High Mileage Tow Vehicles

[FeatherFam]

Does anyone have 200k or greater on their TV? If so, what year and make vehicle is it, and what have you done to keep it in service?

[Seann45]

2004 Chev Silverado Duramax 2500 200,000+ on the clock. Oil & filter changes fuel filter with every oil change, 2 sets of injectors.

[etex211]

My truck doesn't have 200,000 miles, but it is 21 years old....

We bought our 1996 Chevy crew cab dually in the spring of 2000. It had about 85,000 miles on it when we bought it. It's just shy of 160,000 miles now. This is a big block 454 gas truck.

We do very little to this truck. Since it is now used only to pull our fifth wheel, it only logs about 2,000 miles per year. I change the oil and put new wiper blades on it every spring. Our biggest expense is tires. Since the truck sees so few miles, the tires dry rot before they wear out.

We did have to address a couple of issues this summer. The A/C compressor had been leaking for several years, so we replaced it with a Sanden compressor. Also, the intake gasket started leaking a little water at the front of the engine, so it had to be replaced. We replaced the cap and rotor, and the plugs and wires while we were at it.

We spent about a thousand bucks on the truck this summer. I believe it is ready for it's next 100,000 miles.

I try to baby the truck to enhance it's longevity. Going uphill in cruise control, it sometimes wants to downshift to second gear and turn 4000 RPMs. I don't allow it to do that. I also never tow faster than 65 MPH.

[NVGun40]

My Dodge has 236,000 miles on it. I am known for meticulous maintenance. I work it hard too though.
I keep up on the oil changes and early on, I changed all the ball joints and u-joints, and anything else in the suspension and drive train to the types with greaseable fittings.
In my younger years when I lived in Northern Nevada, I built a few "rock crawling" off road trucks and jeeps. This is the second truck I have left stock and stayed away from any lifts or other suspension altering items. Coincidentally, this truck has lasted longer than any others. I guess in my old age, I have learned not to operate my truck outside of its baseline capabilities.
I only just recently put its second clutch in the rig.
DW and I looked at a newer TV last year and decided, I could sink a few more dollars into (the very first) brake change, clutch, new wheel bearings and other stuff, a lot cheaper than buying new/newer. This is also my daily driver.


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[oldmanAZ]

~330,000mi on 2006 Ford F350 6.0 Diesel bought new in late 2006.
This engine REQUIRES clean engine oil, fuel, and coolant: 5,000mi engine oil & filter changes (Ford engine oil filter and, in my experience, full synthetic oil is best), fuel filters changed each 10,000mi (plus fuel purchased at high-volume dealers), and engine coolant filter changed each 10,000mi. Engine coolant changes average ~50,000mi. Auto transmission and diff oil changes have averaged ~75,000mi.

Overall, very little service needed. Heads have never been off the engine. EGR cooler and engine oil coolers have been replaced once (probably due to not having an engine coolant filter at that time). The fuel injectors have been replaced twice. Turbo has been rebuilt once. Transmission has not been rebuilt.

Driving habits: I'm easy on the engine and trans. Towing up steep grades, I don't use the cruise control and I'm usually a bit faster than the 18-wheelers and don't care who/what passes me. When stopping after towing in the interstates, I idle the engine ~5 minutes to let the turbo cool down.

[Gman1372]

My 99 7.3ltr has 246,000 on the clock. I make sure the oil is clean. In the winter months I put a two gallons of kerosene per fill up. Kerosene has lubricating properties that diesel doesn't. I ad cetane boost occasionally and antigel in the colder months. As far as driving habits I echo oldmans post. When something breaks and once a year it does, I get it taken care of right away. And of course with all diesels it's never under $2000.

[oldmanAZ]

Oops! Gman's post reminded me...
I add Ford's cetane boost every time I fuel or anti-gel IF (in the rare occasions) I'm in the north in winter.

[StormPOD]

Our 2000 GMC 5.3L gasser has 194+ on it. Fluids and filters, wash and wax.

I have had to put some $$ in it, putting a new rear end in before next season starts.

Much cheaper than a payment.

Tow at 60..that is my mileage sweet spot. Have towed to Jekly Island GA, Mytle Beach and Gulf Shores without issues.

