BajaNomad - Suburban or Expedition?

Suburban or Expedition?

bajamigo - 7-4-2007 at 11:11 AM

My wife and I, oh, and the three dogs, are contemplating an extensive tour of Baja and the mainland this fall. Our idea of roughing it doesn't go much beyond B & B's and small hotels (with showers, of course). We'll need a larger car to take along a couple of months of things we'll probably never need, but the question is this: is a used Suburban or Expedition a decent choice, and if so, which one? I'm also wondering whether it's necessary to have 4WD and what's a good engine size/type? :?:

howat - 7-4-2007 at 11:41 AM

I perfer Suburban just cuz I grew up with them. Also believe there are more spare suburban parts than Expedition as well as mechanics familiar working on them.

Suburban has more room for the dogs. Expeditions is the size of a Yukon.

I never had a 4WD and only needed one once in 20 years. Without 4WD keeps you from going places you probably should not go anyway.

I had both 350 & 454 engines. 350 was the best but I did not haul/tow anything big.

HH

Mango - 7-4-2007 at 12:06 PM

4WD will be nice to have if you intend on driving off the beaten path much; but, it is not a necessity. For Baja, and many places in the mainland it can be very helpful depending on where you want to go. The rainy season on the mainland lasts until about October; but, in some mountain areas in the south and southeast it rains everyday.

I like suburbans myself. I had a 71 GMC pickup with a 350, great engine.

The main problem with a big vehicle is navigating and parking in the narrow streets of the mainland towns. Most of the old areas of town were laid out before cars, so things can be a little crazy and tight. However, if you are bringing 3 dogs its going to be hard to fit in a smaller car.

I wouldn't advise bringing too much stuff if you can help it. I tend to take/use the same amount of stuff regardless of if I will be gone for a week, month, or a several months. You can only wear one pair of underwear at a time. Just plan on doing laundry every week or do what I do and take a plug for your sink, get a bar of zote, a clothsline, and do it in your hotel room at night.

I'd also recommend brining your own mosquito net and some rope to hang above the bed. You may need it in some areas.

Where are you planning on going in the mainland?

Cypress - 7-4-2007 at 12:15 PM

Underwear? :?:

That's a layer of clothes that isn't needed. :lol:

Causes heat rash etc. :no:

The Sculpin - 7-4-2007 at 12:44 PM

Suburban all the way. We're on our second one. The first was an '88 1500 4x4 with a 350. What a tank! The second is an '03 1500 4x4 with a 350. Drives much better and smoother than the '88, but I fear I won't be able to fix it on the side of the road.

Cargo doors in the back are very nice in camping situations.

As for Ford's, I can't count how many Fords my suburbans have rescued in baja.

JZ - 7-4-2007 at 12:56 PM

No one in their right mind would ever consider an Expedition over a Suburban. Come on, that's the biggest no brainer there ever was.

JZ - 7-4-2007 at 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mango
The main problem with a big vehicle is navigating and parking in the narrow streets of the mainland towns.

I drive a Suburban in the mainlain all the time without any such issues. It's much easier than LA!

Hook - 7-4-2007 at 02:15 PM

The Ford equivalent to a Suburban is the Excursion.

Are they still making Suburbans?

jerry - 7-4-2007 at 02:26 PM

the new gm vortex engines dont need fixing

comitan - 7-4-2007 at 02:53 PM

Hook

The correct question is are still making excursions!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jerry - 7-4-2007 at 02:59 PM

correct answer is no

jerry - 7-4-2007 at 03:02 PM

correction expedition is no longer being made excursion is still being made

comitan - 7-4-2007 at 03:38 PM

Jerry

I think you were right in the first place.

Ford Plans to Replace White-Elephant Excursion With Long-Wheelbase

DENNIS - 7-4-2007 at 03:48 PM

There you go, Vince. Everything you need to know for and informed decision.

bajamigo - 7-4-2007 at 04:01 PM

But your summary of the issues really helped, Dennis. So I guess they stopped producing the Exurban, but the Sucursion is still a go, or do I have it backwards? Maybe I'll just wait for those Chinese junks to roll off the assembly line in TJ.

