Your suggestion for a small truck that would carry 6 dogs, 2 cats, 3 people in an emergency.

[jtuck004]

I have an older but decent 3/4 ton chevy van, big engine, 10 mpg. We moved across several states on the ice, in the winter, over the lower mountains to the West, worked well. But snow here has taught me the shortcomings of only rear-wheel drive.

I want to get something different, away from a van, 4 wheel drive. Thinking diesel, (if fuel becomes a problem, as in Japan right now, there is at least a chance I could brew my own for short trips.

My first thought was a Suburban, early 90's perhaps, maybe late 80's (budget).

but what is your experience with other models? Thought about pickups with a camper, or perhaps there is some boxy diesel that you like?

My dogs - (usually we just have the one foster, but sometimes more)

Anatolian Shepherd - current foster - 130 lbs
3 others (jindo, setter, terrier mix) about 50 lbs each, cats and two other dogs are small. So with 3 adults I need a little space, and I have a small trailer for supplies.

Just want to be prepared in case there is ever an extended power-outage or fire, that sort of thing.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Oh boy...

The first time I looked at your thread title?

I thought it said "trunk."

Good luck finding the right kind of truck!

:hi:

[hlthe2b]

2. I was caught up on wanting a SMALL truck...

With three people, six (large) dogs and 2 cats..... When I think small, I think a cab and bed in a toyota sized truck. Good luck on that. ;)

[jtuck004]

17. I am trying to broaden my choices past the Suburban, which is the logical

choice if I didn't care about conserving fuel on this spaceship earth. So if there is a practical choice out there of a decent vehicle that burns less gass, I thought perhaps the folks here might point me in that direction.

I actually looked at long bed Toyotas with a shell, but I am not sure there is enough room there, Unless Grandma wants to ride in the trailer, an idea she has so far resisted. I've shown her the re-runs of the Beveryly Hillbillys and how comfy Granny looks in the rocker up top, but it has not swayed her position.

[hlthe2b]

18. Yeah, that Beverly Hillbilly jalopy looks perfect! LOL

Of course those mountain passes in winter might be an issue. ;)

[Ian David]

3. How about one of these?

[jtuck004]

5. I like that third one. I have visions of it crawling over cars

that are stuck on an interstate.

On the other hand, as hard as VW parts can be to find, they might have made it more difficult. :)

[Cid_B]

6. We must live in different parts of the country....

Oodles out here....

[jtuck004]

9. I was thinking of replacing the treads in the rear.

Even with an Autozone and NAPA, I would probably have to wind up making a deal with the local national guard folks...

[jmowreader]

4. Here's the thing about Suburbans...

There are a shitload of them out there, so the older ones (before they became penis extensions) are pretty cheap.

Because they are just 3/4-ton Chevy pickups with different bodies parts are very available.

If you can't find one with a diesel engine in it, get one with fuel injection. Then go to the local junkyard and buy a Chevy 6.2 litre diesel engine. Make sure to tell the guy you're doing an engine swap, and he'll help you get all the parts you'll need to do it. You're gonna need Jeff Spicoli's dad's toolbox, a shop manual for your truck (which you'd need anyway) and an engine hoist ($209 at Harbor Freight) but the work itself is only moderately complex. You need a fuel injected Suburban because fuel injected cars, including diesels, have a tank-mount fuel pump and they return fuel to the tank from the engine. Carburetor cars do not, so if you get a carb Suburban you won't get the fuel return line and your parts bill and the complexity of the job will go WAY up. (Thinking out loud...you need a new gas tank, a gas tank fuel pump and a return line just for starters.)

Some people have Suburbans because they need them, and you're in that category.

BTW, while you're thinking about alternate fuels, think about mounting a waste vegetable oil system on this truck. WVO is different from biodiesel--instead of doing the biodiesel saponification process, you just dump strained used fryer oil in the thing and go. You need to start the engine on diesel, but once it's running you can switch over to Mazola.

[jtuck004]

7. Yes, those are some of the reasons I look at the Suburban.

I am still looking for something that is more efficient for daily use, and drive the smaller car as much as possible. Around here
the most frequent emergency is forest fire and electrical outages, and I do some volunteer work with spay/neuter and foster dogs
as well, so having a bigger truck is not by choice.

Thank you for the tip on the fryer oil. I am still reading about algae. Although there is info to indicate that it could be
used in a small environment to generate fuel for a few people (espcially if gas hits around $5), but when it gets to the details
it seems to fall apart, except in a large scale way, perhaps.

