ExPo -- Help me pick!

[snoxxy]

ExPo members,

I am facing a dilemma! I have been a member here and always enjoy reading other folks stories and build ups, and even though I thoroughly enjoy being out and camping, I myself have NOT built a true ExPo vehicle yet, but hopefully you guys can help me.
Here is my situation. I am in the final stages of finishing my Project/fun car a 1986 BMW powered by a 99 LS1 SS engine. One my other hobbies is racing, on the track, not the street!
My other vehicle is a 05 Nissan Titan, and while there is a decent after market for it, I am not totally satisfied. The plan is to have a good ExPo vehicle that is relatively easy to work on, good after market support, decent gas mileage ( 14.5 MPG empty is not something I consider good, and that is not driving like a jerk either ) and can tow about 7000lbs for long distance!
Here is the reason for the his tow capacity and long travels whilst towing: I am in the military and stationed in Arkansas, family is in NY and I plan on hitting up various racetrack on the way to and from NY.
So lets hear your opinions.

Thanks in advance !

Phil

 

[Ponyracer]

Depends on how many seats you need and what your budget is.

I'd say early or mid cummins pickup, suburban diesel, excursion, etc.

 

[Saiyan66]

If you want fuel mileage and also want to tow 7k, you are probably going to be in the market for a diesel 3/4 or 1 ton. Ford and Dodge are the most "expo" worthy due to their straight axle suspensions. The GM is a very good truck as well so don't count it out because of IFS.

The Ford years to look for are the 99-03 F-250/350 with the 7.3 Powerstroke in it. Very reliable, good fuel mileage, tons of upgrades and aftermarket support. The 4R100 transmission is good if you don't overheat it, and don't climb hills with a load in OD. The 6spd manual is a good trans, just hard to find. The F-250 models have a Dana 50 front end, whereas the F-350's have a Dana 60. Both have unit bearings but can be upgraded to whatever you want. More parts are available for the 60 differential though.

In the Dodge you cant go wrong with any of the Cummins motors, its all about how much technology you want to have managing them. I would ONLY go with a manual transmission in a Dodge. This is due to my experience and how the truck feels with the auto. The autos can be built to handle the motor, but if you get the manual its a non-issue. 1st gen axles are good Dana 60/Dana 60 with locking hubs in the front. 2nd gen is Dana 60/Dana 70 with a CAD front axle. This axle is not real great if running big tires and it has unit bearings as well. 3rd/4th gen is a AAM 9.25/AAM 11.5 combo. Good axles, still a unit bearing in the front but its pretty decent. No CAD front axle on these trucks, the front diff spins all the time. If you need a real back seat then you will need at least an 03+ unless you happen upon an ultra rare 1st gen crew cab.

The GM is going to be the Duramax/Allison combo, I wouldn't recommend going older than that and getting the 6.5 or 6.2. The early Duramax trucks had some issues mainly with injectors, but nothing that can't be fixed. In 06 they went to a 6spd double overdrive trans which gives better fuel mileage. The axles are GM IFS 9.5/AAM 11.5 (14 bolt). Both are just fine and offer plenty of options, your weak spot being the front CV shafts. The GM's have a lower frame design that sacrifices ground clearance, and tend to be harder to fit larger tires.

Thats a decent start for now, I personally recommend the Dodges but let us know what your budget and preferences are and we can guide you better.

 

[redthies]

Saiyans recommendations are good, but since all the mentioned drawbacks are the unit bearings, I will throw the 94.5-97 F350 into the ring. All kinds of goodness, and no unit bearings. You can find them for reasonable money with lower miles and well cared for if you have time to look.

 

[EXP-T100]

If you want fuel mileage and also want to tow 7k, you are probably going to be in the market for a diesel 3/4 or 1 ton. Ford and Dodge are the most "expo" worthy due to their straight axle suspensions. The GM is a very good truck as well so don't count it out because of IFS.

The Ford years to look for are the 99-03 F-250/350 with the 7.3 Powerstroke in it. Very reliable, good fuel mileage, tons of upgrades and aftermarket support. The 4R100 transmission is good if you don't overheat it, and don't climb hills with a load in OD. The 6spd manual is a good trans, just hard to find. The F-250 models have a Dana 50 front end, whereas the F-350's have a Dana 60. Both have unit bearings but can be upgraded to whatever you want. More parts are available for the 60 differential though.