:?:

[Edited on 7-4-2007 by bajamigo]

DENNIS - 7-4-2007 at 04:07 PM

Oh yeah.....The Bad Fortune Cookie. Those should be fun.

comitan - 7-4-2007 at 04:07 PM

Doesn't look like the ford people are pushing their Fords much, never fear Capt. Geo. is here in La Paz he will stick up for the Fords when he gets his Ford truck out of the shop.

bajamigo - 7-4-2007 at 04:13 PM

D, bet you wondered where all those Yugo engineers wound up.

jerry - 7-4-2007 at 04:23 PM

hell i cant even spell them so how did you figure out what i ment??? :?:

but your right

A thought

bajaguy - 7-4-2007 at 05:45 PM

Might I suggest a nice pre-owned VW Kombi bus..........plenty of room for the doggies and co-pilot, and store all of your other stuff on the roof. Fast enough to get you where you might want to go (downhill), slow enough to enjoy the scenery (several times), great gas mileage. You will be the hit of the military checkpoints if you paint multi-colored daisys and rainbows all over it..... :lol:

jimgrms - 7-4-2007 at 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Might I suggest a nice pre-owned VW Kombi bus..........plenty of room for the doggies and co-pilot, and store all of your other stuff on the roof. Fast enough to get you where you might want to go (downhill), slow enough to enjoy the scenery (several times), great gas mileage. You will be the hit of the military checkpoints if you paint multi-colored daisys and rainbows all over it..... :lol:

just as long as you don't mind unloading and bacpacking you gear up the hills :coolup:

Bajalero - 7-4-2007 at 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cypress
Underwear? :?:

That's a layer of clothes that isn't needed. :lol:

Causes heat rash etc. :no:

Cypress , are you really Jimmy Buffet?

bajabound2005 - 7-4-2007 at 07:58 PM

Bajaguy -- our friends have a Vanagon they want to unload (oh, it's here in Baja if there are any takers) -- it's in great shape and as I recall, low mileage. But we remember the stories from about 2 years ago of their driving here from Walnut Creek. He in the VW, she in the ancient Toyota druck (heck, it might even have been a Datsun!) He went up the Grapevine at about 25 mph; meanwhile she was already in LA....sounds like a fun vehicle for the flatlands. We'll be getting it listed for them soon here on the Nomad board with pix.

805gregg - 7-5-2007 at 07:18 AM

I wouldn't want to drive either one of those pigs, take less stuff and drive something smaller and more economical. I have a saying when I load up my motorcycle for a camping trip, 3 days or 3 years, I take the same gear.

[Edited on 7-5-2007 by 805gregg]

mtgoat666 - 7-5-2007 at 07:38 AM

For hotel-ing for 2 people and dogs, I think a jumbo SUV is too big. Big SUVs drive like crap, and are way too big for load you describe, and are a pain in the watusi to drive/park in cities. For hotel-ing travel I recommend a wagon, like subaru or audi makes. If you want an mid-size SUV w/ 2WD or 4WD, I suggest you look at toyota 4runner or other japanese mid-size SUVs -- they drive much better than monster SUV, are much more reliable than american-built vehicles, and suck less gas.

805gregg - 7-5-2007 at 03:14 PM

Alot of Jap cars are built in America by Americans.

mtgoat666 - 7-5-2007 at 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 805gregg
Alot of Jap cars are built in America by Americans.

But it seems that the gringos don't do quality work unless managed by japanese

bajamigo - 7-5-2007 at 03:35 PM

The CEO of Sony Corporation is a US citizen named Howard Stringer; the head of Nissan Motors is a Brazilian (Carlos Ghosn). Go figure.

