Results 6,226 to 6,250 of 12695
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09-01-2020, 07:30 AM #6226Registered User
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- May 2012
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- PNW
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- 764
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09-01-2020, 08:32 AM #6227
Astro.
Mine has been great, until this recent trip home, now I'm getting a new rear differential. Then it'll be great again, until it isn't.
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09-01-2020, 09:21 AM #6228Registered User
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- Jan 2014
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- Gaperville, CO
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- 5,844
Haha. Just went through this. Not cheap. Have you done your lower intake manifold? That always goes bad between 120-180k.
Working on getting it ready for sale shortly. AWD, mild lift, ready to camp (rear table and middle "box"), swivel chair, cross bars. Brand new rear diff, lower intake manifold done, comes with some fresh Moog idler arms that I may or may not getting around to installing.
FWIW, I've owned 2 Astros and now a low-mileage (53k) Sienna.
Astro makes a better RV. Sienna makes a better long haul and DD. Even the '06 Sienna is gonna be more comfy for long hauls than an Astro, but less space/easy to build out.
AWD is pretty handy, but it is more expensive up front, maintanence, and slight mpg hit. Unless you live in CA or really nasty spots you regularly access, some good snows and FWD will probably be sufficient. They aren't lightweight vehicles.
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09-01-2020, 09:44 AM #6229
There was a home mechanic somewhere in its lineage, so it's kind of hard to tell what was and wasn't done. 193k right now.
One more big maintenance item and I'll be questioning if it's worth it to keep or not. My shop at home didn't have any major concerns, but then again, they didn't catch the differential before my trip...
Figure the resale value is about the same no matter what, given it's a pretty desireable setup, AWD cargo, and it looks cool.
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09-01-2020, 09:47 AM #6230Registered User
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- Jan 2014
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- Gaperville, CO
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- 5,844
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09-01-2020, 10:20 AM #6231
Daily drove/camped an Astro from when I was 20-26 y.o. before it was "cool". Great vehicles and I'd love to have another but not as a daily driver. Another trouble with those for sale around here at least is they are the definition of rode hard and put away wet.
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09-01-2020, 10:35 AM #6232Registered User
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- Jan 2014
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- Gaperville, CO
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- 5,844
Yep -- as someone who has done exactly that, it's why I'm now rocking the Sienna.
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09-01-2020, 10:36 AM #6233
Sienna awd has no spare so you do run flats. Consider a spare stored somewhere like the roof or a hitch mount. Also the ground clearance was very low especially with weight so watch that or lift it
I couldn't make the math work on a sienna awd after those two issues
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09-01-2020, 10:50 AM #6234
Subaru outback with a super comfy exped megamat on a platform and a roofbox. As a daily driver it's a normal car and the transition is quick. Spent the summer in it.
Enough room for me
Good clearance
You don't have to drive a minivan
Also great for a trip to stay at a friend's just chuck the skis in and go.
Lower roof so roofbox is much easier.
I think it's better mpg but not sure?
You can't stand up in either
Used awd sienna have very high resale
A new set of runflat snows is $$
With the saved money I can stay in a motel more often.
If I had found a great deal on a used minivan awd I probably would have done that, though and done a lift and bought 5 tires. Just didn't find one that worked given the added expenses.
I do agree on having only 1 vehicle. It's important to see how much more a second vehicle costs per month and how many nights in a motel that gets you. A motel is warm, has a hot shower and a bed. And you can dry your wet clothes out.
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09-01-2020, 10:53 AM #6235Registered User
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- Jan 2014
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- Gaperville, CO
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- 5,844
Many with AWD swap out the run flats, carry a patch kit / compressor when doing regular highway, and only put a full size spare in when heading somewhere remote.
The Gen2 Sienna has more ground clearance and is -- in general -- easier to build out for modular camper than the Gen3. Gen3 gives you benefits of .... a more recent generation. Gen3 uses a timing chain, has more safety features, slight HP boost.
You can get ~2" of lift via small spacers (yeah, I know, not cool, but it's a minivan folks) and some slightly upsized tires. Puts it into outback clearance (but not angles) range. Alternatively you can go with 3.5" journey off-roads lift (also spacer based, but drops rear axle to deal with increased height) which is about $750 + either 12hrs of your time or $800-1000 at most shops.
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09-01-2020, 11:01 AM #6236
Yes exactly. I see a lifted sienna with a spare in a roofbasket around town and it looks sweet but like I said the added expenses were too much. I think doing that on a new van that you want to keep makes sense.
I'd like an old diesel 4*4 suburban. That's not rotted out.
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09-01-2020, 03:15 PM #6237
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09-01-2020, 03:54 PM #6238
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09-01-2020, 04:24 PM #6239Registered User
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- 5,844
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09-01-2020, 04:29 PM #6240
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09-07-2020, 11:42 AM #6241one of those sickos
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- Oct 2005
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- Tahoe-ish
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- 3,141
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09-07-2020, 12:05 PM #6242
We saw that. Hard to stop for a pic, with all the roadwork going on.
Looks so cool, but vaguely remember reading that they are way underpowered?
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...Remember, those who think Global Warming is Fake, also think that Adam & Eve were Real...
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09-07-2020, 12:41 PM #6243
Quote:*The problem is weight distribution...
Motorhomes, including the GMC, only have about 1/3 of their weight on the front axle...
Going uphill, which is precisely when you need the most traction, the weight distribution gets even worse as the incline moves the center of gravity rearward...
...better plan on staying on pavement. Wet grass, soft earth, loose sand and gravel, etc. will make the drive wheels spin...*
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...Remember, those who think Global Warming is Fake, also think that Adam & Eve were Real...
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09-07-2020, 01:49 PM #6244
Engine brake in winter can get you in trouble, especially if your trailer passes you. I use it but not if the roads are slippery, not pulling a trailer much in the winter though. Trailer brake can straighten you out if needed
Edit: ooops its been covered, recovered and covered again....of course.
Smell those long haul guys all over the trailer brakes. Why not, they only pay for the brakes attached to the tractor
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09-07-2020, 03:34 PM #6245
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09-07-2020, 03:37 PM #6246
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09-07-2020, 04:43 PM #6247
Thats front wheel drive? I guess it has a dog house with front engine. It would have brakes at all axles though. Is it air or disc brakes?Typically id set the rear brakes to engage a touch early, especially with trailer brakes.
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09-07-2020, 08:50 PM #6248
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09-07-2020, 11:59 PM #6249
True dat. Pano is a smaat dude though. He probably figured it out in the first reply or 3. I was probably 7th. Small phone screen , i thought i was on the 2nd to the last page when i eeplied but there was a few more pages
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09-08-2020, 02:16 AM #6250
Any thoughts on this?
https://anchorage.craigslist.org/rvs...189269067.htmlthe best skier is the one having the most fun------DC
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