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07-10-2003, 02:50 PM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 304
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Another towing question
I am considering a different tow vehicle. Either a 2002 Chevy 1/2 ton pick up with a 5.3 engine or the same truck with a 4.8 engine. Our Airstream weighs 3,500 pounds. Would the 4.8 do an adequate job? Or should I get the 5.3? We have been using a 1990 350 and it does good except on hot days going up a steep hill.
Dan
Tennessee
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07-10-2003, 03:32 PM
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#2
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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Chevy
I would definitely get the 5.3L. It is better than the old 350. I don't think the 4.8L has enough punch to make you happy in the hills.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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07-10-2003, 04:04 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master 
Commercial Member
1968 17' Caravel
2005 30' Safari
Somewhere
, roaming America
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,095
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Relative value?
Ask yourself this: how much more money is it worth to you to be able to rocket up steep hills on hot days, versus downshifting and going a little slower?
Personally, I'd pocket the difference and enjoy the scenery on those rare occasions...
-- RL
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07-10-2003, 05:08 PM
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#4
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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OTOH
Nothing takes the enjoyment out of trailering any quicker than an underpowered tow vehicle.
Being the owner of a 5.3L Silverado, I can tell you that the 4.8L is going to be underpowered and not terribly satisfying even when not towing. Particularly since he is used to the 350.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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07-11-2003, 05:28 AM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 304
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Thanks for the info. Youall give better advice than car salesmen. Looks like a 5.3 for me.
Dan
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07-11-2003, 06:25 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master 
2001 34' Limited
The State of
, Ohio
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,605
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Make sure you get enough axle ratio with it, i.e. 3.73:1 and especially if not 4WD, but even if it is, get that axle with limited slip.
__________________
Maurice
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07-11-2003, 07:25 AM
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#7
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3 Rivet Member 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 118
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Got a new tow vehicle
A few days ago I posted about looking at new tow vehicles. I decided to do most of my search on the internet. Great experience! Just typed in what I was looking for and the price range and ended up with about 11 possibilities. Got to check out KBB pricing, car reviews, and other possibilities while sitting in my bathrobe and sipping coffee.
E-mailed the dealer that had the vehicle I was interested in, answered a few questions, and went out that afternoon to take a look in person. Took a test drive, showed my drivers license, proof of insurance, signed the papers, and I drove her home. Piece o' cake.
I ended up with a 2000 Chevy Tahoe Z71. 5.7 liter, 4wd, tow pkg. After two days, I still like it.
I have a question for you cold climate people. I did a Carfax on the vehicle, and it's from Michigan. I've heard about salt on the roads in winter and rusting of the underbody.
Is this a big issue? I've heard rust never sleeps, and I wonder if I'm going to have a problem in a few years.
I love this Tahoe, and this is my only worry. Are there things I can do to mitigate the problem? Is there even a problem?
This Southern California gal don't know nuthin' 'bout snow, sleet, salt and rust!!!
__________________
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Pet Sitters take the "Board'em" out of Travel !
https://www.pawprints-petsitting.com
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07-11-2003, 07:28 AM
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#8
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Just an old timer...

2022 27' Globetrotter
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,781
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Re: Got a new tow vehicle
Quote:
Originally posted by Diana Langley
A few days ago I posted about looking at new tow vehicles. I decided to do most of my search on the internet. Great experience! Just typed in what I was looking for and the price range and ended up with about 11 possibilities. Got to check out KBB pricing, car reviews, and other possibilities while sitting in my bathrobe and sipping coffee.
E-mailed the dealer that had the vehicle I was interested in, answered a few questions, and went out that afternoon to take a look in person. Took a test drive, showed my drivers license, proof of insurance, signed the papers, and I drove her home. Piece o' cake.
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Hi Diana!
So tell us what you got!!! How is it equipped? PHOTOS!!!!
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2022 Globetrotter 27FBQ
Airstreams Emeritus: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' two-door, 1994 B190, 2004 Interstate T1N, 2020 GT 23 FBQ
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07-11-2003, 07:41 AM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 118
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Link to my Tahoe (hope this works)
hhttp://www.edmunds.com/apps/uvl/idp.do?vehicleId=1156875&tid=edmunds.u.uvl.uvl.res ults.1.Chevrolet*&zip=92104ttp://www.edmunds.com/apps/uvl/idp.do?vehicleId=1156875&tid=edmunds.u.uvl.uvl.res ults.1.Chevrolet*&zip=92104
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pet Sitters take the "Board'em" out of Travel !
https://www.pawprints-petsitting.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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07-11-2003, 07:54 AM
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#10
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Just an old timer...

