Looking to buy a work truck. Need expert assistance.

tooleyondeck said:

If your budget is $4K for a full size SUV, you better lower your standards significantly.

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I'm not looking for something fancy. I need daily beater, that would not beat me up financially, that is all. I found some fully loaded GM trucks,v( Escalade , Yukon 2007-2009 )but those are beyond my budget.

So far nothing, just some barely alive necro species for insanely high prices. Managed to find 2 vehicles with one owner but $5000 for 256 k one owner that is too much. Market is still too high, probably I should wait till autumn. Because it makes no sense overpaying to those sellers. They really think that they are selling a gem, though I'm showing that there is no frame left. Craigslist and FB marketplace are full of insanity.

I think I found a candidate. Too much miles but guy promised that he was the one who had it for past 20 years.

makintoshnex said:

I think I found a candidate. Too much miles but guy promised that he was the one who had it for past 20 years.

2004 chevy tahoe z71 for sale by owner - Westbrook, CT - craigslist

Super dependable. One owner mostly highway miles. No accidents. 258,000 miles. Spent first 7 years in NC. Brand new Battery and four brand new tires. Most interior pretty beat up. Sunroof has not...

newlondon.craigslist.org

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258K isn't bad as long as it was maintained, which judging by the exterior it seems it was. Seller is honest about the interior, which is good but a trip to a junkyard can probably source any inoperable switches or dials for pretty cheap. Sunroof is an issue if it leaks, but not too hard to repair. New seat covers are super cheap on eBay, you could swap both front seats for leather for around $100.

Being in CT, rust will be your biggest issue (I assume), but again I am from the South and never dealt with rust so in my mind everything north of TN is a rust state.

Expect to spend an additional $1-2K to get it up to daily driver standard. That is still within your original budget.

My searches are unsuccessful so far. But how they say who searches that finds.
What you guys can tell me about Hummer H2 or h3 ? Should I consider them?

Has anyone tried to swap 2007-2014 Cadillac esv on 2005 Suburban frame?

makintoshnex said:

My searches are unsuccessful so far. But how they say who searches that finds.
What you guys can tell me about Hummer H2 or h3 ? Should I consider them?

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Stay away from the H3, the engines are crap unless it has the 5.3.

ivin74 said:

Stay away from the H3, the engines are crap unless it has the 5.3.

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I was looking for some, but all had a ticking bomb , you know what I mean. Unfortunately all my efforts to find 2007-2009 Cadillac with live engine didn't bring any good news. Most are either dying or dead. I found few diesel Suburbans , will check them out next week. Also I find alot of 1500 and some 2500 Suburbans, some Tahoes with high milage but engine and frame seemed to be okay. The only thing is that engine is pissing oil most of them 2001-2006 engine block covered with oil, same with gear box, but nothing is dripping.

makintoshnex said:

I was looking for some, but all had a ticking bomb , you know what I mean. Unfortunately all my efforts to find 2007-2009 Cadillac with live engine didn't bring any good news. Most are either dying or dead. I found few diesel Suburbans , will check them out next week. Also I find alot of 1500 and some 2500 Suburbans, some Tahoes with high milage but engine and frame seemed to be okay. The only thing is that engine is pissing oil most of them 2001-2006 engine block covered with oil, same with gear box, but nothing is dripping.

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Most high mileage suvs will have oil leaks. With the exception of the rear main seal, all oil leaks are easy to fix.

I would not be afraid of buying a high milage suv with oil leaks as long as the oil pressure is good. Low oil pressure could be bad, bad bearings.

Most oil leaks are from the
Valve covers
Oil pan gasket
Oil cooler lines
Valley pan gasket
Crankshaft seal
Rear main seal the most expensive

ivin74 said:

Most high milage suvs will have oil leaks. With the exception of the rear main seal, all oil leaks are easy to fix.

I would not be afraid of buying a high milage suv with oil leaks as long as the oil pressure is good. Low oil pressure could be bad, bad bearings.

Most oil leaks are from the
Valve covers
Oil pan gasket
Oil cooler lines
Valley pan gasket
Crankshaft seal
Rear main seal the most expensive

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I found a real good deal. https://www.facebook.com/share/5RDyfo82q2XTb1wu/?mibextid=kL3p88
Frame like new. The only thing is it is only RWD and for NYC winter I would prefer 4WD . Otherwise I would have to throw some load to the back. I drive Sprinter with dually rwd, but I have 3500 lbs on board. I mean this caddy is a good deal.