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Roberto
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Registered: 9-5-2003
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| Quote: | Originally posted by JZ
I bought a new 3/4 ton Suburban a couple years ago. I have definetly NOT been impressed with the quality. |
I sold my 3500 Suburban with 454 in 2000. It was a great vehicle, taking six people down the unpaved Baja Roads without a hitch. Plenty of power, too.
Then I bought my Albemarle and decided to pull it to San Carlos in late June of 2000. The boat, on the trailer. weighs 14,000 lbs. The valiant 454
tried, but it was clearly overloaded. I was getting 5 MPG on the way to Nogales, and the tail was wagging the dog a little, but not too badly. We made
it there and back, with some issues, like the airlines to the RideRite bags melting from the heat of the manifold, and a coule other small things, but
we made it back.
The day after, I went down to the Ford dealership and bought a Crew Cab, Long Bed diesel-powered F350 DRW and haven't looked back since. That was 110K
miles ago. The Ford pulls that load without breaking a sweat - a totally different experience that pulling it with the Suburban.
The DRW has now been heavily modified and is a SRW with a 6" lift, 37" Mud-Terrains, custom suspenstion yadayadayada ... and it still pulls the boat
without breaking a sweat, though I do that much less nowadays. I have pulled that boat and my trailer up and down Highway 1 more times than I can
remember, and in all that time has had no mechanical issues whatsoever. It'a great feeling to be able to tow basically anything and know that your
vehicle is in control, rather than the other way around.
As far as Dodge and Ford lovers only liking smooth roads -  . You should tell that to the BFG crew - that's right, Fords and Dodges!
One thing I will say - while the Suburban was a great truck that performed very well, the fit and finish have nothing to do with what I have found in
the ford. Stuff was rattling free the first couple of months while six years later on the F350, everything is still where it is supposed to be.
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Sharksbaja
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Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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I can't think of ANYONE(I know) who drives serious off-roads can say they never had a prob.
| Quote: | Originally posted by whistler
Smooth roads,tell that to Tim Sanchez aka Desert Bull. |
hehehe
and if they say that their twuck is perfect and better than thou, well.....how many tricks can yer doggy do??
Turning Japanese I hardly think so!
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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TMW
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Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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This is only a guess, but I don't think Desert Bull has taken his Dodge over the summit. I have taken my Toyota over the summit.
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Roberto
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| Quote: | Originally posted by whistler
Kent Kroeker raced the Baja 1000 with his "Stock full" class Cummins powered Dodge.Came in 3rd in class and while everybody else put their vehicles on
trailers,he drove his home from La Paz. |
While "Stock Full" sounds good, these are hardly "stock" vehicles in terms of suspension, cages and other goodies. The engine is a different
discussion, but any modern pickup desel could do that part.
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Sharksbaja
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"stock upper and lower control arms"
what's that!
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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TMW
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Many stock trucks can run over the race courses but would you want to at speed. A long wheel base truck is going to get a lot of bumps and bangs from
rocks etc. If you've got a nice truck it's one thing to run down to Gonzaga bay but something totally different to run over the summit or the Pole
Line road. The stock race classes are not stock. If you don't believe that go to the next race and take a close look. Unless he doesn't really care I
doubt that the chevy driver will go back on the Pole Line road again except in a smaller vehicle. I'll take my Toyota places I won't take my Z71.
Mainly because it's smaller and two, it's older. If I get a dent or damage something on the trail I'm not as concerned, other than to get back home.
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TMW
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I always thought that Ivan Stewart's Toyota was a perfect race car for off road. Well balanced and not too big. While he dominated the 500 race year
after year, he never really excelled in the 1000 (2 or 3 OA). He may have done better with the Tundra version had he not retired or should I say PCI
left off road.
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Roberto
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| Quote: | Originally posted by whistler
I agree that "stock full" is not an off the show room stock truck.But they are very limited in what modifications they are able to do.I don't have a
SCORE rules book in front of me but steering components and driveline have to remain stock and are restricted in many suspension parts.I know they
have to use stock upper and lower control arms.As far as full cages,that is a safety item,same as I'm sure they have to use fuel bladders.
You have to admit that driving it to Ensenada,running the Baja 1000 and driving it back is still pretty impressive. |
Absolutely. I'm just saying that the additional (and I saw the truck while it was being prepped) goodies on there would make survival on the course
quite a bit more likely than a true "stock" vehicle. And once he's there the Cummins will take him home for sure!
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SoCalAl
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Posts: 156
Registered: 6-8-2004
Location: Punta Banda, Ca
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Mood: Hungry
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I guess I will stick to my 1988 Izuzu Trooper II until I can get a hold of a Burro. Maybe I can use my 1975 VW Bug or how about 1999 Ford Explorer or 1981 Checy 3/4 ton van. It doesn't matter what you drive!! Just as long as
you can get that sucker  to make it back to the border and then you feel the
relief once you cross into the states. Through out the years I have driven all kinds of junk into the Baja Desert and have had an occational burp but
I tend to stay with-in a 20 mile radias from the main highway. I am not running the Baja 500 or anything like it so pretty much most places we go are
not that difficult to reach even with a regular car. I guess if you want to take your whole house with you, then by a Semi diesel that outta do
it?? That
is if money is not an issue..??
Just kidding guys, but really who cares what anyone drives. different strokes for different folks. The bottom line is getting there and back safely
and if you manage that then what difference does it make. American or foreign, we live in an economy where foreign is not going away. Buy American
fine but how can you truely get through life without buying something forein. For example, just a question, Do you travel into Baja and buy the
occational Taco or Pemex gas? There you have it.. Stop the foreign or domestic
non-sense and enjoy life, most of us have less than 50 years left on this wonderful earth and for all you believers, there is no borders in Heaven.
