Todd780
OverCamper
Open the glove box. There will be (or, should be) a sticker there with the option / RPO codes. They are all listed in alphabetical order. Look for option code G80. It should list the axle ratio right beside it too.
Newbie looking for first rig (Rig acquired, now it's a build thread!)
- Thread starter xjchad
- Start date
Awesome, thanks!
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
If for some reason the glove box sticker isn't on there you can go onto GM's web page and have them run a build sheet based on the VIN.
Todd780
OverCamper
And if for some reason the VIN isn't there ...pass. lol
Awesome! Thanks for all the advice guys! I'm learning a lot about these just reading your build threads.
We had a 2wd 2000 suburban for a few years and I loved it. It got totaled sitting in front of our apartment so we moved up to the GMC Savana. I've built a couple XJ's and TJ's and loved them offroad, but I want something the whole family can ride in now. With 6 kids, we need a lot of room for sure! BTW, my wife is the one who should be praised, she's amazing and somehow takes care of all of us so well!
I was liking the 91 since it already had the lift so I wouldn't have to do that, but I see the logic behind getting something stock knowing that there's a better chance it was not beat on.
I really like the 02 Tahoe because the Z71 model already has the skid plates and G80. I was thinking the lack of rear cargo space could be made up for with a hitch carrier or roof rack.
I think you guys are right though about going with a Suburban or Yukon XL. I really will need that extra space. This will be my daily driver, and only haul the family when we going exploring, but that's when I'll need the room the most.
Couple more questions that these replies have prompted.
1. Is the 2000-2006 the best model years to look at?
2. Some 2000's have a square body and some have a rounded body. What's the difference?
3. What's the high mileage cut off I should look for? (ie. don't buy one over 200k?)
Thanks for all the help guys!!!
We had a 2wd 2000 suburban for a few years and I loved it. It got totaled sitting in front of our apartment so we moved up to the GMC Savana. I've built a couple XJ's and TJ's and loved them offroad, but I want something the whole family can ride in now. With 6 kids, we need a lot of room for sure! BTW, my wife is the one who should be praised, she's amazing and somehow takes care of all of us so well!
I was liking the 91 since it already had the lift so I wouldn't have to do that, but I see the logic behind getting something stock knowing that there's a better chance it was not beat on.
I really like the 02 Tahoe because the Z71 model already has the skid plates and G80. I was thinking the lack of rear cargo space could be made up for with a hitch carrier or roof rack.
I think you guys are right though about going with a Suburban or Yukon XL. I really will need that extra space. This will be my daily driver, and only haul the family when we going exploring, but that's when I'll need the room the most.
Couple more questions that these replies have prompted.
1. Is the 2000-2006 the best model years to look at?
2. Some 2000's have a square body and some have a rounded body. What's the difference?
3. What's the high mileage cut off I should look for? (ie. don't buy one over 200k?)
Thanks for all the help guys!!!
ExplorerTom
Explorer
What size trailer are you going to tow behind it?
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
"Square body" is a "term of art" in the truck/off road community and specifically refers to the body style that was made from 1973 through the late 80's and early 90s. The Square Body trucks were succeeded by the GMT-400 series trucks, which are most notable as being the first GM full sized 4x4 trucks that had IFS.
The end date of the "square body" is fuzzy because GM did it in stages. I believe the first GMT400 pickups came out in 1988 or 89. The first GMT400 Suburbans and Blazers came out later, 1990 or 91. There were at least a couple of years where GM sold Suburbans in both configurations, I think 1990 and 91 they sold both Square Body Suburbans and GMT 400s.
The GMT 400 ended in the late 90's and early 2000s (again, as with the GMT400s, GM "staggered" the introduction of the pickups and SUVs so there were years when the pickups were one body style and the SUVs were another.) The GMT400 was replaced by the GMT800.
With regard to the Suburban and Tahoe (the Tahoe was introduced in 1994 in the GMT400 body style to eventually replace the 2 door Blazer, which later became the 2 door Tahoe and was then dropped when the GMT400 platform was discontinued), the GMT400's last year was 1999, although I have heard of some 1999 made GMT400s being sold as 2000's.
