Starting to think I'd like a bigger 4x4 as a DD. I love the Tracker but it's crowded with the wife and I and our stuff every day and we can't put our dogs in it (no back seat). So I've been thinking about getting rid of it and getting a K5, Suburban, or maybe something similar. Probably stick with a GM as it's what I know best(ish) but you never know.
At any rate this thread will involve K5's, Subs, etc.
I'm up here in Traverse City, MI. I still see K5's and Subs of the 73-87 body style in decent numbers and there's often several on Craigslist. They're around and it's not hard to tell the rotten ones from...the rest I guess we'll say.
Factors as I see it:
-Won't have a lot to spend. Several grand at most if I'm lucky. Say $3k ceiling ideally and $4k max if this year goes better than last. We'll see on that one.
-I'm in Northern Michigan but I have links to lower Michigan, Kentucky, and where ever any of the good souls on CK5 are willing to help me.
However I think when push comes to shove, and since I'm not looking for a pristine beauty, I'll be looking to stay closer to home.
-MUST be 4x4 obviously.
-Would prefer either a diesel or a 87+ TBI fuel injected gasser. I'm not great with engines but I know both better than carbs by a LONG shot.
-Has to be solid. Mainly thinking in terms of keeping the wife and I dry and not being a rattle trap. Also mechanically reliable. The Tracker isn't pretty but it's all there, is mostly water tight, safe to drive, and starts and goes every day. I want that in whatever I get next but also able to carry more and go faster and farther (Tracker has no OD so it's not happy past 55mph).
-With any luck our house will sell and we'll be moving south, likely to Kentucky. I'd like whatever I find to be worth all the trouble to keep and take with us. If we still have the Tracker it won't be making the trip, it's staying up north.
-Going out west might be an option but at the same time travel expenses would have to figure into the total budget and obviously reliability figures in there. I'm also a bit of a old truck humanitarian so if I travel far and bring a truck back it'll likely be in really good shape...and then my guilt kicks in and reminds me it'd be my DD driving around in the salt that is currently coating the Tracker in a grey film.
So basically...how crazy am I? I want a K5 on a budget but don't want to have a rattle trap the wife won't ride in and I'm constantly worried about and that I have to fix floor holes, body mounts, holes, random rust issues, etc etc etc. I'm not afraid of a vehicle that isn't "pretty" but I've also learned that what you drive is sorta like what you wear, in a lot of situations it sets an expectation of you that many folks have a hard time shaking. I'd like it to run well and take me to work every day just like the Tracker does BUT also be able to take some of the burden for trips downstate and to town with the dogs/family etc. Can this be done?
Wow...rambling...
At any rate this thread will involve K5's, Subs, etc.I'm up here in Traverse City, MI. I still see K5's and Subs of the 73-87 body style in decent numbers and there's often several on Craigslist. They're around and it's not hard to tell the rotten ones from...the rest I guess we'll say.
Factors as I see it:
-Won't have a lot to spend. Several grand at most if I'm lucky. Say $3k ceiling ideally and $4k max if this year goes better than last. We'll see on that one.
-I'm in Northern Michigan but I have links to lower Michigan, Kentucky, and where ever any of the good souls on CK5 are willing to help me.
However I think when push comes to shove, and since I'm not looking for a pristine beauty, I'll be looking to stay closer to home.-MUST be 4x4 obviously.
-Would prefer either a diesel or a 87+ TBI fuel injected gasser. I'm not great with engines but I know both better than carbs by a LONG shot.
-Has to be solid. Mainly thinking in terms of keeping the wife and I dry and not being a rattle trap. Also mechanically reliable. The Tracker isn't pretty but it's all there, is mostly water tight, safe to drive, and starts and goes every day. I want that in whatever I get next but also able to carry more and go faster and farther (Tracker has no OD so it's not happy past 55mph).
-With any luck our house will sell and we'll be moving south, likely to Kentucky. I'd like whatever I find to be worth all the trouble to keep and take with us. If we still have the Tracker it won't be making the trip, it's staying up north.
-Going out west might be an option but at the same time travel expenses would have to figure into the total budget and obviously reliability figures in there. I'm also a bit of a old truck humanitarian so if I travel far and bring a truck back it'll likely be in really good shape...and then my guilt kicks in and reminds me it'd be my DD driving around in the salt that is currently coating the Tracker in a grey film.
So basically...how crazy am I? I want a K5 on a budget but don't want to have a rattle trap the wife won't ride in and I'm constantly worried about and that I have to fix floor holes, body mounts, holes, random rust issues, etc etc etc. I'm not afraid of a vehicle that isn't "pretty" but I've also learned that what you drive is sorta like what you wear, in a lot of situations it sets an expectation of you that many folks have a hard time shaking. I'd like it to run well and take me to work every day just like the Tracker does BUT also be able to take some of the burden for trips downstate and to town with the dogs/family etc. Can this be done?
Wow...rambling...
