300K and first post ...
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From: Florida
300K and first post ...
Hello everyone!
My trusty steed hit 300K miles last weekend and I just feel obliged to post here after learning so much from online forums such as FTE. Ours is a 2000 XLT 2WD V-8 gasser in deep wedgewood blue color bought new in the summer of 2000.
<O
Back then, I really had my eyes on getting a freshly redesigned Burb/Yukon XL to complement our other rides (’96 Explorer and ’95 Mazda Millenia). I found out about this GM Test Drive pitting a Yukon XL against an X being held in Canaveral so a quick plan on my part was to bring the young family to visit Kennedy Space Center for the day then swing by Canaveral for this event. They cleared, marked off with cones, and set an obstacle course in the back empty parking lot of some hotel and you get to drive both rigs. First was a straight-line acceleration and panic stopping when you cross a marker. Then you slowly do your tightest 360 degree turn to have a feel for turning radius. Then a slalom course and the last part was traversing huge marine ropes laid on the asphalt to simulate washboards. I was impressed with the ride quality of the Yukon XL but when I first boarded the 4WD V-10 test X, the interior space was mind-boggling. Anyways, GM got my information and my eldest son received some cool swag (cheapo sunglasses, visor, mouse pad, etc.).
<O
A few weeks later I ordered a dark blue 2WD Burb from one of these $98-over-invoice Chevy dealerships. A couple of months later they called me back so I can pick up my “4WD pewter” truck. What the? After spending much time on the phone with my contact at the dealership, they found out that my order was screwed up by the GM plant in Mexico(?). During this same time, Ford was offering a 2.4APR/5-year Ford Credit financing on their Excursions. A quick call to my local dealer and they confirmed that they can get a wedgewood blue 2WD XLT with convenience package in a couple of days. They even offered to have me drive a loaner X while we waited for my truck to be transported from a dealership in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
Orlando</st1:City>. A serious second look at the X and I was sold!
<O
Soon after the purchase, we received 4 Ford “No Boundaries” camp chairs with the X logo on it. Very cool on Ford’s part, I’ve seen Explorer and Expedition versions of it.
<O
OEM parts I took off include the flimsy and paint-scratching roof rack and crossbars, fold-down boards behind the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> row seats (reclaimed an extra inch of leg room for 3<SUP>rd</SUP> row passengers), and the “XLT” rear emblem.
<O
My list of minor mods/accessories to date include – 24/18 wipers, front tint/ windshield strip, “acetoned” X emblems, husky liners throughout, cab lights (didn’t realize I had GM-style when I had these installed), Silverstars, painted superduty grill, polished superduty rims, full Borla slant-tips exhaust, painted Xenon wheel flairs (I took them off after a year and they started peeling off), Cequent front hitch, CB with thru-roof Wilson antenna.
<O
Current new shoes (ordered at Sam’s Club) are 285 SilentArmors load rated Es -- after having gone through 3 sets of 285 BFG TA/KOs (swapped out stock Firestones). Damping is handled by beefy Rancho 9K XLs (setting 5).
<O
Onboard entertainment for my kids (and their friends) is a 14” drop-down LCD mated to DVD player/ TV tuner, Gamecube system, and karaoke.
<O
Toy-carrying duties (We have 4 sit-on-top kayaks and mountain bikes for all) are handled by 3 x 78” Thule rack system and accessories (bike fork trays, hitch bike racks, kayak saddles/ glides, Evolution 1600 cargo box). I have a hitch platform that goes in front to handle any overflow cargo/ marine cooler. At 6’4”, it’s easy for me to load up the roof and Thules are simply bomb-proof.
<O
Occasional light towing includes pulling our Boy Scout troop trailer (I’m a Cubmaster) to out-of-town campouts and my buddy’s off-shore fishing rig to the boat ramp.
<O
Preventive maintenance calls for strictly Mobil 1 oil changes (since 1<SUP>st</SUP> oil change), Motorcraft filters, and regular paper air filters. I also use Lucas gas additive occasionally.
<O
For kids safety, I put in 3M anti-skid tape on the elevated ridges of the running boards, a convex stick-on the rear glass for wide-angle viewing (works great for backing up), and those Ford-specific convex mirrors on the paddle side mirrors.
