Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire No turkey, but killed a transmission

Well fellas....I didn't end up bagging a turkey this past weekend. Saw a few nice toms, but they was on reservation land... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

On the last day out I saw a couple of hens, but no toms.

On the way up I killed my 97 Blazer's transmission, though. (Ya hear that LEE?)
At 11:30 at night, and no civilization for 25 miles in either direction. I tells ya, no fun at all. Actually, it was kinda funny, and we made the best of it.
Three hours later we got towed to a GM Dealership in Colville. Slept in the Blazer for three hours and got into the Service Department.
It turns out that the pump for the transmission fluid developed a catastrophic leak, so we had lost all the transmission fluid within 15 miles or so of driving.
Estimate: 2700 bucks.
Oh yeah, they found the rear main seal to be leaking as well.
Well, when I bought this rig last summer, I bought an extended warranty for the first time, and I am sure glad for it now. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I had the Blazer packed full of gear, even had the backseat folded down to make it all fit.
And they gave me a Cavalier as a rental... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

But, it all fit, amazingly enough. And on top of it, it handled better than the darn Blazer with all that load.

Methinks I am gonna get rid of that blasted Blazer, as it's been nothing but trouble from day one. Literally, Day one.

I think I'll try to get a 4Runner, and bask in Toyota's reliability sunshine.

Opinions?


BTW, I need to go back up to Colville next weekend to pick up the Blazer. That means I get an additional weekend of Turkey hunting! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Mattias, that is one twisted plan for a hunting trip! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
Bust your tranny just so you can go back the next week and pick up the vehicle!
I'll have to try that one on the War Department - or not... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
Catnthehat

Matt, I have had three of them without any major problems, an 86, a 92 & now a 99. You must have the monday morning lemon Sir!

Gotta admit the Toy's are tough also.

There's good apples, and there's bad apples.
Like I said, that rig's been trouble from the start, and I don't have a good feeling about it. So, I'd rather cut my losses and get out of that thing.
Seems that Toyota would be much less likely to develop major problems.

They are all man made. No devine intervention for any of them! FWIW

Dat's for sure.

But I think Toyota IS indeed far less likely to develop problems than GM products.

Dem's fightin' words buddy!!! I'd rather have a sister in a cat house than a brother in a jap ride!!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Oh dear....C'mon Terry: That Blazer is as Jap as the Toyota, and the Toyota is as American as the Blazer...

Somewhere in the nebulous middle.

B'sides, I won't be buying an "American" vehicle if I gotta get cozy with the shop on a permanent basis. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I see you missed all the smilies at the end! I am thinking Tracker of Forrester myself in the near future. I been driving a Plymouth Sundance since my 86 Blazer died at 280,000 miles. That really sucks pond water! My wife can keep the Blazer for a work car, I need a play truck, BAD!

What'd your blazer die of? I gotta admit, 280,000 miles is a graceful age.

I did see your smilies....just forgot to put 20plus smilies in my post.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Terminal worn out engin. Once the oil consumption starts to catch up with fuel it's time to retire. 'Sides the body was getting really shot as well.

I drive a 94 jeep cherokee country...if it ever dies it will either be another jeep or a toyota

I am going to eat crow on trading in the Blazer. I owe 10k, and it certainly ain't worth that much. Considering that, I need to get a vehicle new enough, reliable enough, and expensive enough, to incorporate the rest of the Blazer payoff in it.
Suggestions from someone more experienced than me? (Virtually everybody... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />)

In that case you will just have to suck it up and take it in the wallet Sir. I will never do that again!

Do what again?

Get upside down on a car loan, you are stuck with almost to the end of the term that way.

I know it...but what am I to do?

Since I have the perceived need to get another rig, and I'll be upside down for sure, I better make sure it's new and reliable enough (Read: Expensive) to 1.) make it worth my while/money, and 2.) be able to drive it through the life of the loan.

Thats it in a nut shell Sir.

Go Toyota. I'm on my second. Tacoma Double Cab 4x4. Tough as nails. Two years, 50k miles, a good number of that off road in some rough stuff, and driving it harder than I probably should have. Not a single problem. Outiside of the famous Tacoma dash rattle (easily fixed) not even a rattle in the truck!



Though I do have to admit, that even though it spent a lot of time being worked on, I did have a certain fondness for my 84 GMC Jimmy 6.2 diesel I got rid of 2 years ago to get this Toyota. If I didn't know how to work on diesels and vehicles in general, I'd of been in trouble and stuck in the middle of nowhere more than once with that one though.



As far as my patriotism in regard to my choice of vehicles, I'll let my 10 years of military service speak to that......