looking to buy a truck

[bigdee]

Re: looking to buy a truck

Ive got a 98 S10 4.3 tbi, 2wd auto w 3rd door and 150Kmi. and it tows a 2000lb +/- boat well,except for gas milage and no tow package. Ive seen the temp. creep up after towing 20/30 mins. on 90+ degree days w OD off.I think I need a tranny cooler.It gets 20 mpg when not towing even w my heavy foot!!Not bad for 150K on it.I also have a 84 toyo 4x4 22r carb 5 spd w 33s and a 82 engine in it.it gets 22-24 turning the heavy 33 12.50 15s it has a hard time pulling anything heavyer than a few hundred pounds. It pulled alot better w a 5.29 in the rear.but I recently put the 4.11 back in,(I needed 4wd)

Hey mommicked, don't mean to hijack this thread but just curious about your rising temp. I had the same problem with a 4.3 and it turned out to be from the dex cool coolant.

 

[bigdee]

Re: looking to buy a truck

I was also thinking of a 2000ish blazer anyone have experience with them? I also was thinking of getting an suv/pickup with 4wd that gets the best mpg

Excellent tow vehicle but be aware of the dexcool problem...check the radiator for mud. The blazer weight ratio makes it a better choice than a full size pickup when it comes to traction on the ramp. I can't get my boat up the ramp with a relatives F-150 but my Blazer has absolutely no problem at all.

 

[mommicked]

Re: looking to buy a truck

What crap! I changed to the green stuff when I replaced my Rad. years ago, clogged, and cracked at a fitting on the plastic tank for the oil cooler.I think the heat is comming from my trans.It has factory oil and trans lines running to the radiator but I have the window sticker and no listing of a tow package.The 4.3 pulls fine but it does use more gas.Ive never calced the mileage towing Im guessing more like 15!if you change im told you need to flush all the dex out or youll have more problems

 

[bigdee]

Re: looking to buy a truck

What crap! I changed to the green stuff when I replaced my clogged radiator years ago!I think the heat is comming from my trans.It has factory oil and trans lines running to the radiator but I have the window sticker and no listing of a tow package.The 4.3 pulls fine but it does use more gas.Ive never calced the mileage towing Im guessing more like 15!if you change im told you need to flush all the dex out or youll have more problems

Yup,changing the radiator is not enough because the block will still be coated with brown mud. The chevy dealer wanted 2k to fix the problem,here is a $$$ saving trick that I used out of desperation.....I put cascade dishwashing detergent in the radiator and ran the engine for 30 minutes than flushed the system. When I shined a flash-light into the radiator I was shocked to see shiny new looking metal.

 

[sschefer]

Re: looking to buy a truck

I went from a Chevy 1500 to a Tahoe and liked it a lot for towing. The anti-sway really makes a difference. After 3 years I finally realized how much I missed a pickup so I went the way of the Bob_Vt's post and signed a mortgage for a F350 Off Road with the 6.4 diesel. Now I can haul the boat, go get a load of landscaping material, yank out stumps, and go just about anywhere I want.\

The point is, if you think a Grand Cherokee is the way you want to go they take a few minutes and realize that you're buying a family car and not a truck.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: looking to buy a truck

Well even though my grand is an SUV which gives you visions of family car, I can tell you I have carried all kinds of home building materials in it, including 8 foot 2x6 15 at a time, when I need sheet rock, I simply cut the sheet in half, then put them in the back, OSB I have done the same thing, 25 2x4 stacked side by side one the console between the two front seats. So if your not building large buildings and such, you can carry enough in it to get things done at home..I also have a little 8x10 utility trailer that I tow behind it during the summer(not usable in the winter around here) that I have loaded that heck out of to tow big items I need.

Mine has the 5.2 liter in it, I average around 15 in town and going back and forth to Washington, I can usually get 20 with it, this is my 3 jeep Cherokee, two grands and one classic style(this one was a dog, it had the 173 v6 chevy motor in it)but I was still able to carry quite a bit.

The heaviest load I have towed with my current one is a 4000lb travel trailer, yes it lowered the mileage and was slower on the hills, but it got the job done. I bought it with 80K on the odo, currently it has 193K and the only things I have had to replace is the water pump and I put new upgraded rotors and pads on it a little over a year ago, I have replaced the O2 sensor, they seem to go through those pretty quick, and it the rear O2 goes bad, it will put the vehicle into limp mode until it is replaced..

I don't buy new cars, to expensive, but have had very good luck with the used Jeeps..

 

[mommicked]

Re: looking to buy a truck

Bigdee youve jogged my memory.I flushed many times and used rad. flush and still had junk even draining the block plugs.someone told me about the cascade and one capfull pulled alot more crap out.several more straight water flushes and it was crystal clear on the drain.Im going to get a v8 when this trucks done.I dont trust the S10 to pull my boat and alot of gear to the coast and back.But for the 40/50 mile round trips I make now it works well when its not 90 degrees- no overheating.I have Michelin LTX M/S on the S10 and it once pulled my brothers 21' Grady White up a long ramp w/o loosing traction! lots of tounge weight?.Towing/stopping was not good at all though!!, but he lives 1.5 miles from the ramp!

 

[mommicked]

Re: looking to buy a truck

Mtboatguy,does your jeep have the engine that shuts off some cylinders at highway speed?

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: looking to buy a truck

Mtboatguy,does your jeep have the engine that shuts off some cylinders at highway speed?

No, I don't have that type of set up, I experience the multi cylinder cut off systems way back in the early 80's on the Cadallac vehicles, and I know things improve, but would not buy one, one thing that I forgot to mention, I did upgrade the intake system to the K&N and it made quite a bit of difference in performace and helps a bit with fuel mileage, not much, but enough to make a difference in the long run..

 

[mommicked]

Re: looking to buy a truck

I hear alot of good about K&N from lots of folks and wonder why OEM cant make their intake systems better from the factory?

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: looking to buy a truck

I will never own another truck or SUV without putting on the K&N system, My Dad installed one on his Chevy and it actually improved power and get better fuel mileage, by about 15%, it is a good system, for the cost involved, it does make a difference. I think the manufactures are working to get better induction systems, but they have so many regs they have to follow, re-engineering every line they make could slow down production and increase costs.

 

[ezbtr]

Re: looking to buy a truck

I am a fan of the Cherokee (Grand) with the in line 6. Much prefer that engine over the small V8. If it's 4x4 it's even better.

I second that, mine towed perfectly and the torque was awesome, they dont break, trannys great as well.

 

[NYGiants]

Re: looking to buy a truck

Im leaning towards a 2 door blazer I think