2022 27' Globetrotter
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,781
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Re: Link to my Tahoe (hope this works)
Quote:
Originally posted by Diana Langley
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/uvl/idp.do?vehicleId=1156875&tid=edmunds.u.uvl.uvl.res ults.1.Chevrolet*&zip=92104
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Wow! VERY nice!!! Good job!
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2022 Globetrotter 27FBQ
Airstreams Emeritus: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' two-door, 1994 B190, 2004 Interstate T1N, 2020 GT 23 FBQ
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07-11-2003, 08:23 AM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 118
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Thanks, Roger!
I actually got it for $3,000 less than the listed price. When I got in it for the test drive, there was a tag hanging frm the rear view mirror. They had a tent sale that weekend and someone forgot to take the sale price tag off. I held them to it, and got it for $18,998.
Now..... is anyone interested in a very well maintained 4Runner?
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pet Sitters take the "Board'em" out of Travel !
https://www.pawprints-petsitting.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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07-11-2003, 12:32 PM
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#12
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79 SLY
1979 31' Sovereign
Fairview
, Montana
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 132
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"I have a question for you cold climate people. I did a Carfax on the vehicle, and it's from Michigan. I've heard about salt on the roads in winter and rusting of the underbody.
Is this a big issue? I've heard rust never sleeps, and I wonder if I'm going to have a problem in a few years.
I love this Tahoe, and this is my only worry. Are there things I can do to mitigate the problem? Is there even a problem?"
In my opinion, its a problem, lived in MI, anything 20 years or older was rusted beyond repair. Never noticed it, it was just the way things were, till we moved to MT/ND. You see model Ts in field with a little surrface rust out here. Until 2 years ago, when they started using a de icer here that is 'not suposed to promote rust.' But everyone is all of a sudden noticing rust developing. On the whole, though, we would rather replace the vehicle from rust damage that from rolling on an icy road.
__________________
The Trumpowers
1979 SLY 31'
1979 GMC 4 door with s/c camper shell
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07-11-2003, 12:48 PM
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#13
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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Rust
Quote:
I have a question for you cold climate people. I did a Carfax on the vehicle, and it's from Michigan. I've heard about salt on the roads in winter and rusting of the underbody.
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No worse than we Texans going down on the beach at Padre Island. Or staying at an RV park on the beach in Galveston with a week of savage wind that coated truck and trailer with salt.
We simply wash it off and don't worry about it. You don't often see a recent car or truck here with salt damage.
if you are worried, take it to a car wash and spend $5 blasting every nook and cranny on the underside. Down here, we can also drive it across a flooded low water crossing and wash the underside pretty yheroughly.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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07-11-2003, 01:36 PM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 118
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Re: Rust
Quote:
Originally posted by Pahaska
Down here, we can also drive it across a flooded low water crossing and wash the underside pretty theroughly.
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Ha! I live in San Diego where we get less than 10 inches of rain a year! The only water I drive through is the run off from lawn sprinklers!
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pet Sitters take the "Board'em" out of Travel !
https://www.pawprints-petsitting.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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07-11-2003, 01:46 PM
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#15
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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Re: Re: Rust
Quote:
Originally posted by Diana Langley
Ha! I live in San Diego where we get less than 10 inches of rain a year! The only water I drive through is the run off from lawn sprinklers!
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Not a bad idea. Park it over a sprinkler head and move it a little bit every once in a while until the entire underside is well washed of any salt residue.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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07-11-2003, 04:15 PM
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#16
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3 Rivet Member 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 118
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You know, that's not too far from what I've seen! Twice now I've come across a fire hydrant that had popped it's top and spouting water into the air. Cars will line up and drive through it for a free car wash!
I guess the bottom line is that I really don't have to worry about any rust or corrosion taking over the underside as long as any salt that may have been present is rinsed off. Am I right about that?
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pet Sitters take the "Board'em" out of Travel !
https://www.pawprints-petsitting.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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07-11-2003, 04:18 PM
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#17
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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Quote:
Originally posted by Diana Langley
I guess the bottom line is that I really don't have to worry about any rust or corrosion taking over the underside as long as any salt that may have been present is rinsed off. Am I right about that?
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That would be my guess.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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07-11-2003, 04:52 PM
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#18
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79 SLY
1979 31' Sovereign
Fairview
, Montana
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 132
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If you keep new deposits washed off (sea salt, geeez) it shouldnt get worse, but make sure you know what damage has been done already.
__________________
The Trumpowers
1979 SLY 31'
1979 GMC 4 door with s/c camper shell
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07-11-2003, 07:24 PM
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#19
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3 Rivet Member 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 118
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Thanks for all of your input, everyone! I guess I'll have to relax and enjoy my new ride!!!
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pet Sitters take the "Board'em" out of Travel !
https://www.pawprints-petsitting.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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