Need a new tow vehicle

[Frank Acampora]

Sadly, I must replace my little S10 which has served me faithfully and with much versatility for more than 10 years. Yesterday she hit a patch of black ice going downhill. She traveled over 500 feet, missed four other cars AND an overturned Comcast truck by only a couple of feet. She hit a snowbank about the size of the one in the photo and went completely off the road. She was dug in up to the tops of the wheel wells. I had to climb out the window and dig out the door.

While the damage looks relatively minor, There is suspension damage and some front end bending. That coupled with a lot of previous minor problems such as a non working gas gauge and broken seat adjustment levers has made the decision to replace rather than repair.

As is my habit, I had seat belts attached and credit them with no injury sustained. Because the bumper was pushed up rather than in, the air bags did not deploy.

Since I have the 21 foot cuddy, and there is always the possibility of 2 foot-itis, I will probably step up to a Ford 150, Dodge 1500, or Chevy sierra.

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

I have a GMC Sierra pulling my 20ft cuddy... you were pulling a cuddy with an S-10? your thoughts of getting a full sized truck are prudent..good luck

 

[chrome dome]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

good to see that no-one was hurt though you probably needed a change of underwear after that episode,
shame about your vehicle,

all that snow must be a pain in the bum,

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

Sorry to hear of your misfortune...winter weather cam be hazardous....while snow is by far the most common there are thing's that can be....well let's just hair raising...:facepalm:

 

[bigdee]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

Glad your OK. I had a S10 for 18 years and it was a good little truck. I pulled my 3200lb ski boat 80 mile round trip every summer weekend for 10 years. I never replaced the clutch and it was a 4 cylinder! Good luck on your search for a new vehicle. Maybe you could part-out your S-10 and make a little money from it.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

A little hammer work, some marinetex, a patch of OSB, and some new indoor/outdoor carpet, and she will be good as new.

Craigslist ad:

For Sale: Classic Chevy S Truck, with recent updates, only $7800.


Moving up to a full sized truck will make you feel like you're driving a big rig !

 

[MikDee]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

Sorry to hear about your loss, but Glad you're Okay! I probably would have died of Fright!

My 95' S-10 is just sitting, needing a tranny,,, after being a good samaratan, & lending it out to a friend!

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

My kid crashed my '99 Durango 3 years ago taking out the driver's side fender, the bumper, the valance, the front wheel, the steering box, the steering shaft, and the upper control arm. She also bent the frame. I was going to junk it but decided to see how much it would cost to fix it. I was pleasantly surprised that I could get the frame straightened for only 500 bucks and I put another 800 in parts into it and painted it myself. Much cheaper than a new car and 3 years later it's still going strong. Consider fixing it if you like it, it looks like it's in great shape.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

glad you're ok, an old truck can feel like a good friend, sometimes you no longer have anything in common and its time to let go, you have that 21 footer with 2 footitis and its time to move on. I recently replaced my old truck because I got into boating and it was 2 wheel drive, that old truck served me well for 15 years, I was sad to see it go,:violin: but the thought of having the boat drag it down a wet ramp into the river tires spinning. so when it came to that it was going to need money dumped into it for repairs, I decided to put the money into something that fit my needs. sounds like you are at that time now, good luck in your search:cool-new:

 

[NYBo]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

Not being injured is the most important thing.

While I'm in the fix-it camp, it does look to be a little over-matched in your last picture, so something bigger is probably a good idea.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

That does not look that bad Frank. It looks better than mine did when I hit a tree during an ice storm. Mine was pushed in enough that the drivers door wouldn't open. I chained her between two trees and pulled the frame straight with a come-along. A new Chinese hood and fender and grill and a little paint came to less than $500. That truck is still on the road.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

I hear you fellows in the repair camp and really, the truck owes me nothing. In the 12 years and 140,000 miles I have had it, I put in one transmission, one alternator, one battery, and two serpentine belt idler pulleys. That's not a lot of repairs. Oh, OK I did replace tires, brakes, and rotors a couple of times but that is normal maintenance and I don't think it counts.

