Suburban for a tow vehicle?

[Sivymp1]

My wife and I have 3 kids of our own and have three foster kids. Even without the foster kids it is a tight squeeze in my Crew Cab Z71. We are considering a Suburban but not sure if it can tow our camper. Anyone else tow with a suburban?

[TLB]

I don't have a Suburban but I would say that is a good choice, and will most likely be my next truck when I'm ready to purchase a new truck.

[JRTJH]

You're looking at 8 people (say 75 pounds per child and 200 per adult) weighing around 850 pounds, around 700-900 pounds of trailer tongue weight and hitch, plus whatever cargo 6 kids "insist" they have to remain "travel ready"..... That's pushing 1600 + pounds of payload. If you're considering a 3/4 ton Suburban, depending on the engine/GCWR you should be OK. If you're considering one of the newer 1/2 ton models, you may be pushing your payload beyond it's capability. Do the math, then make your decisions. Good Luck

[GaryWT]

Friend of mine tows with a Suburban 2500 and it is a nice tow vehicle. If it is a 1500, like said, watch the payload.

[Desert185]

3/4 ton version and the optimum for towing engine and drivetrain options, for sure. Don't even consider the 1/2 ton version.

Too bad they don't make a Duramax/Allison version.

[Steve S]

I think it's a great idea with all the kids plus you'll have so much extra room to load stuff that you'll use on a daily basis while camping.
It's at the top of my list for a TV as there's so many benifits to this vehicle compared to a truck.
I also agree with everyone about the weight and stepping up to the heavy duty one.

[JRTJH]

GM stopped producing the HD suburban in 2013. Only the half ton version is available currently as either a 2014 or 2015 model. There is "rumor" (if you can believe Wikipedia) that sometime in 2015, a 2500HD version will become available as a 2016 year model.

There is no talk of a diesel variant, but some speculation that a 3500 series "special edition" with a 10-14K GVW may be produced later in the year.

Right now, the only way to get a 2500 Suburban is to buy used. That may change, if the rumors are correct. At any rate, a "half ton version" likely would be overloaded with 8 passengers, their gear and a RV in tow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Suburban

[hemisareslow]

As a fleet manager at a chevy dealer I can tell you....don't hold your breath on a 2500HD Suburban being released ever again. Sadly the 2015 suburban is only rated to tow a 7,800 pound trailer when equipped with the max trailer package. We do offer a 2500HD passenger van as well as a 3500....both have an available 6.6L duramax and the 6.0L gas..the 2500 with the gas engine will tow 9800 pounds the diesel 10000....just some food for thought

[notanlines]

In my opinion your choice of a Suburban, or Yukon, would be good. But it needs to be the 2500 model. Here is a site I came up with that had 30 for sale across the country. Believe me, this is a common vehicle and you should be able to land a deal if you work hard at it. http://www.carclassifiedsbystate.com/12/gmc/yukon-xl-2500/index.html

[bsmith0404]

I had a 1/2 ton suburban and absolutely loved it for a family of 6. Sold it when we decided to start towing more, just not enough capability. The 2500 with the 6.0 would have been nice. I had a fried with a diesel Excursion, I was always a little jealous and couldn't figure out why GM didn't offer the same. I guess they just didn't see a big enough market for it.

[hemisareslow]

In my opinion your choice of a Suburban, or Yukon, would be good. But it needs to be the 2500 model. Here is a site I came up with that had 30 for sale across the country. Believe me, this is a common vehicle and you should be able to land a deal if you work hard at it. http://www.carclassifiedsbystate.com/12/gmc/yukon-xl-2500/index.html

its a common vehicle if your ok with buying with with higher mileage and 5-10 years old......

[cblong]

If you don't mind used then a nice used suburban 2500 would be great but you should look into excursions. they have tons of room and there was a diesel variant. only problem it is a tall vehicle and wouldn't fit in some garages.

[JRTJH]

One of the "disadvantages" of the Excursion is payload. It is a "3/4 ton" truck chassis with a "heavier than usual body" (think station wagon with seats vs open bed truck). There have been numerous comments about the very limited payload of the 1999-2005 SuperDuty 250 class trucks. The Excursion, especially with a diesel option, has similar GVW ratings as those trucks with a heavier body. That means payload is very limited in most of them. That becomes even more critical when you consider the added weight of options in the "upscale versions" of the Excursion.

