Tahoe vs Suburban

travelnman wrote:
We like the Tahoe for general use around town but when towing is
the Suburban or Yukon XL a better choice. Anyone experience both
SUV's and notice any major differences towing. Our RV or TT weighs about 6,300 dry and is 28 feet in length.

I have owned 2, Tahoes and 1 Suburban and towed with all 3. Both TT's and cargo trailers.

The Tahoes (98 and 2002) did a good job of pulling 6 x 10 cargo trailers loaded to 5,000# with 600 to 700# tongue weight. Yes I knew it was back there, but it did a good job.

Then came the first TT and I had the 2003 Tahoe. The Vortec engine had not a lot of pulling issues other than a real drinking problem but I was up against GVW in the Tahoe and worse GAWR-RR. The issue I had was a loaded 26 foot TT, with a 1,000# loaded tongue weight. And I was not even yet fully loaded in camper weight. Realizing I made an error, yes I can pull it but cannot hold it up, now insert the 2003, 2500 Suburban.

Now the 26 foot, 6,500# and 1,200# TW loaded TT was not a problem no matter where I went. I could hold up the loaded TW, I could have at least 300# of camping gear in the truck, and it was only DW and I.



Then came the new camper, 32 foot, 7,500# not yet loaded and that put the 6.0 liter Burb back into issues. I took it all the way to 15,750# combined weight, had to manage to the 1,200# tongue weight. Lucky me I found the wrong mountain in western PA and found the limits of the Burb where you can have enough engine but cannot get ride of the tranny heat.


I knew I was going to need a TV upgrade to load this 7,500# dry camper to where it is today, 9,950# and 1,600# TW. Thus the F350 came and now all the issues are gone again, except the the truck drinking problem...

So yes I have had experience with both. If you are talking the new 1500 Burbs or Tahoe's, from my experience you are not going to be happy long term with a 6,300# dry camper. Loaded this can turn into 8 to 8,500# and have a loaded tongue weight over 1,000#. If you have kids and other must carry in the truck stuff, you will run out of payload capacity, truck receiver capacity and rear axle capacity before you run out of engine. Yes the longer Suburban will be more stable, but the truck weighs more to start with. The Tahoe has a shorter rear overhang (rear axle to tow ball) then the Burb which helps lower sway, however you will still run out of GAWR-RR and be pushing the GVWR, just you can hual a little more cargo in the truck

If you want to go with the older 2500 Suburban, 2007 or newer, the truck can handle more weight, just the receiver is limited to a 1,000# rating. This is when GM said, the 1500 or 2500 SUV is no longer going to be in the larger camper towing line.

If you want to tow the camper weights you looking at or larger, need to find an older 2000 to 2006 2500Burb with the 8.1 big block. Towing length can be helped with a Hensley hitch and the truck will do most everything you need it too with an aftermarket receiver upgrade.

If you have your heart set on that dry weight camper, consider a 3/4 ton anything, van, SUV or PU, OR find the right size equipped new 1500 PU that has the upgrade payload capacity and pulling capacity.

If you can find a lighter dry weight camper, ~ 5,000# dry, then you have a better chance with either 1500 SUV. You will need to stay on top of the GAWR-RR and the GVWR but it can be done and stay at to inside the ratings.

I found out that you can buy a decked out crew cab PU with all the bells and whistles a lot cheaper then the SUV and the truck can out hold up and out pull any SUV for the same price. And still save some $$$.

Hope this helps

John