In the Dodge you cant go wrong with any of the Cummins motors, its all about how much technology you want to have managing them. I would ONLY go with a manual transmission in a Dodge. This is due to my experience and how the truck feels with the auto. The autos can be built to handle the motor, but if you get the manual its a non-issue. 1st gen axles are good Dana 60/Dana 60 with locking hubs in the front. 2nd gen is Dana 60/Dana 70 with a CAD front axle. This axle is not real great if running big tires and it has unit bearings as well. 3rd/4th gen is a AAM 9.25/AAM 11.5 combo. Good axles, still a unit bearing in the front but its pretty decent. No CAD front axle on these trucks, the front diff spins all the time. If you need a real back seat then you will need at least an 03+ unless you happen upon an ultra rare 1st gen crew cab.

The GM is going to be the Duramax/Allison combo, I wouldn't recommend going older than that and getting the 6.5 or 6.2. The early Duramax trucks had some issues mainly with injectors, but nothing that can't be fixed. In 06 they went to a 6spd double overdrive trans which gives better fuel mileage. The axles are GM IFS 9.5/AAM 11.5 (14 bolt). Both are just fine and offer plenty of options, your weak spot being the front CV shafts. The GM's have a lower frame design that sacrifices ground clearance, and tend to be harder to fit larger tires.

Thats a decent start for now, I personally recommend the Dodges but let us know what your budget and preferences are and we can guide you better.

What Saiyan66 said! i would add the Ford has a better body and interior, it wont fall apart around you like a dodge lol (dodge did get better with 3rd gens). I love my 05 Ram but miss the my 99.5 f250 interior and body. I dont know about in Arkansas but NY they uses a lot of salt in the winter and the ford/gm will fare better in a salty environment. My 05 Ram lived in a salty environment for a few yrs before i got it and it shows big time. One rear fender is showing a little rust and a lot of rusty bolt on the underside and where body panels come together. But it you know thats where dodge cuts cost and ok with it i say go dodge with a cummins. i have the 48re auto and i get 20 to 24 mpg hand calculated most of the time (like most diesels keep your foot out of it and you will see good mpg) but if i drive like i am in high school or tow it only goes down to 14/15 still not bad for 7000+ vehicle.

best of luck
Josh

 

[snoxxy]

Thank you for all the responses so far!
I have looked at the Excursion and a 96 PowerStroke in person.
From what I have read I am leaning more and more towards a cummins.
As far as seating capabilities, if I could seat 2 Adults and potentially 1-2 children ( young ) and or a dog, so I guess family sized.
Now I don't have a family per say, for I am single, however I rarely go out camping, exploring, by myself, and be it someone else rig breaks down or we are just going downtown for a drink, its nice to have the capabilities to seat a few people.
I like the fact that both, PS and Cummins have solid front axle, and that is exactly why i need advice like redthies gave about what trucks came with better bearings.
I have always had IFS trucks and SUV's so I know very little about what truck came with what axle and why for the front.
I Have ridden in a few D-Max chevies and the power they make is fantastic, all while being quiet and super comfortable. But I don't know how good Torsion front suspension is off road. Mind you I don't go out beating the snot out my rigs, but IFS is sketchy. The only way I think IFS is acceptable is if you can have a front locker in there. I had one in my old 22re Toyota and well, didn't really matter if I had a front tire in the air, it just kept going.
This is not something I will rush into, I don't HAVE to buy anything right now, so this is so I can start looking and maybe drive some rigs and then when the right deal comes around, buy it. as far as budget, for a stock truck about 20k and for one that is modified the right way, not a pavement mall cruiser with a million" lift and what not, 25k.
Thanks again for all the great responses and lets have plenty more! especially about the chevy IFS capabilty.

 

[warrpath4x4]

another option is a yukon, my mom has an 04 yukon with the 5.3 in it, pulls our camp trailer fully loaded and gets 20 mpg while doing it, plus its stock.

