I just recently retired my 1993 silverado from towing with 257,000 miles. I did have to replace my fuel pump once on the last day of a camping trip to the smokies. On that model year you could replace components and with towing it was fixed for around $485.00 and was back on the road in about 3 hrs.from a dealership in Knoxville. I still drive it to work every day and will for awhile(my son wants it when he can drive - he's 13)
Robert & Phyllis
Peyton-13 & Ashlynn-11
2008 KZ Spree 289RKS TT
1993 CK1500 Ext. Cab
5.7, W/3.73,
custom paint on tv
For me, rubber compound parts, such as hoses, belts and tires, have always given me more problems on long tow trips. So if a person keeps his tow vehicle well maintained by keeping all fluids changed, belts and hoses changed, and excellent tires on his/her tow vehicle, chances are better you will not have a breakdown.
I keep my F-250 very well maintained and at 170K miles I would not hesitate to go on any long trip, even across the country, towing our trailer.
Really, while I also keep our trailer well maintained, I think the odds are more of having a tire blow out or a wheel bearing to go bad or a hitch problem on our trailer than problems with our truck.
You know your truck and it's maintenance history better than any of us. That said, I'd be a little worried about a 200,000 mile tow vehicle. To me, it's not just the cost of fixing something when it breaks, it's how much vacation/recreation time do you lose in the process?
Sure, newer vehicles can break too, but they are a lot less likely to do so, and are often easier to find parts for a quicker turn around on the fix.
Good luck.
2012 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW CC 4x4 Max Tow, Cummins HO, 60 gallon RDS aux fuel tank, Reese 18k Elite hitch
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 Cummins HO NV5600 with Smarty JR, Jacobs EB (sold)
2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 29FRB with Honda EV6010
If you plan on replacing it with another used vehicle, how do you know IT won't need a fuel pump or other parts soon after you purchase it? Parts wear out but there is a big advantage to knowing the current condition of your tow vehicle.
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles) 2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
i never worried about the fuel pump in my 175k mile f150, but that's just because it had dual tanks. Seriously though enjoy your truck and don't worry, a deer could put you in the same situation in a brand new truck. Only reason i would replace your truck if your happy with it is if it kept you from enjoying your trip or kept you from going where you want!
02 Ford Explorer 4.6 V8 4x4, prodigy and equalizer
07 Crossroads Sunset Trail ST19CK
and no payments
Cedarhill wrote: I would not plan an 1600 mile (800 each way) trip towing with a 12 year old GM product with 200,000 miles on it. The probability of a serious and crippling failure, like a transmission fault, is just too high. I would probably restrict my travels to short trips where economical help is closer and I don't have so much to lose. The next time something like this happens, you may be 30 miles from the nearest help and the repairs might take a week or more.
I don't want to discourage you but I thought you wanted an honest answer so there it is.
What he said. BTW- A NEW TRUCK minimizes problems to a great degree. Yes, new ones do break but not like ones with 200K on them.
There seems to be a great deal of debut on this forum about where the useful life of a tow vehicle ends...
Cedarhill wrote: I would not plan an 1600 mile (800 each way) trip towing with a 12 year old GM product with 200,000 miles on it. The probability of a serious and crippling failure, like a transmission fault, is just too high. I would probably restrict my travels to short trips where economical help is closer and I don't have so much to lose. The next time something like this happens, you may be 30 miles from the nearest help and the repairs might take a week or more.
I don't want to discourage you but I thought you wanted an honest answer so there it is.
Wow life is short go out and have fun and travel where ever your heart desires. If something goes wrong then fix it. It won't be the end of the world.
2007 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab Z71 4X4 3.73
2013 CrossRoads Sunset Trail Super Lite 250RB
2-2012 Yamaha VX Deluxe
2012 Toyota Highlander
My truck is a 97 with 200K. I don't trust it and plan to replace it very soon. The main problem is at this age/miles, if something major breaks, its not worth fixing = me needing to buy a new truck on the spot.
If the truck has a good track record of not breaking and all maintenance is been done I have no problem taking it. Whats to say that your new truck wont break down? New trucks break. Older stuff has far less to go wrong too.
Also a good point that was brought up. Paid off truck breaks and you have to pay $1k to fix. Newer used (out of warranty) truck breaks. Now you have a repair bill and truck note to pay. I have a 92 ford f350 that is paid off. 160k+ miles and needs some work. But still cheaper than a new F350.
I say keep running it. One repair should not push you into the sales room for a new truck. My truck has 172k on it and I would not hesitate to take it cross country if I could get the time away. And yes I had the fuel pump go out and disrupt a trip over the new year's holiday. Eventually I expect to replace the transmission well away from the comforts of home.
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