A truck appliance that isn't a truck - Suburban or Excursion?

With the new house we have to haul more (to the dump, mostly) than my wife's Cherokee can handle so we figured that it would make sense to get a bigger vehicle for a little while. We're both not a big fan of pickup trucks and would prefer an overgrown station wagon. Also, an important requirement imposed by my wife is that I have to find one that isn't a project vehicle and we ideally want something from the late 90s/early 2000s.

So far the thoughts are along the lines of

• Suburban 3/4ton with the turbo diesel. We've driven one, we liked it and to me the diesel makes sense in a truck that size. Finding one in good shape isn't easy around here.
• Suburban with the Vortec 7.4L. I like those better than the one with the 5.7L, they have a higher tow rating which might come in handy for towing dead cars home and they do appear to be a little bit cheaper than the 5.7L ones out here. Probably something to do with how frugal they are on gas.
• The dark horse - I noticed recently that early Excursions are getting into our price range (up to $7k). Obviously SUVs don't come bigger than those, which appeals for its intended purpose, but we never sat in one and I have no idea how robust those are. This one would have to have a gas engine - 7.3 Powerstrokes are often almost twice the price of the gas powered version and I don't think we would drive it often enough to make up for that sort price difference.

So, anybody got any horror stories to share for any of the above and especially the Excursion?

Wasn't there just a thread on how terrible the excursion V10 is? For cheap, reliable, TORQUES, a 454 suburban cant be beat.

As long as you don't mind the maximum 12 mpg's you'll get with the 454 Burb.

If this is literally just a temporary need, why not just get a utility trailer? If you want a new vehicle, that's all fine and dandy.

Seriously? Diesels and big blocks for hauling stuff to a dump? Can't you do that with a Ranger, S-10, Hardbody, etc? What are you scrapping, ex-USSR bombers?

lady I work with has a diesel 4x4 excursion. She can't park it in the garage, at home or at work, it simply does not fit

xflowgolf wrote: As long as you don't mind the maximum 12 mpg's you'll get with the 454 Burb.

IIRC the Vortec is slightly better on fuel. Emphasis on "slightly". As it wouldn't be a DD - or at least isn't intended to be - the fuel consumption is somewhat less of a concern.

xflowgolf wrote: If this is literally just a temporary need, why not just get a utility trailer? If you want a new vehicle, that's all fine and dandy.

We have towed a little with the Cherokee, hence we'd rather have a big SUV... Plus, my wife doesn't like towing, but is OK with a bigger SUV around here.

Javelin wrote: Seriously? Diesels and big blocks for hauling stuff to a dump? Can't you do that with a Ranger, S-10, Hardbody, etc? What are you scrapping, ex-USSR bombers?

I could tell you, but then ...

It's also for IKEA runs and the like, we haven't got much furniture (we moved from a place that had around 800 sq ft to one about three times the size) so there'll be a reasonable amount of use with the two rear seat rows removed.

Plus, an SUV that size could theoretically, like, tow a track car if you get my drift.

A Ranger with a long bed and a camper shell might work but is essentially similar money so I'm thinking I might as well go big.

mad_machine wrote: lady I work with has a diesel 4x4 excursion. She can't park it in the garage, at home or at work, it simply does not fit

I'm aware of that. That's OK, all the garage spaces are already claimed anyway.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Wasn't there just a thread on how terrible the excursion V10 is? For cheap, reliable, TORQUES, a 454 suburban cant be beat.

If you're talking about my old learn me thread, I seem to remember them getting horseE36 M3 MPG's (like....9) but being dead nuts reliable other than that. From what the Ford gurus here told me, the v10 gas is basically a 5.4 triton with two extra cylinders on a 3/4ton frame, and all the associated goodies with it. It's SUPER appealing to me at least, because I can find v10 Excursions all day around here for about 3500 bucks with some miles on them. I don't know that i've found better value in the full size hauler market to date.... mpg aside.

Without knowing the reasons behind your dislike of Pickemups, I'll throw one out that might get nixed pretty quickly: What about an Avalanche?

