What Do You Think?

Mr Dave · November 12, 2002

Allow me to babble for a moment....I bought my 95 Yukon a month or so ago and for the most part I'm happy with what I got. It has high mileage, but I'm not worried about mechanical issues as I'm pretty good with that kind of stuff. When I first saw a photo of it, I thought "that is cool". I still love the way it looks, but it just doesn't seem to fit me.

I'm thinking of taking the brush guard off and finding a normal rear bumper to replace the monster on there now. That presents one additional expense of having to add a frame mounted hitch so that I can tow a car or motorcycle trailer.

The mileage is killing me. In town driving I can handle the low mileage, but on the highway it is getting about 13.5 mpg. I have a few ideas in mind for that, but has anyone been able to get 20 mpg or better in a 4wd Yukon? One of my basic ideas on this is to go back to a 265/75R16 tire and remove the body lift which should help marginally with handling. I don't really do a lot of off roading, but the 4wd is handy for construction site visits that I do at work. This brings up the expense and labor of taking the lift kit off and buying new tires and wheels.

So what do you guys think? Should I just try and find a trade for a relatively stock Yukon/Tahoe? The bad part about that is the high mileage will probably hurt me on a trade and you never know what you'll get when you trade. I already know I have a mechanically sound vehicle now. Should I try and find someone who wants to upgrade tires/wheels/lift/brush guards all at once and swap the parts out? Or is an S10 Blazer strong enough to tow a car trailer with a 3500lb car?

Anyone have any ideas??

Stepside Z · November 12, 2002

I would try the swap route. These trucks just cost to much money these days to mess around with them. Hope that what ever you decide that it works out in your favor.

BDBWTE · November 12, 2002

Allow me to babble for a moment....I bought my 95 Yukon a month or so ago and for the most part I'm happy with what I got. It has high mileage, but I'm not worried about mechanical issues as I'm pretty good with that kind of stuff. When I first saw a photo of it, I thought "that is cool". I still love the way it looks, but it just doesn't seem to fit me.

I'm thinking of taking the brush guard off and finding a normal rear bumper to replace the monster on there now. That presents one additional expense of having to add a frame mounted hitch so that I can tow a car or motorcycle trailer.

The mileage is killing me. In town driving I can handle the low mileage, but on the highway it is getting about 13.5 mpg. I have a few ideas in mind for that, but has anyone been able to get 20 mpg or better in a 4wd Yukon? One of my basic ideas on this is to go back to a 265/75R16 tire and remove the body lift which should help marginally with handling. I don't really do a lot of off roading, but the 4wd is handy for construction site visits that I do at work. This brings up the expense and labor of taking the lift kit off and buying new tires and wheels.

So what do you guys think? Should I just try and find a trade for a relatively stock Yukon/Tahoe? The bad part about that is the high mileage will probably hurt me on a trade and you never know what you'll get when you trade. I already know I have a mechanically sound vehicle now. Should I try and find someone who wants to upgrade tires/wheels/lift/brush guards all at once and swap the parts out? Or is an S10 Blazer strong enough to tow a car trailer with a 3500lb car?

Anyone have any ideas??

Nice rig man...as for gas mileage I don't have a whole lot to help you there except put the 265's back on and keep you foot out of it as much as you can...

As far as an S-10 pulling a trailer and a 3,500lbs car....uggh

According to Chevy a S-10 with a 4.3HO properly equipped will pull around 6,000lbs..but with experience of pulling I'm thinking that weight is a bit optimistic. I'm guessing that your trailer weights at least 2,000+ with tandems so you be pulling around 5,500lbs...I wouldn’t want that behind me hooked to an S-10...but if you do have your trailer brakes tuned up

Just my $0.02

LarryE · November 12, 2002

check out stylin concepts or godfather customs and try to find ya a rollpan for it, and then get ya a hidden hitch, that will give ya a great sport look

SilveradoWV · November 12, 2002

Yeah I like the rollpan and hidden hitch idea. I had a ZR2 Blazer with the 4.3 HO and it towed pretty well until you were pulling something over 3000lbs, then it started to feel a little laggy on the mildest hills.

Shaners · November 12, 2002

My friend has a stock '98 or '99 4-door 4wd 5.7L Tahoe. It is stock and has 3.42 gears. He can get 20+ MPG's on the highway with his truck...

Mr Dave · November 13, 2002

check out stylin concepts or godfather customs and try to find ya a rollpan for it, and then get ya a hidden hitch, that will give ya a great sport look

You know, I was thinking about doing the roll pan/hidden hitch thing. Its not like I really need the step bumper--well except for washing the back half of the roof.

You think it would look better without the side moldings? I'm thinking smooth out the rear end with the roll pan and get rid of the moldings and it would look pretty sweet.

I think I'm pretty much convinced that an S10 would not do the towing that I want to be able to do.

The big thing now is mileage. Apparently it is possible to get decent MPG with a huge box like this so i guess that will be my new mission. I'm thinking a set of shorty headers and a K&N off road filter would be a nice way to open it up. It already has true duals all the way back. I'll probably install a crossover pipe too. Oh yeah...and the obvious going back to a lighter wheel/tire combo. Anyone want to trade?