where positive in and out of locked is good is on muddy roads with curves. The ability to lock up on straight sections and then unlock and let your momentum and open axles carry you around a corners is a great technique. I have 2 low capability in my truck, and frankly, I rarely use 4x4 or the lockers. Mostly they are insurance policies.

Another downside to a speed sensing locker with big tires is that suddenly locking a big tire turning 100 rpm can contribute to a broken axle. I don't know what the Coloraco has for axles. Maybe they put in larger axles too. I ended up putting high strength axles in a truck that had a Detroit locker, after breaking one. These days I would just run without a locker unless I could afford an ARB or similar selectable system. I have ARBs at both ends. In various vehicles, they have served me flawlessly for over 25 years

 

[Happy Joe]

Just found a picture of the GM (G80 option) automatic locking/Eaton differential ... looks like a guv lock; nothing special, or particularly desirable, there. In normal street use they will probably work adequately, I would replace it with a heavier duty, selectable locker, for off road use, at the earliest opportunity, personally...

Enjoy!