 

[EXP-T100]

With the info you have added I would say look for a 2nd gen dodge 2500 since you don't need the full four doors per say. They do have suicide door on the 98.5 to 02 then when to four full doors for the 3rd gen. there is not as much room in a 2nd gen rear seat but if you are just putting stuff and dogs and kids than your good to go. A low mile 2nd gen will run you around 12k to 16k depending on mileage and mods done. As far as a 3rd gen you are looking at right around 20k +/- depending on yr and mileage. I picked up my 05 for 21k with 128k miles on it. For the 2nd and 3rd gens it dose not take much to mod them. I put a 2” leveling kit ($190), steering brace ($158), 285/70r17 tread wrights ($610)(can fit 35 with plenty of room), 4” turbo back exhaust ($285)(muffler was gone), programmer ($277), tranny pan (with drain plug) and new tranny pressure switch and bigger solenoid ($250). So $1770 from fun and peaces of mind, it dose not take much with any of these trucks. With a 2nd gen there is a couple of other thing you will won't to add to the front end but over all cheap and easy. What will make you sick is if you won't to add after market bumpers or if you have to replace a unit bearing. As far as the IFS d-max I don't know much of the off road capabilities. I am a little old school and the ifs under a lot of weight kind of scares me but on the road its nice, my buddy has an 04 gmc 2500 and its supper quite (silly for a diesel lol) and rides vary nice and smooth but off road I will take a solid axel over ifs any day.

Josh

 

[Buliwyf]

I'm going to recommend a 2008-2010 Ford F250/350 Superduty LB, EXC, XL or XLT, with manual xfer case. 5.4L engine will be fine. No need for a diesel if you only occasionally tow 7000. The 5.4 will do that fine.

I tend to avoid the late model GM's. I despise IFS and can't stand the weird low hanging frame and undercarriage parts. I believe the term "pregnant guppy" is going to stick. The GM's really dont have much front suspension flex, and that hurts when you have 2500/1 ton rear springs. I'm pretty certain I don't have the guts to risk putting a locker in the front either, which is no problem for the Ford and Dodge.

My opinion on the Dodges is that they're just lighter built, cheaper Fords. Not a bad thing at all, if they fixed the rust problems.

 

[snoxxy]

Interesting that you say the Gas Job will do just fine hauling 7000 lbs for thousands of miles at a time.
All I have ever off roaded with has been IFS, but things like original Toyota PickUp with the 22RE, 4 Runner, 1st Gen Tacoma. So all those had IFS, hell the 22RE pickup even had torsion bars.
Pregnant Guppy is Funny though !!!

 

[BurbanAZ]

id vote for an Excursion with the diesel, or suburban with the diesel. Im a Suburban fan but the Excursion has alot of little features that i dont have in my suburban, the main things being a diesel and a solid front axle. Also both of them can hold a ton of cargo and/or people plug pull a house if you wanted to. I love having a suburban mainly because we dont even have to pull a trailer, we can hold all our gear, and when we stop for the night we just inflate an air mattress in the back and sleep.

 

[MTDewX8]

another option is a yukon, my mom has an 04 yukon with the 5.3 in it, pulls our camp trailer fully loaded and gets 20 mpg while doing it, plus its stock.

I have a 00 yukon XL and it dont get 20 on the hwy unloaded. let alone towing a pop up tent trailer.
not calling you a liar(so please dont take offense) . just surprised in your report. ours is stock and 168k on the clock.

 

[warrpath4x4]

Hers is stock also minus, air bags in the back. Tuned up with all AC Delco ignition parts and all fluids are amsoil. She gets 22 freeway unloaded.

 

[redthies]

Buliwyf- Do the Ford "Triton" gas engines (5.4, ?, V10) still spit out spark plugs on a semi-regular basis? I know the older ones were prone to that. We have a "V9" in our shop right now. I know a heli-coil kit or similar will fix the problem but it isn't a fun job to do. Have they changed/modified the heads on the newer Tritons?

As for unit bearings, most trucks equipped with them have after market kits available to convert them to conventional wheel bearings. The kits are not cheap, but similar in price to the unit bearings they replace. If you like a truck that has units, just keep in mind the kit option when your bearings fail.

 

[Buliwyf]

Interesting that you say the Gas Job will do just fine hauling 7000 lbs for thousands of miles at a time.
All I have ever off roaded with has been IFS, but things like original Toyota PickUp with the 22RE, 4 Runner, 1st Gen Tacoma. So all those had IFS, hell the 22RE pickup even had torsion bars.
Pregnant Guppy is Funny though !!!

We have a whole fleet of trucks at work. We tow a dozen different 8000lb-ish trailers two times a week per tech. All of our trucks are gassers. Only the medium duty stake trucks have diesels. Todays diesels aren't reliable enough to make money on the jobsite unless your truck is too heavy for a gas engine. Like say an F550.

The GM 6.0's are the most reliable, but in the worst truck. The 5.4L Fords are very nice, but you have to maintain them better.