Considering a Suburban Tow Rig

[Richcz28]

Personally, I wouldn't hesitate on the 2004. GM designed the 8.1 for medium duty trucks in mind with a 200,000 mile durability standard. Chances are, the 8.1 in the burb might have towed on an infrequent basis. No where near the strain it would see in a Medium duty or 22,000 pound GVW motor home. I'd look at the condition/function of the trans and 4wd systems and if they work like they should, change the fluids and go. Yes, a 12 year old rig is going to need some stuff like an alternator, battery or a/c compressor along with going through the steering/suspension. For the price with little put in for PM, you have a rig that can do everything you want it too. Pull the trailer, haul people (you would need to find 3rd row seats for it) and eat up road miles like a champ. Keep the search going, but I bet you'll find the older you go the more miles the rig will have.

That truck has 176k miles. If it has a 200k mile durability standard or what not, doesn't that put it at the end of its lifespan?

I don't care about alternators, batteries and belts. Those are things that 5 year old cars need. I care about spending a ton of money on a truck that the trans could quit on, or the engine could have a catastrophic failure.

 

[campfire]

That truck has 176k miles. If it has a 200k mile durability standard or what not, doesn't that put it at the end of its lifespan?

I don't care about alternators, batteries and belts. Those are things that 5 year old cars need. I care about spending a ton of money on a truck that the trans could quit on, or the engine could have a catastrophic failure.

What about buying a $1000-$3000 truck at the end of its lifespan and replacing both the engine & tranny? Even if you hire out the work, you'd have a brand new truck that should be lots cheaper than buying a $25k hauler with 100,000 miles on it already.

There are lots of cheap cargo vans/suburbans/trucks/PickWhateverYouWant out there.

 

[jekquistk5]

Just tow with your new jetta Rich!

 

[Kay86K5]

When new diesel pickups are going for $60K, mid 20's would pretty much make sense. Is it artificially inflated? No not really. People want them and the prices are going to reflect what the market will bare. Diesels are not really that much more to maintain as far as consumables. They go more miles on an oil change, fuel filters are pretty cheap, and so are air filters really. If someone is factoring in that a filter is $9.99 for one, and $14.99 for the other as a factor, well I just don't know what to say about that. It's pennies...

Turbos and injectors just don't let go right and left in these engines. On most stock trucks a turbo and injectors should last nearly the life of what an 8.1 or 6.0's average service life would be. I have two Dodges well beyond 200K on stock parts and a 7.3L at 280K all original. That kind of mileage on an LS moving the WEIGHT that most diesel pickups do, and that LS is pretty much at the end of it's expected service life.

We will never see a big block gas engine again. No one wants them. Especially not when the factory is getting a reliable near 450HP out of a small block.

Tons of people are buying them like it's nothing. A lot of people make 6 figures these days and an $800 payment is not all that unreasonable for their budget. At first, yeah $60K is a lot. Until you look at what you are buying in comparison to trucks from 15 years ago. I remember cursing up and down when early 2000's diesels were hitting over $40K. I've spent $10K on one single truck of mine between the stereo, long arm suspension, better trans, more power, blah blah. Now for $60K I can go buy a truck with a kick butt touch screen audio system, super comfy interior, factory long arm plush suspension, reliable trans that handles the weight I move (gross well over 20K), and power nearly 1000ft lbs. All comes with a huge warranty package to back it up. I'm looking to replace both of my 7.3 Fords with 2012+ Dodge 4500's. Can't wait.

Some of us don't want that bull crap touch screen stuff in our trucks....just remember that.

And even though yes they can get upwards of 450hp out of small blocks these days, look at the dyno sheets, most if not all of them you have to rap out to really high RPM's to be able to get those numbers. In the towing game, as I know you are aware of, the low rpm torque is what you want, which these small blocks can't compare to a big block.

