Newb here... where to start if you had a 99 Tahoe 4x4 ?

[txalcatraz]

Alright, so I'm new here and I'm at AWE with some of your rides! I have a 99 Tahoe LT 4x4 and I'm getting ready to take it on a trip the winter from Texas to Utah and back. It has 178k on it and I've had it since it had 69k, so I trust it, but if it were your Tahoe, what would you do with it to ensure it made it there and back. The fuel pump was replaced at 121k and the water pump was replaced at 130k. (factory drive train) I'm not taking it to play in Moab but I'm not opposed to beefing it up. :sombrero: I humbly ask for your opinion. (fyi my favorite vehicle on the forums has to be the Green Z71 with the bad *** grill guard and bumpers!)

Mandatory photo for reference (she is STOCK)

old pic but I have new BFG's on it.

 

[AA1PR]

First would be proper level checks or fluid flush & refills.

I would give the old girl a mild lift kit and bigger tires, not sure if that one is IFS or solid axle. on my 04 yukon I added the 2.5" leveling (keys) kit, it brought the front end up nicely

I have been contemplating like you the various options..I may add a cold air intake & throttle body spacer too.

 

[txalcatraz]

First would be proper level checks or fluid flush & refills.

I would give the old girl a mild lift kit and bigger tires, not sure if that one is IFS or solid axle. on my 04 yukon I added the 2.5" leveling (keys) kit, it brought the front end up nicely

I have been contemplating like you the various options..I may add a cold air intake & throttle body spacer too.

Great thanks for the quick response! It is IFS, and I have been considering a lift but how much w/o killing my mpg? I'm currently getting ave of 13mpg. :yikes:

 

[bftank]

has the transmission or transfercase been rebuilt? if not it might be a good idea to have an oil analysis done to determine wether or not that needs to happen.

next i would make sure your underside is protected with skid plates, increase ground clearance by removing the step bars and air dam. look into high clearance rocker protection. start thinking about high clearance bumpers with a winch mount.

having a winch mounted on a mobile reciever and a place to put it on both ends is very handy. especially for near stock vehicles going places they probably shouldn't. so is a 12v air compressor.

a 2" torsion bar twist lift is the most i would do with an ifs. in my opinion the ifs lifts are not worth the money, and you can swap a solid axle under it for cheaper. there have been a couple builds on pirate4x4 where the owners have replaced the ifs with a 2nd gen dodge front axle.

 

[rxm6]

I'd say it depends on your wallet vs. time; i.e. how quickly you want to get stuff done to it versus the money needed and also what you are going to use it for.

The first thing I would do is what AA1PR suggests and make sure all fluids are proper and replace if necessary. Also, check for leaks and decide if that ____ gasket leak is an acceptable risk or whether you should replace it.

I, personally, don't agree with the cold air or spacer suggestion. It's not that I think it's wrong, but my school of thought is that if I'm going to be miles away from help, I'd rather have reliability than power. Also, after working on tractors, I won't put any non-paper air filter on my engine if I'm going to be in a dusty environment. I have yet to see a aftermarket air filter provide the same level of filtration as a cheapy paper filter.

I would also suggest step 2 to be making sure your truck is stocked and prepared and you are prepared for the trip. Make sure you have chains if there snow; have some extra oil/coolant; carry a belt(s) in case one breaks, radiator fix, water/food, etc. The list goes on.

As for the truck, if you are worried about mpgs then don't do any sort of lift. However, a leveling kit would bring the front end up and allow larger diameter tires. Another thing about tires, wide tires do look great on a truck, but skinny tires save you mpgs and also have more traction on certain terrain. Just a thought.

Finally, bftanks ideas sound great for a starter expo package.

Ok sorry, one final thought, at 173k, how much do you love your truck? Do you intend on putting a new motor in when this one goes? Just a thought before you sink a good chunk of change into it.

 

[bftank]

good points rxmx, a compression test on the motor is a good way to tell how much life is left in it. i would be less concerned about the motor than the tranny though, and you can obviously get an oil analysis done on the engine as well.

an oil analysis will tell you what kind and how much metals are in your oil. thus telling you if there is an unusual amount of wear like if bearings or clutches are going out.

 

[DoMiNiC1]

here is a look at my old Tahoe...
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/63856-96-Tahoe-build?highlight=

 

[98dango]

Honestly where to start is not the same for any one. We all can say i would or you should but untill you get out and do it find out what you need for you. It is all just talk. I persnoaly have had more fun and done more in my 2wd s10 than i ever did in my lifted locked 37" tired dual cased toyota.

I ould just make sure she is in good working order and get a winch you may never need it but that one day you do its worth the 200 lbs it adds and the 400 dollars you spent.

 

[txalcatraz]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I'm sorry I didn't respond this week but I've rarely been online at all! So I did have a analysis done and they seem to think the tranny has probably been rebuilt. I told them that I haven't but the previous owner may have. I have only had the tranny flushed twice. I do plan on keeping this as long as I can since I don't have any car payments I plan on putting $$$ into her. She's treated me so well over the years that now it's time that I repay her. I will probably get the compression tested this week cause I think that's a good place to really start. Thanks for all of the suggestions/advice! Keep it coming ya'll!

 

[locrwln]

Is this for one trip or are you planning on this being a more common event, with more extreme trails in your future?

If a one time trip, I would suggest making sure everything is in good working order, maybe new shocks if yours are the originals, tires in great shape, load it up, pick your destination and have fun. Most of the roads can be driven in a stock 4wd. Keep in mind, most of the backcountry roads in the west are driven by BLM, National Forest, ranchers and hunters in stock domestic trucks every day...

Can you find rougher/tougher stuff? Sure, but for the most part, go prepared and be willing to turn around.

Will I be lifting mine? Yes, Chevy's are belly-draggers, but I have taken it over more than the average backcountry road and it made it. Truck is stock with 265's. You just have to be smart and choose your lines wisely.

Jack

 

[hillbillyjake]

very good advice above. follow this and you will be fine. the only thing i have to add is about your mpg concerns. kinda apples to oranges but ihave a '00 tahoe NBS w/ 5.3, 3.73's, 1.5" spacers in the rear and the front leveled w/ 285's and my last tank was 14.1 mpg. that is corrected for the tire size. that's driving 65 or 70 ont eh interstat and easy around town. good luck with your trip.