Just turbo a 6.0. The forced induction will make up for any lack of power in the hills
CK5
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Considering a Suburban Tow Rig
- Thread starter Richcz28
- Start date
Haha sorry didn't mean to get in your head.
I'm thinking if you find a clean suburban to do the swap with you could easily have the shop swap in a ZF6 while they're at it.
This shop in Nebraska does a lot of conversions, although their pricing seems very steep. http://duramaxsuburbans.com/index.html
That shop actually looks really expensive. Those swaps are 23 - 28k for just parts and labor not including the suburban.
I called on that truck and they didn't know if it was a 5 or 6 speed..... The dealer was supposed to send pics of the rockers and underneath but it didn't happen yet. The saleswoman I got said she just posted it and thought it was already going to be sold. I'm going to Bermuda for a week tomorrow morning. I'm going up to Maine next Thursday night and if it is still their I'll check it out. It's only about 30 minutes out of my way.
As far as I know the 6.0L 3/4 and 1 ton trucks got the NV4500 up to '06. The 8.1L and Duramaxes got the ZF6.
I have one, and love it. That being said, in stock form, it barely gets out of its own way. Towing anything but flat sucks. My boat is only 4500lbs ish, and I was regularly down in the 20mph range on hills.
You seem to have gotten yours for a good deal cheaper than the ones I've seen around the Internet. If I start looking in the neighborhood of 30k I might as well buy a brand new truck.
I can be in a crew cab ecoboost with far better towing capabilities for not much more than what I see the few duraburbs popping up at.
Speaking of Fords, would you consider a Ford Excursion? They seem to be little cheaper than the 2500 Suburbans and can be had with the 7.3L.
This is honestly something to consider. The 7.3 pulls very well.
Good luck. The 7.3s command a higher price than the later year, less mileage 6.0s.
They know they got you buy the balls cuz the number of decent diesel murkier passenger vehicles is pretty much just 7.3 excursions unless you want to deal with the 6.0.
That said, would be a perfect candidate if you can find one and pay for it.
They know they got you buy the balls cuz the number of decent diesel murkier passenger vehicles is pretty much just 7.3 excursions unless you want to deal with the 6.0.
That said, would be a perfect candidate if you can find one and pay for it.
Guess I didn't know what the market was on those.
Last time I looked they were all in the low 200ks selling for in the 20's. Obviously all the modern diesel rigs are over priced anymore, but those ones were especially bad.
That's what I've seen. I wouldn't rule one out, but they seem to be priced beyond reason. If im paying 20k for a used truck it would have to have rediculously low miles. I wonder how many of these guys are just dreaming and not selling.
Nope...people are being just as stupid as the sellers and purchasing at those prices...if they weren't, the prices would have come down by now
I went through all of what has been talked about it this thread when I had my third kid last year. My current truck with only the extended cab was getting annoying putting 3 car seats in the back, so I needed something else (preferably a crew cab). I needed a truck bed cause we ride dirt bikes a lot and I didn't want to pick up another utility trailer just to haul dirt bikes (I have my 18 ft car hauler already to haul my K5 around), so a burban was out of the question...but the 3/4 ton and up truck market is so freaking ridiculous right now.
That's why I decided to build my own tow rig how I wanted it. Even after the purchase of the rig and all the parts to do a motor/tranny swap along with lift, tires, wheels, and a paint job along with fresh'n up the interior, I'm right about the same price as what these idiots want for a 3/4 ton diesel with 250k+ miles on them...plus mine has been freshed up with the motor/tranny swap. Sure it was a bunch of my time in a build...however I know in the long run I'm going to be way happier cause it's a rig I built specifically for me and is more unique then just another early 2000's diesel truck driving down the road.
I know you said before you don't want to take on a build right now....but sometimes you really need to think twice about where you are about to spend $20k and how much it's really worth to you...cause even after $20k in one of these trucks...you should probably anticipate another couple thousand in maint/upgrades that are needed and most likely have not happened.
Just my $0.02 is all
Rich have you ever considered a van?
Would probably have to be an older one as any of the newer 4wd conversions are really spendy.
Just throwing it out there. Haven't really looked at prices or anything
Would probably have to be an older one as any of the newer 4wd conversions are really spendy.
Just throwing it out there. Haven't really looked at prices or anything
I can add some substance to this mainly because I have a lot of friends and get to tow with lots of different trucks.
Ford well start here because I've had the most exposure with these, v10 2004 gas hog duh.. Pulls really well but gotta wind it out or sounds like it is even when the tach says 4K.. Pops spark plugs out twice..
01 and 03 ford 7.3 diesel the 01 was chipped the 03 not, significant difference between chipped and unchipped, you almost have to do something because the stock lag is terrible. Shift points suck big time too. If ya get a good one keep it because they really do tow well and brake well too, just a big truck, more than the dodges and Chevys in my experience.
