new (to me) tow vehicle

[slngsht]

Since I sold my Buick, the vette had become my daily driver. With winter coming, I was looking for a beat up pickup or SUV for snow / salty road days, as well as occasional towing duty for the seven.

 

In my price range, I narrowed it down to old (mid to late 90s) Silverade / Tahoe / Yukon, or old Tacoma / 4Runner.

 

After a bunch of reading, I came to the conclusion that both have their faults (GM = some tranny failures, alternator, waterpump, leaky intake - Toyota = blown head gaskets, rust problems, under powered) and decided to stick with my trusty GMs.

 

As luck would have it, my brother was thinking about dumping his '99 Yukon... It has an apparent blown head gasket, but is otherwise in very decent shape. The truck has 203,000 miles on it - almost all highway, as he used this to commute several times a week between VA Beach and Maryland.

 

I'm getting her home tomorrow, and hope to take a crack at replacing the head gasket in the next couple of weeks, and getting her back on the road.

[powderbrake]

Yep, my 1996 Tahoe had the alternator and waterpump go out ( under warranty) and the transmission blew it's guts while towing the Ultralite in my 16' enclosed trailer,( not under warranty) but I bought another Tahoe anyway. I have had 6 Suburbans& Tahoes over the years, and they have been good trucks.

 

You forgot to mention the front rotors warping. Note to all. Do NOT replace with AutoZone rotors. Buy name brand rotors ans solve the problem the first time.

[gjslutz]

Mazda, did you tow your 7 with the Buick?

If so did you use a trailer or flat trailer it?

Transmission problems?

 

[gjslutz]

Hi Jerry, did the original rotors warp? Were they brand rotors?

 

(smile)

Gary

 

 

[gjslutz]

Hi Jerry, did the original rotors warp? Were they brand rotors?

 

You forgot to mention the front rotors warping. Note to all. Do NOT replace with AutoZone rotors. Buy name brand rotors ans solve the problem the first time.

 

(smile)

Gary

 

 

[Ian7]

I got 100,000 km out of my S-10 factory rotors,

 

and maybe 10,000 out of the Autozone (or was it PepBoys?) house brand.

 

Live and learn.

[S1Steve]

Mazda,

I am on my second GMC Envoy. The first had over 100.000 on it,only thing it like to eat was rotors. It did save me when a full dump truck ran into to me going to work. So I had it fixed, and traded it in on a 08. GMC's are well built and both Envoys towed very well.Our friend tows two BIG horse's with her 99 Yukon,and won't get rid of it. She claims it's the best tow rig she ever had.

:yesnod: Steve

[slngsht]

Yep, my 1996 Tahoe had the alternator and waterpump go out ( under warranty) and the transmission blew it's guts while towing the Ultralite in my 16' enclosed trailer,( not under warranty) but I bought another Tahoe anyway. I have had 6 Suburbans& Tahoes over the years, and they have been good trucks.

 

You forgot to mention the front rotors warping. Note to all. Do NOT replace with AutoZone rotors. Buy name brand rotors ans solve the problem the first time.

 

Goes without saying :lol:

[slngsht]

Mazda, did you tow your 7 with the Buick?

If so did you use a trailer or flat trailer it?

Transmission problems?

 

Used our Honda minivan with it... not something I really wanted to do, but did it in a pinch.

 

The minivan had plenty of power, but I'm sure the tranny was not made for that kind of duty (my seven is 1800 lbs, and my trailer is probably 1600 lbs - minivan tow capacity is 2000 lbs.). She did fine, but no point in pushing my luck.

[locostv8]

Given the miles while you are under the hood you might want to throw a timing chain on it and never put back an old water pump.

[powderbrake]

Hi Jerry, did the original rotors warp? Were they brand rotors?

 

(smile)

Gary

 

 

Yeah, the original rotors warped, and I believe that Chevrolet makes their front rotors from tinfoil.

 

Maybe I'm tough on front brakes, but all my Suburbans and Tahoes have used up front brakes at a rate much higher than a passenger car. They have all been 4 wheel drive, but I doubt if that makes much of a difference.

 

I have had bad luck with Autozone replacement parts. When the Autozone rotors died, they replaced them for free. The replacement set then warped within a couple months, so I bought Wagner rotors at Advance auto, and they lasted.

I had the same problem with a brake vacuum booster from Autozone. Lasted about 4 months, then died. I didn't bother to get a new one for free, as it probably would have been as crappy as the first one from Autozone.

 

I now use Autozone ( being the closest auo parts store) , only for filters and small items, and to dispose of my drain oil. Sam's club has the best prices on Mobil One, which I use in everything.

[Mondo]

Bought my first Ford in 2002; an Expedition. I have to admit it has been very trouble free. Besides brakes at normal intervals, I've only replaced the alternator, battery and cupholder in the last 6 years.

Of course I live in a pleasant flat part of California (with nearby foothills for fun); no snow and only about 6 inches of rain a year:cool:

[slngsht]

well, pulled the manifold off... no sign of anything bad.

 

started leak down test on the heads... #6 is the culprit. I guess it's off with the heads. It's really tempting to take both heads off, rebuild, do cam, chain, etc... On the other hand, I can just throw the gasket on (assuming the head looks decent) and keep on trucking... things look pretty clean for a 200+K truck.