Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Tow Vehicles: MPG for a 2500 Suburban?

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Topic: MPG for a 2500 Suburban?

Posted By: KD4UPL on 01/08/17 06:29pm

With another baby on the way I'm thinking of upgrading our family sedan to a Suburban. I want to be able to use it for towing so I'm going to go for a 2500 model. I know mileage towing will be single digits and I'm fine with that.
What kind of mileage might I expect just hauling the family around as a daily driver?
If I get an early Sub with the 4 speed auto I think I'd like to have the 8.1L. Or, I may get a newer one with the 6.0 but it will have to have the 6 speed auto.
Either way, what kind of MPG are you getting just running around town or on the highway with no trailer and now big heavy payload?

Thanks,

Posted By: austingta on 01/08/17 06:36pm

You'll get about what a Silverado 2500 of those years does... 17 on the highway and 11 in town driving easy.

Frank Brooks Austin TX
2018 F 150 King Ranch max tow package with 3.55 gears
Published towing weight limit 13200
Payload per sticker 1464

Posted By: whjco on 01/08/17 06:43pm

I had two 2500 Suburbans, one with a 350 and one with a 454. Towing a 11,500# enclosed car trailer, I got about 6 mpg. Normal driving, 10 - 12 mpg in town and about 13-15 mpg on the highway.

Bill J., Lexington, KY
2006 Starcraft 2500RKS 25' Travel Trailer
2015 Ram 2500 Big Horn 6.7 Cummins.

Posted By: krobbe on 01/08/17 06:44pm

2003 Suburban 2500, 8.1L, 3.73 axle ratio, 4x4.
12 - 14mpg highway.
10 - 12mpg mixed driving.
9 - 9.5 towing my TT across country.
Worth every gallon of gas to tow with no worries.
Not my daily driver.

Me'62, DW'67, DS'04, DD'07
'03 Chevy Suburban 2500LT 4WD Vortec8.1L 4L85-E 3.73 CurtClassV
'09 BulletPremier295BHS 33'4" 7200#Loaded 1100#Tongue Equal-i-zerHitch Tires:Kumho857
Pics

Posted By: Bionic Man on 01/09/17 08:19am

I had a 2003 2500 with the 8.1 for a year and about 13000 miles. Tracked all the fill ups. I did not tow a travel trailer with it, but did tow a 6500 pound boat.

2012 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW CC 4x4 Max Tow, Cummins HO, 60 gallon RDS aux fuel tank, Reese 18k Elite hitch
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 Cummins HO NV5600 with Smarty JR, Jacobs EB (sold)
2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 29FRB with Honda EV6010

Posted By: krobbe on 01/09/17 12:10pm

Looking at Fuelly.com, the 6.0L 6speed will only gain about 1-2mpg mixed driving. Towing could be the same or worse for a heavy(6000 - 9000#) TT.
It is so much more fun to press the go pedal(at speed) and actually go. [emoticon]

Still thinking about one of these for daily driving?

Posted By: Dadoffourgirls on 01/09/17 12:24pm

The 8.1 and 4.10 would be at least one and close to 2 mpg less than what Krobbe listed for the 3.73. Tires make a huge difference. I could pretty much count on 10 mpg (12 on all highway, posted speed limits), and 6-8 when towing.

APT will be along to tell you how good the 6.0 and 6 speed is.

Dad of Four Girls
Wife
Employee of GM, all opinions are my own!
2017 Express Ext 3500 (Code named "BIGGER ED" by daughters)
2011 Jayco Jayflight G2 32BHDS

Posted By: Jayco-noslide on 01/09/17 02:16pm

I had 2 half-ton Chevy V-8 trucks as a daily driver and the overall average ran around 13. I expect a 2500 would be 1 or 2 lower. My little Chevy Sonic more than doubles that. Can't tow anything but I tow it.

Jayco-noslide

Posted By: ksu_j on 01/09/17 03:24pm

I've had both a 2004 3/4 Suburban with the 8.1 and 4.10 rear end and now have a 2008 3/4 ton Suburban with the 6.0/6speed and 3.73 rear end.

The 8.1 would get 10 mpg no matter what. Empty in town, 10mpg. Empty on the highway, 10mpg unless under 65mph, then would "jump" to 12mpg. Pulling a 6,000lbs camper, still between 9-10 mpg.