Dodge,
2004 as far as interior this truck rates one step above the fords but power is not there like the ford, kinda droned but is totally stock, it's my moms truck and tows I bet 80% of the time and she's had little to no issues aside weird hi beam switch stuff. Mechanically stout and sound, over 150k now and no probs with the Trans, brakes are best of any truck I have ever towed with. Almost don't need trailer brakes for anything under 5k. This is a 2wd crew long bed. A chip might wake it up in sure but she's happy with it and gets 18-21 mpg.
The Chevys I only really have some experience with newer trucks are gas and light duty which all need rpm to do the job, 6.0 vortec max included. Super nice inside, quiet, best compromise of truck and car, handles good has decent power. Every truck I've used has had a 4l60 so I can't comment on the newer Trans. Overall if it was me I'd buy a cummins, whatever year the smog crap started stay one back from that. I know we had a 04.5 which got the HO motor 325hp and that think even as a dually was quick as heck. I'd buy a dodge in a second if I was in the market for a new used truck.. The ford have so many issues that are a pain that the cummins doesn't have.. The rest are fixable and you could even find one with a nv5600 with slt trim and not have the crappy interiors you have to get with a stick from another brand. Happy Hunting!
Ford well start here because I've had the most exposure with these, v10 2004 gas hog duh.. Pulls really well but gotta wind it out or sounds like it is even when the tach says 4K.. Pops spark plugs out twice..
01 and 03 ford 7.3 diesel the 01 was chipped the 03 not, significant difference between chipped and unchipped, you almost have to do something because the stock lag is terrible. Shift points suck big time too. If ya get a good one keep it because they really do tow well and brake well too, just a big truck, more than the dodges and Chevys in my experience.
Dodge,
2004 as far as interior this truck rates one step above the fords but power is not there like the ford, kinda droned but is totally stock, it's my moms truck and tows I bet 80% of the time and she's had little to no issues aside weird hi beam switch stuff. Mechanically stout and sound, over 150k now and no probs with the Trans, brakes are best of any truck I have ever towed with. Almost don't need trailer brakes for anything under 5k. This is a 2wd crew long bed. A chip might wake it up in sure but she's happy with it and gets 18-21 mpg.
The Chevys I only really have some experience with newer trucks are gas and light duty which all need rpm to do the job, 6.0 vortec max included. Super nice inside, quiet, best compromise of truck and car, handles good has decent power. Every truck I've used has had a 4l60 so I can't comment on the newer Trans. Overall if it was me I'd buy a cummins, whatever year the smog crap started stay one back from that. I know we had a 04.5 which got the HO motor 325hp and that think even as a dually was quick as heck. I'd buy a dodge in a second if I was in the market for a new used truck.. The ford have so many issues that are a pain that the cummins doesn't have.. The rest are fixable and you could even find one with a nv5600 with slt trim and not have the crappy interiors you have to get with a stick from another brand. Happy Hunting!
Not seriously, I don't like the leg space. It's a good thought but I don't find vans comfortable for longer trips.
Very good write up....the problem is everybody else in this market knows the same as what you just stated that there are really only a couple years/generations of each manufacturer that people want cause all the others have issues that you really don't want to deal with in an older truck. So those rigs (especially the cummins) are so overpriced! When I looked at those dodges, at least in my part of the country they were wanting mid to high $20k for those trucks, even with 200k+ miles on them....that is freaking absurd to me. And the 7.3 Fords were even worse cause now they are getting old enough that almost all of them are creeping up on 300k miles and they are still wanting around $20k for them....that is just crazy to me! And everyone knows that the 6.0 Ford is a time bomb waiting to happen. Then add to the fact that diesels are notoriously more expensive to own (higher gas prices on average, maintenance costs will always be higher, not to mention each time it goes down for a major repair it's almost every time a couple thousand dollars).
I think that is why you are seeing a bigger push that people are looking for an alternative to this problem by looking at gas motors and dealing with getting maybe 5 mpg's less per tank than a diesel, and not being the first to the top of the hill when towing. I'm hoping the major truck manufacturers really pay attention to that and start making more alternatives again. It seems like they kinda are right now with the GM 6.2 in trucks that most are rated around the 10k lbs. anyways now, but I think there is a need for more.....Can you tell I'm trying to make a push that they should bring back the 8.1?
. Cause even though I get 8 or so mpg's less than that cummins, when the turbo or injectors go out on that thing (or the 7.3, or the Duramax...take your pick), just image how much gas I can buy with $4000 (and yes that is what it's going to cost you to replace those things).
In 2008 I bought an 05 Chevy pickup with 25k miles on it for 14k. It was a 5 speed v6 4x4 short bed. I lost the truck to an old lady in a Corolla in a snow storm.
8 years later, that generation of trucks with 6.0s are still bringing the same money but now they have 150k to 200k. I doesn't seem to make sense. The interiors are incredibily poor compared to any late model and there is nothing too them.
8 years later, that generation of trucks with 6.0s are still bringing the same money but now they have 150k to 200k. I doesn't seem to make sense. The interiors are incredibily poor compared to any late model and there is nothing too them.
Yep, it's pretty stupid
