1996 Grand Cherokee transmission rebuild & on to other stuff

DoubleDingo said:

Nice ride for a reasonable price. I'm sure someone will snatch it up

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And the Jeep has treated me well. In some ways I wouldn't mind keeping it around but I don't need two mid-sized SUVs and it would be no good for the Jeep if I let it sit for a long time. I'd rather see someone else get the Jeep and get some use and fun times in it.

I've also got the Jeep on marketplace, and in that ad I mention that I'd be interested in trading for a square suburban. Well I had a guy about 250 miles east of me respond to ad. He's got a 1984 Suburban K20 It's an ex-forest service rig that someone painted white at some point (I'm guessing it was forest service green at one time. It's a silverado 350 engine TH400 trans full floater he doesn't know the ratio. Seem like it's in decent shape but needs a bit of cleaning and a brake master cylinder.

Tentatively I'd be going over there next weekend and I feel like I should be planning how I would get the suburban home if we strike a deal. I can use my 18' trailer with the slightly bent tongue, if I did that I'd probably back the suburban onto the trailer so I could limit the tongue weight somewhat, and take it slow on the ride home. I'm almost thinking over there in one day, pick up the suburban the next, get halfway home and get a motel room and finish getting home the next day. Just to make it easier on me and the truck. I could also get a harbor freight tow bar, install that on the suburban put the transfer case in neutral and tow. But that would be an awful lot of unbraked weight behind the truck.

But that's not for sure yet, so anyone interested in the Jeep it is still available and I will update this thread if it becomes for sure. I'd also take advice on getting the suburban home.

Oh, I hope you get the Suburban! And it winds up painted forest service green again too!

What's the weight rating of your trailer?

bucket said:

Oh, I hope you get the Suburban! And it winds up painted forest service green again too!

What's the weight rating of your trailer?

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Thanks so do I. I think a suburban like that would be very handy for me. Far more fitting than the jeep.

Trailer is weight rated for 7K, this is the same trailer that has the slightly bent tongue I bought I think it's been about 5 years ago now.
I have hauled around 5K of feed on it a few times. I really not sure what the suburban weighs. The trailer does have brakes on both the axles.

I'm also looking to see what it would cost to have a hauling service bring it over and it looks like $300-$400 of course I'd still have to be there to bring the guy my Jeep, sign paperwork ect. So it's probably the most costly option though it would be slightly easier for me.

I'd really like your feedback on using my trailer though.

SirRobyn0 said:

Thanks so do I. I think a suburban like that would be very handy for me. Far more fitting than the jeep.

Trailer is weight rated for 7K, this is the same trailer that has the slightly bent tongue I bought I think it's been about 5 years ago now.
I have hauled around 5K of feed on it a few times. I really not sure what the suburban weighs. The trailer does have brakes on both the axles.

I'm also looking to see what it would cost to have a hauling service bring it over and it looks like $300-$400 of course I'd still have to be there to bring the guy my Jeep, sign paperwork ect. So it's probably the most costly option though it would be slightly easier for me.

I'd really like your feedback on using my trailer though.

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I'd use the trailer without a second thought. If the tongue was bent when you bought it, who knows how it had been overloaded. I'm betting it was loaded far more than it was rated for.

bucket said:

I'd use the trailer without a second thought. If the tongue was bent when you bought it, who knows how it had been overloaded. I'm betting it was loaded far more than it was rated for.

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That's kind of the assumption we made previously on the tongue that it was way overloaded. Also thinking the suburban would be best being backed on to the trailer. Am I wrong about that? Just seems like I'd be better able to plant most of the weight over the axle. Of course I know I need some tounge weight but I'm just thinking that might be best or am I wrong. And thank you.

SirRobyn0 said:

That's kind of the assumption we made previously on the tongue that it was way overloaded. Also thinking the suburban would be best being backed on to the trailer. Am I wrong about that? Just seems like I'd be better able to plant most of the weight over the axle. Of course I know I need some tounge weight but I'm just thinking that might be best or am I wrong. And thank you.

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Personally, I'd pull it onto the trailer. 18ft is a decent deck length, but not much wiggle room to get the tongue loaded properly. I guess it depends a lot on your axle placement too. I don't remember exactly what your trailer looks like.

This is the best picture I could find. That's shows the side kind of decent. But there is way more deck in front of than behind the axle. I guess the thing to do would be to pull the suburban on the trailer front end first and play with the placement until it looks about right and if I can't achieve that back it off and turn it around.

SirRobyn0 said:

This is the best picture I could find. That's shows the side kind of decent. But there is way more deck in front of than behind the axle. I guess the thing to do would be to pull the suburban on the trailer front end first and play with the placement until it looks about right and if I can't achieve that back it off and turn it around.