It's not uncommon to find a KR or Limited version of the Excursion diesel with a payload in the 1200 pound range. Realistically, the half ton Suburban can "carry more weight", but as for "towing".......... That 7.3l diesel Excursion would "drag a mountain" just not carry the driver.................. "so to speak".............

[GMcKenzie]

We do offer a 2500HD passenger van as well as a 3500....both have an available 6.6L duramax and the 6.0L gas..the 2500 with the gas engine will tow 9800 pounds the diesel 10000....just some food for thought

Just curious. Does the diesel version still not come with the Allison?

[cathcartww]

As a fleet manager at a chevy dealer I can tell you....don't hold your breath on a 2500HD Suburban being released ever again. Sadly the 2015 suburban is only rated to tow a 7,800 pound trailer when equipped with the max trailer package. We do offer a 2500HD passenger van as well as a 3500....both have an available 6.6L duramax and the 6.0L gas..the 2500 with the gas engine will tow 9800 pounds the diesel 10000....just some food for thought

If you are looking new, go for a one ton Chevy/GMC van. If you are interested in used, there are one ton Fords with V10'S and diesels out there.

The vans can haul just about everything you can load in them .....

[BirchyBoy]

I've thought about a conversion van before as a tow vehicle. I don't want a full-on camper van, but a 1 ton with some comfy seating would be sufficient.

[hemisareslow]

I've thought about a conversion van before as a tow vehicle. I don't want a full-on camper van, but a 1 ton with some comfy seating would be sufficient.

we had a conversion van in stock that was converted by explorer van....very posh on the inside...this one was the last of the 1500 AWDs and stickered for a hair under 70k.....you can still get the RWD in a 2500 with a 6.0..that would be a sweet tow vehicle


as far as I know still know allisons in the Vans....not enough clearance under the van body to house that monster...same reason they were never an option in the suburbans....those that converted their suburbans to duramax's had to install a body lift to clear the ally

[GMcKenzie]

as far as I know still know allisons in the Vans....not enough clearance under the van body to house that monster...same reason they were never an option in the suburbans....those that converted their suburbans to duramax's had to install a body lift to clear the ally

What I thought. It's too bad as the Allison is a nice tranny.

[allmi01]

Definitely go with the 2500 Suburban or a 2500 / 3500 van as go diesel if possible.

As an Excursion diesel owner, its been a great towing platform. Yes the tongue weight might push you over the payload numbers especially with a heavy trailer, but the Ex will pull it anywhere you want to go.

Trick with buying one of these is that you don;t know how it was maintained by its previous owner(s). That is so important for the 6.0 Powerstroke (and I own 2 of these engines) I would be a bit hesitant buying used. I bought my Ex new and at 258,000 miles its still strong.

Personally for your situation, I would recommend going the 2500/ 3500 van route and going diesel if that fits the budget. It's about the safety of your family and going the heavier duty van route certainly fits that criteria.

JMHO.

Mike

[summerhummer]

hMMM hope the mods dont ban me for posting on an old thread but it is related... The news is the suburban 2500 will go with a diesel option in 2020 or 2021. They dont list tow ratings yet but i am sure alot of us are waiting to hear.

[flybouy]

hMMM hope the mods dont ban me for posting on an old thread but it is related... The news is the suburban 2500 will go with a diesel option in 2020 or 2021. They dont list tow ratings yet but i am sure alot of us are waiting to hear.

No problem posting to an old thread, just be cognizant that the folks who posted 4 years ago most likely aren't following the post any longer.

[Jim2366]

Years ago with 5 kids and pulling a popup and then a travel trailer we had a suburban that was grey and light blue with a 5.7 engine. I had it for 175,000 miles and had only one repair which was just a ball joint. Then later I bought another suburban that was 2500 with a 454 gas motor and it ran great, not one problem except it got horrible mpg, it was rated to pull 10,000 lbs trailer.

As the kids got older we went with an E350 12 passenger van, it was nothing like the suburbans. But since the kids are grown I like the PU trucks.