ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

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TwinStick

ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by TwinStick » Mon Oct 29, 2018 11:49 pm

Picked it up, drove it home. Showed 20-30 mpg on 40 min trip home. Re adjusted the hitch, hooked up camper & hit the road. Went to Warsaw NY & went up & down some big ass hills of 7% & 10%. I was shocked, seriously. It was like I had no camper behind at all, seriously. While on that hill, it goes from 30 mph to 55 mph. It had no trouble going from 30-55 at all while climbing that hill. Trans never got above 185* F. It has a digital gauge. Oil pressure varied from 30 psi at idle, to 55 psi @ 3000 rpms. Built in trailer brake worked great. Lockers worked great ---even while not moving. They engaged and disengaged easily. Engine brake works awesome. Only barely touched the brakes, 2x down the hill. Only about 2 seconds each time. The truck was just slightly above level in the rear, when it was fully hooked up, with WD hitch & sway bars on. Squatted less than the Power Wagon does. While only a 6 speed automatic, you can shift it manually or set the top gear you want & it will shift normally but stop at the gear you selected. The helper springs from our 2000 Dakota will work, if needed once the suspension settles. So, in summary, it surpassed our expectations by a good margin. Don't want that specific truck though. It has 3600+ miles on it. The headlights were fogged up, moisture on the inside.

Things we didn't like: rear seat set up - seats don't go up all the way. PW goes up & bottom moves back & seat bottom is completely vertical & right against the back. ZR2's does not move the bottom back nor does the seat go vertical or right against the back. I would totally remove seat & brackets & make my own flat floor, with wood & bolt it down. Phone charger will not fit my S8+. Diesel exhaust tip needs the PW mod. It would get destroyed if rock crawling. Camera or something that looks like one, on the dashboard, & looks like it's facing towards occupants ??? It would literally spin the rear tires with camper on, when taking off fast. Had to really monitor my right foot on takeoffs.

Bringing it back tomorrow. Going to start talking. Might be trading in both the 4Runner and the Power Wagon. Anybody looking to buy an AWESOME truck cap ? It was $3600 new. Love the Wagon but 8-10 mpg is getting old. Be nice to get down to 2 vehicles again too.

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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by olyelr » Tue Oct 30, 2018 6:23 am

Twinstick’s gonna get neutered?!!? How dare he!!!!!!
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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by Bill2014 » Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:01 am

Oh No! We don't want to lose another long time Power Wagon owner... :jawdrop:
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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by RustyPW » Tue Oct 30, 2018 9:02 am

He's going to the dark side.
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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by TankerZak » Tue Oct 30, 2018 9:57 am

Honestly 30mpg is appealing. I could get over the loss of sunroof. I could get over the loss of solid axle. I could get over the loss of manual t-case. I could get over the loss of bedsize. Maybe a towable utility trailer... But it just doesn't have that magic 10k tow rating. My trailer is 8500lbs under normal load. But if my trailer was smaller... maybe.

Oh and the curtian airbag thing and their response so far is lackluster at best...

I think with a little work and some solid backing by the manufacturer and the aftermarket they could have a winner. And if I was buying a matching trailer with that weight limit in mind... maybe. But then I'd have to talk the little lady into giving up the recliners...

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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by OffroadTreks » Tue Oct 30, 2018 10:51 am

I'd buy one if I had a smaller family. The ZR2 especially is my kinda truck. I'd rock that all day. But there are 5 of us now. And like Zak I need that tow rating.

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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by vanished » Tue Oct 30, 2018 3:15 pm

I looked at them and have been shopping new trucks lately... Also tired of 12 mpg... BUT - I decided to keep mine and get a 'toy' for MPG.. So I guess I'll stick with #3 for now!
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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by olyelr » Tue Oct 30, 2018 3:39 pm

Is it really much cheaper after you factor in the cost of the car/insurance etc?
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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by vanished » Tue Oct 30, 2018 3:45 pm

olyelr wrote:
Tue Oct 30, 2018 3:39 pm
Is it really much cheaper after you factor in the cost of the car/insurance etc?
All depends on how much you drive and what kind of 'fudge factors' you take into account for more expensive maintenance, tires, wear and tear and depreciation.. Honestly - probably not... LOL But as the saying goes "Figures don't like but liars can figure!" ha ha

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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by TankerZak » Tue Oct 30, 2018 4:12 pm

I was looking at buying a commuter car. But found an express bus instead. 85 dollar bus pass solved most of my woes. 65 mile round trip to work sucked. But 13 min walk and 8 min drive to a bus stop is doable.

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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by Reloaderguy » Tue Oct 30, 2018 5:15 pm

2/3 the truck for 100% the price. Hard pass.

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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by OffroadTreks » Tue Oct 30, 2018 6:47 pm

Where are the pictures?
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TwinStick

Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by TwinStick » Tue Oct 30, 2018 7:51 pm

It's just been ordered. No pictures yet. Looking at January for delivery.

Never any shortage of others opinions. Lol Wagon just sits in driveway unless pulling the camper. Wife can't drive it, yada, yada. Just hope the new one holds up. It was great when we were working & kids were young. Now, not so much.