The 2008 is way more broad on what it'll get.

Empty in town, 13-14. Empty on the highway, 15-17 depending on speed and wind. Towing I have yet to get better than about 8.5-9.

All that said, I prefer the newer one to the older one. It doesn't pull nearly as hard as the 8.1, but it is MUCH easier/relaxing to drive on the highway. Those 4.10 gears were just so wound up at about 70mph. And I live in a state where 75 is the normal highway speed limit.

2002 25' KZ Frontier
2005 GMC Yukon XL Denali

Posted By: KD4UPL on 01/09/17 03:35pm

Thanks for all the responses. Particularly ksu_i who's had both of the exact combinations I was considering. I wouldn't be towing heavy, probably just a 6,000 pound boat so I should probably be leaning toward a newer vehicle with the 6.0/6 speed.
We'll have 3 kids in car seats plus me and my wife so I may have to take the gas mileage hit just to fit everyone and everything inside.

Posted By: jamesu on 01/10/17 06:56am

I get 15-16 mpg when I am not towing. 9.5 10.5 when I am.

2011 Chevy 2500 Duramax diesel
2019 Timber Ridge 24RLS (Outdoors RV)
Go Cougs!

Posted By: ksu_j on 01/11/17 09:52am

KD4UPL wrote:

No problem. I should point out that the reason I prefer the newer 2008 with the 6.0 is because of the amount of towing I do. I tow my camper MAYBE 10 times a year with most being short trips ~100 miles or so, and one long trip 1,000+ miles a year. If I were towing my camper long distances a lot of times a year, I'd much rather prefer the big block and 4.10. I could literally put it in 4th gear and set the cruise at 65mph and just sit back and drive. But, empty highway driving was so bad that I didn't want to take it on long road trips without the camper.

So since my wife's Honda Pilot is getting up there in age and mileage, 2005 with 163,000 miles (incredible SUV by the way), I wanted something that was good for long road trips, but could also be used to pull the camper long distances. The 2008 with the 6.0 and 6 speed is pretty much a PERFECT compromise for me. Doesn't pull the camper quite as well (by a healthy margin actually), but is immensely better driving down the highway solo, at higher speeds.

Posted By: trail-explorer on 01/13/17 09:40pm

KD4UPL wrote:

If I get an early Sub with the 4 speed auto I think I'd like to have the 8.1L.

I don't believe such animal exists.

As far as I know, all the 8.1s had an Allison, 5 speed. I don't the the 6 speed Alli was mated to the 8.1, but maybe it was.

Bob

Posted By: Bionic Man on 01/13/17 10:08pm

I don't think any of the Suburbans had the Allison. I know mine didn't. Mine was the regular 4 speed.

Posted By: APT on 01/14/17 06:18am

85k miles on our 6.0L/6-spd. As high as 18mpg non-towing highway, as low as 6.5MPG towing. Typically, we average 13mpg in daily driving and 8mpg towing.

A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R
2x 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV (Gray and Black Twins)

Posted By: Grit dog on 01/14/17 09:59am

Thought the 8.1/Alli combo was just in the pickups and the burbs got the 4L80 or whatever it was.
Same reason for no diesel in the burb because the Alli don't fit in the trans tunnel on the non HD bodies. Icbw
An Alli is the way to go behind the 8.1 but a built 4speed for will handle the 8.1 well.

2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

Posted By: akcooper9 on 02/02/17 12:31pm

I have an 05 Yukon XL 2500 with a 6.0/4L80E 4.10 on 265/75/16 tires and get 15MPG on the highway and 14 in town during the winter and 12 in the summer.

Posted By: krobbe on 02/02/17 02:37pm

trail-explorer wrote:

KD4UPL wrote:

If I get an early Sub with the 4 speed auto I think I'd like to have the 8.1L.

I don't believe such animal exists.

As far as I know, all the 8.1s had an Allison, 5 speed. I don't the the 6 speed Alli was mated to the 8.1, but maybe it was.

For 2002+, all the 2500 8.1L Burbs/YukonXL's came with the Hydra-Matic 4L85-E and the 6.0L got the 4L80-E transmissions.
The 5 Speed Allison was an option in the 8.1L Pickups only.

