2010 Suburban AWD or 4WD, Confusion ?

j91z28d1 said:

is one any better in the snow than another?

I avoid the snow at all costs but do you need 4lo for snow? I alway pictured that being for low speed rock crawling. high traction low speed grunt. snow being mostly a lack of traction aren't you mostly relying on the stability control/abs to find traction?

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I have been in some really deep snow and have never needed 4LO.

The need for 4lo is extremely rare, like if you were stuck already, otherwise it serves almost no use.
Unless your intention is to purposely go to some sketchy places often then your going to want to have additional means of extraction anyways. For normal driving it's unlikely that you would ever need it

4Lo is basically just more torque multiplication advantage due to super low gearing. So basically if you get stuck as mentioned and wheels aren't spinning somehow.

I think top speed is like 20 MPH at engine redline or something like that. So yeah, usually not needed unless you have to.

so I'd guess not something you use just driving thru snowy roads?

so looking at my sector. according to the owners manual. my t case will go into neutral for being towed behind a trailer. so it's definitely more of a old school 4x4 t case the op might be looking for. if you look you can see where the N would light up when in neutral.

I don't know what trucks they would have put this in thou. it might be a one off thing.

j91z28d1 said:

is one any better in the snow than another?

I avoid the snow at all costs but do you need 4lo for snow? I alway pictured that being for low speed rock crawling. high traction low speed grunt. snow being mostly a lack of traction aren't you mostly relying on the stability control/abs to find traction?

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Having the option is nice. Most trucks equipped with the single speed transfer case have 3.08 highway gears. I learned that some pickups can have that transfer case and 3.42 gears. I've not seen an SUV equipped like that or don't remember.

strutaeng said:

4Lo is basically just more torque multiplication advantage due to super low gearing. So basically if you get stuck as mentioned and wheels aren't spinning somehow.

I think top speed is like 20 MPH at engine redline or something like that. So yeah, usually not needed unless you have to.

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I read somewhere once that it was 45 mph but it really depends on your gear ratio.

I've powered through some soft and deep Daytona Beach sand and some really slippery wet grass and 4LO got us out with ease. Can't think of a reason I'd ever need it on the highway other than to go off the road and maybe help someone get unstuck or cross a wide median.

j91z28d1 said:

so I'd guess not something you use just driving thru snowy roads?

so looking at my sector. according to the owners manual. my t case will go into neutral for being towed behind a trailer. so it's definitely more of a old school 4x4 t case the op might be looking for. if you look you can see where the N would light up when in neutral.

I don't know what trucks they would have put this in thou. it might be a one off thing.

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No, that's the 2 speed one which is more common then the single speed 4hi only.

GMCChevy said:

No, that's the 2 speed one which is more common then the single speed 4hi only.

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interesting.

*MP3010 Single speed *MP3023 Dual speed
*BW4485 AWD

Not sure what models the two different 4WD xfer cases are specific to but the AWD were the only option on 07 & 08 Esky & Denali.

9-14 Esky & Denali were AWD only with a few (uncommon) available with a 2WD option.

GM only did z95 Magneride on 09-14 Esky. 07 & 08 Esky were z55 autoride. All 07-14 Denali were z55 autoride.

petethepug said:

*MP3010 Single speed *MP3023 Dual speed
*BW4485 AWD

Not sure what models the two different 4WD xfer cases are specific to but the AWD were the only option on 07 & 08 Esky & Denali.

9-14 Esky & Denali were AWD only with a few (uncommon) available with a 2WD option.

GM only did z95 Magneride on 09-14 Esky. 07 & 08 Esky were z55 autoride. All 07-14 Denali were z55 autoride.

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Denali and Escalade Hybrids got Z95 too if memory serves.

My 9.5" axles came from RWD Escalades, one from an ESV and the other a shorty.

Thanks all. My concerns were not so much about having the 4 low - as most people mentioned its rarely needed. But I was concerned that the 4 Hi was a REAL 4 hi and not some kind of AWD set up...like in the Escalades and Denalis.