High Mileage tow vehicle question
I found myself in need of an extra vehicle and found an old grampa truck (93 GMC 1/2t ext cab 4x4) it was cheap and well taken care of by the previous owner who had owned it almost 20 years. It has 21...
Forum Discussion
Couple thoughts.
The condtion is huge. If it’s no rust/leaks and you have some inkling of services, it has a greater probability of being aservicable vehicle.
Next, if I had to pick an old truck, 90-98 GM would be #1 on my list. So you got that going for you.
If you’re not mechanically inclined, it is likely to nickel and dime you a lot AND the propensity for the engine or trans to die is great with those miles. Old high mile cars aren’t worth the money unless a person has the tools, space and knowledge to work on them IMO. Old age gets stuff and a $20 hose can leave you parked on the side of the road with your camperaseasy as a blown trans.
Again, I “know too much” about vehicles that I would have a laundry list of 100 items that could, will or have needed to be fixed within 10 minutes of looking at it. Then I could decide. You have the grampa truck thing going for you as long as grampa maintinaed it well.
Back to my second point, IF this is what your budget allows, it’s not all doom n gloom.
I had 4 of these trucks and my parents had 2 different ones. ALL of them were pretty stellar performers and they are close to the simplest cheapest vehicles to maintian and repair that you can get. We didn’t run any to those miles but a couple got to around 175k before sold. However the Cinderella story onewas my 90 Z71 5 speed.
I ran it to about 170k iirc. No major repairs other than a couple clutches and the excpected stuff water pump, a starter, half shafts etc. after i sold he truck I saw it a couple years after with a gn hauling a big slantload horse trailer. Talked to the guy. He said it was at 225k now. Bought it from he guy I sold it to and it was still on orig engine trans and axles.
I bought it from a a farmer who towed with but it was his “nice “ truck. Was like new. I towed heavy, loaded with contractors tools, off roaded it, and daily driver. The truck flat out performed as well or better than could have been expected.
Fwiw, none of our other GMT 400s had a major component failure either.
The condtion is huge. If it’s no rust/leaks and you have some inkling of services, it has a greater probability of being aservicable vehicle.
Next, if I had to pick an old truck, 90-98 GM would be #1 on my list. So you got that going for you.
If you’re not mechanically inclined, it is likely to nickel and dime you a lot AND the propensity for the engine or trans to die is great with those miles. Old high mile cars aren’t worth the money unless a person has the tools, space and knowledge to work on them IMO. Old age gets stuff and a $20 hose can leave you parked on the side of the road with your camperaseasy as a blown trans.
Again, I “know too much” about vehicles that I would have a laundry list of 100 items that could, will or have needed to be fixed within 10 minutes of looking at it. Then I could decide. You have the grampa truck thing going for you as long as grampa maintinaed it well.
Back to my second point, IF this is what your budget allows, it’s not all doom n gloom.
I had 4 of these trucks and my parents had 2 different ones. ALL of them were pretty stellar performers and they are close to the simplest cheapest vehicles to maintian and repair that you can get. We didn’t run any to those miles but a couple got to around 175k before sold. However the Cinderella story onewas my 90 Z71 5 speed.
I ran it to about 170k iirc. No major repairs other than a couple clutches and the excpected stuff water pump, a starter, half shafts etc. after i sold he truck I saw it a couple years after with a gn hauling a big slantload horse trailer. Talked to the guy. He said it was at 225k now. Bought it from he guy I sold it to and it was still on orig engine trans and axles.
I bought it from a a farmer who towed with but it was his “nice “ truck. Was like new. I towed heavy, loaded with contractors tools, off roaded it, and daily driver. The truck flat out performed as well or better than could have been expected.
Fwiw, none of our other GMT 400s had a major component failure either.
