Time for a replacement?

[Dusty_Tahoe]

Blew the transmission in my Tahoe, so it's time for a decision

It's an 02 Tahoe LT , 150k on the clock, some rot in the door jamb, currently doesn't have 4x4, and a couple other small issues, dents, etc.

My choice is to either fix the trans or buy an 02 suburban 4x4, with 185k on the clock, transmission shifted nicely, only issue is it needs a rear brake line, has the ABS light on and the body is in rough shape, it also has captain's chairs in the 2nd row.

What does ExPo think? Part out the Tahoe and go up in size?

 

[Marine]

I say fix it if, the body is still in decent shape. Hell im driving a 2010 Ford Escape with 197,000 on the clock. Not expo cool but it gets me there and back.

 

[Dusty_Tahoe]

I say fix it if, the body is still in decent shape. Hell im driving a 2010 Ford Escape with 197,000 on the clock. Not expo cool but it gets me there and back.

It does have some rot in the door jamb like I said, and a good amount of dents. Most of the body damage on the suburban is to the bumpers, and then dents on the rear quarters.

 

[XJLI]

Rust is really the only killer on the GMT800s. The rear brake line requires dropping the fuel tank, I just replaced all of mine with the stainless dorman kit. Not terrible, but its an all day job.

There are so so so many of these rigs around, I wouldn't bother with one that looks like it was neglected at all.

 

[Dusty_Tahoe]

Rust is really the only killer on the GMT800s. The rear brake line requires dropping the fuel tank, I just replaced all of mine with the stainless dorman kit. Not terrible, but its an all day job.

There are so so so many of these rigs around, I wouldn't bother with one that looks like it was neglected at all.

I haven't seen many suburbans in my price range, I did rear lines in my tahoe like 3 weeks ago without dropping the fuel tank. But there wasn't much rust on the underside. My tahoe definitely has more rust. The suburban has a little rot in the dog leg section but I can get a patch panel and weld that in before it gets any worse. I know I won't find a cream puff with my budget, I'm just looking for 4x4 and a good drivetrain.

 

[Buliwyf]

What is your price range and state? I'd get rid of it and start over.

 

[Dusty_Tahoe]

What is your price range and state? I'd get rid of it and start over.

I'm in New York on Long Island, price range is around $2000 maybe a little higher. It's supposed to be a beater so I'm not allocating a lot towards it.
This suburban I'm looking at is asking $1500, I was going to offer $900 because of the brake line issue. If I get it for that much I'd pick it up in a heartbeat.

 

[tennesseewj]

If you have the means to fly South and road trip back you'd probably find much cleaner trucks in say, the Atlanta area compared to your local offerings. Maybe not worth it if your total budget is a $2k truck, though.

 

[Martinjmpr]

If you want 4x4, IMO it would be a waste of money to rebuild the transmission in your current 4x2.

With a $2k budget that 'burb might be your best choice, although I can't imagine that a 185k mile vehicle from the Northeast with a lot of rust is really going to last that long and so in a year or so you'll be right back in the same boat.

I wonder if it might make more sense in the long run to double your budget and try to find a rust-free truck from somewhere West of the Mississippi.

 

[XJLI]

If it's just gonna be a beater beach truck then yea, who cares. It'll rot anyway. You'll be able to find a pickup cheaper if you don't mind going that route.

 

[Dusty_Tahoe]

If you want 4x4, IMO it would be a waste of money to rebuild the transmission in your current 4x2.

With a $2k budget that 'burb might be your best choice, although I can't imagine that a 185k mile vehicle from the Northeast with a lot of rust is really going to last that long and so in a year or so you'll be right back in the same boat.

I wonder if it might make more sense in the long run to double your budget and try to find a rust-free truck from somewhere West of the Mississippi.

It doesn't have too much rust, nothing I'm not used to I'd say, the tahoe is 4x4, but it's got some issue preventing it from going into 4x4. Doubling the budget isn't really an option for me, since I'm a college student.

If it's just gonna be a beater beach truck then yea, who cares. It'll rot anyway. You'll be able to find a pickup cheaper if you don't mind going that route.

I'm kind of partial to the suburban/tahoe because I like the idea of camping inside of it and being able to seat a good amount of people if needed.

 

[XJLI]

I'm kind of partial to the suburban/tahoe because I like the idea of camping inside of it and being able to seat a good amount of people if needed.

How many friends do you really need?

https://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/d/2004-chevy-silverado-pickup/6691665386.html

8' bed and a cap, 4x4 with the floor shift. Even better if its the V6 for that sweet sweet 17 MPG. His price is definitely a little high with that tape over whatever warning light that is.

 

[Dusty_Tahoe]

How many friends do you really need?

https://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/d/2004-chevy-silverado-pickup/6691665386.html

8' bed and a cap, 4x4 with the floor shift. Even better if its the V6 for that sweet sweet 17 MPG. His price is definitely a little high with that tape over whatever warning light that is.

I go to Jersey somewhat often with 2-3 friends in the truck. It's nice having space to keep my photo gear inside with me and also seat a couple extra people. Every year we fill the truck with people for the Holiday Light show and hiking so I definitely would at least want a 4 door pickup if I did go that route.

 

[Buliwyf]

Nothing around here in that budget. We have rust free, imported from the south, Excursions around 5000.

 

[XJLI]

Nothing around here in that budget. We have rust free, imported from the south, Excursions around 5000.

Pretty beat for that price? All the ones I see look like they were treated like work trucks.