Would I be crazy if..(truck content)

Yeah, I know how these threads usually go. Feel free to pile on.

I like my '97 Ford Explorer a lot. Except I'm starting to be really uncomfortable driving it, particularly on long distances. I use it a few times a week to take my mountain or road bike to wherever I'm riding from. It's really nice to be able to lay a 29er MTB in the back without taking the bike apart. Once a month I tow one of our sailboats an hour to the lake on the interstate - maybe 1500lbs including gear boat and trailer, maybe less. Several times a year we take our camper to the mountains - 3 hours each way through Atlanta on the interstate with 3500 lbs of gear, trailer, and occupants. It does pretty well on all these although the last trip North was kind of a struggle.

The engine's great, the trans is...well, still together at 220k miles. It's easy to park and the mileage is...acceptable. I was getting 11.5 with the camper at 70mph, around town is probably more like 16-18. But every time I drive it now I get bach aches, leg cramps and I'm miserable. The wife is in about the same shape after a drive.

I was looking at newer F150s and Expeditions - I can get stupid low rates on something post 2007 and less than 125k miles. And I could make the payments, but....it wouldn't leave me as much play money.

So I started looking at older suburbans. Like 1988-1990. I figure those are new enough to be comfortable on a long trip - AC, good seats, etc, and should tow well.

Am I crazy to be looking at those instead? Am I correct to think even 4 or 5k lbs would be okay behind one? How are the brakes?

I'm just not sure what I want to do, but I'm starting to hate driving the Exploder further than 8 or 10 miles. ANd it's so narrow (think Ranger) that retrofitting seats will be a PITA, plus expensive. Even if I have to put seats in a full size truck, at least I have more options.

I'm a fan of Suburbans. But why go quite that old? Mine is a 99 and if I could do it again I'd probably get one a year newer as they got a major redesign for 2000.

Otherwise a burb will do everything your Explorer does in a roomier fashion.

2005 Yukon XL Denali 183kmi[URL=http://s265.photobucket.com/user/derekrichardson/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_11.jpg.html][/URL]

I paid $3,000. Tows over 7,000lbs

Get a Toyota Corolla and rent a truck the few times you need to tow the camper.

Yeah, I'm looking at the later Burbans too, but I really hate the exterior design from those years and I never found the seats comfortable in the past. Of course, I used to be fine in the Explorer, so maybe my tastes have changed.

If I didn't need a little more ground clearance for the occasional rough trail head and the boat ramp, I'd be on this Roadmaster like white on rice: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/cto/5094237633.html

Great ad, too.

I've always wanted another 70's Ford pickup (FoMoCo at heart, really) but I just don't think they'd be comfortable for me, the wife, and the 70lbd dog for 4 hours in traffic. Which is a shame.

No crap can cars and rent. The math doesn't work when you own two boats, a camper, and two utility trailers. Plus having a big SUV is awesome for biking stuff. I can absolutely go biking based out of my Mustang with the hitch rack, but having a place to sit out of the weather, throw the bike in, change, etc is well worth it.

GMT400's are great trucks. I personally would go with a 92 or newer (I think they had an updated interior). 95-98 are the best as the interiors are way better. But there is nothing at all wrong with a 88-90 if you get it cheap. The TBI motor didn't really change, the 700r4 went to a 4L60E (no more TV cable) in 92 or 93.

roadmaster + airbags?

I had one and loved it. Mine was an '87 2WD diesel. I replaced it with a '94 Suburban C2500HD turbodiesel and I love it even more. You can't go wrong with a Suburban, IMO. I don't see us being without one until we can afford a newer four-door Duramax. That'll be... years.

If it were me and I thought I'd be towing with it, I'd get a '92+ 2500 because they got the more robust 4L80 trans. I've had two transmissions die in the earlier 1500 series trucks, but they both led hard lives before they got to me.