Got my new-to-me rig: '04 Suburban 1500 LT...

[Martinjmpr]

And in "Expedition White" no less! :sombrero:
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Here's the crappy cell phone pics (for those not in the Denver area we are currently getting slammed by the biggest snowstorm in at least a few years):
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Specs:
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2004 Suburban LT (as I understand it, the LT is midway between the base model LS and the high-end Z71.)
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5.3 V8
4l60 4 speed auto
4wd with 2 spd transfer case (as opposed to the Yukon Denali which has a single speed AWD T-case.)
Gray leather seats in good condition (this was something I really wanted)
NO sunroof (also what I wanted)
NO autoride (ditto)
2nd row seat is a bench, not buckets (ditto)
Seating capacity I believe is 8.
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Alas, it does have the rear lift gate where I think "barn doors" would have been cool but on the plus side that gives me a rear wiper.
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136k on the clock but according to Carfax only one previous owner of record (bought from a dealer.)
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Still have to check the glove box to see if it has the G80 locker. According to some web sites the G80 was part of the LT package but other sources have said the G80 is a separate option, some had it and some didn't. From my recent playing around in our 8 - 10" of fresh snow, it certainly felt solid and not like it was slipping at all.
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Anyway, I'm hoping for some slightly improved weather so I can get a little more of a "feel" for it but so far I really like it. Plenty of power and as comfy as only an "off road limo" could be. :elkgrin:

 

[tgdoumit]

nice! do you have plans for it?

 

[Martinjmpr]

nice! do you have plans for it?

I do, although fairly mild ones.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ExplorerTom]

Very nice! Is that rear cargo area longer than usual?

So I meant to broach this when you were still shopping, but based on the 4wd trails around here, something that big won't jive too well.

What kind of trips do you typically do?

 

[geo.greg]

ive had both the barn doors and lift gate. for a camping out doors burb, the liftgate is better IMP, creates a rain free roof, or maybe snow free based upon the photos, when loading and unloading stuff, or just looking for something in the back during a storm. i thought i would miss the barn doors, but minutes of not having them when backing out of a driveway, i knew i was hooked.



hope you enjoy yours as much as we did ours.

 

[RoyJ]

Very nice! Is that rear cargo area longer than usual?

lol, if you consider a Tahoe the "usual"...

I think most Suburbans are not suited for off road trails, but for pure expedition use - covering large distances on off road ROADS, they're excellent with a mild lift and bigger tires.

 

[ZMagic97]

I believe the G80 was available on many trims. My Z71 has it.

Nice looking Suburban. I love the GMT800s...have two myself. Great vehicles if you ask me.

 

[ExplorerTom]

lol, if you consider a Tahoe the "usual"....

Probably. Most Chevys blur into the background for me. I couldn't tell the difference between LT, LS, LTZ or whatever letter combination Chevy comes up with.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Very nice! Is that rear cargo area longer than usual?
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So I meant to broach this when you were still shopping, but based on the 4wd trails around here, something that big won't jive too well.
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What kind of trips do you typically do?

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Nope, it's a standard Suburban. 130" wheelbase, 18'3" overall length. Primary use will be long trips pulling our travel trailer with occasional forays onto mild off road trails. Wife has a Jeep ('95 YJ) if we want to get into anything really gnarly and that little thing is like a mountain goat.
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I know it's always assumed that the Suburban is "huge" but the "footprint" is about the same as a regular cab long bed pickup, or maybe even a little smaller. In fact, I owned a 1999 Ford Ranger extended cab - a compact truck - and the wheelbase on that truck was only 3" shorter than the 'Burb (127".)
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ive had both the barn doors and lift gate. for a camping out doors burb, the liftgate is better IMP, creates a rain free roof, or maybe snow free based upon the photos, when loading and unloading stuff, or just looking for something in the back during a storm. i thought i would miss the barn doors, but minutes of not having them when backing out of a driveway, i knew i was hooked.

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I hear you on that. I think the "barn doors" are more of a "cool factor" thing because they make the truck look tough and "business like" but there's a reason almost all SUVs nowadays have the liftgate (or as I call it the "soccer mom gate.") My actual preferred rear door arrangement is the lift/drop gate like the 1992-99 Suburbans and Tahoes had because that gives you a tailgate that you can sit on, cook on, etc. But in terms of actual, day to day use in (dare I say it) the "suburbs" the one-piece liftgate just makes more sense. It's also nice that the rear glass opens separately which allows me to reach in and access things in the cargo compartment without opening the liftgate (I used to do that a lot on my 4runner with its roll down window.)
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lol, if you consider a Tahoe the "usual"...
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I think most Suburbans are not suited for off road trails, but for pure expedition use - covering large distances on off road ROADS, they're excellent with a mild lift and bigger tires.

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I don't plan on doing Red Cone with it or Black Bear Pass (although I have heard of people who did Black Bear in a full sized rig.)
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Two weeks ago we were at Big Bend National Park and a vehicle like the 'Burb would have been perfect there (not that my 4runner was inadequate, but the 'Burb would have done just fine on those trails, too. In fact, we saw quite a few "full sized" rigs there.)

 

[Klutch7]

Congratulations on the purchase, looks like a nice truck! the 1500 will serve you quite well with a leveled suspension and some 285's. Looks like you got the Bose stereo too. Personally, I think its one of the best sounding stock radios I've ever heard.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Nice find! Have you figured out if you have the locker yet?

 

[upcruiser]

Nice rig. We have been loving our 2004 2500 since we picked it up last spring. We have taken it into some tight stuff. Definitely not as good in technical terrain as our 80 series, of course but the load and towing capacities, along with comfort make it better for 98% of the stuff we use it for. We have the barn doors and love them. They let you haul canoes and kayaks on the roof and still be able to open one side to get stuff in or out. They suck in snow though as it falls right into the back when you open the door due to the curved roof line.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Nice find! Have you figured out if you have the locker yet?

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Would love to know but I'm having trouble finding an RPO code list for 2004 Suburban. Any links or sites that would have it? I'm finding stuff for newer GM vehicles and for pickups and such but not the specific codes I'm looking for.
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What is the magic code for the locker?
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EDITED TO ADD: Okay, I do see a G80 RPO code. So that means it has the locker? That could explain why it was doing so well in the snow yesterday and today.
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EDITED AGAIN: OK the site I went to listed G80 as "positraction". Also GT4 which is 3.73 axle ratio.

 

[Martinjmpr]

For those interested I found the source for all GM RPO codes here:
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http://www.silveradosierra.com/owners-manuals/gm-master-rpo-code-listing-t7203.html
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So now I'm going through my list. Power folding mirrors! Heavy duty trans cooler. Digital Audio System "S band" whatever that is (satellite I'm guessing ) , weight distributing hitch.
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All in all I'm even happier now knowing it has some nice features to it.

 

[Martinjmpr]

OK Martin,

You have had it for less then a day, but first things come before second things. It need a name! You could name it Snowflake or maybe Snowwhite?

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Well Ace named his FJC in Spanish "Cabra de Plata" (the Silver Goat.)
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In keeping with that theme mine could be "La Vaca Blanca" or perhaps more accurately, "La Ballena Blanca." :sombrero:
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(for those too lazy to use Google Translate: Vaca = Cow and Ballena = whale.)