Posted By: ramyankee on 02/02/17 03:28pm

By my sig, depending on terrain empty it can go between 13-15 and towing our 5th Wheel depending upon terrain it will be between 6.5 and maybe 9.
I drive between 60-65 MAX.And I have just over 117000.

Rick and Patti ">
2 Proud Christian CONSERVATIVES ">
2002 Chevy Silverado, 8.1, Crew, LB, 3.73, 4X4
2020 Mesa Ridge 291rls
Now living in North Idaho (formerly Northeastern California) ... but the heart is with MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

Posted By: Thunderbolt on 02/02/17 04:39pm

Suburbans with the 8.1 have a 4L85E transmission.

trail-explorer wrote:

KD4UPL wrote:

If I get an early Sub with the 4 speed auto I think I'd like to have the 8.1L.

I don't believe such animal exists.

As far as I know, all the 8.1s had an Allison, 5 speed. I don't the the 6 speed Alli was mated to the 8.1, but maybe it was.

Bryan
2003 2500HD Ext. cab short box
6.0 liter 4.10 gears, Nelson performance PCM 293,000 miles
98 K1500 4x4 heavy duty 1/2 ton (Sold)
6,600lb GVWR 5,280lbs on the scale empty
14 bolt rear diff. 3:73 , Tranny and oil coolers
380,000 miles.

Posted By: befu on 02/02/17 04:43pm

Have two of the 2004 - 8.1L - 3.73 4x4 burbs, both white LS models. My favorite! Had a 1994 with 5.7, still have a 1999 with 5.7 as my daily driver, just picked up a 2010 - 5.3 4x4 for the wife's daily driver.

The 8.1L burbs get 14 on the highway. Throw in wife and 7 kids, get 14 on the highway. Add rear cargo carrier and luggage carrier up top, get 14 on the highway. Town is 10 to 11 it seems, but we live in small town so mostly country driving. Tow burbs also live in front of trailers owning 4 suburbans, so mileage doesn't matter. But towing 10,000 pounds we usually get about 8 mpg in the midwest. When we went out to yellowstone, milage did drop to mid 6's with all the large grades. I am planning on putting 4.10's in one of them for future towing, I am right at the 10,000 pound tow limit and feel it with the 3.73
On the highway, I am limited to 65 mph to keep the RPM's around 2700 if I remember. OD just doesn't work there if you hit any grade and on an overpass it wants to hit second when on cruise. So I figure set the one with 70k miles on it up for serious towing with the 4.10's and keep the other one with 160k miles on it for local towing or the boat, which is only 8,500.
The 1999 definitely feels it when I tried towing the boat with it. But it gets 17 mpg on highway and 13 to 14 average driving.

The 2010 burb is what we refer to as the "eco-burb". It has the 5.3L with 3.07 gears and 6 speed. Only has a 5,500 tow rating, but got it for a glorified station wagon. Highway it can get 21 to 22 mpg. Then you go 75, add the wife, the 7 kids, luggage carrier on top and cargo carrier on back and you end up getting 17. I do not recommend these gears. The 5.3 is fine and the 6 speed, but it is not geared enough.

At the weight you are looking to tow, I would get a 2500 burb, 6.0L with 3.73 gears. I do not know the specs, but it would probably be up around 9,000 lbs, I forget if the higher number was with 4.10's or not. But my 2004 2500 burbs feel solid. Ride good, but solid. The 2010 1/2 ton is like a toy. It is lighter, thinner and feels like a station wagon. The 2500 in 2004 is a tank! If they still made the pre 2007 version, I would have bought one. Best burbs I have ever had.

Everyone I know who towed a TT over 5,000 pounds wished they had a 2500.

2012 Puma 31dbts TT
2004 Suburban 2500 - 3.73 - 8.1L - 4x4
Helping global warming at 496 cubic inches per revolution!

Posted By: deltabravo on 02/02/17 07:56pm

KD4UPL wrote:

If I get an early Sub with the 4 speed auto I think I'd like to have the 8.1L

I believe all 8.1L engines had the Allison transmission, either the 5 or 6 speed, depending on the model year.

2009 Silverado 3500HD Dually, D/A, CCLB 4x4 (bought new 8/30/09)
2018 Arctic Fox 992 with an Onan 2500i "quiet" model generator

Posted By: demiles on 02/03/17 03:21am

As stated earlier, the pickups with the 8.1l had the Allision the burbs got the 4l-80e.

