First Epic Power Wagon Fail

ramv · Post by **ramv** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 7:56 pm

2016 Stock PW w/ 15k miles.
10 deg F, icy cul de sac
traction control off, tow haul on
T-case in 2wd

Doughnut city here we come right? Nope, just power drifts, hid in my garage before the neighbors saw me.

Big surprise coming from my Avalanche, but in retrospect, the Chevy was pretty well suited to doughnuts. 18" less wheelbase, stiffer rear suspension, full locker in 2wd, way more low end torque, and what I would call inverse traction control (torque management.) The computer wouldn't allow the DBW to open the throttle past 40% until 10 mph real wheel speed was reached to protect the transmission. Given a little ice, it was perfect, apply throttle enough so the locker locked, the t/c locked and then bam 40% to 100% fuel as soon as wheelspin hit 10 mph. The big block was just into the meat of torque curve there too

That being said, the PW does great on icy roads, I'm finding just turning traction control and MDS off and then use 4wd when/if required. 2wd got me up my driveway yesterday, L/S did a good job applying torque to both wheels. Quite impressed overall. Yeah, the heated steering wheel and remote start doesn't hurt either! (-5deg F when I left the gym this am, was glad the truck was warm.

)

Low_Sky · Post by **Low_Sky** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 9:40 pm

I've been really happy with how my 2015 handles on snow and ice, but I don't try to do donuts in it either. I'm sorry you couldn't make yourself dizzy in the cul de sac. I hope the neighbors didn't see!

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ramv · Post by **ramv** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 9:51 pm

Low_Sky wrote:I've been really happy with how my 2015 handles on snow and ice, but I don't try to do donuts in it either. I'm sorry you couldn't make yourself dizzy in the cul de sac. I hope the neighbors didn't see!

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Agreed.

Been doing doughnuts since the early 90s in my dads '77 chevy 2wd heavy half. Hard to grow Up!

ramv · Post by **ramv** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 10:00 pm

Just to be clear, I was just poking fun. I really like the truck.

olyelr · Post by **olyelr** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 10:47 pm

I havnt my pw in the snow yet, but there is a storm brewing that is supposed to dump 6-12" tonight

And, I just so happen to live at the end of the cul-de-sac, and love doing donuts. Hope my experience turns out better than yours, as I have a few neighbors that will be watching Im sure.

When you push the traction control button, does it allow you to do donuts? My Jeep would just laugh in my face until I installed the by-pass for the system.

Low_Sky · Post by **Low_Sky** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 11:32 pm

With ESC off (long press on the button), you should be able to donut as much as you want as long as the truck doesn't detect speed and steering inputs that go into "rollover" risk territory. Disclaimer: I've never tried it because I have no interest in donuts.

Traction control off should allow wheel spin, ESC off should allow lateral tomfoolery.

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olyelr · Post by **olyelr** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 11:57 pm

Low_Sky wrote:With ESC off (long press on the button), you should be able to donut as much as you want as long as the truck doesn't detect speed and steering inputs that go into "rollover" risk territory. Disclaimer: I've never tried it because I have no interest in donuts.

Traction control off should allow wheel spin, ESC off should allow lateral tomfoolery.

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This is the vague area that I will find out soon enough.

Even with the button pressed on my Jeep, as soon as it just started getting into a slide with the tires spinning the brakes/traction control stuff would start kicking in and it will be straight before you know it. I thought it was a wonderful system for everyday driving, but off road all it did was piss me off.

RustyPW · Post by **RustyPW** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 11:59 pm

I'm glad my 3G doesn't have all this crap.

I can do donuts all night long without having to push any buttons.

bstefanic · Post by **bstefanic** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:37 am

So having done a little research into this, the torque management is all tied to the abs sensor/fuse. Super easy to bypass if you're interested

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TwinStick · Post by **TwinStick** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:43 am

Yup, me too. I did have a REAL close call once at work. We had freezing rain, then about 6" of snow on top. When i got out of work, put it in 4 Hi & did a few power drifts in our parking lot, where there were no cars, a few months before that, they just put up an expensive fence around our Parking lot & there was not much room at the entrance/exit gate. Someone else saw me, thought it would be fun & tried the same, except he lost control & was coming right at me as I was heading for the exit gate & there were lots of other vehicles there. I had 2 choices-let him hit me broadside, or try to accelerate so he wouldn't hit me. I chose to accelerate, forgot about the new fence, until the last second. Then, the ohhhh shit moment happened, I cranked the wheel, grabbed 3rd & hit the gas hard. The truck slid completely sideways & i went right through the gate----with only 6" to spare in front & back. I continued laying into the throttle, when it hit the road, tires grabbed luckily & I just drove away. I was actually just really lucky. Next day at work, at line up, this new Officer came up to me & said "DUDE, I saw you last night, that was the best driving I have ever seen---that was some Hollywood shit right there." I just laughed & did my best to play it off, like i meant to do it !!!

