Is the eLSD a "requirement" for Overlanding and Off-roading?

Hello! This is my first post on this forum. I've been watching and researching the Tahoe Z71 market. Yes I've seen a few threads including the one below and a bunch of review videos, mostly covering the 2021 model.


I have a 2 part question:

1. In the general opinion, is the eLSD a requirement for off-roading and overloading? (When you option the eLSD you also get the air ride suspension. "Off-Road Capability Package" Is the GM air ride going to be reliable?)

I am not a Tahoe owner yet, but looking to get into one to get into off-roading and overlanding. (If you are going to say the Tahoe / Suburban is not a great model for off-roading and overloading, check out SUBOVERLAND on Instagram and expeditionportal.com.) Obviously not going to Moab and Hells Revenge right away, but it needs to have some capability.

The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk had an air ride suspension and had been a mostly reliable system. However I heard if and when it went bad it was pretty costly and usually after the factory warranty had expired. Also limited in any custom lift.

2. The second part is would I be fine with the 5.3? Or is the 6.2 a must have?

Not towing anything right now, but I have towed a trailer a time or two during a move. 91+ Octane in the 6.2?

Thanks for your help!

I overland with a 2011 PPV. it’s 2wd with the G80. The only lift has been when I installed KO2s. I have surprised a lot of people with where I’ve been able to comfortably take it. Engine is the 5.3.

I have been off-roading and dirt roading for decades. The “overlanding” phenomenon is a rebranding which I’ve observed with some bemusement. Let me tell you what I’ve observed, running many of the same trails that are now YouTube famous. I probably average 150 days a year in the dirt.

The great majority of places overlanders go are reachable with a 2WD, as @Sparksalot indicated. Almost everything else is doable with a stock 4x4 truck or high clearance SUV. Locals, farmers, ranchers run those forest roads and two-tracks every day in stock vehicles.
Then along come the tourists -and yes, I’m including myself in that group- with lifted vehicles, big tires, and everything sold by influencers. Completely unnecessary 99% of the time. You won’t see the forest service or BLM guys driving anything special. Just a plain white pickup. And they go those places every day.

The stuff we see online is often the result of creative editing. What you’re shown is a bunch of rigs with monster tires ramming through mud holes and climbing boulders. What you’re not shown is the passable trail going right around the obstacles.

TLDR; any stock 4x4 Tahoe will be just fine. Unless you’re doing more than 99% of dirt road drivers ever will. LSD or traction control will both get you there.

And the 5.3 is better for this use case. More power is not needed and tends to break things when operating at the limits of capability.

H1Chester said:

Hello! This is my first post on this forum. I've been watching and researching the Tahoe Z71 market. Yes I've seen a few threads including the one below and a bunch of review videos, mostly covering the 2021 model.

Limited slip differential 20 v 21

Are they the same? mechanical or just electronic

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

I have a 2 part question:

1. In the general opinion, is the eLSD a requirement for off-roading and overloading? (When you option the eLSD you also get the air ride suspension. "Off-Road Capability Package" Is the GM air ride going to be reliable?)

I am not a Tahoe owner yet, but looking to get into one to get into off-roading and overlanding. (If you are going to say the Tahoe / Suburban is not a great model for off-roading and overloading, check out SUBOVERLAND on Instagram and expeditionportal.com.) Obviously not going to Moab and Hells Revenge right away, but it needs to have some capability.

The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk had an air ride suspension and had been a mostly reliable system. However I heard if and when it went bad it was pretty costly and usually after the factory warranty had expired. Also limited in any custom lift.

2. The second part is would I be fine with the 5.3? Or is the 6.2 a must have?

Not towing anything right now, but I have towed a trailer a time or two during a move. 91+ Octane in the 6.2?

Thanks for your help!

Click to expand...

Having a locker or limited slip of any kind is desirable out back. It's not needed up front but nice to have. The 2022 ZR2 Silverados and Sierras are getting a front e-locker. Might want to see if or when you can get that in a wagon. As Sparksalot demonstrates, a good set of tires eliminates the need for four wheel drive in most situations.

