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Author Topic:   Quadrasteer as a tow vehicle?

Dr T posted 08-17-2004 10:26 PM ET (US)
Now that the Chevy Quadrasteers have been out for a couple of years, I am considering one as a tow vehicle. I have seen some of the early press, but I tend to take reports in automotive journals with a grain--well, a 40 lb. block--of salt.
Does anyone have any direct, personal experience with the Chevy Quadrasteer as a Whaler Haulers?
Do they have any bad habits?
How is the reliability?
Thanks,
tds
where2 posted 08-18-2004 12:12 AM ET (US)
The president of my company bought a Yukon_XL with quadrasteer. We picked it up in November, and it now has 35k miles on it! When hitched to the 25' Whaler Frontier, it will park the trailer like nothing else I've ever seen! The other major tow vehicle for the Whaler is the Ford Excursion. The difference between the 4-ws and trying to park the trailer in tight quarters with the Excursion makes us wish we had the Yukon every time we try to park it. Having the Whaler Drive option didn't help the 25' Frontier become any more maneuverable on the trailer, but the 4-ws on the tow vehicle helps put it where you wanted it...
As for reliability, I wondered that myself at first. Yet, despite 35k miles (a good bit of which is off-road since he's a hunter and a surveyor), everything has held together nicely... No problems related to the 4-ws, despite running oversized tires...
Dr T posted 08-18-2004 07:02 PM ET (US)
Thanks,
tds
uberhahn posted 08-19-2004 01:24 PM ET (US)
I have towed 5-th wheel trailers with a 3/4 ton equipped with quadrasteer. If I ever end up buying a pickup truck, mine will have quadrasteer. It makes so much sense. You'll never have to back into a parking spot again.
Towing was great. So much more response with backing trailers. Highway driving saw no difference. Stable and smooth.
I have not heard any negative reports on reliability. My friends work for GM dealers, and have not seen any quadrasteer related failures.
uberhahn
holiberry posted 08-22-2004 05:20 AM ET (US)
once you use one your done! i happen to be a 15 yr manager at a local chevy store. will be gald to inform, sell, advise, etc you on a new or used one. i can ship to you and you can do it all over the net, phone etc. we sell quite a few on ebay as well. (pmchevy)dholifield@petemoore.com 800-477-2438 x223 850-456-7000x223. any info you need i have. david holifield (holiberry)
sklein posted 08-22-2004 08:25 PM ET (US)
Use the GM 24 hour test drive program to try one out. Take it home and tow your boat. You can change modes (2WS, 4WS, and 4WS Trailering) on Quadrasteer while you drive. Do this while towing your boat to compare backing manueverability, highway manuevers, and anything else. You'll quickly understand the benefits of four wheel steering.
Steve
jherin posted 10-08-2005 12:36 AM ET (US)
dose anyone know about how the tires last with the 4-ws vs the norm or is their any diff in how long they last. also has any one had to get an alinement on a 4-ws thruck and what did it cost thank jason
Bulldog posted 10-08-2005 02:08 PM ET (US)
The dealer where we service our trucks told me that they are dropping the quad steer option next year....Jack
tomroe posted 10-08-2005 08:27 PM ET (US)
I have a 2002 Sierra Denali with Quadrasteer, the truck has 75K miles and I'm about to replace the original set of tires, which have worn evenly. I bought it with 27K miles and I had it aligned at about 45K miles, which I think cost $49.95. It's an awesome tow vehicle, at highway speed the trailer seems glued to the truck.

jimh posted 10-08-2005 11:03 PM ET (US)
"Dropped next year" = no longer available in 2006-model year.