It was a pretty good hit what with the plowed snow being almost ice. Something is bent either in the suspension or frame as the truck pulls sharply to the right. The front clip is bent a bit because the center of the hood is raised about 1/2 inch. The sides no longer rest on the bumpers. I was doing about 25-30 at the top of the hill when I saw the two other cars in the snowbank. Tapped my brakes and she just activated the anti-lock and took off. At the point of impact I was probably going over 40. It wasn't really scary though. I was too busy assessing my options. The two cars in the snowbank blocked any chance of a soft slide there and further down the hill a third car blocked it again. Then, the capper was a parked truck right in the left lane directly opposite the Comcast truck, (which was partially blocking the right) so even if I had good control, I couldn't avoid either a head-on with it or T-boning the overturned Comcast truck. I was really only along for the ride but luckily I did have just enough steering to veer right into the snowbank only about 3-4 feet away from the overturned truck. But make no mistake: I don't consider it skill, I will take luck over skill any day. I do have a 10 second video of the result because the damn Go-Pro stopped recording. If I ever learn how to post a video I will put it here.

However, having the truck pulled down a slick ramp by the boat with all four wheels locked, and the little stuff like radio knobs starting to break and a heater motor starting to make noise is just starting to be too much. Anyway, I want something bigger and when it comes right down to it, that is what really counts.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

Update on my tow vehicle search.

Quite by accident I stumbled across a 2011 Chevy Silverado extended cab 4X4. I went out to breakfast with my wife and as I was pulling out onto the main drag, directly across from me in the dealer's lot, smack in my sight, was the truck. Unfortunately it is black, does not have heated mirrors, and does not have a sliding rear window like my S10, but I will settle. 9000 pound towing capacity, 5.3 liter (350) V8, extended cab, factory tow package, 7 prong circular electrical receptacle wired for electric brakes. Single owner, clear title, and only 30,000 miles. So, I bit the bullet and bought it.

It is a little bit noisy because the owner had retrofit cat-back dual exhaust glass packs. HOWEVER: The dealer had the stock cat-back muffler/tailpipe (brand new) and tossed it in the bed. I will give it a try for a while because dual exhaust does give slightly better fuel mileage. If the ride is too noisy for me I will bolt on the original exhaust.

Surprisingly, the dealer told me that even in its current condition, the S10 should list at private sale at 3900-4000. Apparently, in this area there simply are no small trucks at under 6000 dealer retail. So, It went on craigslist today.

If the new truck gives me the same service as the little S10 has done, I will be well satisfied.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

I had to make the swap last year from a 97 S 10 to a 05 silverado and so far no problems.

 

[saumon]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

I, too, switched from GMC Sonoma 4.3l and went to a Toyota Tacoma 4.0l . Best decision I ever made! In terms of size, it fall between a small size and a full size but is less thirty than the Sonoma, all this while still being able to tow more (6500lbs vs 5000lbs). After 7 years and 140 000kms, the ONLY time I had to put some money on it was at 6 years/120 000kms to replace the front brake pads! Not a shock, a muffler or a single bearing, nothing, and it's awfully fun to drive. Being my daily driver, I don't need the hassle of filling the tank of a full-size truck when I don't need it 90% of the time, so the Tacoma was a good compromise for the times I need it for towing/hauling stuff (4x4, double-cab, long bed).

Now, as you may look for a boat that's over that rated towing weight in a near future, you may be better seved with a half-ton truck...

Congrats on the new purchase!

 

[gtochris]

Re: Need a new tow vehicle

With a modern vehicle, a cat back dual exhaust really isnt going to change the fuel economy any, so rest assure that if you want silence, swapping back to the OEM system will be no drawback.

BTW: a 5.3L is a "327", GM hasn't offered a 350 in a decade, your 5.3L should have displacement on demand which shuts down to 4 cylinders on the highway/ light load too.