The true reality that most of us have to live with now, is truck manufactures are not making vehicle to accommodate most of the people like us on sites like CK5. They are accommodating to the people who do care about stupid touch screens and fancy leather seats. I have just accepted the fact that nobody is going to make a truck that really suits my individual needs anymore. And if I did buy a new truck (which I will never do cause I think it's a stupid financial decision) I would have to give something up to get something else in the purchase. Hence, why I said screw it and decided to build a tow rig exactly how I wanted it, to suit my exact needs. It's kind of a metaphorical "middle finger" I'm giving to the vehicle manufactures

But hey, to each their own I guess. If you are making six figures and you don't care about paying upwards of $1000 or more a month just to own a vehicle (factoring in your monthly payment, insurance, gas, and the occasional maintenance) then go right ahead. Most people don't even keep vehicles past the point of their loan expiring and warranty expiring nowadays anyways. But I have decided I would rather purchase older vehicles and save some of that money to use to upgrade and make cooler....like I said, to each their own

 

[Kay86K5]

To the OP...maybe get into the MDT semi market...my brother purchased this (pic below) for $4000, and after every thing he has done to it (built a flatbed, 46" military tires and rims, redoing the interior, and a whole bunch of misc things) he is right at $7000 into it, and it took him a year to get it to this point.....just something to think about

 

[Deuling]

I don't think Rich is in the market to buy a clapped out, or half clapped out vehicle to build a tow rig.

I think he just wants one to buy that he can hop in and go worry free.

He is on the road all summer long. Most people are thinking of a weekend trip or something when they think of a hauler.

Richard goes for like 3 months at a time....

 

[Kay86K5]

I don't think Rich is in the market to buy a clapped out, or half clapped out vehicle to build a tow rig.

I think he just wants one to buy that he can hop in and go worry free.

He is on the road all summer long. Most people are thinking of a weekend trip or something when they think of a hauler.

Richard goes for like 3 months at a time....

Then he might want to get used to paying that payment then

 

[jekquistk5]

I think the issue is trucks in his neck of the woods. Everyone wants top dollar for a rusted out pile. You guys that do not reside in the salt belt, have no idea. The truck Rich is looking for is out there, its just not in his state, or surrounding states.

 

[Kay86K5]

I think the issue is trucks in his neck of the woods. Everyone wants top dollar for a rusted out pile. You guys that do not reside in the salt belt, have no idea. The truck Rich is looking for is out there, its just not in his state, or surrounding states.

Agreed. I have some family that lives in your guys part of the country...it is amazing how quickly trucks rot and are worthless (but guys still are wanting some serious $ for them)...crazy stuff. Hence why I never plan on living in that part of the country

 

[sreidmx]

@Kay86K5 hit some really good points and I for one am of the same camp, I think @Richcz28 and I have very similar wants and needs, just waiting for the right truck to come along is key, mine happened to fall into my lap but still needed some work to bring up to par. Brakes and shocks, tune up. But so far that's it, it tows my wife's horses around and my kid wherever you want to go.
The 92 K2500 light duty did the same thing
Just with a slew of additional issues. I told my wife the other day, there's a massive difference when maintenance turns into repairs.
I'd like to think I have 30k miles of trouble free use from the burb I bought. I am prepared to put a trans in it, maybe headgaskets.. hope not but if I have to I already have the vehicle I wanted to start with and it's proven in its 170k lifespan to be darn reliable. I got lucky got all the service records as well..
so for now, she drives it and treats it like a stone reliable truck that it's shown to be.

 

[campfire]

I think the issue is trucks in his neck of the woods. Everyone wants top dollar for a rusted out pile. You guys that do not reside in the salt belt, have no idea. The truck Rich is looking for is out there, its just not in his state, or surrounding states.

So...import one. Someone with Rich's traveling habits could pretty easily pick up a truck along the way if he found the right one. Right?

