Ride Quality Difference with and without Z71 Package 2500HD Duramax

[Greggster]

I am trying to decide if I want the Z71 off road package or not on a 2020 HD 2500.  I will be using the truck mainly as a daily driver and occasionally pulling our camping trailer.  Don't plan on driving thru plowed fields or having any "off road" experiences.  My gut tells me that ride quality should be smoother (less harsh)  without the Z71 option, but all of the LTZs available on the lot seem to have the Z71 option.

Does anyone have direct experience driving a 2500 HD with the Z71 and without the Z71 package??

Would appreciate anyone with practical experience driving both.

Thanks,,,,,,,!

[Wintersun]

The Z package is not going to make a noticeable difference in ride quality with these trucks. What will make a difference, which was a surprise to me, is adding a heavy duty rear sway bar.

I added the Hellwig Big Wig and it did nothing for the ride with a 4000 lb load in the bed but when the bed was empty I experienced greatly reduced wheel hop.

 

Where I live the roads are as bad as most third world countries and hitting a pothole or an overpass expansion crack in a turn would cause one wheel to push that side of the truck up into the air. The negative attribute of sway bars is that shocks from one wheel are transferred to the opposite wheel, while being a negative on a street racer, is a very big positive with a pickup truck.

[Greggster]

Thank you for your thoughts -- much appreciated.

[Dunn]

z71 is just rancho shocks, and maybe a 2spd case on 2500? idk....some skid plates

 

not a huge deal

 

theyre are easily better shocks you can throw on there for not a lot of money if that's what you want...

[leverett.scott]

I own a 1500 with Z-71, the shocks are way to soft. The standard 4x4 only comes with 4 wheel high, with the Z-71 you get 4 wheel low as well.

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[redwngr]

Form the guide:

 

Z71 on 2020 HD silverado:

 

Z71         Z71 Off-Road Package, includes (Z71) Off-Road suspension with off-road tuned twin tube Rancho shocks, (JHD) Hill Descent Control and (NZZ) skid plates (transfer case and oil pan)
WT - Requires 4WD model. Includes (QXT) LT265/70R17 all-terrain, blackwall tires. "4X4" decals on bed are replaced with "Z71" fender badge. Not available with (ZW9) pickup bed delete.
LT - Requires 4WD model. Includes (QXT) LT265/70R17 all-terrain, blackwall tires and molded in color grille with Z71 logo. Included with (PDZ) Z71 Off-Road and Protection Package. "4X4" decals on bed are replaced with "Z71" fender badge. Not available with (ZW9) pickup bed delete.
LTZ - Requires 4WD model. Includes Chrome grille inserts with Z71 logo. Included with (PDZ) Z71 Off-Road and Protection Package. "4X4" decals on bed are replaced with "Z71" fender badge. Not available with (ZW9) pickup bed delete.

HC - no restriction

Custom - not available 

 

 

X31 on HD sierra is similar:  

X31         X31 Off-Road Package, includes (JHD) Hill Descent Control, (NZZ) skid plates, Off-Road suspension, Twin-tube Rancho shocks and X31 hard badge
sierra and SLE- Requires 4WD model and AT tires. Includes (QXT) LT265/70R17E all-terrain, blackwall tires. Not available with (ZW9) pickup bed delete.
SLT - Requires 4WD model and AT tires. Not available with (ZW9) pickup bed delete. 

 

On AT4 and Denali:

X31 Off-Road Package, includes (JHD) Hill Descent Control, (NZZ) skid plates, Off-Road suspension and Twin-tube Rancho shocks

Edited March 16, 2020 by redwngr

[Greggster]

So, it is sounding like there is very little difference in the ride quality of the 2 options.  I did test drive one with the snow plow option & it was a noticeably stiffer ride than one with just the off road Z71 pkg.  Can’t find a truck to test drive without the off road pkg. for comparison. 

[Greggster]

UPDATE;

My dealer actually got an LTZ in stock without the Z71 package & they allowed me to drive both trucks (with & without the Z71 option)  back to back.  In my opinion, the Z71 truck does have a noticeably more harsh ride.  This is based just on my perception, driving on the same roads, at basically the same speeds.  I obviously did not have instrumentation to document the actual ride quality, but to me the Z71 option seems to give a rougher ride.

Thanks to those who gave input,,,,!

 

[Dunn]

that's pretty much what I would expect.....Z71 ranchos aren't praised very much and are different than TB versions, TB monotube are much better ride than twin tubes.....easy fix I suppose,  if you need the 2spd transfer its worth it to get pkg

 

the only way I would differentiate getting or not getting a Z71 is the transfer case....though idk if its same on 2500 as 1500 as in if std models come with it or not....if it already has it I would bypass the Z71 and get my own shocks DTL....

 

I had some twin tube ranchos awhile back and hated them....I definetly wouldn't spend extra money for it

[redwngr]

14 hours ago, Greggster said:

UPDATE;

My dealer actually got an LTZ in stock without the Z71 package & they allowed me to drive both trucks (with & without the Z71 option)  back to back.  In my opinion, the Z71 truck does have a noticeably more harsh ride.  This is based just on my perception, driving on the same roads, at basically the same speeds.  I obviously did not have instrumentation to document the actual ride quality, but to me the Z71 option seems to give a rougher ride.

Thanks to those who gave input,,,,!

 

Did you verify tire pressures were the same?

Airing down to match the load makes a significant ride difference

 

Rim size also matters. Smaller diameter factory rims have tires with taller sidewalls, but have similar/same overall diameters.  More sidewall, more flex.

 

(Having said that I've had several with Hill Descent, and haven't yet found a place to use it - you can download an operators manual and read description to see if it would be useful to your needs. 

Skid plates are available separately, and are included on higher trims (so don't show as included with z71).  If you operate off-road conditions where there is concern about sticks, cornstocks etc, they might be desired.

I don't disagree with ranchos providing a stiffer ride.  Some find stiffer ride / less 'float is desirable.  )

 

[Greggster]

Thanks again for the input,,,,,,

I checked the Chevy website and it looks like both versions of the HD transfer case has 4wh low, But one has the an AWD mode.

As for the tire - wheel - pressure differences between the two trucks,,,, good point,,,,, but both trucks had same wheels & tires and the tire pressures were essentially the same too, at least according to the info system.  
thanks again! 

[Cpl_Punishment]

18 hours ago, Greggster said:

Thanks again for the input,,,,,,

I checked the Chevy website and it looks like both versions of the HD transfer case has 4wh low, But one has the an AWD mode.

As for the tire - wheel - pressure differences between the two trucks,,,, good point,,,,, but both trucks had same wheels & tires and the tire pressures were essentially the same too, at least according to the info system.  
thanks again! 

I would definitely go with whichever one has 4Auto. Well worth the money. 

[Greggster]

I fully agree,,,,,, and that’s my plan,,,,, as soon as they fire up the assembly lines again.

Thanks.