:wow:

mtgoat666 - 7-5-2007 at 03:41 PM

i didn't mean the figurehead CEO level -- meant the staff level engineers that design or oversee production. the CEO does not do work, only goes golfing with other equally useless managers
having owned gringo and jap cars, I found fit, finish and durability of japanese to be better -- I will never again drive a gringo car after being burned so many times before.

joel - 7-5-2007 at 03:56 PM

On the original question, I'm going to go against the current.

I am a long-time Expedition owner (still have my 98 4wd).

Last year, we decided to do something similar: bring our two young kids on a multi-part Baja surf adventure for the summer and fall where we left the car various airports and would fly home for a few weeks of work, etc.

After a year of Baja travels, I have to say that I'm not as happy with the Suburban as I am with the Expedition. I like the extra room of the Suburban, but that may not be a deciding factor for you.

My main problem is that the Chevrolet steering appears not to be as tight as Ford's and that is certainly the case in my Expedition. On Highway 1, with big rigs coming at you and no shoulder, steering is a big deal. I've had this experience with other Chevy's I've driven -- and played a role in our initial decision to go with the Ford in 98.

In terms of parts, while the Suburban is more common in Baja, it's not particularly common. Ford seems to be more popular than Chevy's and the Expedition is built on the very popular Ford f150 platform. If you're in a remote location, Ford parts definitely appear easier to come by than Chevy.

DENNIS - 7-5-2007 at 04:01 PM

The Suburban used to be the ride of choice for the Federales. They're probably driving Escalades now, purely in service to the country.

joel - 7-5-2007 at 05:21 PM

I said "appear"....

I'm hardly an expert, but I have spent the past two summers (and intermittent trips over the past 20 years) roaming around some remote parts of Baja. Since I switched to Chevy, I've been noticing these things. My sense is that I see more Fords than Chevy's among Mexicans....

bajalou - 7-5-2007 at 06:43 PM

My part of Baja - quite a ways from yours - many more Ford than Chev.

805gregg - 7-6-2007 at 07:00 AM

How about going with a full size truck with a diesel, get an extended cab put a camper shell on the back, your all set. I prefer dodge with a cummins.

joel - 7-6-2007 at 10:18 AM

I wasn't including Dodge, but I was including GMC.

805gregg - 7-6-2007 at 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

Originally posted by 805gregg
Alot of Jap cars are built in America by Americans.

But it seems that the gringos don't do quality work unless managed by japanese

When Nissan started building trucks in Tenn it was found that the trucks built in Tenn had less problems than the ones made in Japan. My last 2 Dodges were assembled in Mexico and I had no problems with either now at 180,000 miles between the 2.

[Edited on 7-6-2007 by 805gregg]

Thanks!

bajamigo - 7-7-2007 at 10:47 AM

Before this thread slides off the board, I want to thank all the Nomads who gave me such a great education on what to buy for our trek (it will probably be a 4-runner). You guys are a treasure trove of useful information. Thanks again.

:light:

bajaguy - 7-7-2007 at 11:25 AM

great, b'amigo....you just threw gasoline on the fire!!!!!!! :fire:

jimgrms - 7-7-2007 at 12:12 PM

jeep grand cherokee has come out with a diesel (by mercedes ) but at over 40.000 lots of sticker shoch like my old cherokee more and more

bacquito - 7-7-2007 at 04:34 PM

I agree wih Howat regarding 4wd. I managed to get stuck in a 4wd Chev. Tahoe and it was a mess getting it out. It is better to park and walk to remote locations-better exercise!!

bajalou - 7-7-2007 at 04:41 PM

Today driving from San Felipe to Calexico, I paid attention to the make of vehicles around me on the trip. The only Dodge pickups I saw that were licensed in Mexico were State police vehicles. Saw 8-10 times as many Ford pickups as Chev/GMC and 4-5 to 1 on the Expedition/Excursion vs the Yukon/Suburban. Just today's observations.