russtburb
northwest
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Joined: 03/07/2010
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I am new to this Site but it looks amazing!
After several years of talk I am finally ready to buy a new (to me) Tow Vehicle. We have decided on a 99-06 body style Suburban. I tow a 2008 Aerolite that I guess weighs in loaded about 6k lbs Just wanting to bounce some questions off of some you who may have one of these. I am sorry if this isn't the right place to ask these questions.
We are planning a cross country trip towing the trailer and I do not want to have to worry about my rig not being up to the task. I only plan on towing about 1200 miles a year other wise.
I am probably going to get a 3/4 ton with the 8.1L but not real sure and just exploring my options as those are pretty hard to find around these parts. The Excursions are nice and I'd get one with the 7.3L PSD if I could find one, and my wife prefers the suburban as do I.
1. Does anyone tow with there 1/2 ton burb and what kind of mileage does one get when towing 6k lbs, with the 5.3L?
2. What kind of normal issues should I expect with either 1/2ton or 3/4ton models? Fuel pump at 120K for example. 4l60e's nuking at 160k etc.
3. How do you read the option codes in the glove box to find the gear ratio?
4. Obviously the lower the miles the better but how many miles can you expect out of these things before major issues? I see plenty on the inter-weby that have well over 200k miles and they claim they still run well.
5. How bad is the 6.0L Ford PSD anyway? I work in public Transit and I have heard tons of horror stories about them in that application. Are they that bad?
Well that’s all I got now, Thanks for reading
Dennis
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ArcticDodge
Sammamish, WA
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Joined: 05/02/2005
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"I am probably going to get a 3/4 ton with the 8.1L"
That's what I would get since no diesel was available in a GM SUV. The Ford 6.0 is not worth any consideration given the extensive unreliability issues.
2009 Komfort 256TS
2001 Dodge Ram 3500 QC 4x4 Cummins DRW
2005 Dodge Durango Limited AWD HEMI
2001 Sebring Convertible
1995 Miata M-Edition
2005 DRZ400
1 Wife  2 teenage Boys 
1 Trixie (Bichon Frise)
Only 24 years to retirement!!!!
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janechucknicodemus
Oregon
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Joined: 10/13/2009
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russtburb wrote:I am new to this Site but it looks amazing!
After several years of talk I am finally ready to buy a new (to me) Tow Vehicle. We have decided on a 99-06 body style Suburban. I tow a 2008 Aerolite that I guess weighs in loaded about 6k lbs Just wanting to bounce some questions off of some you who may have one of these. I am sorry if this isn't the right place to ask these questions.
We are planning a cross country trip towing the trailer and I do not want to have to worry about my rig not being up to the task. I only plan on towing about 1200 miles a year other wise.
I am probably going to get a 3/4 ton with the 8.1L but not real sure and just exploring my options as those are pretty hard to find around these parts. The Excursions are nice and I'd get one with the 7.3L PSD if I could find one, and my wife prefers the suburban as do I.
1. Does anyone tow with there 1/2 ton burb and what kind of mileage does one get when towing 6k lbs, with the 5.3L?
2. What kind of normal issues should I expect with either 1/2ton or 3/4ton models? Fuel pump at 120K for example. 4l60e's nuking at 160k etc.
3. How do you read the option codes in the glove box to find the gear ratio?
4. Obviously the lower the miles the better but how many miles can you expect out of these things before major issues? I see plenty on the inter-weby that have well over 200k miles and they claim they still run well.
5. How bad is the 6.0L Ford PSD anyway? I work in public Transit and I have heard tons of horror stories about them in that application. Are they that bad?
Well that’s all I got now, Thanks for reading
Dennis
How much does' that Aerolite weigh? An 8.0 L is not going to give much in mileage,, BUT heck for stout. If a 1/2 ton will do a decent job on the new trailer, you will get a better mileage when not towing. Plus a real nice ride. My son has a 96 Burb and hauls about a ton inside , but any time you haul the mileage is going to hit the skids. Most likely 10-+ is going to be your best down hill.