Sales of the QuadraSteer option were not strong. In 2005 GM dropped the price about $1,000, but the option was still not popular. Too bad, as I hear it made a wonderful difference for towing and for backing up with a trailer.
andygere posted 10-09-2005 03:15 PM ET (US)
It's too bad that Quadrasteer is being discontinued. My next tow vehicle was going to be a Yukon/Suburban with Quadrasteer. My unexpected repower project is certainly going to push the purchase of a replacement tow vehicle back a few years. Perhaps I'll find a low milage cream-puff when I'm finally ready.
andiamo posted 10-09-2005 04:15 PM ET (US)
The platform for the Suburban and pickups is being replaced early in 2006 as a 2007 model year. (I believe to be unvailed at the Detroit Auto Show). So if you are thinking about buying one of these products be informed so you either get a great deal on the left over old product, or get your deposit in on the new one. This will include Suburban, Denali and Yukon XLs as well as Escalade ESV.
As these vehicles will be all new for the first time since (I believe)1995 I am not surprised that the quatra option will not be available in the first year of production of this all new product. That is not to say it will not return.
Tbe only "problem" I have heard about with the quatra option is that it was only available on the 2500 series and not the 1500 series. This was because GM needed the extra ground clearance for the rear steering.
Having just returned from Europe where so many of the buses use 2 axel steering, I am sure we will see it again in North America in the not too distant future. Remember Honda had it on the Prelude in about 1983.
where2 posted 10-10-2005 10:43 PM ET (US)
Seeing as we're approaching November again, the boss must have about 95k miles on his Yukon_XL with Quadrasteer. Still no problems, and as noted above the tires wear really evenly if they are rotated regularly.
Checking around on the web, the third generation Prelude (1987-1990) was the first Prelude with optional 4-WS. It was also available on the 4th generation from 1991-1994. I had not previously recognized that Mazda had a 4ws 626 model in 1988, but Wikipedia says it was.
Still cannot beat the Quadrasteer for maneuverability of the big Yukon_XL in tight places.
Tollyfamily posted 10-12-2005 08:19 PM ET (US)
I have it on a 2002 Denali pickup and love it. The best part about it isn't when towing but during normal parking, you can whip it into any parking spot like a little import car. It should be standard equip on all big sport utes.
Dan

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Author	Topic: Quadrasteer as a tow vehicle?
Dr T	posted 08-17-2004 10:26 PM ET (US) Now that the Chevy Quadrasteers have been out for a couple of years, I am considering one as a tow vehicle. I have seen some of the early press, but I tend to take reports in automotive journals with a grain--well, a 40 lb. block--of salt. Does anyone have any direct, personal experience with the Chevy Quadrasteer as a Whaler Haulers? Do they have any bad habits? How is the reliability? Thanks, tds
where2	posted 08-18-2004 12:12 AM ET (US) The president of my company bought a Yukon_XL with quadrasteer. We picked it up in November, and it now has 35k miles on it! When hitched to the 25' Whaler Frontier, it will park the trailer like nothing else I've ever seen! The other major tow vehicle for the Whaler is the Ford Excursion. The difference between the 4-ws and trying to park the trailer in tight quarters with the Excursion makes us wish we had the Yukon every time we try to park it. Having the Whaler Drive option didn't help the 25' Frontier become any more maneuverable on the trailer, but the 4-ws on the tow vehicle helps put it where you wanted it... As for reliability, I wondered that myself at first. Yet, despite 35k miles (a good bit of which is off-road since he's a hunter and a surveyor), everything has held together nicely... No problems related to the 4-ws, despite running oversized tires...
