To build, or not to build. That is the question.

[redthies]

Are you building the vehicle for the vehicle, or are you building it for the destination? If it's for the vehicle, then do whatever feels right, and fits your sense of correctness and "feng shui". If it's for the destination, then where will you really take it? What do you really need? It's amazing how our sense of what is minimally suitable has ramped up over the past few decades. You can just about cover the globe in an old used Subaru Outback. Our rigs mostly look the way they do because this is as much a vehicle/equipment hobby as it is a travel hobby. Many times moreso.

Your stock Suburban will do just fine. Baseline it - really baseline the maintenance and all the systems (something many people are reluctant to do, opting for bumpers and winches and lifts and tires instead) - and hit the road.

I had to quote this, as it is the best summary of what is happening with the majority of people on here. I fall prey to the hype some times too, but really, it is not necessary to modify things to the degree most of us do for actual expedition travel. A properly maintained, and properly driven rig (including the op's suburban) should get us 95% of the places we want to go!

 

[rabbiporkchop]

I had to quote this, as it is the best summary of what is happening with the majority of people on here. I fall prey to the hype some times too, but really, it is not necessary to modify things to the degree most of us do for actual expedition travel. A properly maintained, and properly driven rig (including the op's suburban) should get us 95% of the places we want to go!

This is true. I prefer the simplicity of a solid front axle though, and at the moment, none of the big 3 make a full size suv with a solid axle. I do agree that IFS does work well for most people, I just wanted something as simple as my old k-5 blazer with more comforts and cargo room. My wife has a 99 Tahoe, and as soon as her front end falls apart, I plan on installing an NP241 and ditching the electronic NP246, and I plan on replacing her IFS with another D44 or D60, just to simplify things. I hate electronic stuff that quits working when if you had a manual shifter you could just move a lever instead of pushing a button and hoping the shift motor works.

 

[SRMN8R]

Thanks to all for the suggestions and input. I'm currently wheelchair bound, recovering from a near fatal motorcycle crash on Father's Day last year. I'm just trying to get my head straight for what to do to the Suburban when I'm able to get back into the garage and start working on her.

This will be my son's daily driver, and off road vehicle for hunting and other pursuits. We may enjoy some fire trails and weekend getaways in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with the Sub serving as the haul vehicle for our ATV's, and a mobile base camp during our expeditions.

I have made some decisions on the vehicle:
- I'm going to keep it very close to stock. In the long run, I think this will best serve our needs, and for my son's first truck.
- I just had both rear axles replaced and had a set of BFG All Terrains installed. Rather than turn up the torsion bars, I retained the 265-75's.
- I plan on adding a front receiver hitch, which will provide me with an "anchor" point for a "portable" winch.
- My son is developing a plan to build some storage solution for the back end of the vehicle that will keep his firearms and ammo out of sight, and provide more storage for all the other junk we tend to carry around all the time. (He's a competitive shooter in the 4H Shooting Program, as well as the Scholastic Clay Target Program)

I'll need to install some shocks in the near future. The Eklethorns on it have about 70,000 miles on them and they're about done. I'm considering Bilstiens on the front, and maybe air shocks on the rear. I've never run air shocks on a 4x4, but I'm thinking they may be adequate for towing without spending the money on an air lift set up. Any opinions on this?

I've loved this vehicle. It's provided 220,000 miles of pretty trouble free service. Hopefully, she'll give us many more miles and be a good start for my boy. He wants a lifted mid 80's short bed Chevy pickup, but I think the Suburban will be a better vehicle for him to learn the ropes on.

Again, thanks for the input y'all.

- Jimmy