My 2007 Yukon came with a G80 (bought new, eLSD not an option back then), I go a lot of places where everyone else has a Jeep Rubicon+, Toyota 4Runner Off Road or side by sides, with my simple level kit and a trimmed valance Yukon.

Does it make it easier in a more capable 4X, sure, maybe some tracks you can't even go (not many), some you just have to pay a lot more attention to your chosen line and sometimes have to try a few different ways until one crops up that gets you through.

My 2021 Sierra AT4 also came with a G80. There is no place I want to go, that my truck can't go. Are there places I won't go in my new AT4 that I might be willing to do with front and rear lockers in a better approach/departure/breakover 4X? Maybe, but truth me told, I would likely be going to prove I could do it, versus going to get to where I wanted to go, if that makes sense.

The eLSD is marginally better than the G80 on tougher tracks. Is it the be all end all difference maker for "overloading"? no.

On the air ride suspension, I frankly think you would be better served not going that way and spending your money getting the ground clearance you desire and adding quality King or Fox shocks to that platform.

The best thing you can do is get the basic truck you desire and start going out exploring. You will learn a lot, meet a lot of great people and learn all about what you want to do, versus what some YouTube guy says you should be doing.

I have the same question. I bought the only 2021 Tahoe Z71 available locally and since have learned about eLSD in the Yukon AT4. I have no desire to have the headaches of magnetic/air suspension but I see from YouTube videos that the electronic limited slip is superior to the mechanical by a fair margin. I was actually wondering if a retrofit would be possible.

Matt Wilson II said:

I have the same question. I bought the only 2021 Tahoe Z71 available locally and since have learned about eLSD in the Yukon AT4. I have no desire to have the headaches of magnetic/air suspension but I see from YouTube videos that the electronic limited slip is superior to the mechanical by a fair margin. I was actually wondering if a retrofit would be possible.

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Matt I decided to go with the stock MLSD. There are a lot of youtube videos out there but I think you can still get through plenty of obstacles with how and where you take you drive line. Maybe there will be a mechanical locker type G80 mod that can be done later when there is more aftermarket support?

Matt Wilson II said:

I have the same question. I bought the only 2021 Tahoe Z71 available locally and since have learned about eLSD in the Yukon AT4. I have no desire to have the headaches of magnetic/air suspension but I see from YouTube videos that the electronic limited slip is superior to the mechanical by a fair margin. I was actually wondering if a retrofit would be possible.

Click to expand...

Your G80 will work great. When traction starts getting iffy, turn off traction control, you will be amazed how well the G80 works.

On my 2007, a 1.5" level spacer up front (actually a little less than 1" thick spacer inserted under the front struts resulted in a 1.5" level) and a trim of the valance about half its stock height did wonders for ground clearance.

Go out there and see how things go for a while before doing anything with serious money involved. When you do decide to mod, take baby steps. Maybe invest in a couple of Maxtraxs or Gotreads, versus spending a lot of money on a diff upgrade, get an assortment of long straps and a heavy duty come along before buying a bumper and winch. Stuff like that.

wsteele said:

Your G80 will work great. When traction starts getting iffy, turn off traction control, you will be amazed how well the G80 works.

On my 2007, a 1.5" level spacer up front (actually a little less than 1" thick spacer inserted under the front struts resulted in a 1.5" level) and a trim of the valance about half its stock height did wonders for ground clearance.

Go out there and see how things go for a while before doing anything with serious money involved. When you do decide to mod, take baby steps. Maybe invest in a couple of Maxtraxs or Gotreads, versus spending a lot of money on a diff upgrade, get an assortment of long straps and a heavy duty come along before buying a bumper and winch. Stuff like that.

Click to expand...

The 2021+ doesn't have a G80, I think its a G86.

H1Chester said:

The 2021+ doesn't have a G80, I think its a G86.

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Got it. Is the current G86 the Eaton TrueTrac? If so, it is a really good diff.

Also, is that just on the SUV's?, as my '21 Sierra AT4 has the G80.