Picked up a new Tow Vehicle last night.

[2kwik4u]

Went last night and picked up a bigger truck. Traded the '04 S10 ZR5 in on a '03 GMC Yukon.

5.3
4x4
Leather
Bose
Automatic climate control
Rear A/C and Radio controls
3.73's
Locking Rear Diff
74k miles

The dealership that had the '04 Silverado SS I was looking at had this one sitting on the lot for cheap. It's in perfect condition as far as I can tell. Everything looks/feels/works like it should. Average MPG so far according to the DIC is 16.9mpg with a little road trip of a drive home (this dealership was 60 miles away). I'm hoping to stay in the 15.0mpg range around town. If it can do that it'll be doing better than the ZR5 was!!

The woodgrain on the interior looks horrible in the pictures, but really isn't that bad in person. I thought I was going to have to rip it out right there on the spot, but it's kinda growing on me. We'll see how I feel in a week or two about it. The Bose stereo rocks. WAY better than any other stock stereo I've heard in the past. If it had a CD changer I'd be sold on it, however I think I'm just going to get a Cassette adapter for my MP3 player, and call it done...I need one for the boat anyway!

The ZR5 just wasn't a big enough truck for my intended use. It held 4 people but it was a tight fit, it hauled the boat, but not great. I am going to miss it, as I thought it was a good looking truck, and enjoyed driving it. They just made me a deal I couldn't pass up. The upped the trade in allowance AND dropped the price on this truck to get me to the payment I wanted. I went from ~$4k upside down in the ZR5 to only having to finance NADA value on the Yukon. While not the "ahead of the curve" position I wanted I think it was a fair deal. My payments only went up $14, and I think thats surely worth the money for the added capacity.

Anyway....Onto the pics.

   

Complete Picasa Gallery with 11 pictures from the dealership

[Talon]

Your mileage numbers should be about right. I jsut sold an 04 Suburban with the 5.3. It had 19K miles on it and I never once reset the average mpg in the DIC. When I sold it, it had averaged 14.9 mpg over its life, which, except for a misbegotten two month stint in the sticks (burbs), included mostly city driving as I lived downtown.

[Dan&Darci]

Nice Mike - Good strategy - Increase your towing capacity and upgrade to a bigger Rinker!!!

[2kwik4u]

Yeap, I'm hoping by the time the Yukon is paid off I'll be able to find a used 246 Captiva with the R2 package on it for a decent price, and be set for another 5 years or so.

I really like those R2 packaged boats, so thats the initial goal anyway!

[cyber]

You'll want a cruiser in 5 years... LOL

[Hank]

He'll definatly want a small cruiser within 5 years...

[2kwik4u]

I dunno.....

I'm very VERY active in watersports. I've been dragging the boat to the lake 2-3 times a week just to get in an hour of ride time on the skate, and a few hours of relax time on the water. With so many lakes within an hours drive of me, and having family that is "on" several different lakes, I don't think I want to get away from a bowrider for awhile. I could be wrong.

My old roommate had a 22' cuddy that while a nice boat, I always felt like the cuddy area was a waste on day trips. It rarely got used, and after taking it out probably 25 times over the course of 3 years I think it was only slept in twice.

If I end up with a cruiser that fast, I'll gladly eat my words though

[Dan&Darci]

Miike, you oughta' get a Rinker 250 - small enough to easily tow - you can wakeboard or tube behind it (it'll throw up a helluva wake at less-than-planing speeds) - AND you can spend the night on it with all of the comforts of home.  Less towing & more time on the water!

Might not look as cool as an R2 - but a lot more functional!

[2kwik4u]

That look is kinda something I wanted to, although I have to admit, I'll take more features over more fancy any day....I'll have to look into the 250's

[cyber]

you tried this yet???

 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/QmzNKwE3wMQ&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/QmzNKwE3wMQ&rel=0</a>

[2kwik4u]

you tried this yet???

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmzNKwE3wMQ

I haven't tried that yet, however saw a guy doing it the other day.

I'm still working on getting as good as these guys on my 'skate!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/8OzQwP0Th-s&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/8OzQwP0Th-s&rel=0</a> (ignore all the misc crap in the middle there)

[bhoff]

Mike,

I just did the same thing last wek.  Was heading to a lake in northern TN and my 4.3L 4x2 Jimmy just had me a little nervous, so I got a truck.  05 RAM 1500 4x4.  What a noticeable difference on the highway.

I guess great minds think alike.....

[gmricketts]

We also upgraded to a Ram 1500 4x4 last spring to replace the old Ranger. Tows like the boat isn't even there.

George

[2kwik4u]

Well. Almost a week with the new daily driver. I have to say I'm extremely pleased with it so far.

Towed the boat to the lake twice now, and it's done the job with zero complaints. Much more capable setup than the S10 was. Gas Mileage was BETTER on this tank than my previous average with the S10 as well. S10 averaged 14.8mpg, and the Yukon got 15.1mpg from this tank. The added power and space is SOO nice. Cruising with (4) 200lb guys in the truck with a full cooler of drinks and the boat full of gas, with the A/C on is no big deal for the Yukon. The S10 would've been struggling hard, and we would've been cramped with no A/C.

I do need to find me a good 6pin-4pin adapter though. I've a POS home "fabricated" adapter on there now that is getting me to the lake 12 miles away, however this weekend we are headed to Green River Lake which is closer to 75 miles away, and I don't feel real comfortable towing it that far without a good adapter on there.

Now I'm sitting here wondering why I waited so long, or didn't get a fullsize when I got the S10 a year and a half ago.

[Sherminator]

Mike, check out your local auto parts store, they have the 7 pin to 4 pin adapters.  I have one made by Hoppy, i have had it for 6 years anything from way too many snowmobiling trips and boating it hasnt failed me yet and theyre only about 12 bucks.