Chuck
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Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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Joined: 07/10/2002
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Get the 3/4 8.1L with towing package. It will work great for you.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2011 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two bikes (both Electric Schwinn's with motor assist)
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russtburb
northwest
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So Dick B, What kind of Mileage do you get with your 3/4 ton burb? I've heard that what the 8.1L lacks in non towning mileage it makes up for towing. Meaning it gets better then the 6.0L gas while towing.
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JustLabs
Washington State
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Joined: 05/13/2002
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russtburb wrote:So Dick B, What kind of Mileage do you get with your 3/4 ton burb? I've heard that what the 8.1L lacks in non towning mileage it makes up for towing. Meaning it gets better then the 6.0L gas while towing.
The 6.0 has never been known for great mileage. Thats one of the reasons I got the 8.1 when I owned my 2500HD. It was a no brainer to sacrifice 2mpg for close to 100 ft-lbs more torque with the 8.1
2011 Chevrolet 2500HD LTZ 4x4 CCLB Duramax/Allison
2007 Keystone Cougar 289BHS Fifth Wheel.
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Sinecure
South of New Orleans
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Joined: 01/25/2006
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Just throwing something completely different out there...
Do a search over on www.dieselplace.com for a guy named "theTDIguy" or search for topics containing "Duraburb". This guy does Duramax/Suburban conversions. He is very well respected, as is his work. And everything is factory/OEM/stock... exactly as if GM had produced it. He can convert a 1/2 ton suburban to a true 3/4 ton with duramax diesel and allison transmission, beefed up rear end, etc. His prices seem to be fair as well. Just a thought.
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with this guy, nor am I in any way benefitting from mentioning it. I just know I'd personally give it a look if I were in the market for a suburban with a large towing capacity.
2007 Wilderness 3102BDS Travel Trailer
2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4x4 LBZ Duramax Diesel
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Rubber Ducky
Central Indiana
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Joined: 02/16/2003
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Chevy rear axle codes:
GU6: 3.42
GT4: 3.73
GT5: 4.10
Robert & Tricia
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BenK
SF BayArea
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Joined: 04/18/2002
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Ask over at my Suburban/Taheo/SUV/Truck site.
WWW.OurSuv.com
I'll ask you some questions that might help you.
- 6K is at the limit for any 7,200 GVWR GM truck
- Do you like to be at the max limits
- Do you like to be just barely do it
- Do you want to have more then enough
- Is MPG more important than towing performance
A lot depends on how you will load up both the Suburban and the
trailer. If you load up the Suburban to it's GVWR, then there will
be no ratings left for the trailer. Stuff like that.
Plus that range in years has three different platforms for Suburbans.
GMT400 (mine), GMT800 and GMT900.
-Ben Picture of my rig
1996 GMC SLT Suburban 3/4 ton K3500/7.4L/4:1/+150Kmiles orig owner...
1980 Chevy Silverado C10/long bed/"BUILT" 5.7L/3:73/1 ton helper springs/+329Kmiles, bought it from dad...
1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
Praise Dyno Brake equiped and all have "nose bleed" braking!
Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
51 cylinders in household, what's yours?...
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Nomadac
Columbus, IN
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Joined: 11/22/2004
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russtburb wrote:So Dick B, What kind of Mileage do you get with your 3/4 ton burb? I've heard that what the 8.1L lacks in non towning mileage it makes up for towing. Meaning it gets better then the 6.0L gas while towing.
I have a 2001 Chevy Suburban 2500 w/8.1L and 4:10 ratio. Towing our Avion 32'TT weighing 7600 lbs. I averaged 9-10 mpg traveling 70 mph from Indiana to Myrtle Beach, SC. roundtrip.
Driving w/o trailer the mileage was in the 10-14 mpg. city/highway. Not the best but considering the GVW not that bad IMO. The 8.1L was about the same mileage that a 6.0L but with more power and torque. and greater towing capacity.
Arnie
2003 Travel Supreme MH
38KSO1 Cummins ISC 350HP
2004 Honda Pilot w/SMI Air Force One Brake Sys.
1963 Pontiac Grand Prix 20' Enclosed Car Trailer
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