Right after the Suburban swith I may try to find a C10 for an everyday vehicle, looks very doable to put in some batteries and
an electric motor, charge it at the house. Around here I can get away with a 40 mile range pretty well, and that's MUCH cheaper
to drive. Just not big enough to be practical for everyone.

Thank you again.

[csziggy]

8. Not all Suburbans are 3/4 ton - most are half ton

Most are 1500s, which are half ton. A 2500 is a 3/4 ton. I know from bitter experience since I need a 3/4 ton to pull my horse trailer and used ones in that size are difficult to find. Half tons, the 1500s, are much more common.

But I agree with the choice of a Suburban - they last a long time and they are great for hauling a lot of people and gear. With the rear removable seat, they claim to seat 9 though the people in the very back need to have very short legs.

I would much rather see the OP get a Suburban for hauling their animals in the passenger compartment rather than in a topper on a pickup truck bed. With the animals in the compartment, they will know if one is in distress. And I would worry about exhaust getting pulled into the camper. Plus in extreme heat or cold, the pets will be in the same conditions as the owners. A topper usually has no insulation, limited ways to properly vent and no way to control the temperature.

I'm on my second Suburban - the first, which I bought new, lasted for close to 300,000 miles and over seventeen years. The second I bought used is now twelve years old and should last me ten years or until I can't get fuel for it. By the time it wears out I will either not need a truck any longer or there will be alternative fuel trucks that are affordable - I hope!

[jtuck004]

10. Exactly. I thought about a pickup, but there is not enough

room for the dogs and the people in some of those setups. And people that ride with me when I have the dogs along, as well as my wife and mother-in-law, say the trailer is too drafty...

The van has served us well, but I want 4WD, and the motor is difficult to get to for repair. The Suburban would cut the space down but leave better access for motor repair. And the Suburbans are everywhere...

thanks

[csziggy]

11. The hardest part about finding a used Suburban is getting a working model

One without all the extra crap. I found lots with DVD players in the back seat - there are only two of us and neither wants to watch DVDs while we are traveling!

If you don't need the weight and towing capacity of a 3/4 ton, the half tons are much easier to find. But if you cannot find one where you are, try the internet. I went through Cars.com and found mine at a little dealership downstate for an excellent price. Many of the online auto search places let you put in all your requirements and then search for you - it is great. I also used one of those places that check the title to make sure the one I was considering had not been in an accident or anything. It was worth the extra money.

If you find one without that extra seat for the rear and you need one, let me know. Our rear seat has been sitting in the tack room since 1994 and will likely not go back in our Suburban ever. The one for our first Suburban was shoved under the house where we forgot about it for over 20 years. When we put the new siding on, the contractor pulled it out and took it to the dump for us.

I love my Suburbans - in between I had a really nice Ford diesel pickup with extended cab and long bed with a nice topper. The dog hated riding in the bed whether or not the topper was on it. The topper was impossible for the two of us to put on and off so it spent long periods either one way or the other with times in between we wish we had it the other way.

My driving habits are not good for diesels - my truck will sit sometimes for weeks without moving. Diesels hate sitting and inevitably mine would not start when I needed to go somewhere. I got a chance to get rid of it and never regretted getting another Suburban.

[jtuck004]

12. I took the seats out of the rear of our van in 2004 -

they are still wrapped in plastic on the side of the shed. I will check them one day, probably deteriorated by now.

I bolted dog crates to the floor in their place, made a secure place to haul them all.

And I will keep your offer in mind. Thank you.

[mrmpa]

13. Ford Explorer...

2001, knock on wood only have changed the battery twice, tires three times and brakes once a year. Seats 5 comfortably, 6 is okay, for you 3 people and the dogs would be fine-put dogs in the cargo hold. I have 196,000 miles on her. She's been through South Dakota, Indiana, Illinois, PA, Maryland, New England, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona, Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, West Virginia, Minnesot and Wisconsin.

[jtuck004]

16. Thank you. eom

[pokerfan]

14. Have you considered a trailer?

http://www.diamonddeluxe.com/stainless-steel-dog-trailers.html

[jtuck004]

15. I have, but I want everyone inside, and not have other equipment to maintain. eom

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

19. Choose your favorite dog, cat, and child - then you can keep a car.

Tell the rest you'll be back for them "later"... :hide:
be sure the car has AWD so you don't get stuck.

[jtuck004]

20. I'm not like the other scumbags that just look out for themselves, thanks.

I'm the person who takes care of the lives they throw away.

But thanks.