YukonDebbie
New member
Howdy folks. Long time lurker, first time poster. Love the site, lots of information. Some times too much information, hence my reason for posting here…
For starters, I’m a total beginner when it comes to off road driving. I’ve had several 4x4s in my life, but aside from northern Indiana snow fun, nothing outside of fire roads. I have always had this dream of building an adventure rig. Now that I’ve got a family and we are settled, it’s time.
A few years back I had an 04 z71 Burb, loved it till fuel prices got the best of our trying to save for a house. Traded it in. Took it on lots of trips, but never any trails.
Fast forward, married and two kids now. Fuel prices were $1.35 around here and we found a sweet deal on an 03 Yukon XL. Wife’s daily for awhile till fuel prices shot up again and we parked it aside from vacation trips. Now I’m getting the itch again and decided I needed something with a solid front axle, so I thought about selling it and going with a 2500 3rd Gen. ram. But after seeing a bunch of builds here and on YouTube, have decided that the Yukon will suit us perfectly fine. It was a smokin deal, have little money in it, its almost completely rust free and super clean. I’ve already got it and it would cost me way more to buy something different.
I have been poking around here for a couple weeks looking at different builds and making notes. Saving threads. But honestly, I don’t know where to start and all the information so quickly has left me frustrated on which direction I should go. As well as being new to this and not knowing which is smarter first.
Truck is completely stock with 200,000 miles. 5.3 4l60e, I know the Limits on the trans, it’s going to get rebuilt this year. Two speed t-case and g80 rear. My first thoughts were a 2-3” lift because this will mostly see highway miles and daily use. But I’m aware of the issues with the cv axles and lifting with keys and rear springs. I can do that lift for around $300.
However I found a used 6” RC lift kit for sale without the shocks, it’s installed on a Burb the guy is parting out. He’s asking $600. It’s the newer design that doesn’t relocate the t-bars. The problem is, I don’t want that much lift. But I have read several guys on here who said it’s really a 4” lift until you crank the keys up. If that’s the case, if I can get the used 6” and crank it down to get me about 4” and retain hood cv angles. I’m down for that. Not sure what the shocks will cost.
Background on me, I’m a mechanic/fabricator by trade. I restore old cars, so I know more about carburetors than I do fuel injection, but I’ve got the resources to learn and figure anything out.
So sometime this summer we are going on our first big family adventure. We are going down to visit my wife’s dad in Arkansas and going to explore the Ozarks for week. Have never been down there, but have always heard about it.
Im on a budget, but I want to do things to the truck that won’t leave us stuck in the middle of the woods if I get us too far in..
Lift.
Tires.
Winch?
Skid plates?
Where do I start? Just looking for a direction so we can safely enjoy our first big trip and it doesn’t leave us frustrated. I’m a good driver with lots of common sense on road, but without any off road experience, I want to be able to get out of a situation if I go too far…
Here’s Debbie, our 03 Yukon XL. Getting her fuel pump replaced a few weeks back. We will be sleeping inside the truck, I’ve got plans for the inside. Biggest questions are the lift at this point. Cheap keys, shocks and springs or spend $600 on a used 6”, only if I can crank it down around 4”. Don’t want a 6”…
![ABCA1999-EE26-4B21-B2A7-1889F21D2A2B.jpeg ABCA1999-EE26-4B21-B2A7-1889F21D2A2B.jpeg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/665/665188-ef9323b39624a28aab3f803b5148ad3f.jpg)
For starters, I’m a total beginner when it comes to off road driving. I’ve had several 4x4s in my life, but aside from northern Indiana snow fun, nothing outside of fire roads. I have always had this dream of building an adventure rig. Now that I’ve got a family and we are settled, it’s time.
A few years back I had an 04 z71 Burb, loved it till fuel prices got the best of our trying to save for a house. Traded it in. Took it on lots of trips, but never any trails.
Fast forward, married and two kids now. Fuel prices were $1.35 around here and we found a sweet deal on an 03 Yukon XL. Wife’s daily for awhile till fuel prices shot up again and we parked it aside from vacation trips. Now I’m getting the itch again and decided I needed something with a solid front axle, so I thought about selling it and going with a 2500 3rd Gen. ram. But after seeing a bunch of builds here and on YouTube, have decided that the Yukon will suit us perfectly fine. It was a smokin deal, have little money in it, its almost completely rust free and super clean. I’ve already got it and it would cost me way more to buy something different.
I have been poking around here for a couple weeks looking at different builds and making notes. Saving threads. But honestly, I don’t know where to start and all the information so quickly has left me frustrated on which direction I should go. As well as being new to this and not knowing which is smarter first.
Truck is completely stock with 200,000 miles. 5.3 4l60e, I know the Limits on the trans, it’s going to get rebuilt this year. Two speed t-case and g80 rear. My first thoughts were a 2-3” lift because this will mostly see highway miles and daily use. But I’m aware of the issues with the cv axles and lifting with keys and rear springs. I can do that lift for around $300.
However I found a used 6” RC lift kit for sale without the shocks, it’s installed on a Burb the guy is parting out. He’s asking $600. It’s the newer design that doesn’t relocate the t-bars. The problem is, I don’t want that much lift. But I have read several guys on here who said it’s really a 4” lift until you crank the keys up. If that’s the case, if I can get the used 6” and crank it down to get me about 4” and retain hood cv angles. I’m down for that. Not sure what the shocks will cost.
Background on me, I’m a mechanic/fabricator by trade. I restore old cars, so I know more about carburetors than I do fuel injection, but I’ve got the resources to learn and figure anything out.
So sometime this summer we are going on our first big family adventure. We are going down to visit my wife’s dad in Arkansas and going to explore the Ozarks for week. Have never been down there, but have always heard about it.
Im on a budget, but I want to do things to the truck that won’t leave us stuck in the middle of the woods if I get us too far in..
Lift.
Tires.
Winch?
Skid plates?
Where do I start? Just looking for a direction so we can safely enjoy our first big trip and it doesn’t leave us frustrated. I’m a good driver with lots of common sense on road, but without any off road experience, I want to be able to get out of a situation if I go too far…
Here’s Debbie, our 03 Yukon XL. Getting her fuel pump replaced a few weeks back. We will be sleeping inside the truck, I’ve got plans for the inside. Biggest questions are the lift at this point. Cheap keys, shocks and springs or spend $600 on a used 6”, only if I can crank it down around 4”. Don’t want a 6”…
![ABCA1999-EE26-4B21-B2A7-1889F21D2A2B.jpeg ABCA1999-EE26-4B21-B2A7-1889F21D2A2B.jpeg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/665/665188-ef9323b39624a28aab3f803b5148ad3f.jpg)