2001 or 2025 for Summer Trips

[mjgirard]

My 2001 Tahoe is our trip vehicle and summer is approaching. My wife thinks that the 2001 is getting too old for the summer trips and wants me to get a new 2025 Tahoe. The 2001 is in excellent shape, it has the 5.3L and 130,000 miles on it. Every spring I go though the entire vehicle and then have my mechanic check it too. Spring 2024, I replaced anything that was connected to or associated with the radiator and water pump. Radiator hoses, belts, tensioners, fan clutch, coolant recovery tank and hoses and all heater hoses and connectors. I also replaced the O2 sensors, battery cables, gas filter, brake flush and had the diff & transmission checked. I have Michelin tires on it and the shocks are fine for summer trips. If I tow my classic car this summer I will definately replace the shocks.

This year I plan to check and replace the starter and fuel pump assembly if I think they are needed to be safe for the trips.

Some questions I have are:
Does anyone else run a 2001 for their summer vacation trips?
Am I forgetting any other items that need to be checked or replaced?
Is this 2001 trustworthy as a 24 year old trip vehicle. (I am the original owner)
A 2025 would be nice but they are quite expensive and does my 2001 have a better engine than the 2025?

Thanks for the information and advice.
MJGirard

 

[Marky Dissod]

My wife thinks that the 2001 is getting too old for the summer trips, and wants me to get a new 2025 Tahoe.

Pretend, for a moment, you believe she is actually correct.
How would YOU substantiate this argument, with solid evidence?
Here's an example: did not read you mention ANYTHING about checking or servicing AC system / parts.
It only helps that you made it much less likely to suffer a breakdown by addressing the powertrain cooling system.

Michelin tires on it

Michelin makes tires that make bolster their reputation, and tires that only sell due to their rep (like Chevy vehicles, or Wendy's; you get it).
You did not mention, for example, how old they are. I won't drive on tires over 5 years old, except to go buy younger tires.

Am I forgetting any other items that need to be checked or replaced?

I prefer to say that you haven't thought of them yet. Already mentioned AC system.
Brakes / steering / suspension, always go over those each & every time.

Is this 2001 trustworthy as a 24 year old trip vehicle? I am the original owner.

I wonder why you're nervous enough to ask? Does she make you nervous? Is she doing it intentionally?
The GMT800 (99-07) trucks & SUVs, when maintained assertively, are impressively reliable.
If you suspect you can't maintain its reliability for 250,000 miles, you and your mechanic are lacking.

A 2025 would be nice but they are quite expensive

I'd not be ashamed to become notorious for convincing people to
buy two younger used Tahoes / Suburbans / Denalis / Escalades
for the same price of buying one brand new 2025 whatever.
Given the price of a new GMTK2xx, you could likely buy THREE,
and any one of them would likely be as ready for thousands of trouble free miles,
after conscientious repairs.
Would you rather spend $10,000 on YOUR Tahoe, or another one?
Guarantee it won't cost anywhere near $2,500 to make your Tahoe roadtripworthy.

and does my 2001 have a better engine than the 2025?

Need a better version of this question; better at or for what?
I'd bet on TEN 2001 5.3L V8s exceeding 250,000 miles, before ONE 2025 5.3L V8 reaches 250,000 miles.

I bet there's at least one person on this forum, within 50 miles of you,
that'll give your Tahoe a thorough once-over for a 6pack & a pizza.
That answer will be worth more than any clever prose we can muster without looking at your Tahoe.

 

[martinajm]

I have a 2001 GMC truck with the same driveline and 170k miles. It is now my kids daily driver, but it was a 2-3K a year extra vehicle for about 17 years. The transmission has been the biggest problem with it. Have you had any transmission work done? I have had multiple issues since about $115K miles.

Not sure how big of trips you are talking about, but the "modern" amenities, i.e. screens, satellite radio, adaptive cruise, etc. are nice to have's on long trips. they also have their drawbacks

I do about of 3 hour 80 mph round trips to my lake house. I take my 2022 Yukon almost every time unless I need to haul something in the bed of the truck.

 

[mjgirard]

The AC System was replaced in 2017 because of a compressor issue by the dealer and it works fine. I have it checked every year due to the heat in Virginia Beach. My Michelins are 4 years old. My wife is a nervous nellie in the car and likes the size of the Tahoe when we battle traffic on the Jersey turnpike on our way to Upstate New York for family visits.

I am not worried about my 2001, I keep telling her it runs great and always gets checked before we travel, especially the brakes and suspension. The transmission fluid was changed at 60,000 & 90,000 miles. If it needs it again it will be done.

My mechanic who does the work that I do not perfom is very good and knows that I always maintain this Tahoe, my 1996 Jeep Cherokee which is my daily driver and my classic 1970 Monte Carlo that I have owned and worked on for 51 years.

Thanks for the insights and suggestions.
MJG

 

[olyelr]

You have a 25 year old vehicle that you have owned and maintained (very well, it sounds like) since it was new with only 130k miles…run with it man. Its got another 25 years left in it.

You could spend 100 grand on a new fancy one and it could blow up within a few thousand miles lol.

 

[GMCChevy]

How far are these trips? If you're on top of maintenance there shouldn't be problems. Another plus is those older ones shops are used to them and you can usually limp them along. Newer ones might be less likely to break down but you could have something as simple as a module fail and leave you stranded.
I recently did a 12 hour trip with our 1999 during winter and didn't think twice about taking it.

 

[Silverado4x4]

Get the new 2025 Tahoe and use the 01 for around town because if the 01 ever breaks down on the road trip you will never ever hear the end of it from the wife.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Happy Wife = Happy Life

You can't fix the nervous Nellie issue. Believe me, I know, after 25+ years of a flawless driving record, my wife is still constantly looking for the brake pedal on her side of the truck when I'm driving.

Either convince her that your current truck is safe enough for these trips, or get a new truck.

My truck has 155k miles, and though not quite as old as your truck, I would not hesitate to take it on a long trip.

 

[adventurenali92]

I’ve owned my LQ4 6.0l powered 2006 Yukon XL Denali for 10 years now. Basically same drive train ad your op 2001 5.3L @mjgirard . Just a little bigger. Anyways I’ve taken my 2006 on so many road trips between Southern California and pretty much anywhere I need to take it this side of the country. It’s been from soca to mammoth lakes up in the Sierra Nevada mountain range many times as I’m a professionally certified snowboard instructor. I have friends in Utah and have run 6 1500 mile round trips in the Denali in the last 5 years with one of those trips last year being more like 1800 miles round trip and the Denali jsut does. I like you, keep on ANY necessary maintenance or repairs and I have never once not trusted my 2006 to get me there and back in one piece. It’s comfortable and steady and goes just as well as a new one.

I mean yeah the 100 grand new trucks have fancy features like super cruise and a giant screen in the center stack. But I have an apple car play pioneer headunit, a decent sound system and an iPhone with Spotify, YouTube and a few streaming platforms. All I need to enjoy a road trip and it cost me a lot less than going out and buying a 100,000 dollar rig. lol.

I say keep the 2001 and keep it running good and she’ll keep trucking for you and do it well.

 

[mjgirard]

How far are these trips? If you're on top of maintenance there shouldn't be problems. Another plus is those older ones shops are used to them and you can usually limp them along. Newer ones might be less likely to break down but you could have something as simple as a module fail and leave you stranded.
I recently did a 12 hour trip with our 1999 during winter and didn't think twice about taking it.

The trip from VB to Albany is around 550 miles each way. With the around town visiting in New York the total miles would probably be about 1200-1500 miles for the this trip.