Considering a newer tow rig....

BenK wrote:
I'm in a similar boat, except a 1996 Suburban K3500, 7.4L, 4.1 at about 170,000 hard, hard miles

Rather spend the money upgrading my Sub than buying a new or newer used.

Yes the newer trucks have nicer options, etc...but to me, just more to fail down the road...plus they are highly integrated...to the point that any one can bring down other sysyems

Normally do my own, but at 71, some times don't want to....Sub was just in for maintenance and a new Hydro-boost PS pump cuz didn't want to mess with PS pump pulleys that always gives me a bad time

Consider what I'm planning

Gearvendors 0.7 overdrive with their gear splitter, which will turn my 4 speed automatic into an 8 speed with double OD

Plus new 5.38's in both differentials. That is the hold up, want an even higher numeric and a Detroit to place the G80 locker in there now. Nothing wrong with the G80, but want to use Molybdenum Disulfide, which will ruin anything with clutches cuz it is so slippery good

Then "built" 7.4L to bump toruqe/HP up and a "built" automatic good for 1,000 HP about a year after the Gearvendors & diff

I no longer tow heavy, so it should be fine in OD with trailers am looking at, plus it will be my hot rod...as it used to smoke the stock tires in stock for...should easily do it again up through a couple higher gears

There are a few pesky newer half ton's that I've taken them into a banked, reducing radius ramps...after they speed up and tailgate after I've passed them on the highway

They can't hang when their truck tires start to squeal as my setup allows me to pull away while in the ramp...pure boy racer stuff...am after that one guy who catches and pulls away when that ramp opens onto another freeway...even pulls away from the other ecoboosts...think he has a tune...

Of course don't drive like that towing...:B

I think you'd be in for a huge surprise if you spent half what you propose on a 10 year old 2500 Suburban. A 6.0L Vortec will amaze you if you are used to a peanut port big block. As a bonus, you'll still have your current rig to sell. In selling your current rig and buying a 10 year old Suburban with similar specs, you'll spend less than the Gearvendors and 80E alone that you propose. In the process, you will gain fuel mileage and a substantial horsepower increase.

OP: the ecoboost trucks are fine for people who want to haul drywall or household goods around on an irregular basis. They are not serious tow vehicles for 30' campers. Traveling light or not, you'd be doing yourself a serious disservice by not looking at a 3/4 ton truck. Even with a modest sized V8, you will find that it tows a thousand times better than a 1/2 ton truck. What you're doing can be done with a new 1/2 ton if it has the proper cab/drive configuration and the max payload packages, but it still is never going to pull like a 3/4 ton (which needs no fancy hitches or packages to pull 8k pounds comfortably, and comes with tires, payload, and drivetrain appropriate for day in and day out heavy use).