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

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.