Not to get too off the subject of salmon and steelhead, but I just had to shell out almost $3,000 to get my piece of junk Jeep Grand Cherokee fixed. Apparently, the all-wheel-drive SUV's are not really designed to do a lot of towing and my axles are shot, diff, transfer case, etc, etc. I'm getting rid of it pronto and I am thinking about a new Durango or similar SUV. Bob, how do you like yours? Is it a V8 and how does it do towing the Wild Hair? I plan on putting about 25,000 miles a year on it and then I'll trade it in at 100,000.
What other kinds of SUV's do you folks have and how do you like them?

I also know that a full size pickup truck would pull great but I want something smaller that holds passengers. Thanks, guys, and stay as far away from all wheel drive Grand Cherokees as possible!!!

Justin

You should have known better than to buy a Cheap.. ooops I mean Jeap. Toyota is the only way to go if your not getting a full size truck.

I would recommend one thing. Check the consumers reports buyers guide on vehicles. I think it comes out in Nov/Dec. My dad gets it and they rate all vehicles made.From my vehicle experience and knowledge the ratings are spot on. The gather their data from people who actually own the vehicle.

good luck

Right on, Stadle, I'll check out the consumer reports. Thanks, Justin.

Hey Justin, I'd suggest you buying a vehicle you want to drive around for whatever (Nice SUV, car, whatever) and buy an older SUV (4wd to those of us who have an older one). I have an 85 K5 chevy blazer that tows my sled, travel trailer, cat trailer with no problem. Hell, I've had my 16ft cat strapped to the roof and my travel trailer hooked up behind and ran to the Hoh at 70mph with no problems at all. Plus there's a couple bonuses to new (you don't have a fancy rig to worry about being vandalized at the dropin and it's ALOT cheaper). The key is if you don't know about buying a used 4wd is to have one of these "car buying experts" do a check on the vehicle (registration and mechanical checks). You are alot less likely to buy a lemon if you buy this way. I bought my 85 years ago, and have put over 86K on it and is finally having problems (it has over 190K on it now, so it will have problems with amount of driving and offroading I've done with it). It's a good way to go, especially if you want to take alot of guys and gear, you can move up to an older suburban. Just an idea....Jerry

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you haven't lived til you've rowed a cataraft. Friends don't let friends run Outcasts.

I've been very happy with the Durango ... it's got the 5.2 and guzzles the gas a little, but it pulls the lighter boats like there's nothing even there. No major problems so far ... got 42K on it right now.

The Blazer, 96 with the 4.3 is another story. Had major cooling system problems at about 70K (about 95 on it now) ... the antifreeze from the factory is supposed to be 100K changes ... yeah right, at 70, it turned to gel and I replaced EVERYTHING to do with the cooling system, heater core and all A big bummer. Also had to have the front end totally redone on it ... yes, the roads I drive had somethig to do with it, but I'm careful about pounding my rigs to death, so I didn't expect that so soon.

The Durango, although bigger, has a much better turning radius than the Blazer and the Blazer in the four-door comes with some wimpy tires from the factory. I had mine lifted 2 inches so I could put some real tires on it to drive around the rocky bars.

I also really prefer the size of the Durango, just about perfect for me and my needs ... I'd be interested in driving one of the new big 6's they have that are just a tad under the power of the 5.2 V8 ... not sure what the mileage diff is though and if that would really be an option.

I won't buy an import as I have no dealers where I'm at in AK nor nothing very close here either.

If I did it again, I'd have two Durangos ... hey, there's an idea But Fishgal gets the older one! Yeah, right ...

If you want a rig thats tuff and turns heads than a 66-77 Early Bronco the only way to go.
My 67 is in the body shop right now getting a makeover white with adraitic blue SS stripes. You wont have the comfort of the new rigs but you can fix it yourself and its tuffer than nails. Did I mention that it is really cool.

Only problem is that its a money pitt, by the time its done ill have $15,000. in it.

Hey sauk how far do you need to tow your boat? Just the sauk skagit and stilly?? If so why not get a beater fullsize yruch that runs good and a smaller economy type car? good gas mileage for running into town and a truck youll never have to worry about...
Just a thought

Thanks for your input, guys, I appreciate it. I tow my 16' drift boat anywhere and everywhere statewide. I am also taking on a new sales job which will require a lot of driving so I want something brand new that is dependable. I would like to state that my Jeep made it over a 100k miles before I started having problems with it. Of course, now it's turning into a piece of junk fast but I am very hard on my vehicles with towing the boat all over hell and some minor off road stuff. Ideally, I am going to drive my future rigs hard for a few years and then dump 'em before they start falling apart. I'm also going to get a bumper to bumper warranty so when my rig breaks, it's taken care of. Looked at the Durango tonight, pushy salesman drove me nuts, but they are pretty sweet rigs and they have a Dakota truck chasis making them a little tougher than other comparably sized SUV's.