2008 Jayco G2 28RBS
2016 Nissan XD 5.0L Cummins

Posted By: twxsby89 on 02/03/17 08:34am

I get 12 around town, and 7-8 towing.

2013 K2500 Suburban
2016 Coachmen 310BHDSLE
2011 JKUR
2012 Wells Cargo Camp Convert

Posted By: 4x4ord on 02/03/17 09:10am

We had a 2007 Yukon Denali XL. It was an absolute beautiful vehicle to drive. On strict hiway trips it got 20 mpg(US). About 14 mpg the way we used it running around. It had a 6.2 engine and alot of power. To this day I've never had a vehicle I liked as much as that Yukon. I am quite sure it would have no trouble towing a 6000 lb boat. Car and Driver road test.

I believe it has a tow rating of around 7500 lbs....Limited by the AWD components.

2023 F350 SRW Platinum short box 4x4.
B&W Companion
2008 Citation Platinum XL 34.5

Posted By: Koonzee on 05/19/17 11:43am

2001 Yukon XL: 2500-6L-4L80E-3.73 @ 120k miles
Fuel economy while in ideal flat countryside (several full tanks during a 5500 mile vacation):
CC @ 55 mph: 20.6 mpg
CC @ 60 mph: 19.5 mpg
CC @ 70 mph: 17.7 mpg
Best ever was 21.11 mpg at night from Las Vegas to Newport Beach, CA over 285 miles @ 60mph w/CC. Very well maintained vehicle and everything is stock from the air intake to the tailpipe.

Posted By: akcooper9 on 05/19/17 11:45am

Koonzee wrote:

I call BS!

Posted By: Koonzee on 05/19/17 12:32pm

Same fueling stations and three clicks on each fill up.
Install SiriusXM, settle into a truckers lane at night and enjoy the 'listening booth'.

BS... you are entitled to your opinion.

I posted the data points for those seeking real world do-able mileage in ideal road conditions.

21.11 mpg was obtained in 2005 @ 30k miles. (I-15: Vegas to Newport Beach)
20.6 mpg was obtained in 2016 @ 120k miles. (I-15: Butte, MT - San Diego; around WY & MT)

The above was obtained on highways.

Obtain a vehicle with similar configuration and use cruise control in a slow lane without traffic congestion. I have no reason to exaggerate... or BS. It is simply math. If you have jacked 'er up, installed mud tires, tailgate others and drive aggressively, you are probably like not going to do as well...)

* This post was edited 05/19/17 12:41pm by Koonzee *

Posted By: BenK on 05/19/17 12:54pm

Believable and am in the hunt for the finishing details for the rebuild of my 1996 K3500 Suburban from a 4.1 diff ratio to something in the 4.88 range. Plus a GearVendors OD that will turn my 4 speed into an 8 speed

My 96 K3500 7.4L gets 10 MPG just about all the time. Pure freeway get 12.x MPG and occasionally get 15.x MPG often enough to claim it. Towing heavy is around 7-8 MPG dependent on terrain and my computer controlled right foot...

With the current 4.1's final ratio is 3.08 in OD at the axle. First is 10.17 at the axle.

With the 4.88's and with a GearVendors final ratio is 2.85 in double OD at the axle. OD & double OD are not for towing, but cruising. First will be 12.1 at the axle.

Double OD will have the big block cruising 65MPH at about 1,400-1,800 RPMs, at which my big block is at 100% torque capabilities. Haven't spent the time to do the detailed cal's yet...just than range as my guess (still noodling which tire size)

GearVendors 4L80E 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE chart

Waiting for that 'gosh darn....gotta rebuild the 7.4'....

PS...I've blocked that BS'er and is what that function is for...removing commentators who I just don't wish to read/hear from...

PPS...I keep my vehicles a long time and am happy with what I have...do NOT like spending what a replacement would cost (highest optioned Suburban at it's time and today that is in the $90K range) and the there are no +8.6K GVWR Subs...nor are the vans to my liking at this time)

-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?...

Posted By: akcooper9 on 05/19/17 01:06pm

BenK wrote:

PS...I've blocked that BS'er and is what that function is for...removing commentators who I just don't wish to read/hear from...