 

[Richcz28]

I test drove a 2500 cargo Express today. That was all the dealer had for vans on the lot. I really just wanted to get a feel for the inside, handling, and comfort. It was actually better than I expected. Also, whenever I look at vans they are full of crap and look smaller than this did. I really liked the space inside. It could be filled with my crap one day!

I found one in the state of Massachusetts with a diesel. Apparently chevy stopped making them this year and are switching to the 2.8.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...=false&filtersModified=true#listing=144774964

I need to have time and internet more to research an ifs swap and what it really entails. I keep telling myself I don't want a project….

 

[campfire]

I test drove a 2500 cargo Express today. That was all the dealer had for vans on the lot. I really just wanted to get a feel for the inside, handling, and comfort. It was actually better than I expected. Also, whenever I look at vans they are full of crap and look smaller than this did. I really liked the space inside. It could be filled with my crap one day!

I found one in the state of Massachusetts with a diesel. Apparently chevy stopped making them this year and are switching to the 2.8.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...=false&filtersModified=true#listing=144774964

I need to have time and internet more to research an ifs swap and what it really entails. I keep telling myself I don't want a project….

Well, this place sure isn't going to talk you out of a project.

That van is the sort of thing I was thinking of when I mentioned $10k trucks. I guess I was a little optimistic.

 

[Chevy305]

I test drove a 2500 cargo Express today. That was all the dealer had for vans on the lot. I really just wanted to get a feel for the inside, handling, and comfort. It was actually better than I expected. Also, whenever I look at vans they are full of crap and look smaller than this did. I really liked the space inside. It could be filled with my crap one day!

I found one in the state of Massachusetts with a diesel. Apparently chevy stopped making them this year and are switching to the 2.8.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...=false&filtersModified=true#listing=144774964

I need to have time and internet more to research an ifs swap and what it really entails. I keep telling myself I don't want a project….

The company I work for has 2 of these vans as people haulers. They are 6.0s and they do fine for the flogging everyone gives them. The only problem is that they ride like shit when you sit in the back. And I mean air off of every bump. They are definitely meant to haul around a lot more weight than a few passengers.
I mean doing a 4x4 swap I think taking a leaf or two out of the rear wouldn't be out of the spectrum.

 

[Richcz28]

I ride in the front

 

[POORBOYK5]

Express van for the WIN! I have this 2005 express 3500. I'm on my 3rd year driving it. Bought it for $750. Had 215K then. Thought I'd do a brake job on it and sell it. I absolutely love this thing. It now has 270K on it. No major issues. It's actually the most comfortable thing I've ever owned. I also have a 2005 silverado 2500HD. It only has 55K on it YES 55K. I still prefer the van any day. It has done everything I ask even when it comes to towing here in Colorado. Tows my blazer up UTE pass (which I'm sure your familiar with from your trip to pikes peak) at 45-50. Minimal maintenance. Original 4L80E transmission. It tows various things on my car trailer about 50% of the time. It seems there's a trailer hooked to it more than there isn't. I have made many trips hauling a trailer back to Mass with it and its an animal out there compared to here! Only thing this is lacking is 4x4. It does look similar to the truck a arm set up. I've often wondered how different the truck 4x4 front snout was. Besides torsion bar ect. I would be happy to answer any "real world experience" questions about them.

 

[kgblazerfive]

That in 4x4 would be the bomb

 

[Richcz28]

There are so many times skiing and apre skiing that I could use the passenger space.

I really like the amount of inside space.

I was reading up on 4x4 conversions and apparently they require a custom front crossmember and rebuilding the transmission with the correct output and tail housing.

 

[blazinzuk]

The transmission is not really a rebuild you pull it apart take the tail shaft off put the shorter shaft in, put it back together.

I'm sure the crossmember wouldn't be too hard

 

[campfire]

That in 4x4 would be the bomb

Wifey has come really close to asking me to scrap the Suburban and build a 4x4 van. I keep telling her that it's a bigger project than we wanna swallow at this point. But I'm sure someday she'll talk me into doing it (or something equally crazy ).