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My Yukon was getting "quirky". It was an 03 , had only 135k on it but had developed electrical bugs with the dash and gauges, a few months ago a cable broke on a window regulator and when I went in the door to replace it everything was seriously rusty inside. Made me suspect that this truck ( which I bought used in New Bern) Might have had some beach or flood history. Not a spot of rut outside but lots inside the doors. Transfer case had started whining after an incident in the snow last year etc. And 99% of the time it was only transportation, gas guzzling, single driver transport. Just made sense to get it gone while it still cleaned up well and drove good otherwise. My wife has been wanting to get back into a car, she drives a Honda Element, great little truck, only 114k so its got a long way to go and gets 24mpg. So, I was a little concerned whether or not it would pull my boat, but figured it would make a good driver, is built to camp in by design, and has a lot of life left in it and its paid for. So bye bye Yukon, she bought a steal of an Accord I found, and I inherited the Element. Ordered a trailer hitch and crossed my fingers.
Today I hooked up the boat. Its not a small boat. 1976 model , wide and 16ft long so its got "beef" but it has had all of the flooring redone and the floatation replaced when converted to a CC. I think the fact the trailer is a dual axle is saving me as it doesn't drop the rear of the vehicle much and pulls really smoothly. I went for a ride, kept my overdrive off, and hauled all around town and out on 264 at speed, braking hard a few times to see how it would do. I know to plan ahead and keep my distance in traffic.
I have to admit I am impressed with that little 4 banger and the truck overall. I know some ramps will be impossible when wet or steep because it is front wheel drive but for now, I think I'm ok. I will add a trans temp gauge if I continue to use it long term and a cooler if needed. I went from a v8 4x4 getting 14-15mpg to this little box getting 23-24 not towing, wife went from 24 to 30-32 and got her sunroof she wanted LOL
Today I hooked up the boat. Its not a small boat. 1976 model , wide and 16ft long so its got "beef" but it has had all of the flooring redone and the floatation replaced when converted to a CC. I think the fact the trailer is a dual axle is saving me as it doesn't drop the rear of the vehicle much and pulls really smoothly. I went for a ride, kept my overdrive off, and hauled all around town and out on 264 at speed, braking hard a few times to see how it would do. I know to plan ahead and keep my distance in traffic.
I have to admit I am impressed with that little 4 banger and the truck overall. I know some ramps will be impossible when wet or steep because it is front wheel drive but for now, I think I'm ok. I will add a trans temp gauge if I continue to use it long term and a cooler if needed. I went from a v8 4x4 getting 14-15mpg to this little box getting 23-24 not towing, wife went from 24 to 30-32 and got her sunroof she wanted LOL
