My work rented me a 2015 Suburban for the weekend. My work event is 340 ish miles from the office so I got to spend some good time behind the wheel today. Initial observations are that this is a (obviously) very nice ride. The 5.3 is smooth and powerful. On my trip from a full tank I was able to get the lie-o-meter to reach 22.1 MPG... If that's within 2-3 mpg accurate I would say that this is impressive for a vehicle of this size. Mostly interstate travel though. This is a 2wd and has under 1700 lbs of payload. Something I found interesting in the under floor compartment in the rear of the SUV was a bundle of 4 wires with a connector.... I saw the wire colors and recognized that this is a vehicle side pig tail for an aftermarket brake controller. I thought this was interesting as I assumed that a $50k plus 2015 Suburban would have an integrated brake controller. I assumed wrong. The coolest "doodad" in this truck is the 'secret compartment' behind the Navi screen. Very cool. While not even close to my best choice for a family vehicle I know a lot of families will buy them to pull light weight travel trailers with the 8300 lb tow rating. And do other suburban chores. My only concern is that the rear end feels squishy. If anyone who has any specific questions or would like specific measurements or pictures or anything like that, let me know and I'll try to post them up. I don't have a good pic yet but I will post one when I get a chance if you all are interested. Thanks!Jeremiah

I am a suburban nut !! I love them. Yes mileage seems pretty good and I think will get better as more miles add up. I would never buy one like that because my 2000 burb with 200,000 miles still does what that can also do for me. Not saying I don't want one though. lol. I prefer GMs small block v8s because of their dependability, great fuel mileage, and low maintenance. Don't think I would want a high mile twin turbo motor out of warrenty. Too much high dollar stuff to fix.

We are all different and different in different ways.... :BToo many folks think in a 'one size fits all' and/or 'theirs is the best'Yes, the best for them, but not necessarily for everyone...even one sizefits all socks do NOT fit me well...Folks forget or never knew that the OEMs have a host of specificationsand requirements from both the regulatory agencies and their owninternal groups (mainly service when it comes to vehicles)GMT400 TBI could be made to have high MPG's, but that required removingseveral computer safeties. Mainly thermal set point, or increase thoseset points so that power mode could be kept for longer periods of timeThis is what tuners mainly do...change the OEM setpoints to allow higherPSI's on the piston top and remove safeties (this includes EPA stuff)This thread is an example of why I'll be keeping my K3500 Suburban tillthe wheels fall off...Most folks today think of a Suburban more as a 'car' than a truck, ofwhich is was originally derived from. Several hundred K miles is nothingto a well kept 'truck'...they are designed for 'work', not groceryand soccer mom runs...

All of the full size SUV's are great buys for the very long term. You can put 250K miles on one and re-engine them for another 250K miles. If you trade every 2.5 years, they're going to be very expensive vehicles.I ordered an Expedition once that got 19.75 mpg on its first tank of gas. But it didn't have the power to pull a travel trailer. With a full load of passengers and a large engine SUV pulling an RV, they're still going to get dismal fuel mileage.Question is whether you're willing to put up with that fuel mileage for having so much room?

OP here,Great comments everyone. I do want to clarify one thingI'm in a 2015 suburban rental. I am not personally interested in a Suburban at this time. My point in posting this was to serve as a resource for anyone interested in anything on the 2015 Suburban since I have this thing until Monday morning. Any measurements or pictures I will be happy to post. As far as the capability of this thing I have no doubt that the truck can pull up to its max rating on trailer weight. The tires would have to be aired up to max PSI to get the squishy feeling gone. I may do that when I fill up and just see how it rides. I agree with BenK, a 2500 Suburban is well suited to pulling a heavy trailer. But those searching for new will have to accept the limitations of the new Suburban. FWIW this LT Subutban (loaded with a lot of options) has a little over 1600 lbs of payload and an 8300 lb tow rating. Many of the older 2500 Subs that I looked at had 1800-2200 ish lbs of payload and 7,000-10,000 lb trailer weight rating. Not a huge disparity in capability Especially when you compare semi float rear axle 2500 Subs to these new ones.I've taken some pics and I'll try to post them up for review. Thanks!Jeremiah

