Two old Suburbans go mine hunting

[CG]

I know there are a few guys on the board that take these kind of trips, I was wondering if its better to have a four speed or an automatic for this type of trip. Or does it really even matter?

[Zoomad75]

It doesn't really matter. It is like anything else a matter of preference. Having a granny low 4 speed, does really give a level of control that I like. That being said, an automatic is nice because you have the torque multiplication of the torque convertor and you can use one foot to run it.

There are pros and cons to each that have been debated for ever. Ideally, whichever you go after, having overdrive would be must have option for the highway driving to the trail. Just getting to the trail with a non-OD trans (manual or auto) kills the fuel budget and limits the fun if the budget is tight. I know from wheeling with DirtyLarry, his swap from a SM465 to nv4500 was a major boon to his highway mileage.

[1leglance]

Having run both an auto & a manual on the trail I will go auto for ever & ever...
I love the ease of driving, the fact that if I want control I can left foot brake and pre-load the suspension and crawl over things and that my wife & son can hop in and go without trouble.

A modern auto is just as tough and well mannered as a manual...sure you can't bump start and maybe your mpg is a touch less...but I always have dual batt setup and I can live a touch of a drop in mpg for the ease of driving an auto.

All that said is for ME, you can pick whatever you like and I would not dream of giving you a hard time

[Mudder]

Very nice. I could enjoy that lots.

[Mr Pops]

Awesome pictures! Love the action shots!

[Yukon Jack]

What a great looking time! Thanks for posting the pics and info!

[67swb72klb]

thanks for the ride u guys in the west have the space !!

[vk_chevy]

sounds like it was a wonderful trip, thanks for posting

[Beelzeburb]

Originally Posted by 1leglance

I am thinking we should come up your way and get out into the dirt...
That would give us a 3 burb trip report which I figure is about a world record

I'm game for it. Just now starting to gather together all my recovery and backwood exploring equipment in one place. I probably wouldn't mind visiting Arizona again too. I lived in Tempe for 3 years and haven't been back since graduating. Three burbs at once, that'd be quite the sight.

[fun in dirt]

Thanks for sharing! Love both of y'alls subs. We usually pile up in the Blazer on Sunday afternoons & ride the dirt backroads exploring places we've never been. I would love to check out the desert one day.
Totally agree with you about folks missing out that just lay around watching tv & playing video games.

[rjsdad]

Awesome pictures! Would love to live down there to be able to tour the old ghost towns and drive the burb in the dezert. Thanks for sharin'!!

Jeff

[justcuz]

Glad to see you guys got together. Nicks postings of his trips up Prescott way have been entertaining, now seeing you are going places together with your families is great. I used to work the double pit at Boise for the Parker race for lots of years. Those guys with the planes were probably prerunning and scouting for the race. Maybe we can all get together some time this year, since I will be retiring in May, I will have lots of time on my hands. I agree with your theory on off road vehicle travel, for me it is more of an excursion/adventure than a vehicular chest thumping. Many of the guys I wheel with now are going to the more rock climbing rough stuff, it is kind of dividing our group. The rough stuff is hard on the equipment and pocketbook, I've been there done that. 59 now and been wheeling since I was 17. I'm looking for an excuse to return to the Arizona Strip and Torowheep (sp) overlook.

[snm95ls]

Wow, what a cool trip! Thanks for sharing.

[Vintage Windmills]

Nice pictures and story, and rigs too!