Considering a 2011 Suburban 2500

intheburbs wrote:
1100-lb tongue weight, GCW of 16,000 lbs and as you can see in the pic, no WD or sway control. Using the stock hitch.

The stock hitch is rated for 1100 pounds of tongue weight with no WD?

Thanks for all the info. I wasn't able to get the one I saw at my price. Thanks so much for the info.

@intheburbs

Totally fat fingered that one. Of course I meant 6.2.

I also learned something, the 1500 GMCs came with the 6.2, the 2500s only available with the 6.0.

Strange, but there it is.

Thanks for the lesson.

The 6.0 with 6 speed will do well for you. It really likes north of 3k when pulling any grades and doesn't feel out of breath. I have the 2500HD truck and love it. I pull 10k and have no issues, pulled up to the north Georgia mountains over the summer and kept up with my parents Dodge 6.7, granted he had more weight, but I had issues no issues keeping up.

My 2500 Burb is the best truck I've ever owned. I beat the snot out of it, it has 170,000 miles on it, and I've spend a total of $23 in unscheduled repairs over the last three years. Everything works just as it did when it rolled out of the factory (except the stupid rear defroster). The 6.0 motor is absolutely bulletproof, and the 6L90 is a very stout gearbox.

Dragged out trailer out to Yellowstone this past July, put over 5,000 miles on it. Coming down from Powder River Pass, I had the engine spinning at 5500-6000 RPM for engine braking, I spun the A/C belt off the pulley without breaking it. The trailer is 8600 lbs, 1100-lb tongue weight, GCW of 16,000 lbs and as you can see in the pic, no WD or sway control. Using the stock hitch.

Hardest part about buying a used 2500 is actually finding one. I do occasional searches on Autotrader - less than 100k miles, sunroof, leather, and only a handful pop up across the country. Plan to travel to get one;it's unlikely you'll find one local. I had to drive three hours to Ft. Wayne to buy mine. Don't forget about the sister ship, the Yukon XL 2500.

I'll have a 2500 Suburban until the day I die. I'm actually contemplating buying a second one, and putting it in storage as my backup for when my current truck dies. They're unicorns.

ETA:

PDX.Zs wrote:
No cylinder deactivation.

12 around town. Little better freeway. 8 towing.

The good news is that it holds 40 gallons.

As an aside the GMC 2500 same vintage has the 6.3 liter Gen V small block and is good for more power stock.

Not sure what you're talking about with the last sentence. GM doesn't make a 6.3, and the 6.2 is only available in Escalades and half-ton Denalis. Both the 2007-2013 Suburban 2500 and Yukon XL 2500 get the 6.0 motor.

And I'll get 15 MPG highway driving all day at 75-80 MPH. As a goof, I did an experiment to see how far I could go on one tank. Drove 586 miles from Michigan to Tennessee before running out of gas. 586/39 = 15 MPG. If I set the cruise at 65 MPH, I'll get up to 16.

I'm happy with mine, but the OEM receiver is weak. Custom fitting the Curt XD is a little work, but really the only solution for over 1000 pounds of TW I think you have.

Power is fine if you can handle the revs.

We are at 97k miles coming up on 6yrs. As high as 18mpg non towing highway, 8mpg towing, and 13mpg mixed commuting and family duty.

No cylinder deactivation.

12 around town. Little better freeway. 8 towing.

The good news is that it holds 40 gallons.

As an aside the GMC 1500s of the same vintage has the 6.2 iter Gen V small block and is good for more power stock.




:edited for accuracy:

What kind mpg's did you get empty on highway? Did the 2500 6.0L have cylinder deactivation?

I have the same rig. Looking at you trailer, that is a big @ss rig.

Search up some threads under suburban 2500 and you will find some good info.

Couple things you will find...

The factory hitch is weak, which may or may not concern you. Different people have addressed this in different ways.

The motor is adequate a heavy trailer. Adequate. We don't get left behind much, but the thing really revs to do it.


That all said, we love ours. Four people and two,big dogs in total comfort. Wouldn't trade it for anything, and won't until a new 3/4 ton SUV comes out. Watch this space for my supercharger install that (I think) is coming up this winter.

The old 7.4 was 290 HP and 410 torque. The '11 6.0 is 361 HP, 385 torque with 2 extra gears. I'd say it would tow just as well and likely much better. Fuel economy should be much better anyway.
I had a 6.0 with 4 spd auto in an '02 work truck and a 6.0 with 6 spd auto in a 2015 work truck. Both pulled pretty well. The newer one with the 6spd is really good with 10,000 pounds. When I had 15,000 behind it going up a mountain all it would do is 35 MPH. That's probably over the tow rating I think.