Explorin Sonoran · Post by **Explorin Sonoran** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 9:39 am

My 2016 donuts all day long with the traction control off. However, that is in dirt or sand because we don't know what snow is in Tucson.

Reloaderguy · Post by **Reloaderguy** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 11:00 am

I did donuts in the snow this morning. OP is fail.

GunniPWguy · Post by **GunniPWguy** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:07 pm

RustyPW wrote:I'm glad my 3G doesn't have all this crap. I can do donuts all night long without having to push any buttons.

Ducky's Dad · Post by **Ducky's Dad** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:20 pm

I'm glad my 3G doesn't have all this crap. I can do donuts all night long without having to push any buttons.

And in the '05, you can actually hang a bag of donuts on the panty hook.

Low_Sky · Post by **Low_Sky** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:37 pm

Ramv, if i go out and do donuts today you should have to put "I can't do donuts" in your signature line for a month.

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Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:40 pm

Thankfully mine doesn't have any of those nanny controls. But there is a difference in "traction control" and "stability control". Touch the button turns off the traction where it will spin in a straight line, long hold on the button turns it all off where you can then do whatever you want. My Challenger is the same way, touch the button and burn the tires off in a straight line but as soon as it turns, it'll do about a 1/4 donut and lock you down. Long hold the button and it's all games after that, donuts, figure 8's, whatever

ramv · Post by **ramv** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:50 pm

Reloaderguy wrote:I did donuts in the snow this morning. OP is fail.

I am working in a pretty tight area here, now if I had the wilds of Oregon to slide about, I am sure I could get it done.

ramv · Post by **ramv** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:51 pm

Low_Sky wrote:Ramv, if i go out and do donuts today you should have to put "I can't do donuts" in your signature line for a month.

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Ha!

hammer40 · Post by **hammer40** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 2:29 pm

Got my 2014 to spin about a dozen on top of Blewett Pass last week. Held the button down for about 10 seconds. The poor dog didn't like the G's so much.

2011TXPowerWagon · Post by **2011TXPowerWagon** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 6:35 pm

Will wrote:Thankfully mine doesn't have any of those nanny controls. But there is a difference in "traction control" and "stability control". Touch the button turns off the traction where it will spin in a straight line, long hold on the button turns it all off where you can then do whatever you want. My Challenger is the same way, touch the button and burn the tires off in a straight line but as soon as it turns, it'll do about a 1/4 donut and lock you down. Long hold the button and it's all games after that, donuts, figure 8's, whatever

RustyPW · Post by **RustyPW** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 6:36 pm

Ducky's Dad wrote:
I'm glad my 3G doesn't have all this crap. I can do donuts all night long without having to push any buttons.
And in the '05, you can actually hang a bag of donuts on the panty hook.

Smart ass!

olyelr · Post by **olyelr** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 9:54 pm

Well damn. We got the snow. But i cant do the donuts

Press the button and the tires can spin to your hearts content, but as soon as you start your ever so perfectly executed slide the frikin front tires start braking and straighten the truck right out. I held the button for what seemed like 7-10 seconds but that didnt change a thing. Whats the trick?!

On a side note, i am very impressed with how the truck handles on snowy/slippery roads.

Low_Sky · Post by **Low_Sky** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 10:05 pm

olyelr wrote:Well damn. We got the snow. But i cant do the donuts

Press the button and the tires can spin to your hearts content, but as soon as you start your ever so perfectly executed slide the frikin front tires start braking and straighten the truck right out. I held the button for what seemed like 7-10 seconds but that didnt change a thing. Whats the trick?!

On a side note, i am very impressed with how the truck handles on snowy/slippery roads.

From a stop, it's a 5-second press on the button. You should hear a chime and get an "ESC off" message on the dash. In "ESC full off", the truck will chime going into and out of park as a reminder.

olyelr · Post by **olyelr** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 10:35 pm

Low_Sky wrote:
From a stop, it's a 5-second press on the button. You should hear a chime and get an "ESC off" message on the dash. In "ESC full off", the truck will chime going into and out of park as a reminder.

Great, I will try that out tomorrow. Thanks!

YouTube · Post by **OffroadTreks** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 11:24 pm

No problems here in a parking lot. Spin round and round we go.

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