Hey thanks for the info on the Jeep! I was just getting ready to get rid of my city car and my boat pullin' 3/4 ton Chev for a Grand Cherokee.Tryin' to whittle down on vehicles. I guess I'll not try to do everything with one rig.Hate to pay insurance on two rigs though(CHEAPSKATE).

Man, I hate hearing horror stories about getting rigs serviced. I mean, 3 large for a repair? Ouch

I'm still driving an 87 Mazda B-2000. Several years ago, when I still had some disposable income (no kids then), I was looking at a new F-150 4wd, but settled for the used Mazda. It had 100,000 miles at the time and I bought it cheap. Last week I turned over 403,000 miles. I dropped a crate engine in it at 295K for $1300, and it's been going since. It protests a little when my boat's on it, but I guess it's earned the right to complain a little. I'm going to drive it until it's dead alongside the road, I'm looking for that magical 500K mark first. Then I'll probably be over on Piscatorial Pursuits asking for vehicle advice .

Are there any car dealers that will take one wound-up 5 year-old as partial trade?


Fish on.........

Hey Kid-Saulk,I'm kind of a jeep guy
I bought my wife one back in 92 a regular Cherokee with the straight six,
part of the problen you're having is with the V-8 model grand cherokee,they are full time 4 wheel correct,the model with the straight six are standard 4X4 so the components last longer,that sraight six will handle that thorbuilt.
We love our Jeep but need more room,I'm trying to talk her into an Expedition ....Os

Have a 98 Exploder, sorry Explorer. SOHC V-6. Not good on gas. Doin my 3rd recall this week. Try Toyota or Lexus if you can afford it. Dont know much about Durango, but some of the guys at work had many problems with their Chrysler trucks, and many switched to Toyota or Ford.

I think that the new 4 door ford half ton with a canopy would be the cats meow, now you have a truck and butt space.
S h*ty
U sles
V ehicle

Yo Justin, long time no see. I think you've seen my F-150, works good for me!

Oh yeah, I did the whole chrysler product thing before with a dodge ram and a Jeep Grand C. and both suffered tranny problems and overheating pulling sleds around.

D on't
O ffer
D odges
G o
E lsewhere

SAUKit2Em, My river buddy purchased a 2001 Ford F-150 Supercrew 5.4 litre last summer and pulls a 22' bayliner or my 17'Thorbuilt great. He works sales and covers alot of turf but still gets the same mileage as a smaller V-8. The extra space four doors provides is cumfy on long hauls, plus it does have bed space if you want to haul something in the bed.

I can think of one rig that will fill all of your needs, and then some
-size for extra people
-tough
-good pulling power
-mileage
-reliability
My reccomendation is a Ford, crew cab (4-door), 4WD, Powerstroke diesel. Mine will tow my sled AND haul my 11' camper with power to spare (it has a std. transmission cooler), when I'm not carrying a load it gets 20mph, engine has a 100,000 mile warrantee, the transmission is made by Cat and seems indestructable. The F-350 short box has a good turning radius (better than the old F-250). With the 4-door crew cab you can hold five adults in comfort. Mine has 70k on it with no problems, friends have 100k plus on theirs with great results also.

After having nothing but trouble with a Ford Expoder, I wouldn't even think of buying another Ford product, ever. Now I see my friend having all sorts of trouble with a new GMC product. I really would like to support domestic industry, but have to draw the line when it cost me thousands of dollars in repair bills. As much as I hate to say this, I doubt I will buy another made in USA vehicle.

T-O-Y-O-T-A

Hey Huntar, you do have some class!

Sauk, I gotta agree with Huntar. I have the F350 Powerstroke Crew 4x4 (mine is a longbed) and both Huntar and I are in outside sales to. 20 mpg after break-in on the open road, can pull a house, cruise up the pass at 90 if you want, and seats 6.

My clients all think its awesome and with the industry your going into, you should have no problems. Parking can be interesting downtown. All in all, wouldn't trade it.

fyi, I've owned a Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, 4-runner, and Land Cruiser. The Toyotas are great but underpowered for towing and fairly small for passengers. The Jeeps, well mom always said if you can't say something nice...

Good luck,

Steve