TXOD 1 - 99' Suburban build and first road trip

[Texans Outdoors]

This is our old "Soccer Mom" rig. It's a 99 4x4 with 260K miles. i went to go buy a new Toyota, but i just couldn't pull the trigger. I'm now at an age when a vehicle cost more than my first house.
I wouldn't say I went cheap but it was definitely less expensive. Everything under the hood is new:

• 5.7l crate engine
• transmission
• new front end and steering
• new A/C and evaporator coil
• new starter
• alternator and fuel pump
  
  I think I got everything. If you can think of something else I should replace, let me know. I would like to hear you ideas on tricking her out.
  
  This weekend we hit the road. It's not an "Overland Trip" but it was a great test run. We put 780 miles on her running through the Texas Hill Country.
  
  We were to celebrate Easter with my wife's family in Dripping Springs. So, we headed to the Texas Hill Country.
  
  It has been several years since I have been to Enchanted Rock, and I wanted to take my wife to the top of the Rock. Apparently a billion other people had the same idea. We arrived about 9:00 am to be greeted by the park ranger, “We are full. The park is closed.” Bummer!
  
  But what a great time to drive through the Texas Hill Country. The winter rains and spring sunshine have the Texas wild flowers in full bloom and the rivers are flowing. The intersection of Ranch Road 965 and State Highway 16 had lines of cars pulled over with parents getting pictures of their kids and pets sitting in the bluebonnets. Bluebonnets and Indian paint brushes filled both sides of Highway 71 between Austin and Llano.
  
  “Hey I got an idea. Let's have a cold beer in Luckenbach.” ( You know Luckenbach Texas with Willie and Waylon and the boys?) So off we went. There is something nostalgic about having an ice cold Lone Star and listening to live music in Luckenbach. We arrived just as the “Picker Circle” started warming up. I didn't catch her name, but there was a lady who sang “Coal Miner's Daughter” better than Loretta and then turned around and rocked “Me and Bobby McGee.”
  
  Later, we drove from Luckenbach to Pedernales Falls State Park, Johnson City. The Hill Country drought had lasted so long, I could not remember the last time I saw the river flow as it did this weekend. It was gorgeous. We hiked up river to the park boundary climbing and jump across huge boulders washed down by the river of time. We took off our shoes and soaked our tired feet in the cool healing waters of the Perdenales. Then we made our way back just before dark.
  
  We topped off the night with some great Mexican Food and a cold margarita at El Agave in Johnson City.
  
  What a great weekend; no plans, no directions or particular place to go. “It's not the destination, it's the journey.” You don't need any particular place to go. Just go.

 

[TwinDuro]

What an awesome weekend trip Texans Outdoors! It's awfully hard to beat the Texas Hill Country and heck, in a weekend you got to see family, beautiful scenery, live music with a cold beer and have some great Mexican food with margaritas on a loose, easy schedule. I'd say it doesn't get much better then that! :sombrero:

What a great weekend; no plans, no directions or particular place to go. “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” You don’t need any particular place to go. Just go.

My favorite way to travel as well!

Nice rig by the way! It looks and sounds like you've kept her up beautifully and all of the stuff that is normally worn out at 260k is now brand new... I have a '92 K1500 regular cab/short bed pickup that currently has 269k miles on it on most of the original components, so I understand :elkgrin:

On tricking out your cool 'burb, it's hard to say... so many neat things have been done to these rigs over the years, I guess it's all about how you want to use it and where you want it to take you. Do you plan on spending more time in the dirt? Mostly pavement? A little or a lot of both?

Keep up the good work and keep the adventures coming!

 

[Texans Outdoors]

What an awesome weekend trip Texans Outdoors! It's awfully hard to beat the Texas Hill Country and heck, in a weekend you got to see family, beautiful scenery, live music with a cold beer and have some great Mexican food with margaritas on a loose, easy schedule. I'd say it doesn't get much better then that! :sombrero:



My favorite way to travel as well!

Nice rig by the way! It looks and sounds like you've kept her up beautifully and all of the stuff that is normally worn out at 260k is now brand new... I have a '92 K1500 regular cab/short bed pickup that currently has 269k miles on it on most of the original components, so I understand :elkgrin:

On tricking out your cool 'burb, it's hard to say... so many neat things have been done to these rigs over the years, I guess it's all about how you want to use it and where you want it to take you. Do you plan on spending more time in the dirt? Mostly pavement? A little or a lot of both?

Keep up the good work and keep the adventures coming!

Thanks for your comments. I'm hoping this rig will do both. However, it only has "Soccer Mom 4X4" so it limits how crazy I get off road. But on the other hand, if I bang it up, no big deal. I've pretty muched maxed out my budget for the burb so any other up grades will have to be next year. ( i don't want to pull out of my play money account.

We are planning on a Big Bend trip in May. Hopefully she'll be OK if I'm gentle. LOL

 

[chilliwak]

Welcome to the site Texan and can I say what a sweet:drool: looking `Burb´you have there! Thanks for posting pics of your rig and your trip. Looks like you had fun.I am sure you will find lots of helpfull people here so dont hesitate to ask any questions. Cheers, Chilli...

 

[gmacmt]

If you make it up to montana I have a nice tube bumper for that generation suburban that needs a home. That body style will definitely be a classic.

 

[Texans Outdoors]

If you make it up to montana I have a nice tube bumper for that generation suburban that needs a home. That body style will definitely be a classic.

Thanks. Montana has always been on my GO TO list. Now i have a reason.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Thanks. Montana has always been on my GO TO list. Now i have a reason.

.
Glacier National Park should be reason enough.

 

[Texans Outdoors]

.
Glacier National Park should be reason enough.

Absolutely

 

[justcuz]

Hopefully your transmission rebuild included upgrades common to rebuilds now days.
Generally they are upgraded to 4l65E specs using Corvette parts.
I have only done 3 significant things to my 1993 Suburban.
Install a factory transmission cooler, yours may already have one.
Have the rear springs re arched, added a leaf and removed the overload for more flex.
After my 10 bolt started leaking at the wheel bearings, I bought a junkyard semi-float 6 lug 14 bolt rear axle.

I replaced the 10 bolt because the 14 bolt cost less than the new bearings, axles and seals for the 10 bolt.
Mine is a drum brake rear axle and I reused my emergency brake cables from the 10 bolt.
The bigger brakes of the 14 bolt are a terrific advantage.

Yours appears to have pretty good suspension in it, I also run 285/75x16 tires on mine which fit fine.
If your black plastic fender flares are starting to oxidize, use penetrol on them to refurbish them.
Wipe it on sparingly but rub it in good and let it dry overnight, works good for dull plastic headlights too.