<-When the trail got slick, steep, and riddled with
rocks, we were thankful for the skidplating, increased
track width, and electric front and rear lockers—all
were needed to carry the ZR2 up the more-challenging
sections of trail with confidence and stability.52 SEPTEMBER 2019 FOUR WHEELER fourwheeler.com
First Drive Bison in a Blizzard
Despite the dreary weather, we were deter-
mined to pack as much adventure as we could
into the confines of a weekend. The 62-inch
bed would normally provide more than enough
space for camping gear, but because of the
onslaught of precipitation, we chose to test the
carrying capacity of the Bison’s rear seat. We
stacked sleeping accommodations, photography
and recovery gear, and our Dometic CFX 35W
electric cooler into the back without a hassle;
fired up the windshield wipers; and hit the high-
way. After stopping at the green pump to top off
the Bison’s 21-gallon tank, we were armed with
just under 500 miles of range, plus some emer-
gency fuel in case of, well, emergencies. We
traded pavement for powerline roads as quickly
as possible and began the off-road journey into
the storm, with the goal of traveling between
Mojave and Bishop, California, on mostly (if
not all) dirt roads.
Debrief
Though our time with the Bison was short,
we used every arrow in its off-road quiver.
From the front and rear electric-locking dif-
ferentials and grabby tires to the bumpers
and skidplates protecting us as we plowed
through the snow, we did it all. We were more
than pleased with the fuel economy of the
2.8L diesel during the drive, although there
is a learning curve with the turbo spool when
throttling through obstacles. In closing, as noted
in the logbook by a seven-slot fanatic, “This
truck would make me sell my Jeep.” fw
<|AEV’s 17-inch aluminum wheels came dressed with
Goodyear DuraTrac tires, known for their prowess in
snowy and muddy conditions, and we needed all four of
them to pull us through the slick mud and deep snow.
Beneath the Bison also hangs a fullsize spare tire and
matching wheel.<-Daylight waned and the miles
between us and camp dwindled, but
the rain had become snow—and it
was accumulating by the foot. Though
we knew the trails beneath the snow
were no more than simple two-tracks,
nearly knee-deep powder and reduced
visibility required both locking differ-
entials to keep moving.
<|The snow, though blinding at times,
did not keep us from reaching camp,
or breaking it the next morning. We
returned to the highways, which were
still blanketed in powder, and pro-
ceeded down in elevation and out of
the storm.