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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: hubimos llegado
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Suburban or Expedition?
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? 
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howat
Junior Nomad
Posts: 67
Registered: 7-18-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retire Feb 2010
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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
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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
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Mood: Bajatastic
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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?
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline
Mood: undecided
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Underwear?That's a layer of clothes that isn't needed. Causes heat rash etc.
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The Sculpin
Nomad
Posts: 401
Registered: 9-3-2002
Location: Back in the Saddle
Member Is Offline
Mood: Riding into the Sunset, looking for a sunrise.
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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.
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10604
Registered: 10-3-2003
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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.
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10604
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Online
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| 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!
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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The Ford equivalent to a Suburban is the Excursion.
Are they still making Suburbans?
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
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the new gm vortex engines dont need fixing
jerry and judi
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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Mood: mellow
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Hook
The correct question is are still making excursions!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
Member Is Offline
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correct answer is no
jerry and judi
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
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correction expedition is no longer being made excursion is still being made
jerry and judi
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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Jerry
I think you were right in the first place.
Ford Plans to Replace White-Elephant Excursion With Long-Wheelbase
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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There you go, Vince. Everything you need to know for and informed decision.
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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: hubimos llegado
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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]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Oh yeah.....The Bad Fortune Cookie. Those should be fun.
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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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.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: hubimos llegado
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D, bet you wondered where all those Yugo engineers wound up.
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
Member Is Offline
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hell i cant even spell them so how did you figure out what i ment???
but your right
jerry and judi
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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A thought
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.....
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