Here is a few pics of the Burb and some of the important dataHere is a shot of the lower front a-arm Here is the front suspension looking from the rear of the front wheel well looking forwardsHere is the payload sticker... interesting that the payload rating is at 35 PSI... the tires max out at 51 PSI. Here is the tires themselves... they are Goodyear Assurance tires and are rated to a max load rating of 2469 lbs each. Here is the ratings on the receiver...more than enough for properly matched travel trailers. 800-900 lbsI'll try to get some pics of the rear suspension when I get home and can back it into my car port. Thanks!Jeremiah

2015 Suburban LT | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

jerem0621
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2014
OP here,

Great comments everyone.

I do want to clarify one thing

I'm in a 2015 suburban rental. I am not personally interested in a Suburban at this time.

My point in posting this was to serve as a resource for anyone interested in anything on the 2015 Suburban since I have this thing until Monday morning. Any measurements or pictures I will be happy to post.

As far as the capability of this thing I have no doubt that the truck can pull up to its max rating on trailer weight. The tires would have to be aired up to max PSI to get the squishy feeling gone.

I may do that when I fill up and just see how it rides.

I agree with BenK, a 2500 Suburban is well suited to pulling a heavy trailer. But those searching for new will have to accept the limitations of the new Suburban.

FWIW this LT Subutban (loaded with a lot of options) has a little over 1600 lbs of payload and an 8300 lb tow rating. Many of the older 2500 Subs that I looked at had 1800-2200 ish lbs of payload and 7,000-10,000 lb trailer weight rating.

Not a huge disparity in capability

Especially when you compare semi float rear axle 2500 Subs to these new ones.

I've taken some pics and I'll try to post them up for review.

Thanks!

Jeremiah
Bamaman11
Explorer
Sep 20, 2014
All of the full size SUV's are great buys for the very long term. You can put 250K miles on one and re-engine them for another 250K miles. If you trade every 2.5 years, they're going to be very expensive vehicles.

I ordered an Expedition once that got 19.75 mpg on its first tank of gas. But it didn't have the power to pull a travel trailer. With a full load of passengers and a large engine SUV pulling an RV, they're still going to get dismal fuel mileage.

Question is whether you're willing to put up with that fuel mileage for having so much room?
BenK
Explorer
Sep 20, 2014
We are all different and different in different ways.... :B

Too many folks think in a 'one size fits all' and/or 'theirs is the best'

Yes, the best for them, but not necessarily for everyone...even one size
fits all socks do NOT fit me well...

Folks forget or never knew that the OEMs have a host of specifications
and requirements from both the regulatory agencies and their own
internal groups (mainly service when it comes to vehicles)

GMT400 TBI could be made to have high MPG's, but that required removing
several computer safeties. Mainly thermal set point, or increase those
set points so that power mode could be kept for longer periods of time
This is what tuners mainly do...change the OEM setpoints to allow higher
PSI's on the piston top and remove safeties (this includes EPA stuff)

This thread is an example of why I'll be keeping my K3500 Suburban till
the wheels fall off...

Most folks today think of a Suburban more as a 'car' than a truck, of
which is was originally derived from. Several hundred K miles is nothing
to a well kept 'truck'...they are designed for 'work', not grocery
and soccer mom runs...
MARK_VANDERBENT
Explorer
Sep 20, 2014
I am a suburban nut !! I love them. Yes mileage seems pretty good and I think will get better as more miles add up. I would never buy one like that because my 2000 burb with 200,000 miles still does what that can also do for me. Not saying I don't want one though. lol. I prefer GMs small block v8s because of their dependability, great fuel mileage, and low maintenance. Don't think I would want a high mile twin turbo motor out of warrenty. Too much high dollar stuff to fix.

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2015 Suburban LT

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