Just a thought..
Ahh Baja.... Where you can hear yourself think & commingling with the locals will humble you.
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Sharksbaja
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Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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Just kidding guys, but really who cares what anyone drives.
ARE YOU KIDDING? Good grief, some are possessed! (but I won't mention names)
We're all havin' fun there.....right???
Hey hows' bout this ....instead of a "Semi diesel" they come up with a "Hemi diesel" make everyone happy.
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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jack
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Posts: 148
Registered: 12-21-2005
Location: Kamloops BC
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Mood: Eat Heavy
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If we all had the same type of vehicle, we wouldn't have anything to argue about.
If anyone wants an eyeopener, have a look at the latest Consumer Reports Car Guide and see how American vehicles place against the Japanese.
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Ken Cooke
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Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by whistler
Would I take my 1 ton Dodge where Ken takes his Rubicon?No way! |
Why not?? It's fun!
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Diver
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Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by whistler
Ford trucks got higher ratings than the Tundra and Nissan Titan. |
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Diver
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| Quote: | Originally posted by whistler
Ford trucks got higher ratings than the Tundra and Nissan Titan. |
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Diver
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Need I go on ???
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jack
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Posts: 148
Registered: 12-21-2005
Location: Kamloops BC
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Mood: Eat Heavy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by whistler
It was an eye opener! First of all I don't lend much credence in the "Consumer's Guide" as far as vehicle purchases.Maybe if I was buying a new
dishwasher.
Chevy and Ford trucks got higher ratings than the Tundra and Nissan Titan. |
| Quote: | Originally posted by Diver
Need I go on ??? |
Are you guys reading the same Consumer Reports that I am?
The Titan didn't do to well in CR but we were originally talking about the Toyota. GM, Ford & Dodge full sized pick ups didn't even come close to
the Tundra in Reliability, Satisfaction and Depreciation. CR "Recommended" the Tundra for purchase, they didn't recommend the GM, Ford & Dodge
(they did recommend the Avalanche, but its a "different" type of truck)
As far as CR goes I do believe that they test all vehicles equally. That being said a vehicle that tests well is no good at all to someone if it can't
do what you want it to, such as pull a heavy load. But, a vehicle that is unreliable is no good either, no matter how well it can pull that heavy
load!
The eye openers in CR are:
-The Best Models in 10 Categories: All 10 winners were Japanese
-Vehicle problem rates as they age: Toyota & Honda have far, far fewer problems then GM, Ford & Dodge as they get older
-Best used cars: Out of 62 CR Good Bets 53 were Japanese & only 7 were GM, Ford & Dodge
-Worst used cars: Out of 34 CR Bad Bets 21 were GM, Ford & Dodge and there were 0 Japanese Bad Bets
Now lets get back to pick ups.
CR reliability ratings for full size pick ups (4wd & 2wd):
GM - worse than average to average
Dodge - average
Ford - worse than average
Toyota - much better than average
CR reliability for mid sized pick ups:
GM - much worse than average
Dodge - worse than average
Ford - average
Toyota - average
I hate to bad mouth North American vehicles, but the facts don't lie. GM, Ford & Dodge keep telling us that they have consistently been getting
better, but that hasn't been my experience from the vehicles I owned and from what I have read.
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Sharksbaja
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What a croc
Sorry, just don't believe all that. I just don't see THAT many Dodges on the racks I drive by everyday. And they're at the dealership. I do see a lot
of SUVs and minivans in there tho.
I think CP needs an "R" in there for the reviewers!
--------
Here's how I see it:
Now lets get back to pick ups.
CPR reliability ratings for full size pick ups (4wd & 2wd):
Toyota - much more time needed to evaluate
GM - still trin' to be tough
Ford - not bad but not king
Dodge - ahem, amen.
[Edited on 4-20-2006 by Sharksbaja]
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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Bob H
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Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jack
If anyone wants an eyeopener, have a look at the latest Consumer Reports Car Guide and see how American vehicles place against the Japanese.
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I'm not usually don't give a rat's a** but Consumer Reports is a RAG! Kinda like an Enquire rag. Don't even go there. They SUCK.
Bob H
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Sharksbaja
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Only a pussy has no probs! Er, I mean.....uh....ya know those fancily painted Hummers runnin' round the foothills of LA all gussied up? They suck! Who
cares where they were made!!!!!
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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TMW
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Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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The last Dodge I had was a 2001 2500 4x4 with a V10. Where should I begin.
Steering box shaft broke, good thing it was in the parking lot.
3 times it was in the shop for lost of the front drive.
Headlights sometimes went out when left turn signal on.
When coming to a stop there sometimes was a click or pop sound from the drive train. Never did find it. Never got louder.
Several times it lost power in the snow in 4x4H. worked OK in 4x4L This may have been one of those times where the anti-lock brakes was
interferring???
When hitting the brakes the wheels would lock up before the anti-lock feature would take over. So you had that moment of squeal.
Had the oddest headlight system. Normally +power is suppied to the lamps that are selected, high or low beam. On this truck it had +power on the high
beams when the lights were turned off. I assumed it took the ground away. Never did get my driving lights to work as I wanted them.
It had the roughest ride of all the trucks I drive. Probably due to solid front axle. It did drive good when I had 300 gallons of water in the back.
Got rid of it last year.
[Edited on 4-20-2006 by TW]
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