Dr T	posted 08-18-2004 07:02 PM ET (US) Thanks, tds
uberhahn	posted 08-19-2004 01:24 PM ET (US) I have towed 5-th wheel trailers with a 3/4 ton equipped with quadrasteer. If I ever end up buying a pickup truck, mine will have quadrasteer. It makes so much sense. You'll never have to back into a parking spot again. Towing was great. So much more response with backing trailers. Highway driving saw no difference. Stable and smooth. I have not heard any negative reports on reliability. My friends work for GM dealers, and have not seen any quadrasteer related failures. uberhahn
holiberry	posted 08-22-2004 05:20 AM ET (US) once you use one your done! i happen to be a 15 yr manager at a local chevy store. will be gald to inform, sell, advise, etc you on a new or used one. i can ship to you and you can do it all over the net, phone etc. we sell quite a few on ebay as well. (pmchevy)dholifield@petemoore.com 800-477-2438 x223 850-456-7000x223. any info you need i have. david holifield (holiberry)
sklein	posted 08-22-2004 08:25 PM ET (US) Use the GM 24 hour test drive program to try one out. Take it home and tow your boat. You can change modes (2WS, 4WS, and 4WS Trailering) on Quadrasteer while you drive. Do this while towing your boat to compare backing manueverability, highway manuevers, and anything else. You'll quickly understand the benefits of four wheel steering. Steve
jherin	posted 10-08-2005 12:36 AM ET (US) dose anyone know about how the tires last with the 4-ws vs the norm or is their any diff in how long they last. also has any one had to get an alinement on a 4-ws thruck and what did it cost thank jason
Bulldog	posted 10-08-2005 02:08 PM ET (US) The dealer where we service our trucks told me that they are dropping the quad steer option next year....Jack
tomroe	posted 10-08-2005 08:27 PM ET (US) I have a 2002 Sierra Denali with Quadrasteer, the truck has 75K miles and I'm about to replace the original set of tires, which have worn evenly. I bought it with 27K miles and I had it aligned at about 45K miles, which I think cost $49.95. It's an awesome tow vehicle, at highway speed the trailer seems glued to the truck.
jimh	posted 10-08-2005 11:03 PM ET (US) "Dropped next year" = no longer available in 2006-model year. Sales of the QuadraSteer option were not strong. In 2005 GM dropped the price about $1,000, but the option was still not popular. Too bad, as I hear it made a wonderful difference for towing and for backing up with a trailer.
andygere	posted 10-09-2005 03:15 PM ET (US) It's too bad that Quadrasteer is being discontinued. My next tow vehicle was going to be a Yukon/Suburban with Quadrasteer. My unexpected repower project is certainly going to push the purchase of a replacement tow vehicle back a few years. Perhaps I'll find a low milage cream-puff when I'm finally ready.
andiamo	posted 10-09-2005 04:15 PM ET (US) The platform for the Suburban and pickups is being replaced early in 2006 as a 2007 model year. (I believe to be unvailed at the Detroit Auto Show). So if you are thinking about buying one of these products be informed so you either get a great deal on the left over old product, or get your deposit in on the new one. This will include Suburban, Denali and Yukon XLs as well as Escalade ESV. As these vehicles will be all new for the first time since (I believe)1995 I am not surprised that the quatra option will not be available in the first year of production of this all new product. That is not to say it will not return. Tbe only "problem" I have heard about with the quatra option is that it was only available on the 2500 series and not the 1500 series. This was because GM needed the extra ground clearance for the rear steering. Having just returned from Europe where so many of the buses use 2 axel steering, I am sure we will see it again in North America in the not too distant future. Remember Honda had it on the Prelude in about 1983.
where2	posted 10-10-2005 10:43 PM ET (US) Seeing as we're approaching November again, the boss must have about 95k miles on his Yukon_XL with Quadrasteer. Still no problems, and as noted above the tires wear really evenly if they are rotated regularly. Checking around on the web, the third generation Prelude (1987-1990) was the first Prelude with optional 4-WS. It was also available on the 4th generation from 1991-1994. I had not previously recognized that Mazda had a 4ws 626 model in 1988, but Wikipedia says it was. Still cannot beat the Quadrasteer for maneuverability of the big Yukon_XL in tight places.
Tollyfamily	posted 10-12-2005 08:19 PM ET (US) I have it on a 2002 Denali pickup and love it. The best part about it isn't when towing but during normal parking, you can whip it into any parking spot like a little import car. It should be standard equip on all big sport utes. Dan