what would you do?

[Tacoma]

So I finally got my long-coveted NV4500 for the back-burnered Cummins swap... which was going to go into my old crew cab dually Chevy... but things change and I'm kind of thinking "maybe a Suburban would be a better choice".

For some reason this line of thinking has really played havoc with my usual decisiveness. Perhaps asking RME, and this little Pro/Con chart will help.

CREW CAB
Pro: open bed can carry a lot of stuff, and be converted to hold a big tent
big tow rating means I can haul pretty much whatever I want, ever
not many around and they're cool because of it
Cummins crew cab Chevy? sweeeeet
19.5's wear forever and TreadWright makes MTR-pattern tires for nothin'

Con: 300 feet long
all that load capacity and those cool 19.5's means a rough ride
super wide hips don't fit on trails

SUBURBAN
Pro: can also carry a lot, including most of the stuff I would put in a truck
fully enclosed is nice
3rd seat can carry more people than the crew cab
fit on trails way better
all the Cummins stuff still fits the Burb

Con: less load capacity, but it's still got plenty to tow say, a Blazer.
no Dana 60
Burbs didn't make me tons of money, or go across the country with me 10 times.


On paper it sure looks like the Burb is a better choice. The intangible cool factor of big diesel duallys still holds sway though. Weigh in! Help me! LOL

 

[Chevycrew]

There is no way I would put a cummins over the top of a dana 44 or 10 bolt...

I say dually burban with dana 60 and cummins.

Ill try to find pics, but lumpdog on planet4x4 had a dually burb at one point.

 

[Tacoma]

I'd get a 60 for the Burb. Or I should say KEEP a 60 for it.

 

[rockreligious]

I vote crew for my own selfish reasons....Ive got a one ton chevy crew and a big block Im going to build, and need a few build threads to bring me some inspiration.

 

[ChestonScout]

why not make the best of both worlds and put a dually rear axle under a burban? Thats what I would do.


If not that, crew cab. You already have the Blazer for trail rides

 

[Chevycrew]

I also like the look of a crew cab shortbed, single it out, slap on a shortbed...

 

[Chevycrew]

why not make the best of both worlds and put a dually rear axle under a burban? Thats what I would do.

Thinking the same as cheston scares me...

 

[sixb]

Scrap the crew & the 40, don't buy a burb either. Enjoy the k5 while keeping it street legal. Put the 1 tons and the cummins in the 715 with the H1s and all the rest of the stuff you have laying around before they get done with Orem and eventually make way to Tooele http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=14678288:greg:

 

[Tacoma]

damn you Dave! LOL

The idea here is that I need something that can take the whole family and carry stuff. A diesel M715 would be super but kind of useless without a tow rig.

 

[Chevycrew]

Crew cab 715?

 

[phatfoto]

Build the crewcab. Then I know who to call for a tow...

Then, drop a 454 in the 715 and put whatever axles you can get for free under it...

Then strip the Dime and finish the 40...

I agree, the Blazer will do trail duty...

 

[LT.]

What ever I say you may want to disregard since I really am just as indecisive as they come. That being said, I think I would try to make a hybrid of what you have. Say a dually Suburban or, make a crew cab and shorten the bed. Crew cab long beds don't fit on trails well and with all the problems I have read about with things getting stolen I would want something enclosed. If you don't need the third seat remove it and use it for storage. On the other hand, I have seen a crew cab that that Off Road Design built and took on a few Ultimate Adventures. I think it was a shortened short bed or something like that. It was wicked cool.

LT.

 

[Tacoma]

That ORD deal is a crewcab body on a bobbed longbed pickup frame. It's one of my favorite vehicles ever.

If I can find a decent Burb I think I'm going with that option. The only thing I really lose is the extra fuel capacity of the dually-- with a Burb tank in the back and both saddle tanks, I'd have... about 80gal of diesel. I'll be limited to 40 in the Burb. *shrug

 

[sixb]

If you insist on being a bone head I'll vote for the crew with single rear wheels. A cap on the back makes it as useful as a Burb but having the bed for bigger cargo is a plus. That said I would sell all that crap and take about 10k and go buy a used gasoline crewcab from any of the big 3 and enjoy it now. You can thank me later oh and you can still build the 715 with all your cool parts while beating the k5 and pimping the crew. Your welcome.