I'm not a big fan of Avalanches and the likes as the bed is just too small for my liking. For our use a big SUV is just a little more usable due to the added versatility of throwing in full-size back seats if necessary. Plus, most trucks out here are the same price or a little more expensive than a Suburban/Excursion and I'd still have to buy a camper shell as most come without.

My V-10 Excursion sucks. You have to change front brakes damn near as often as the oil, gas mileage is single digit. the steering feels like a spoon in a bowl of oatmeal, etc, etc. About the only thing good I can say is that the interior build quality and materials seem to be slightly better than the Suburbans I've owned, and the a/c systems seem to work better, otherwise, the Suburban is better all day long.

I will throw out the idea of a Chevy Astro or GMC Safari with or without AWD.
More real usable interior room than a 'burb. Better mpg at about 18 and towing up to 5,000lbs. Made new until 2005 but typically priced far lower than large SUV of equal vintage

In reply to Aeromoto:

That sounds like I should really just look at the cheaper option (ie, Suburbans).

In reply to JohnRW1621:

That's a minivan. 'er indoors considers that grounds for divorce.

Maybe tow a car one day sort of? Only need a single back seat row that folds for cargo? Cheap? Bulletproof?

Hmmm....

You may want to switch your focus onto 2000+ Suburban 1500 models. I recently went through this same thing: looking for a beast of burden full size SUV, that would do all of the jobs that my M Coupe and her Mazda3 can't or don't want to do (snow, lots of people or stuff), as well as towing up to 500 miles away full of stuff for Lemons.

I looked at both GMT400 and GMT800 Suburbans of all varieties, Excursions and Expeditions. I was turned off on the Fords by the mod motor issues (spitting or breaking spark plugs, mostly), and the Excursion really is just enormous, bordering on too big. The 7.3 diesel Excursion owners are very proud of their cars, and all seem to drive them a lot. I'm not interested in the 6.0 diesel issues.

As for the Suburbans, I was suprised at how cheap the 1500 model Suburbans are. You can get a 2003 ish Suburban 1500 with the 5.3 for $5000 all day, and decently clean at that. I searched everywhere for a 6.5TD as that was my initial primary focus, and they were all either $7000+ for a 15 year old truck, had 240k miles, needed serious work, or any combination of the above. Any decent truck with less than $200k for under $5k was sold quickly. That's when I broadened my search. I didn't see the GMT400 1500s selling for much less than the GMT800s, and the newer trucks give so much more: modern engine, better suspension, much nicer interior, etc. I didn't want to deal with the 10-12 MPG of the 454 even when empty.

In the end, I ended up with a 2003 GMC Yukon XL 2500 6.0 4WD. It is more heavily optioned that I would have preferred (just about every option possible), but I've found it to be perfect for how I use it. It did an amazing job of towing the lemons car to NH even with a full load and three people and got 11.8MPG during the all highway tow. I can get 15MPG all highway, less around town, obviously, about 12-13. The 3/4 ton brakes and suspension are nice to have for heavy loads, but the GVWR is not much more than the 1500 surprisingly, unless you get the 8.1 engine. The biggest selling points of the 2500 for me are the 4L80E trans over the 4L60E, and the fact that my truck has Quadrasteer, which I absoutely love. It is amazing. I paid a bit over your budget for a clean, one owner, 121k mile truck and I couldn't be happier. It is a tool for me, and it does its job very well.

Here it is, in its natural habitat. The 37 gallon tank hurts, but lasts a while:

How about a full size van?

They tend to be even cheaper than SUV's and have more storage.

Big isn't always better. I had to work on my F350 in the driveway in the rain today because it's too big for the garage. It would fit in there, but I had to remove the rear axles to change the rear backing plates and there wasn't enough space to slide the axles out without hitting things.

In reply to moxnix:

Vans in general seem to fall into the territory of spousal complaints.

BoxheadTim wrote: In reply to moxnix: Vans in general seem to fall into the territory of spousal complaints.

And neighbor complaints. The nice thing about a Suburban is that they sold a ton of them in the late 90s to people who used them to haul kids around. Lots of easy miles, they haven't been beaten up offroad, now that gas is expensive they're for sale cheap, and they present a very "respectable" look that is less likely to irritate a neighbor into complaining about the number of cars you have.

