LOOKING FOR INFO
OK, not directly wood gear related, although I assume most here have various trucks and ALL here have opinions on same! I figure I will get more response from the working wood haulers here than in the Rides forum.
I am replacing a 95 Isuzu Trooper with a cooked transmission, with either an extended cab pickup or SUV. It is my daily driver, although we have the wife's Saturn for long mile trips. I pull a 5x10 enclosed motorcycle trailer a lot, and they can be long miles. A few times a year short trips with a 1 ton homemade trailer with heavy loads, but at low speeds.
4WD is essential. I prefer the simplest possible, manual floor levers, not electric or vacuum shift. (I'd prefer manual hubs, but those are gone, and it just shows my dinosaur preferences.) Need low range for sure. I don't need to shift on the fly. I want as much front end disconnected as possible when in 2WD.
Looking at 90's up to about 2003 due to price range, and Ford/Chev choices. I don't like the Dodge cab vision, so it is out, although I had an old 76 3/4 extended 4wd for many years.
If pickup, I would go half ton, extended cab/suicide doors (not crew cab) and 6-1/2 foot box at least.
If SUV, I don't really need a full size suburban, but do need some towing, mainly transmission durability. Friend has a 99 Tahoe, 350, with chip modifications for excellant mileage and fair power that looks pretty good for me.
So, after all that, I am looking at:
-Ford pickups, generation 87-91 or 92-97, but good ones are rare here because of rust
-Ford pickups, generation 97-2004
-Don't want the Explorer
-Chev/GMC pickups, generation 88-99
-Chev/GMC pickups, generation 2000-up, but not newest
-Chev Tahoe/Yukon, generation to 99
-Chev Tahoe/Yukon, generation 2000 and up, but not newest
-Maybe the Suburban, but it seems a lot more than I need and more gas than I can afford.
On any used vehicle I would change fuel pumps, filters, belts, fluids, and maybe brakes, but preferably nothing more for a while.
I have wrenched on small to large equipment for almost 50 years, and really, about any newer vehicle is much better built than in 'the good old days'. However, they are getting so complicated that I am helpless on the newer stuff and repairs are really expensive.
Questions:
-What are the known problem areas? Any fatal flaws, with no junkyard parts available, and dealer only parts in high demand?
-Ford and Chev both had their plastic manifold fiascos. How prevalent are they?
-How about transmission reliability?
-What years still had manual 4WD systems as standard, which ones still had as available, and when did they disappear?
-Any teething problems in the first year or two of the newer generations?
-Are there big enough differences in comfort and fuel economy to justify the price jump in the 2000 and up generations? Prices change from 3000-5000 for 99 and older to 6000-10,000 for the 2000 and up, either Ford or Chev.
-Fuel tank sizes or options?
-Any odd wiring issues, or is trailer hookup normal?
Let's not make this a Ford v. Chevy war, or a 'mine was fine' thread or it will become huge, but any actual factual data I would definitely appreciate.
tks,
kevin j
minnesota
OK, not directly wood gear related, although I assume most here have various trucks and ALL here have opinions on same! I figure I will get more response from the working wood haulers here than in the Rides forum.
I am replacing a 95 Isuzu Trooper with a cooked transmission, with either an extended cab pickup or SUV. It is my daily driver, although we have the wife's Saturn for long mile trips. I pull a 5x10 enclosed motorcycle trailer a lot, and they can be long miles. A few times a year short trips with a 1 ton homemade trailer with heavy loads, but at low speeds.
4WD is essential. I prefer the simplest possible, manual floor levers, not electric or vacuum shift. (I'd prefer manual hubs, but those are gone, and it just shows my dinosaur preferences.) Need low range for sure. I don't need to shift on the fly. I want as much front end disconnected as possible when in 2WD.
Looking at 90's up to about 2003 due to price range, and Ford/Chev choices. I don't like the Dodge cab vision, so it is out, although I had an old 76 3/4 extended 4wd for many years.
If pickup, I would go half ton, extended cab/suicide doors (not crew cab) and 6-1/2 foot box at least.
If SUV, I don't really need a full size suburban, but do need some towing, mainly transmission durability. Friend has a 99 Tahoe, 350, with chip modifications for excellant mileage and fair power that looks pretty good for me.
So, after all that, I am looking at:
-Ford pickups, generation 87-91 or 92-97, but good ones are rare here because of rust
-Ford pickups, generation 97-2004
-Don't want the Explorer
-Chev/GMC pickups, generation 88-99
-Chev/GMC pickups, generation 2000-up, but not newest
-Chev Tahoe/Yukon, generation to 99
-Chev Tahoe/Yukon, generation 2000 and up, but not newest
-Maybe the Suburban, but it seems a lot more than I need and more gas than I can afford.
On any used vehicle I would change fuel pumps, filters, belts, fluids, and maybe brakes, but preferably nothing more for a while.
I have wrenched on small to large equipment for almost 50 years, and really, about any newer vehicle is much better built than in 'the good old days'. However, they are getting so complicated that I am helpless on the newer stuff and repairs are really expensive.
Questions:
-What are the known problem areas? Any fatal flaws, with no junkyard parts available, and dealer only parts in high demand?
-Ford and Chev both had their plastic manifold fiascos. How prevalent are they?
-How about transmission reliability?
-What years still had manual 4WD systems as standard, which ones still had as available, and when did they disappear?
-Any teething problems in the first year or two of the newer generations?
-Are there big enough differences in comfort and fuel economy to justify the price jump in the 2000 and up generations? Prices change from 3000-5000 for 99 and older to 6000-10,000 for the 2000 and up, either Ford or Chev.
-Fuel tank sizes or options?
-Any odd wiring issues, or is trailer hookup normal?
Let's not make this a Ford v. Chevy war, or a 'mine was fine' thread or it will become huge, but any actual factual data I would definitely appreciate.
tks,
kevin j
minnesota