GMT800 was the big change for the Tahoe/Suburban. They were introduced in the 2000 model year and continued through 2006. The improvements made from the GMT400 to the GMT800 Tahoe/Suburban were new engines (the 5.3 VORTEC replaced the old TBI 350 A/K/A 5.7 in the half ton models) and the rear suspension went from truck-like leaf springs to a 5 link coil spring system. Interiors were completely redone and the Suburban's spare tire went under the truck (where on the GMT400's it had been inside the cargo compartment.) They retained the 4L60 (half ton) and 4L80 (2500 or 3/4 ton) transmissions. I believe the transfer case was updated as well to include one that has a "4 Auto" position.
As far as mileage goes, other than the transmission (which is a known weak point on the 1500 models), the GMT800 is a pretty solid platform. Lots of them with 200k+ miles out there. Rust and general neglect are probably the biggest things you have to worry about because if you are shopping for a GMT800 you are looking for a vehicle that is a minimum of 14 model years old.
The GMT800 was replaced by the GMT900 platform which was introduced in the Tahoe/Suburban with the 2007 model. Big changes to the GMT900 include Active Fuel Management (AFM) in the 5.3 VORTEC engine which caused problems in some of the earlier years that ended up requiring engine replacement.
toastyjosh
Adventurer
My vote would be the GMT 800 suburban, common and cheap.
Or a ford expedition
2000 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LT 4X4 - cars & trucks - by owner -...
2000 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LT 4X4, 5.3L, leather, 3rd row seat, tint, Wild Country XTX tires, Husky floor liners, tow package, rough low idle, emergency brake not working. Same owner last 16...
spokane.craigslist.org
2003 Chevrolet suburban 1500 LT 4x4 - cars & trucks - by owner -...
2003 suburban 1500 four wheel drive LT model, runs and drives excellent 270k. Moon roof, ac, heated leather seats, bose stereo system. Newer gm remanufactured transmission and torque converter, new...
kpr.craigslist.org
2003 Chevy Suburban - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive...
Well used suburban for sale. Will need a detailing on the interior, and has some transmission issues. Needs new tires as well. Could be used for parts, but still runs just fine engine-wise. Has nice...
missoula.craigslist.org
Or a ford expedition
1998 Eddie Bauer Ford Expedition - cars & trucks - by owner -...
1998 Eddie Bauer Ford Expedition with 209,000 miles. Comes with new Wintercat 265/70 R17 studded tires and 4 good 265/70 all season tires. It has 4 wheel drive and gets around very well in the snow....
lewiston.craigslist.org
2000 Ford Expedition XLT - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle...
*CLEAN TITLE IN HAND* 2000 FORD EXPEDITION FOR SALE IN CEOUR D ALENE.* NO TRADES* Info as follows: Selling my 2000 Ford Expedition winter ready. Has all Time all wheel drive, also has 4 wheel and 4...
spokane.craigslist.org
99 Ford XLT Expedition - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle...
Excellent running, 4WD, clean, seats 8, Ford XLT Expedition, Triton 5.7 V8. Firm on price. Call Bud @ 509 699-97 three four for details and test drive.
spokane.craigslist.org
1997 Ford Expedition - 4WD Workhorse! - cars & trucks - by owner -...
This Expedition has been in our family for over 23 years. We are the second owners and it has been well maintained. The car runs well for its mileage. The tires are Cooper Discoverer 265/70/17 and a...
spokane.craigslist.org
ExplorerTom
Explorer
If you take 8 people camping in a Tahoe without a trailer, you MUST post pictures!
Like I’ve said, I’ve pretty well packed a similarly sized Expedition with only 2 people.
Like I’ve said, I’ve pretty well packed a similarly sized Expedition with only 2 people.
Well the 2500 I was going to look at today is no longer available. The search goes on!
Toastyjosh - Thanks for the heads up on those!
I'm really trying to find something under 200k miles. Maybe that's a long shot on that old a vehicle, but there are a few.
I'm not really interested in the Expedition. Been a GM guy my whole life and it would feel too weird to drive a Ford LOL!
This looks like a good deal, I'm going to try to check it out if I can soon. https://spokane.craigslist.org/bar/d/spokane-99-suburban-4500-for-sale-or/7245033187.html
Toastyjosh - Thanks for the heads up on those!
I'm really trying to find something under 200k miles. Maybe that's a long shot on that old a vehicle, but there are a few.
I'm not really interested in the Expedition. Been a GM guy my whole life and it would feel too weird to drive a Ford LOL!
This looks like a good deal, I'm going to try to check it out if I can soon. https://spokane.craigslist.org/bar/d/spokane-99-suburban-4500-for-sale-or/7245033187.html
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Unfortunately I think one thing that is going to be working against you is that older Suburbans are starting to acquire a kind of "cult status" in the same way that 4runners and Tacomas have.