Sad, you must not of read my earlier post where I post my real world numbers. While I still don't believe it, Im glade he got 20 MPG out of a 8.1 [emoticon]

Posted By: STEVEO496 on 05/19/17 01:37pm

Mine is all original except for a Hypertech "econo" tuner. 3.73 gears, 4x4 etc fully loaded except for 4.10 LS axle. Best mine has ever done according to the instant economy readout is about 14mpg on a flat hwy @55mph in cool air. Usually average around 11 mpg overall and around 8mpg pulling the camper. I do have one size larger tire than stock so that does throw off the speedometer by a little. I drive like a grandmother and it still gets crappy mileage, just the nature of the beast.

2012 Keystone Cougar 30RLS
2005 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 8.1
Reese Titan receiver and Equalizer WDH

Posted By: Koonzee on 05/21/17 12:58pm

akcooper: Please note my Yukon XL has a 6.0 L engine.

2001 Yukon XL: 2500-6L-4L80E-3.73

Posted By: akcooper9 on 05/21/17 01:03pm

Koonzee wrote:

akcooper: Please note my Yukon XL has a 6.0 L engine.

2001 Yukon XL: 2500-6L-4L80E-3.73

I missed that but I still do not believe your getting 20 mpg out of it. To many folks have 6.0s and hardly see 15. So 20 no way.

Posted By: PAThwacker on 05/21/17 09:45pm

2004 K2500 6.0 3.73 with built 4L80E Average 10 mpg city and towing. It has max tow rating of 7600 lbs limited by gear ratio only. Big block 4.10 subs in that generation have 10,000 pound max. 2007 on up 6500lb trailer max before the factory hitch gets ripped off, bwhahahaha

2015 Keystone Springdale Summerland 257rl
Tow vehicle: 2003 GMC K1500 ext lb
Previous: 14 years of 3 popups and a hybrid tt

Posted By: PDX.Zs on 05/21/17 09:52pm

Our 2011 6.0 has never show anything over 16 just cruising.... downhill ..... with a tailwind.

At speed MPG is primarily a function of wind resistance.

I have stopped looking at fuel economy and the gas bills. I just like the truck and don't want to know.

@Pat... yes the tow rating and the hitch on the new trucks is embarrassing. But it's really nothing a good fab shop and a big check can't fix. :-)

Posted By: Koonzee on 05/26/17 12:00pm

While going through my maintenance log, I found a few more data points, often doing round trips and filling up at the same fuel station near my home.
fyi for those considering a 6.0 liter with a 3.73 rear gear ratio. Here ya go!
Las Vegas to Newport Beach
285 miles; 13.5 gallons; 21.11 mpg; CC @ 60 mph
126 miles; 6.97 gallons; 18.1 mpg
129 miles; 7.78 gallons; 16.6 mpg
156 miles; 9.3 gallons; 16.8 mpg
432miles; 22 gallons; 19.64 mpg
280 miles; 14.549 gal; 19.25 mpg
Mileage Datapoints: 5,500 Mile Rocky Mountain Tour
55 mph: 20.6 mpg
60 mph: 19.5 mpg
70 mph: 17.7 mpg

Posted By: mrgrim007 on 06/22/17 08:49pm

PAThwacker wrote:

Big block, 4.10 Suburbans have a 12,000 lb tow rating.

2014 RAM 3500 CTD, CC, Longbed
Rockwood 2608BS - On Order

Sold - 2002 Suburban 2500, 8.1L, 4.10
Sold - 2016 Jayco Jayflight SLX 212QBW 25' 6"
Sold - 2013 Jayco Jayflight 32BHDS 35' 6"

Posted By: Drew510 on 06/23/17 09:41am

Just to add to the record:
2003 Suburban 2500, 6.0L, 3.73 axle ratio, 4x4. Mods in sig.
12 - 14mpg highway.
10 - 12mpg mixed driving.
9 - 9.5 towing my TT

Trailer: 2017 Heartland Mallard IDM29

TV: 2003 Chevy Suburban Quadrasteer 3/4 ton 6.0
Enhancements:
40k Aux transmission cooler
Black Bear Performance Tune
Power Stop brakes
Sumo Springs
Pioneer in-dash DVD with backup camera

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