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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by EasyDoesIt » Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:34 pm

Reloaderguy wrote:
Tue Oct 30, 2018 5:15 pm
2/3 the truck for 100% the price. Hard pass.
Except it's 2/3 the price too and gets 2Xs the MPG 😋

Fully loaded $68k vs $48k (ish)
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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by Reloaderguy » Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:52 pm

EasyDoesIt wrote:
Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:34 pm
Reloaderguy wrote:
Tue Oct 30, 2018 5:15 pm
2/3 the truck for 100% the price. Hard pass.
Except it's 2/3 the price too and gets 2Xs the MPG 😋

Fully loaded $68k vs $48k (ish)
A fully loaded ZR2 is $53k+ and lines up against the SLT PW, not Laramie. 28mpg? LOL! BS.

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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by olyelr » Tue Oct 30, 2018 9:48 pm

Reloaderguy wrote:
Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:52 pm
EasyDoesIt wrote:
Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:34 pm
Reloaderguy wrote:
Tue Oct 30, 2018 5:15 pm
2/3 the truck for 100% the price. Hard pass.
Except it's 2/3 the price too and gets 2Xs the MPG 😋

Fully loaded $68k vs $48k (ish)
A fully loaded ZR2 is $53k+ and lines up against the SLT PW, not Laramie. 28mpg? LOL! BS.
Shiiiit, a laramie power wagon is cheaper than that with the $10K off sticker prices that they typical sell for.

The only thing mini trucks have ever done well for me is using them for a trail truck. I love them for that. Otherwise, they make no sense to me. Just about any full size truck out there wins hands down in every other category.

To each their own, though. It is a cool little truck, thats for sure.
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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by RustyPW » Tue Oct 30, 2018 10:36 pm

I wonder how well the front diff will hold up with a locker in it. The casings on the 1500 and 2500 like to break.
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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by Punishher7 » Wed Oct 31, 2018 12:52 am

vanished wrote:I looked at them and have been shopping new trucks lately... Also tired of 12 mpg... BUT - I decided to keep mine and get a 'toy' for MPG.. So I guess I'll stick with #3 for now!
I’m seriously considering going the same route with a wrx sti.


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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by verdesardog » Wed Oct 31, 2018 8:45 am

Well, well, well, Twinstick has come over to the dark side! :D

At least mine doesn't require DEF ;)
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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by OffroadTreks » Wed Oct 31, 2018 10:49 am

Reloaderguy wrote:
Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:52 pm

A fully loaded ZR2 is $53k+ and lines up against the SLT PW, not Laramie. 28mpg? LOL! BS.
When we started out full-timing, I put together a spreadsheet to compare diesel costs to gas costs based on the MPG. Granted this was back with 2014 prices. But at the end of it, the diesel MPG factor wasn't really saving me any money when I factored in all associated costs.

Kinda like when we had our S4, it took premium, but got 20mpg and at the end of it all, we spent about the same on the Audi as we spent on the Trailblazer.

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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by TankerZak » Wed Oct 31, 2018 10:57 am

The ONLY time I miss a diesel is when I'm pulling a hill and the engine is whining at 4600rpm. And it's not because I'm not doing 75 or as fast as I want or should go. It's simple engine noise and where the power band is in gas compared to diesel, which can'tbe avoided. So far that's really my only negative. I mean watching the mpg sucks but knowing how the math works out over the life of the vehicle really helps.

I hated turbo lag...

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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by Reloaderguy » Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:19 am

BoldAdventure wrote:
Wed Oct 31, 2018 10:49 am
Reloaderguy wrote:
Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:52 pm

A fully loaded ZR2 is $53k+ and lines up against the SLT PW, not Laramie. 28mpg? LOL! BS.
When we started out full-timing, I put together a spreadsheet to compare diesel costs to gas costs based on the MPG. Granted this was back with 2014 prices. But at the end of it, the diesel MPG factor wasn't really saving me any money when I factored in all associated costs.

Kinda like when we had our S4, it took premium, but got 20mpg and at the end of it all, we spent about the same on the Audi as we spent on the Trailblazer.

:popcorn:
My truck isn't my DD so I do get it. But $40k to $50k buys a hell of a lot of fuel and maintenance.

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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by coder » Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:44 am

One thing to be aware of with the ZR2 is they have an issue with the side airbags accidentally deploying when off road on side leaning roads/hills I been following a few of the online forums and there are several posts about it.

Quite a few were not covered under warranty to the tune of $5000+ for repairs. Google on "zr2 airbag problem" and you will see multiple links reporting the issue.
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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by TankerZak » Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:54 am

coder wrote:One thing to be aware of with the ZR2 is they have an issue with the side airbags accidentally deploying when off road on side leaning roads/hills I been following a few of the online forums and there are several posts about it.

Quite a few were not covered under warranty to the tune of $5000+ for repairs. Google on "zr2 airbag problem" and you will see multiple links reporting the issue.
There is apparently a fuse you can pull. A guy has the gas one at work.

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Re: ZR2 diesel test drive & test tow

Post by RustyPW » Wed Oct 31, 2018 8:01 pm

After 2sticky got his PW figured out, and set up the way he wants it. Now he's getting rid of it. :cash: :cash: :cash: Now he HAS to do it all over again. :cash: :cash: :cash:



How much does anyone want to bet. That if he gets the ZR2. That he will be back a couple of years down the road with another PW. He be like all the others who came back. :lol:
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