It's something I've noticed over the past years and I call it the "internet feeding frenzy." One person on a forum or in some influential web site or YouTube video will say "you know the XXX was a great vehicle" and then that starts getting repeated over and over and over until it starts to become the "conventional wisdom" that XXX vehicle is awesome and desirable, and all of a sudden that POS that you couldn't give away for $1000 5 years ago is being listed on Craigslist with 300k miles and bald tires for $5000 as a "classic."
Then of course, some ************** with more money than brains buys it for that price and tells all his buddies and they go around and try to snap up the remaining ones, again for obviously inflated prices. This is how you end up with 2nd generation 4runners with their hideous "3 point slow" head-gasket-blowing V-6's and paper-thin sheet metal being listed for $6000 or more as a "classic 4runner that will last forever." Because, you know, it's a TOYOTA, MAN, AND THOSE THINGS LAST FOREVER, MAN!!!"
And of course, once said ************** has spent his $5k on a 25 year old POS, the LAST thing in the world he's going to do is admit that he made a stupid mistake. So he'll pour thousands more $$ into getting it running and then tell lies about how "all it needed was a little maintenance and it was good to go" because he doesn't want to look like a fool in front of his friends or Instagram followers.
My point here is that once a vehicle has "caught on", sellers are going to start jacking their prices up to unrealistic levels. I think that's already happened with the GMT-400 Suburbans, used to be you could get those in running condition for $1000 or $1500, many of them 2500 models.
So what's the solution? IMO the solution is to find the vehicle that has NOT been granted that "cult status" and as a result is largely neglected by the modification/aftermarket crowd and that would be the Expedition. You can still get 1st and 2nd gen Expeditions pretty cheap.
It's something I've noticed over the past years and I call it the "internet feeding frenzy." One person on a forum or in some influential web site or YouTube video will say "you know the XXX was a great vehicle" and then that starts getting repeated over and over and over until it starts to become the "conventional wisdom" that XXX vehicle is awesome and desirable, and all of a sudden that POS that you couldn't give away for $1000 5 years ago is being listed on Craigslist with 300k miles and bald tires for $5000 as a "classic."
Then of course, some ************** with more money than brains buys it for that price and tells all his buddies and they go around and try to snap up the remaining ones, again for obviously inflated prices. This is how you end up with 2nd generation 4runners with their hideous "3 point slow" head-gasket-blowing V-6's and paper-thin sheet metal being listed for $6000 or more as a "classic 4runner that will last forever."
Because, you know, it's a TOYOTA, MAN, AND THOSE THINGS LAST FOREVER, MAN!!!" And of course, once said ************** has spent his $5k on a 25 year old POS, the LAST thing in the world he's going to do is admit that he made a stupid mistake. So he'll pour thousands more $$ into getting it running and then tell lies about how "all it needed was a little maintenance and it was good to go" because he doesn't want to look like a fool in front of his friends or Instagram followers.
My point here is that once a vehicle has "caught on", sellers are going to start jacking their prices up to unrealistic levels. I think that's already happened with the GMT-400 Suburbans, used to be you could get those in running condition for $1000 or $1500, many of them 2500 models.
So what's the solution? IMO the solution is to find the vehicle that has NOT been granted that "cult status" and as a result is largely neglected by the modification/aftermarket crowd and that would be the Expedition. You can still get 1st and 2nd gen Expeditions pretty cheap.
Martin,
That makes a lot of sense! Unfortunately, my options are limited because of my family size. As I stated before, I've always owned Chevy/GMC rigs (and a couple Jeeps) and been very happy with them, so looking at a Ford is awkward for me LOL! I will however, take your advice and at least start researching and looking at them.
My only question is, will an Expedition be large enough? I was under the impression that the Expedition was the size of the Tahoe and the Excursion was the size of the Suburban. I've seen a couple of Excursions and they seem to have reached that "cult status" that you talked about because the prices are crazy high.
toastyjosh
Adventurer
Here check this out, below 200K looks nice.
oh yea what ever you get a roof top box is going to be key with the amount of people you want to haul.
1999 Suburban - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale
1999 Suburban 4x4. Automatic 5.7 186k miles. Runs perfectly no mechanical issues. Transmission excellent. 4x4 works fine. Exterior good condition . Interior clean. Tires good condition. Everything...
spokane.craigslist.org
oh yea what ever you get a roof top box is going to be key with the amount of people you want to haul.