I have a 2013 2500 suburban 6.0 6 speed auto 4x4 (9400 lb. tow rating) with 1000 lb hitch capacity. 8600 GVW I have ordered (will take delivery around Dec 1) a 2016 Coachmen 310BHDSLE. No yellow sticker yet, only the brochure to go by. Trailer advertises 7500 lbs UVW. GVW is 9900lbs. 937 lbs hitch weight.Everything is within specification, so it would seem.Thanks for the advise in advance.Tom

Tom,You should be OK with the 2500 Suburban. We don't know the payload rating but a 2wd is around 2400 lb so your 4x4 should be close to that. I'd suggest to buy a WDH with integrated sway control like a Blue Ox or Equalizer brand. It will make handling just that much better when you are towing. If you don't have one, have a transmission cooler installed. The Suburban tranny is probably the weakest link in your towing setup. Good luck and happy camping!

Oh how we long for the 8.1L engine that had a towing capacity of more than 12000 lbs. as I remember. I think you will long for that engine also over time. I presently tow 7500 lbs and the engine downshifts on the slightest incline. More than once I've maxed out at 25 mph going up hills.

As previously said, it will do the job if it has the factory tow package (or aftermarket equivalent), but I see a heavier vehicle tow vehicle in your future. Your trailer is going to have plenty of tongue weight which is going to max out the carrying capacity of the 'Burb. Since you are buying a bunkhouse, I assume you have kids, and that means lots of people and their stuff. You will be OK to start, but you should be looking at a one ton van with a big gasser or diesel ....

Don't forget to add in the weight for people,water, gear. You're going to be pretty close to max rating of tv. I would load it up and weigh it.

Y'all like that Equql-i-zer hitch? That's the one I'm looking at. Looks easy.

2500 Suburban towing 31' Travel Trailer | Good Sam Community

72 Replies

bankmule66
Explorer
Dec 06, 2016
sure wish they still made the 2500 burb
twxsby89
Explorer
Nov 30, 2016
We made it through the Rockies, with this setup, and the only problem we had was our water hose froze solid. Luckily, I had about 1/3 tank full of water to get us through until I defrosted the hose, with the girls hair dryer. If we keep camping in weather like that, I'll need to invest in a heated hose.
twxsby89
Explorer
Nov 02, 2016
ppine wrote:
i would not want to drag it through the Rocky Mtns with that set up

Why not? We are headed there for Thanksgiving.
ppine
Explorer II
Nov 02, 2016
Stay in flat country and you will be okay with a good equalizing hitch.
i would not want to drag it through the Rocky Mtns with that set up.
T-tom
Explorer
Nov 01, 2016
I have a 2004 2500 suburban with the 8.1 engine what a tower. Would not give it up for any diesel. Gets about 12 mpg on good day. But does the job great.
fdwt994
Explorer
Oct 29, 2016
kevden wrote:
twxsby89 wrote:
and one of the things I was told during the walk through, slides all the way open, or all the way closed, never in between..

I believe this only applies when it is raining, because the seals are only fully compressed when in the fully open or closed position. We use ours partially out frequently when stopped for lunch, at home and need to get something, etc.

Does the new camper have Schwintek slides? If so, we were told by our Tech to NEVER open them partially. The reason being, there are separate motors for each side of the slide, and they can get out of sync if you do so. We had that problem and it became a very expensive repair (thankfully under warranty.)
Wishin
Explorer
Oct 28, 2016
I've thought about putting a bigger trans cooler in mine, but it only gets up to around 220 (going by the factory analog gauge) which is about my limit for feeling good. This didn't happen often and we dragged the trailer to the top of Mt. Mitchell (not far down from the 6,685 ft summit) on a very hot day and the rest of the trip was 93+ every single day as we toured all the coastal states from N.C. to Lousiana and up thru Miss., Arkansas, and Missouri. Engine coolant temp never budged from the normal spot around 190-200. The trans temp was usually around 170-190 I'd guess. For now I think I'll leave it alone, we'll see how it does in the Rockies in 2017 as we'll be going to Colorado, Utah, Arizona, etc.

Thanks for posting the photos, I've already saved a link to this thread as I like how you upgraded the hitch. If I ever get a newer Suburban I'll be doing the same.
twxsby89
Explorer
Oct 28, 2016
I had the Tranny at 216* this summer, that was between Houston and Dallas, pretty flat. I think that is on the verge of being too warm.
PAThwacker
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
How hot did your trans get? On my 6.0 3.73 you can cook the motor and trans on some routes.
twxsby89
Explorer
Oct 26, 2016
Swapped out the stock tranny cooler:
Before

After