220k Suburban; foolish purchase?

[wcelliot]

Hi gang... long time Suburban owner here, but always the petrol variety (both 350 and 454 Vortec varieties and '98-99 models). Have owned several diesels, but mainly German cars (Mercedes/VW) and agricultural.

Got rid of my last Suburban for an old pre-MBUSA Mercedes G500. Great power, but I underestimated how much the shorter wheelbase would be at towing (about 6000lbs) and how much gasoline the G500 would consume... about like the 454 Suburban... making the 5.7 seem like an economy car.

Anyway, I'm going to sell the G500 and get back into a longer wheelbase vehicle. My initial thoughts were a 2000+ Suburban or Avalanche with the 5.3 (similar economy to the 5.7 but better brakes than the -1999 Subs) but then I came across a well-kept '99 Surburban 2500 6.5td with a slew of repair records (pretty much everything but the engine itself rebuilt in the last 30k or so) and a list of nice mods (big exhaust, aftermarket boost controller, intercooler). Looks, runs and sounds great.

The downside is the truck (and engine ) has around 220,000 miles on it. It's not expensive (under 10k) but not cheap enough to put a long block in...

Should I be concerned about the long term (next 100k or so) reliability/expense of the truck?

Given that I'm "only" towing 6000lbs or so (well within the capabilities of a 2000+ 5.3) does it make sense to even look at a diesel when I can get a newer truck with better brakes, likely similar unladen fuel economy, and 100k less miles on it for similar money?

Thanks for any advice...
Bill

[DieselDavy]

Bill,

I'd not be afraid of it, as you can see from my signature, I've run a 6.2 well beyond 220K. I'll admit that it was tired by then, but that is a long ways off from where that Sub is (miles wise). If you can get it for a good price, I'd sure go for it!
I'm sure a bunch of other guys can jump in here with educated comments. (Thats what makes this site so good!)

Dave

[wfyehl]

Bill,

I purchased my '96 with 139,000 on the clock. I currently have 230,000, and would drive it anywhere. We pull a 12,000 boat twice a year (into the water, and out of the water), and have driven it to Florida every year since we purchased it. It is due for new injectors, timing chain and a cooling update. Currently I get around 13.5 mpg around town, and anywhere from 17-19 mpg on the highway (depends on speed).

If the price is good, I wouldn't worry about the mileage. I had an oil analysis done on mine when I had 200K on the clock. The Blackstone lab that did it thought the truck only had 100K on the clock until they looked at the paperwork.

Good luck.

[Robyn]

I bought the last two 6.5 rigs we own with miles in the arean you are talking about.
Condition of the truck is everything. The engine having 220 on the clock is no biggy. At this point the block is well seasoned and most likely stable.

Our 94 had 230 wyhen we bought it (EBAY, seen only in PIX)

Ran to 237 and lost a head gasket. I freshened the little creature and its getting run every day now by my cousin who is borrowing it and is getting 20 Hwy MPG most times and has run as high as 22 a few tank.


Sounds like a great buy if the truck is nice.

Later

Robyn

[jimbucks]

Don't think twice about it, especially if you can negotiate a better price. My '98 is ready to turn 190K (bought it in '99 with 16K on it) and I wouldn't give a thought to another cross country or two. Service is everything on these truck and if the records are there, go for it, you won't be sorry