I was gonna buy one as a tow vehicle for these reasons, but somehow wound up with a Silverado 2500HD diesel instead. Oops. :)

Everything Sonic said is true. The suburban was the de-facto kid hauler for almost a decade. They sold billions of them to people that did nothing more strenuous than drive the kids to school. Five years ago my kids preschool was 50% suburbans. Now that 50% has switched to smaller CUV's. Mom fashions have changed. Suburbans are cheeeeeeeeap for what you get.

Being a Ford guy as I am, I just don't know how I feel about the Excursion. I really think I would go with a gasser Burb before a gasser Excursion. I would take a 7.3L Excursion over a diesel Burb but damn the extra money for one just doesn't seem worth it.

I am either gonna get another 3500/350 diesel truck or try my luck on a conversion van to strip out and build my own interior catered for track camping.

I'd try a utility trailer behind the Cherokee and see how that works. Then when you don't need it anymore, you can sell it for what you paid for it.

I got the 1720lb 4X8 HF trailer for $300 (25% off coupon) added a deck and some sides, and I've very easily gotten far more utility out of it than what I paid for it. I've used it for hauling boulders, wood, brush, trash, trap rock, belgian block, top soil, mulch, and even our belongings during two moves. Between the trailer and the truck, I can fit a ton of stuff in one trip.

I love Suburbans (my parents have owned at least one consecutively for the past 25 years), but I'd give the utility trailer a shot first.

my small block suburban does just fine towing my car hauler with anything i've thrown at it.

BoxheadTim wrote: I'm not a big fan of Avalanches and the likes as the bed is just too small for my liking. For our use a big SUV is just a little more usable due to the added versatility of throwing in full-size back seats if necessary. Plus, most trucks out here are the same price or a little more expensive than a Suburban/Excursion and I'd still have to buy a camper shell as most come without.

I wasn't a big fan either, until the wife HAD to have one. Would I like a Sub instead, you bet (4 people, 90# dog, and luggage don't make for a kind trip anywhere), but I won't kick the Av to the curb.

So far, I have killed this thing with towing duties: Yes, that is my 7k# diesel on my 2k# trailer with a 6k# hitch.

The covered transport:

Still can fold down the rear seats to make an 8' long bed or remove the glass to gain extra space.

So for being "useless" this thing has saved my ass on multiple occasions.

Love my 2002 F250 7.3 Powerstroke Crew Cab. Enough room for 6 (belted), 6.5' bed (I wish I had a long box but that would be rediculously long for city life), and add a topper if you want an Excursion without the 7.3 Excursion tax, which, you already found out is high. 18MPG in mixed with a 4" turbo back exhaust is good enough for a vehicle of this size.

I was in the same boat a year ago. Test drove a lot of 03+ Suburbans and Tahoes (wanted a Denali) and found they are all slow turds unless you buy the ones with the 6.0 (Denali and 2500s). The interiors were junky even on otherwise pristine trucks. I really wanted a 7.3 Excursion but they are stupid money in Wisconsin, $15k+ for 200k miles trucks showing rust. I got hosed on a killer deal on a 60k mile Yukon XL with an 8.1, but sort of glad in the end.

The Chevys have the nicer ride and are more comfortable, the Fords have better build quality and if you get a diesel, a better driveline.

93gsxturbo wrote: I was in the same boat a year ago. Test drove a lot of 03+ Suburbans and Tahoes (wanted a Denali) and found they are all slow turds unless you buy the ones with the 6.0 (Denali and 2500s). The interiors were junky even on otherwise pristine trucks. I really wanted a 7.3 Excursion but they are stupid money in Wisconsin, $15k+ for 200k miles trucks showing rust. I got hosed on a killer deal on a 60k mile Yukon XL with an 8.1, but sort of glad in the end. The Chevys have the nicer ride and are more comfortable, the Fords have better build quality and if you get a diesel, a better driveline.

This sounds about right. Too much for diesel Excursions and GMs with tawdry interiors.

Oh, I was getting about 14-15 MPG with my 7.3L F350 with 380K miles on it towing to track days.