<O
“Big Blue Bus” (what my cycling buddies call my truck) has been all the way south (diving trips to the Keys) and north (visiting <st1:City w:st="on"><ST1Niagara Falls</st1:City>). I have family in NJ so we drive up I-95 at least once a year. Multiple biking/ skiing/ camping trips to the mountains of NC/ GA, out-of-town scout/ family campouts, summer vacations to the gulf (Marco Island), countless family getaways to O-town, daily short drive to work, and the miles add up fast. I get ~12+ mpg in the city and the best I’ve calculated on a long easy drive is ~14+ mpg. When in town, I leave the quick-disconnect roof racks (to clear office parking clearance) in the home garage.
<O
Racking in lots of miles and I’ve had my share of repairs/replacements – dreaded actuators, COPs, rotors, calipers, A/C evaporator, fuel pump, tranny at 200K, all 4 balljoints recently. The interior has seen much abuse from hauling camping gear, bikes, half-pallet of sod (once), floor-to-ceiling loaded with laminate flooring (once), small furniture/ appliances, and what 6 kids can do to leather seats and all (seawater and Florida sand from days on the beach). I hand-wash the truck every other weekend (truck has never been through a commercial carwash), wax/detail (Meguiar’s) every other month.
<O
The resale value of my truck with its mileage and the current dismal status of our economy is probably less than the cost of getting my dream new mountain bike. However, the service, safety, and lasting fun memories that this workhorse has provided (and continues to) my family and friends are unbeatable and priceless.
<O
Here’s a link to a few pics ..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oragun/sets/72157622901798343/
<O
Cheers,
Hans
Jacksonville, FL
My trusty steed hit 300K miles last weekend and I just feel obliged to post here after learning so much from online forums such as FTE. Ours is a 2000 XLT 2WD V-8 gasser in deep wedgewood blue color bought new in the summer of 2000.
<O
Back then, I really had my eyes on getting a freshly redesigned Burb/Yukon XL to complement our other rides (’96 Explorer and ’95 Mazda Millenia). I found out about this GM Test Drive pitting a Yukon XL against an X being held in Canaveral so a quick plan on my part was to bring the young family to visit Kennedy Space Center for the day then swing by Canaveral for this event. They cleared, marked off with cones, and set an obstacle course in the back empty parking lot of some hotel and you get to drive both rigs. First was a straight-line acceleration and panic stopping when you cross a marker. Then you slowly do your tightest 360 degree turn to have a feel for turning radius. Then a slalom course and the last part was traversing huge marine ropes laid on the asphalt to simulate washboards. I was impressed with the ride quality of the Yukon XL but when I first boarded the 4WD V-10 test X, the interior space was mind-boggling. Anyways, GM got my information and my eldest son received some cool swag (cheapo sunglasses, visor, mouse pad, etc.).
<O
A few weeks later I ordered a dark blue 2WD Burb from one of these $98-over-invoice Chevy dealerships. A couple of months later they called me back so I can pick up my “4WD pewter” truck. What the? After spending much time on the phone with my contact at the dealership, they found out that my order was screwed up by the GM plant in Mexico(?). During this same time, Ford was offering a 2.4APR/5-year Ford Credit financing on their Excursions. A quick call to my local dealer and they confirmed that they can get a wedgewood blue 2WD XLT with convenience package in a couple of days. They even offered to have me drive a loaner X while we waited for my truck to be transported from a dealership in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
<O
Soon after the purchase, we received 4 Ford “No Boundaries” camp chairs with the X logo on it. Very cool on Ford’s part, I’ve seen Explorer and Expedition versions of it.
<O
OEM parts I took off include the flimsy and paint-scratching roof rack and crossbars, fold-down boards behind the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> row seats (reclaimed an extra inch of leg room for 3<SUP>rd</SUP> row passengers), and the “XLT” rear emblem.
<O
My list of minor mods/accessories to date include – 24/18 wipers, front tint/ windshield strip, “acetoned” X emblems, husky liners throughout, cab lights (didn’t realize I had GM-style when I had these installed), Silverstars, painted superduty grill, polished superduty rims, full Borla slant-tips exhaust, painted Xenon wheel flairs (I took them off after a year and they started peeling off), Cequent front hitch, CB with thru-roof Wilson antenna.
