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TFH

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Hello TYF folks,

I have to say this is one of the friendliest forums I have ever read. I read a lot of automotive forums and have to say usually they are full of trolls and asshats. Nice to see that's not the case here.

I recently purchased a 2003 Yukon XL SLT 2500 4x4 with the 8.1 and 4.10 gears. Man, what a truck. I have always wanted a 3/4 ton Suburban/Yukon XL and the old lady finally okay'd the purchase. We have a 27' travel trailer that we just traveled the country in for about 8 months and used a 2013 Dodge Ram 2500 with the Cummins to pull it. It was an incredible truck, but the $800.00 per month payments had to go. So I upgraded to the Yukon. I have always been a fan of big blocks, so to have a 496 in the auto family pleases me to no end.

We bought the truck from a dealership in middle Missouri for $9500 with 136,000 miles. Not a smokin' deal, but not too bad either. They have had the truck for about 6 month and were looking to unload it. It was in pretty good shape. The previous owner had debaged it completely, removed the tails and installed some hideous aftermarket tails, and installed a billet grill. Well, I am kind of a homer when it comes to OEM stuff, so I found some OEM tails and bought a new grill and GMC emblem. I also cranked the front torsion bars for about one inch of lift. It felt like it was sitting pretty low in the front when I bought it, and the torsion bar adjustment screws seemed like they were backed out pretty far. (Perhaps the dealer wanted to make sure the truck test drove smoothly?) Whatever, it sits like a 3/4 ton should now, and rides like it should as well. Surprisingly, my Thule bars from my old Volvo V70R fit perfectly on the Yukon.

Future mods? Well... I'll probably add some BFG AT's. I might upgrade to 265's instead of the stock 245's, traction seems to be a problem (especially if there is any kind of moisture on the pavement). I plan on getting a custom exhaust bent up soon. I don't want loud, but that big block should at least be heard. Probably go with Dynomax Super Turbo's, just can't decide between 2.5 inch duals or 3 inch duals. Three inch might be too loud. I will also be getting a Black Bear tune, which probably won't help on the lack of traction. Other than that, routine maintenance and keep feeding her fuel.

Thanks for all the help so far. I am a big reader, and rare poster; I usually search like crazy before I post a new thread.

Here is how she sits today after a good bath.

IMG_3030.jpg


:beer:
 
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NathanJax

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Hello TYF folks,

I have to say this is one of the friendliest forums I have ever read. I read a lot of automotive forums and have to say usually they are full of trolls and asshats. Nice to see that's not the case here.

Thanks! :Handshake:


2003 Yukon XL SLT 2500 4x4 with the 8.1 and 4.10 gears.

:win:
 
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TFH

TFH

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I like the specs on the BFG AT 285/75R16, It seems to be one of the strongest BFG AT's made at max load over 3700 lbs. per tire. But I'm a little nervous putting that wide of a tire on a 6.5 inch wide wheel. I know guys do it, IIRC, one Duraburb I was drooling over had 305's on the stock 3/4 ton wheel. It also changes it from a ~30" tire to a ~33" tire. I don't want to affect the towing dynamics too much. I am probably overthinking it.

I love the Titan wheels on your Yukon, BTW.
 

Gzes

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Welcome. Thanks yea lots of forums I'm on has dicks n asshats. Hope you enjoy your forum time with us and post some more pics!
 

Z-56 Hoe

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Sounds great . I love the 3/4 ton Suburbans and just found one with a 6.0. I don't want the 8.1 .

Welcome to TYF !
 

Z-56 Hoe

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I like the specs on the BFG AT 285/75R16, It seems to be one of the strongest BFG AT's made at max load over 3700 lbs. per tire. But I'm a little nervous putting that wide of a tire on a 6.5 inch wide wheel. I know guys do it, IIRC, one Duraburb I was drooling over had 305's on the stock 3/4 ton wheel. It also changes it from a ~30" tire to a ~33" tire. I don't want to affect the towing dynamics too much. I am probably overthinking it.

I love the Titan wheels on your Yukon, BTW.

You will be fine and should run a meatier tire!
 

Grimes

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Who would sell that?

Welcome to the forum. You have a hell of a canvas to work with.

HD Hood & grille guard!
 

Tylus

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officially jealous

looked for years for the combo you have and couldn't find it.
 
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TFH

TFH

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Thanks everybody.

officially jealous

looked for years for the combo you have and couldn't find it.

I guess she is a little bit of an automotive unicorn, with the engine and gears. I didn't have to look too long though there were three 8.1's with in about a 20 minute drive from me.

There are a few options I wanted that it doesn't have (like heated seats?!?) but yet it has the "ultra soft leather," Bose, the only power option on the seats are the front to back movement. It is kinda optioned out weirdly. I would say the guy who ordered it, ordered exactly what he wanted. The dealership said it had a 3.73 "limited slip rear end," which would have been fine, but a close inspection and decoding of the RPO sticker in the glove box showed it optioned with the 4.10's and the Eaton locker. Of course they also said it had heated seats... :smh:

Any opinions on the 2.5 inch dual exhaust and the 3 inch dual exhaust? I'm going with pretty quiet mufflers. I have always heard you don't need 3 inch unless you are pushing over 500 hp.
:rocking:

---------- Post added at 09:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 AM ----------

If anyone is interested... Here is our blog from our long trip. It was a pretty amazing thing to do and highly recommend everyone does it at some point in their life. Mostly written by my wife, but I occasionally author a post or two. We're not finished yet, we have some catching up to do.

http://tinfoilhouse.com
 

yates ™

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Thanks everybody.



I guess she is a little bit of an automotive unicorn, with the engine and gears. I didn't have to look too long though there were three 8.1's with in about a 20 minute drive from me.

There are a few options I wanted that it doesn't have (like heated seats?!?) but yet it has the "ultra soft leather," Bose, the only power option on the seats are the front to back movement. It is kinda optioned out weirdly. I would say the guy who ordered it, ordered exactly what he wanted. The dealership said it had a 3.73 "limited slip rear end," which would have been fine, but a close inspection and decoding of the RPO sticker in the glove box showed it optioned with the 4.10's and the Eaton locker. Of course they also said it had heated seats... :smh:

Any opinions on the 2.5 inch dual exhaust and the 3 inch dual exhaust? I'm going with pretty quiet mufflers. I have always heard you don't need 3 inch unless you are pushing over 500 hp.
:rocking:

---------- Post added at 09:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 AM ----------

If anyone is interested... Here is our blog from our long trip. It was a pretty amazing thing to do and highly recommend everyone does it at some point in their life. Mostly written by my wife, but I occasionally author a post or two. We're not finished yet, we have some catching up to do.

http://tinfoilhouse.com

Guessing leather was added to original cloth seats at some point, maybe even when purchased new so the seats would not have been full power or heated.
 
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TFH

TFH

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Welcome aboard and nice truck

Thanks man.

Guessing leather was added to original cloth seats at some point, maybe even when purchased new so the seats would not have been full power or heated.

I thought about that too, but the RPO confirms leather as a factory installed option. Dunno. It's weird. I guess in 2003 heated seats were still kinda fancy, so perhaps they could be had as a stand alone option. I know sometimes they are included on cold weather packages, but I also have the factory block heater (RPO verified).
 

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