ive got an 04 ranger XL 2wd as most of yall know and im thinking of selling it to upgrade to something bigger. ive got a ton of work into my truck so this is a tough decision. some of my closer friends here know my grandfather passed about a month and a half ago. he left behind his 05 tahoe LT 5.3 4wd. parents are going to sell it. plan is to either let grandpas truck go, or sell my own rig and buy it. i keep going back and forth.. i wont have a bed anymore which i can almost get over. i dont use my bed to haul **** much anyway and i can still put lumber on the roof rack. interior space would be doubled, i have 2 useable seats in the ranger, 7 in the tahoe. gas mileage is another big deal.. mines been getting 18 tops. with a tuner ill bet i can get at least 17 in the tahoe. plans for this build would be to start: leveling kit, 33s on 17in wheels, light bar, or tube bumper up front. lights on the roof rack but with quick disconnects, winch, and a nice stereo. in the end id want a 6in lift and 35s. but wouldnt go much bigger. 10 bolts dont like oversize tires haha. anyways.. vote in the poll or post up some opinions.

my truck:


grandpa's truck:

 

in theory.. this is what it could look like. but with black wheels and lights.

 

The Tahoe will more useable overall. Chevy seats, in my opinion, are some of the most comfortable.

If that were mine, I would stick with the mild lift, to keep it as a friendly DD, then get a beater truck as an offroader.

 

tahoe for sure. Looking back i wish i got an SUV (probably a trac) but its too late now haha

 

I vote Tahoe... sounds like it suits your needs better.

 

I know more about chevy then I do ford, but I hate the smell that all chevys get after so many years. Just my thoughts plus I hate chevys now just because I work on them.

 

tahoe for sure. level it on 33's debadge, demold, get rid of the chrome, maybe color match the front end. maybe chevy hd hood. right off the bat though i would definitely do a blackbear tune. it will really wake it up

 

that's a no brainer. Base model ranger or a nice tahoe? not to mention the 3.slow... 4wd alone should be enough reason to do it. Once you have 4wd you won't know how you lived without it.

 

Your in Cali, so you don't have to worry about rust.

around here, you'd be lucky the doors in those year Tahoe's would still be solid after 5-6 years.

 

Wanna sell me the hurst shifter if you sell?

 

thats the plan.. mild lift just to keep up with buddies in the woods but still dd status. then a beater truck later or possibly a quad and a small trailer.
what makes you want to have an SUV instead of a ranger?
at this point in my life, yes. ranger just aint big enough..

ill debadge it if theres no holes left like the ranger badges have under them. i was thinking black out or color match most of the chrome trim as well. found a couple 02 chevy truck grilles that are brand new unpainted on CL. should be a direct swap with 00-06 tahoe.
mmmmmmmmm 4wd sounds sooo nice. every time i wheel the CJ im thinking i wish the ranger had the other 2 turnin
but is that most vehicles out there or just these?
eh maybe.. the only parts that would be demodded on the ranger would be the lights and some stereo stuff. anything else would only come off if i got offered lower than my asking price. the less they pay the less mods they get haha.

 

A rear seat. My truck is a two seater now

 

this!

 

Is the Tahoe yours? Would you get the money if you sold it?

If so, and you aren't completley satisfied with the Ranger or Tahoe, sell both and buy something you really want.

If your only option is between the two, i'd take the Tahoe. V8, seats 7, 4wd, in better shape, close to the same MPG's, fullsize, looks mean lifted, exc. Plus I love the way those Chevy front ends look.

I think about selling my Ranger daily because it only seats 2. With two people, my dog and the subs in the back its cramped. Also the only reason I have the topper.

Plus I have my Bronco so if I really needed to haul more then two people I can drive that.

 

I'm getting a German Shepherd or a Rottweiler soon. whatever I go with, will hate being in the back of the ranger. there is barely any room

 

as of right now it belongs to my parents. but would be mine if i sold the ranger and bought it off them. **** would look so gnarly lifted!

 

Tahoe's are expensive to fix and pigs on gas. I wouldnt drive one if i was given it. unless you have 4 kids on the way keep your truck.

 

why does everyone go to the soccer mom argument? older people can sit in the back too, not just kids. :P

 

kinda worried about stressing a 10 bolt with 35s tho.. the stock lockers or LS whatever dont like oversized tires. ive heard of them breaking with 37s or bigger. hopefully id be alright with just 33s or 35s.

 

I'm not quoting that whole thing.

but to answer your question, Most Tahoe's were known for the door rust thing.
Yea, us Northerners have rust from the salt, but some cars handle it better than others.

If you do happen to have rust starting, take some POR-15 and slap it on the bottom door edges.

It all happens because Tahoe's have foam/jute in the bottom of the doors that retains water.

 

Expensive to fix? Parts are plentiful and they're damn reliable as is. The pig part you got right though.

 

so ive been daydreaming all day about how to solve the 10 bolt issue thats been lingering in my head.. 8 lug tahoe.. nom nom nom. put 2500 or 1500hd suspension and drivetrain in the front (should be a bolt in) and for the rear just put coil plates on a 14b 2500 axle. haha

 

17 mpgs in the tahoe is def high. My grandparents have a Yukon (5.3 4wd) and they can barely squeeze out 17 (most of the time 16) on the highway and that's all stock. With larger tires and such, I don't know if you'll be getting that. But I have always had a soft spot for tahoes, especially like the one that you attached a picture of. That's sick lol.

Regardless of mpgs, the Tahoe suits you best as others have said. Especially if you fix it up like the one in the picture.

 

theres no holes, dont black out. thatll look so dumb. color match all the way. and the grille will direct swap yes. but im talking about the hood. off of 01-02 chevy hd's


what? not expensive to fix at all. parts are everywhere. they do suck gas. but weve squeeze 21 out of a 5.3 yukon xl with 4:10's.



also i forgot to qoute the other stuff about 3/4 ton stuff. but i wouldnt waste time or money doing that. unless you plan on wheeling the **** out of it. theres no point

 

Didn't you just get a brand new motor in the ranger not long ago?

How many miles on the tahoe?

I would put a list together on both trucks on the pros and cons and make a proper decision that way.

Part of the reason I let my dads f150 go is because right now I dont need a truck that big. Do you really NEED a tahoe? I wouldn't mind one, but I dont need one right now. If you aren't having kids any time soon I wouldn't trade the ranger for it. Not to mention they are dime a dozen if you want one just buy one later on and keep the ranger for work duties.