<O
Current new shoes (ordered at Sam’s Club) are 285 SilentArmors load rated Es -- after having gone through 3 sets of 285 BFG TA/KOs (swapped out stock Firestones). Damping is handled by beefy Rancho 9K XLs (setting 5).
<O
Onboard entertainment for my kids (and their friends) is a 14” drop-down LCD mated to DVD player/ TV tuner, Gamecube system, and karaoke.
<O
Toy-carrying duties (We have 4 sit-on-top kayaks and mountain bikes for all) are handled by 3 x 78” Thule rack system and accessories (bike fork trays, hitch bike racks, kayak saddles/ glides, Evolution 1600 cargo box). I have a hitch platform that goes in front to handle any overflow cargo/ marine cooler. At 6’4”, it’s easy for me to load up the roof and Thules are simply bomb-proof.
<O
Occasional light towing includes pulling our Boy Scout troop trailer (I’m a Cubmaster) to out-of-town campouts and my buddy’s off-shore fishing rig to the boat ramp.
<O
Preventive maintenance calls for strictly Mobil 1 oil changes (since 1<SUP>st</SUP> oil change), Motorcraft filters, and regular paper air filters. I also use Lucas gas additive occasionally.
<O
For kids safety, I put in 3M anti-skid tape on the elevated ridges of the running boards, a convex stick-on the rear glass for wide-angle viewing (works great for backing up), and those Ford-specific convex mirrors on the paddle side mirrors.
<O
“Big Blue Bus” (what my cycling buddies call my truck) has been all the way south (diving trips to the Keys) and north (visiting <st1:City w:st="on"><ST1
Niagara Falls</st1:City>). I have family in NJ so we drive up I-95 at least once a year. Multiple biking/ skiing/ camping trips to the mountains of NC/ GA, out-of-town scout/ family campouts, summer vacations to the gulf (Marco Island), countless family getaways to O-town, daily short drive to work, and the miles add up fast. I get ~12+ mpg in the city and the best I’ve calculated on a long easy drive is ~14+ mpg. When in town, I leave the quick-disconnect roof racks (to clear office parking clearance) in the home garage.<O
Racking in lots of miles and I’ve had my share of repairs/replacements – dreaded actuators, COPs, rotors, calipers, A/C evaporator, fuel pump, tranny at 200K, all 4 balljoints recently. The interior has seen much abuse from hauling camping gear, bikes, half-pallet of sod (once), floor-to-ceiling loaded with laminate flooring (once), small furniture/ appliances, and what 6 kids can do to leather seats and all (seawater and Florida sand from days on the beach). I hand-wash the truck every other weekend (truck has never been through a commercial carwash), wax/detail (Meguiar’s) every other month.
<O
The resale value of my truck with its mileage and the current dismal status of our economy is probably less than the cost of getting my dream new mountain bike. However, the service, safety, and lasting fun memories that this workhorse has provided (and continues to) my family and friends are unbeatable and priceless.
<O
Here’s a link to a few pics ..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oragun/sets/72157622901798343/
<O
Cheers,
Hans
Jacksonville, FL
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 1
From: Liberty, NC
What a story!!! I'm not ready to hit the 300K mark yet, but I'm looking forward to telling my story as you. We have a very special vehicle; and no one knows the joys of riding down the highways in safety and the feeling inside of owning this BEAST.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 657
Likes: 4
From: Pueblo, CO
WOW! excelent introduction! Welcome.
Glad to hear your X has provided so many miles of service. I recently dismantled a similar X (2000, 2wd v-8, black) with 236K on the clock to use the body & parts to rebuild my rolled diesel X. Hearing how good yours still is makes me feel bad about it now
Glad to hear your X has provided so many miles of service. I recently dismantled a similar X (2000, 2wd v-8, black) with 236K on the clock to use the body & parts to rebuild my rolled diesel X. Hearing how good yours still is makes me feel bad about it now
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 0
Congrats! That's a great story, glad your Ex is still alive and kicking after 300K
miles! I have owned 3 Subs before this Ex and this Ex is so much better than any
Sub! Glad GM screwed up your order back in the day!
The rest is history!
Keep us updated when you hit the 400K mark!
miles! I have owned 3 Subs before this Ex and this Ex is so much better than any
Sub! Glad GM screwed up your order back in the day!
The rest is history!
Keep us updated when you hit the 400K mark!
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Joined: Sep 2006
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