When to call it quits on a vehicle..

[SideShow Bob]

If $5000 is your budget, I?d be looking for the following 4x4?s:

Trucks:
2000-2006 Tundra
1995.5-2004 Tacoma
Anything with less than 200k would be a good buy if it?s in decent shape. These trucks run well over 300k with no issues so don?t let ?higher? miles scare you. My first gen tundra has 177k on the clock and it runs/drives like new.

1999-2006 Silverado/Sierra 1500 V8 (4.8 or 5.3).
For $5000, this should put you in the 150k+/- mileage range. These trucks are super easy to work on and the LS series engines are bullet proof. Parts are plentiful and cheap.

SUV?s:
1999-2006 Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban 5.3L
1997-2003 Toyota 4Runner
1997-2000ish Mercury/Ford Mountaineer/Explorer 5.0L with selectable transfer case if possible. If it?s AWD, it?s pretty easy to convert to selectable.

FWIW, I’ve been finding a lot more deals on Facebook vs craigslist. I’d keep an eye on FB if you are in the market.

In the 1999 to 2006 Chevy/GMC 1500s you are going to get a high rate of electrical/electronic gremlins especially in the airbag sensors & wiring and in the electric sensors & wiring for the 4x4 systems.
I have personal experience with all of these issues with a 2006 GMC, that I have had since new, with just over 75K on it. I have a permanent air bag issue, from codes saying a bad front sensor to code saying that my airbags deployed. The dealer never could solve the problem and when the warranty was up, wanted $$$$ to keep trying to find the problem. So I now have a airbag warning light on all the time.
I have also had the transfer case selector switch go bad twice and the transfer case position sensor and selector motor go bad, all after the warranty was up. I have replaced these myself,
And I have had a blower motor issue to the tune of $400+ that was not covered by a recall because the VIN wasn’t in the recall range, even though it was displaying the exact same symptoms.

[SouthPaw]

In the 1999 to 2006 Chevy/GMC 1500s you are going to get a high rate of electrical/electronic gremlins especially in the airbag sensors & wiring and in the electric sensors & wiring for the 4x4 systems.
I have personal experience with all of these issues with a 2006 GMC, that I have had since new, with just over 75K on it. I have a permanent air bag issue, from codes saying a bad front sensor to code saying that my airbags deployed. The dealer never could solve the problem and when the warranty was up, wanted $$$$ to keep trying to find the problem. So I now have a airbag warning light on all the time.
I have also had the transfer case selector switch go bad twice and the transfer case position sensor and selector motor go bad, all after the warranty was up. I have replaced these myself,
And I have had a blower motor issue to the tune of $400+ that was not covered by a recall because the VIN wasn’t in the recall range, even though it was displaying the exact same symptoms.

Sounds like you got a bad apple in the flavor of a lemon. In the three that I have owned, non of the issues you speak of. Maybe I just got lucky.

[Martinjmpr]

Sounds like you got a bad apple in the flavor of a lemon. In the three that I have owned, non of the issues you speak of. Maybe I just got lucky.

Except for the weak 4L60 transmission my Suburban was solid. Most likely I killed the transmission by towing a 3500# trailer through the mountains multiple times. Other than that, no issues and my Suburban had every bell and whistle you could get except a sunroof and a DVD player (neither of which I wanted.) I think the GMT-800 trucks (1999 - 2007 pickups and 2000 - 2006 Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon were some of the best made trucks out there. If you can get a 2500 you avoid the problematic 4L60 in favor of the much more robust 4L80.

Parts are easy to get and reasonably inexpensive and they are surprisingly easy to work on.

I would avoid the early GMT-900 trucks as they had issues with the multi-displacement engine feature.

Sold my '04 Suburban for $5500 last month with 189k and a still-under-warranty transmission.

[Gman]

In the 1999 to 2006 Chevy/GMC 1500s you are going to get a high rate of electrical/electronic gremlins especially in the airbag sensors & wiring and in the electric sensors & wiring for the 4x4 systems.
I have personal experience with all of these issues with a 2006 GMC, that I have had since new, with just over 75K on it. I have a permanent air bag issue, from codes saying a bad front sensor to code saying that my airbags deployed. The dealer never could solve the problem and when the warranty was up, wanted $$$$ to keep trying to find the problem. So I now have a airbag warning light on all the time.
I have also had the transfer case selector switch go bad twice and the transfer case position sensor and selector motor go bad, all after the warranty was up. I have replaced these myself,
And I have had a blower motor issue to the tune of $400+ that was not covered by a recall because the VIN wasn?t in the recall range, even though it was displaying the exact same symptoms.

Truth. I had to get rid of my 2003 Tahoe due to these electrical gremlins. Was throwing intermittent ABS warnings that it wasn't functioning. Airbag warnings. Electrical accessories would quit working. A bunch of GMs of that era also had problems with the instrument clusters. It was a known issue and GM would replace the cluster panel at up to 7 years 70K miles. I had to have mine replaced.

The 5.3l engine is a bit low on power and doesn't get good mileage, but it's damn near bulletproof. I prefer my Hemi.

[SouthPaw]

Truth. I had to get rid of my 2003 Tahoe due to these electrical gremlins. Was throwing intermittent ABS warnings that it wasn't functioning. Airbag warnings. Electrical accessories would quit working. A bunch of GMs of that era also had problems with the instrument clusters. It was a known issue and GM would replace the cluster panel at up to 7 years 70K miles. I had to have mine replaced.

The 5.3l engine is a bit low on power and doesn't get good mileage, but it's damn near bulletproof. I prefer my Hemi.

Yes, the cluster was an issue on the GMT800 platform but you can have your OE one rebuilt, bulbs switched to LED and stepper motors replaced for $80-$100. I had all my of my trucks done because I was never a big fan of the mint green color.


The 5.3L can be a bit sluggish, even more so if you have a fan clutch. If you get a truck after 2003, they switched to electric fans which made a big difference. My Tahoe had fan clutch and the 1500 had electric fans. It was night and day difference when driving them.

The 4L60 was not built to handle much, especially towing. All three of mine lasted 150k+ and one had 220k when I sold it, all still shifting great. I rarely towed though. I think you nailed when you said towing up and down the mountains. The 4L80 on the other hand is a horse. It?s pretty much a direct replacement other than a few wires.