Thoughts on this truck

[98dango]

We have come to the conclusion we love my Sonoma but its not cutting it in so many ways.

That brings us to the need for a different truck.

We took the Tahoe out this weekend and liked many things about it but disliked also.
First is its Trinda's daily driver and there is still about 12k owed on it.
Second its hard to sleep in we did it but no the most comfortable place to be.
Third when you shift from forward to reverse quickly in 4wd it automaticly calls on start.

So on the drive home yesterday from camping and getting stuck. We started talking about a different truck for our adventures. We will always have my Sonoma for the hard core wheeling. What we came up with is this. We want a fullsize truck with a topper. Not wanting to invest a ton of money in it but it needs to last and be dependable.

Then light bulb there is a 2003 chevy 1500 standard cab 5speed 4.8 v8 sitting in the yard. All it needs is plates and a clutch. Trinda drove this truck as a second to her Monte Carlo up until the clutch went out and she traded the Monte In on her Tahoe. The truck got 20+ mpg and we own it. But just because you have it dose not make it the best choice.

 

[redthies]

What exactly is the question?

 

[98dango]

The question I guess was not worded right. Given the use and what the truck is do you feel it would hold up and serve the purpose at hand.

 

[chilliwak]

Dango, we really need to discuss your needs to be able to answer your question. First off, is the red truck (Chevy) a 4 by 4? Are you going to do serious off road driving or are you just going to do the occasional logging road? A full size pick-up is a good start base, and as you have already pointed out, you own the truck. Put a camper/canopy on the back, replace the clutch, and you are ready to roll. Give us a few ideas about what you want to do, and I am sure lots of guys here on the forum can help you out. Remember, we always like pics, SO POST THOSE PICS!

 

[98dango]

Looks like I should have re read my post. The whole paragraph on what it would be used for is not there. Opps my bad sorry all.

Ok the truck will be used for mild trail use and long distance travel. We live in Cody giving us yellow stone and the tetons as a back yard. So it needs to run logging roads every weekend with minor repair during the week. It has to seat 3 but mostly only have 2. Be able to cover long distances comfortably and with a decent mpg. Dose not have to do hard core wheeling or mud rock things like that I have a truck for that. I do tend to push my rigs harder than most when needed but dont beat on them by any means.

This truck will remain IFS no need for 2 sac trucks. 3" lift 255s a 10k engo winch on a cradle and hand built bumper.

 

[redthies]

Based on your new paragraph, I think you already know the answer. It should do fine. Sell the Tahoe, buy a topper and some more aggressive tires, and go have some fun! I have done a fair bit of camping in the Jackson and Alpine area, and while I'm sure there is the possibility of hard wheeling, you could enjoy a whole lot of Wyoming in a 2wd.

 

[98dango]

Based on your new paragraph, I think you already know the answer. It should do fine. Sell the Tahoe, buy a topper and some more aggressive tires, and go have some fun! I have done a fair bit of camping in the Jackson and Alpine area, and while I'm sure there is the possibility of hard wheeling, you could enjoy a whole lot of Wyoming in a 2wd.

I did all of the east side in 2wd in my sonoma before the 4wd conversion. We will keep the Tahoe but yes I think the truck will do fine I just tend to jump at things with out always thinking them threw all the way.

 

[Buliwyf]

Oh, that's great. An SUV that calls the Environazis every time you go offroad and pings them your location. Reason #87 I'll never buy a GM ever again.

If you add some weight to the 2wd, which you'll have on any decent long trip anyways, you'll be fine. I go all kinds of crazy places in a 1wd van. I'm sweating bullets ever minute though. Usually I don't get into anything that some mud rated tire chains and a shovel won't get me out of.

I wonder about the feasability of buying a wrecked junkyard truck and getting 4wd parts from it for a conversion?

 

[98dango]

Oh, that's great. An SUV that calls the Environazis every time you go offroad and pings them your location. Reason #87 I'll never buy a GM ever again.

If you add some weight to the 2wd, which you'll have on any decent long trip anyways, you'll be fine. I go all kinds of crazy places in a 1wd van. I'm sweating bullets ever minute though. Usually I don't get into anything that some mud rated tire chains and a shovel won't get me out of.

I wonder about the feasability of buying a wrecked junkyard truck and getting 4wd parts from it for a conversion?

No need for a conversion it is 4wd my old s10/sonoma was 2wd not any more its 4wd on 40s.

 

[Buliwyf]

My bad, I thought that Chevy was 2wd, the angle of the picture makes it look lower than normal. If it's 4wd then a mild lift and some nice tires and you're good to go. Nothing better than using the truck you allready have.

 

[AbleGuy]

I had this truck, a white 2003 Chevy 1/2 ton, 4wd, long bed reg cab, in the "work truck" model......Very simple unit, great driving comfort, great gas mileage for full size truck.....soon after I got it, I had to drive from North Idaho to Tucson on three, very long days of hwy driving.

At end of trip, I felt this was the MOST comfortable road trick I had ever taken on long drives (had Ford, Nissan and GMC previously).

Back in N. Idaho, it was my winter driver in heavy snow, and summer traveler for logging roads, etc.

Used it for work and camping with just a aluminum cap on back.

Traded it on for an extra cab a couple of years later and have missed the old truck ever since.....one of those times when you just keep kicking yourself for getting rid of a good rig prematurely.

Keep this one!

 

[98dango]

Buliwyf

My bad, I thought that Chevy was 2wd, the angle of the picture makes it look lower than normal. If it's 4wd then a mild lift and some nice tires and you're good to go. Nothing better than using the truck you allready have.



Yes this is the lowest 4wd truck I have ever seen stock. a 3" and some 33s is definatly in its near future.

gbail

I had this truck, a white 2003 Chevy 1/2 ton, 4wd, long bed reg cab, in the "work truck" model......Very simple unit, great driving comfort, great gas mileage for full size truck.....soon after I got it, I had to drive from North Idaho to Tucson on three, very long days of hwy driving.

At end of trip, I felt this was the MOST comfortable road trick I had ever taken on long drives (had Ford, Nissan and GMC previously).

Back in N. Idaho, it was my winter driver in heavy snow, and summer traveler for logging roads, etc.

Used it for work and camping with just a aluminum cap on back.

Traded it on for an extra cab a couple of years later and have missed the old truck ever since.....one of those times when you just keep kicking yourself for getting rid of a good rig prematurely.

Keep this one!

I think we plan to hang on to this one. and just a topper and where in it to win it.

 

[chilliwak]

Dango, from the sound of things, you are ready to ROCK!:Wow1: slap a camper/canopy on that rig and let loose. Remember to replace the clutch first. You can follow my sig if you want inspiration for building your own canopy.

 

[High Country Hillbilly]

I have the 4.8 in a truck I drive for work. It has been very dependable for me. It is a 03 model...but the grill is much different than yours. Are you sure yours is an 03 and not an earlier model?

Either way, should be a good little truck!

Hillbilly

 

[98dango]

She or sure is an 03. But yours most likely has the cat eye style grill this a full on work truck crank windows stick manual shift t-cast. It will get an 05 tahoe grill in a month or so when we upgrade the tahoe.



Going to pick it up in Roundup MT after work. Then she comes back hear to Cody so I can get some small things done. Starting with the new clutch and clean up.