[Sledgehammer]

My Ram is low miles, but my 01 f250 7.3 has 230k and is driven daily and tows regularly. 10k mile oil changes, fuel filter every 20k. Ford reman HD 4r100 tranny at 170k, motor is all original other than a water pump. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it cross country tomorrow.

[FeatherFam]

I share oldmanAZ's driving habits. Actually, all of you sound like me. I hope I can get a good long life out of ours, too. If we do not have to buy another TV, we can afford another trailer when we retire.

[Edd505]

All most new 2000 Super duty used almost exclusively for towing, 180K. Keep it clean inside & out & waxed. Full synthetic oil changed yearly (I don't watch mileage) with WIX oil and fuel filters. Air cleaner checked every few months and blown out or replaced as needed. Cetane boost when I know I'm headed into mountains with steep grades, anti gel in cold weather. Easy starts & stops and ALWAYS let it idle after pulling, normally until I have dropped the 5W. In rest areas or dog potty breaks, (short stops) it's locked idling. Like O/P no payments

[edatlanta]

My '06 Sierra has been great for the past 10 years. It just turn 170,000 this past week. I have replaced several glow plugs through the years and the intermediate steering section and bearing, both a/c servos (I think they call them actuators now), the a/c control head on the dash, and headlight control head. This past summer I had to replace both front wheel bearing assemblies which is the most major item to date. Brakes on all 4 wheels are original - never touched. No injectors, but I do use an additive with each tank of fuel and have since new.

As was noted previously, maintenance is a lot cheaper than a new truck. On the highway not towing I still see a consistent 18-19 mpg at 70-75. Towing heavy at 60 I see 12'ish. Sometimes a little less and at times a little more. It depends on the trip and traffic, etc.

I change the engine oil/filter every 5,000 miles and the transmission fluid every 25,000 miles along with the trans filter. The fuel filter is changed every 10,000 miles regardless of what the DIC says.

So far so good.

[barryg]

On my 01 Dodge Ram QC long bed 2500 with Cummins and auto trans just rolled 349,000 miles last weekend. Just try to keep it maintained like you should. I am not worried about the engine at all however I am starting to worry about the other things that could leave me stranded on the side of the road. Stuff wears out and have no complaints about the life of anything that wears out at this point, it is just a question of when and what is it going to be and how many $ to fix. I should admit that I am looking at new trucks now.

[Screwby]

1999 Suburban 2500 has right at 240k. Have replaced front end (ball joints, tie rods, pitman arm, idler arm). Full tune up with plugs etc. Looking to do an engine swap here soon for some better horsepower. The stock 350 was never enough to be a good hauler for me.

[kjohn73]

We don't use it for towing anymore, but we highballed our old 97 GMC Sub 1500 to Whitehorse three years ago with about 340,000 km on it Pulled our 197 w/slide. The old girl got us there and back. She drank lots of gas and oil. Only trouble was an exhaust pipe broke on one side right at the manifold. Nothing that $350 at a shop didn't fix!

[Kevin and Beth]

'02 Dodge with 255.000. Still going, oil changes every 5000, shocks, brakes when needed. One starter, ball joints at 200,000. 3 clutch slave cylinders. Very minor for 15 years of daily driving and towing

[Sledgehammer]

This is a 04 F350. The repair list was actually fairly short up until about 6 months ago.. Since then its been an endless nickel and dime pit. It still tows daily about 100-120 miles round trip, but it will be sent to the next auction. Original trans, rearend, and engine, minus injectors a few times, high and low pressure oil pumps, couple ficm's, And a few other sensors that makes the complex fuel system work properly. Been a good truck but its about wore out lol.

[jbrnigan]

Recently swapped my 2007 Tundra (67k) for a 2002 Avalanche - 2500, 8.1L, 4x4 with 97K. A 3/4 ton, big block, tow vehicle is better suited for my towing needs. (there is no replacement for displacement) LOL

[motorbreath]

Wow, the last of the big blocks...you own a piece of history!

Originally Posted by jbrnigan

Recently swapped my 2007 Tundra (67k) for a 2002 Avalanche - 2500, 8.1L, 4x4 with 97K. A 3/4 ton, big block, tow vehicle is better suited for my towing needs. (there is no replacement for displacement) LOL

[culleokapapa]

2001 gmc 2500hd 8.1 138,000 towing 5th wheel only.