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You are planning on removing the sides right? If not you better check outside widths on the burb bumpers and front tires. I brought my 87 burb home on a 16 foot tandem axle flatbed nose in pulled with an 87 r10 no issues. I'd be worried about tongue weight,and tongue weight changes on bumps if I backed on. I've pulled trailers on the highway with out enough tongue weight,pretty scary especially if you hit a bump and it makes the back of the back of the tow vehicle light.

Ricko1966 said:

You are planning on removing the sides right? If not you better check outside widths on the burb bumpers and front tires. I brought my 87 burb home on a 16 foot tandem axle flatbed nose in pulled with an 87 r10 no issues. I'd be worried about tongue weight,and tongue weight changes on bumps if I backed on. I've pulled trailers on the highway with out enough tongue weight,pretty scary especially if you hit a bump and it makes the back of the back of the tow vehicle light.

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I haven't decided on the sides yet. It would be easier for opening doors for sure without them but they are a pia to remove. Certainly if I decide to leave them I'll bring the needed tools to pull them. You probably already guessed the tow vehicle will be my 84 c20 305. She'll do it but going over the ridges and pass will be slow, but that's ok.

I would absolutely hate to tie down a truck with those sides on there.

Iirc, you need 78 or 79 inches of clearance for the width of the front axle and hubs. But I'm foggy on that measurement since I've been pulling a deckover for several years now.

bucket said:

I would absolutely hate to tie down a truck with those sides on there.

Iirc, you need 78 or 79 inches of clearance for the width of the front axle and hubs. But I'm foggy on that measurement since I've been pulling a deckover for several years now.

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Thank you for that and I didn't even think of the tie down issue, I only thought of gee it would be hard to get the door open.

When I haul feed or my tractor on it that is not an issue and the one car I put on it was a Toyota Corolla. So I did not think about the tie down thing at all.

If the deal goes through I'll pull the sides before I leave, and even if the deal falls through I will keep that in mind an I for sure apriciate it.

So did you get the suburban?

akchevrolet said:

So did you get the suburban?

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No. If I did I'd be showing ya'll pictures! Me and him don't seem to be able to get our schedules to align and I'm not driving and towing the Jeep 250 miles, and staying overnight in a motel for an I might be available. I'm still open to doing the trade but I have to get at least a commitment from him that he'll be available when I come over.

SirRobyn0 said:

Thanks so do I. I think a suburban like that would be very handy for me. Far more fitting than the jeep.

Trailer is weight rated for 7K, this is the same trailer that has the slightly bent tongue I bought I think it's been about 5 years ago now.
I have hauled around 5K of feed on it a few times. I really not sure what the suburban weighs. The trailer does have brakes on both the axles.

I'm also looking to see what it would cost to have a hauling service bring it over and it looks like $300-$400 of course I'd still have to be there to bring the guy my Jeep, sign paperwork ect. So it's probably the most costly option though it would be slightly easier for me.

I'd really like your feedback on using my trailer though.

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Your trailer should be as strong as any Uhaul trailer and if you look up GM Heritage Center Vehicle information kits, all the specs are there.
I looked quick and an 80s K20 burb is 5000-5400 curb weight.
If you trust your trailer tires at max cap likely, then I’d be comfortable using it.
But it will fit on a Uhaul trailer. Wheelbase is slightly shorter than a longbed reg cab which fits by about a c-hair. A red one….lol.
Or a dolly. Less towed weight. Pull the Jeep over early am, turn and burn with the burb, save the hotel and spend $50-60/day on a Uhaul dolly or trailer.
I’d say no chance loading backwards and getting enough or any tongue weight. Not possible on a Uhaul trailer. They’re tongue light with a 4wd pickup loaded nose first. Not likely on your trailer either imo, even though your axles look further back. But the burb runs so you can easily try it both ways with someone to throw the chock block for you.
If you have good electric brakes that’s likely better than Uhaul surge brakes ….maybe. Their dollies have no brakes. Not bad on Snoq, maybe sketchy on Vantage or Stevens.
IMO it’s remove your sides or rent a Uhaul.
Also if you get a Uhaul, lie and tell them you’re hauling a Honda civic or something small. They get wiggy about towed weight. Idk what the cutoff is but I got turned down like 20 years ago claiming a 4Runner behind a big block 3/4 ton GMT 400 before….lol. Had to run back to work and grab a F450 to tow the phucking trailer off their lot….(and go back and put it on my “little” truck). Lucky I was close to the Jobsite. Ever since then, I lie and say I’m hauling a Prius!
A K20 burb would be AWESOME! Only downside imo is the abysmal gas mileage. Makes it a toy and not a long distance cruiser like your C20 or little SUVs. Unless you like supporting our gas taxes in an even bigger way…