Hello, I have a 1999 GMC suburban half ton with towing package. This is the old body style with the Vortec 350 / 4L60E. It has factory tow package stuff like trans. cooler and 3.73 gears. I also have LT rated tires on it. I am looking at the Keystone Premier travel trailers. Specifically the larger ones (31BHPR), and put no stock at all in the salesperson´s ¨You CAN tow this¨ assurance. This trailer comes in at 6500 dry, which I know is unrealistic for real-world towing. I am concerned that I will be overloaded before even leaving the driveway. I am not averse to getting the TT I want and ´getting by´ with my half ton for a summer, but I also don´t want to be stupidly unsafe on the roads either. I have a host of questions, as this is my first TT buying experience. First, will my Suburban even be able to tow this trailer? Is it too unreasonable at all? I know that even if it can it will not be really happy about it, and I don´t need to set any speed records or anything, but is this even safe? Secondly, I am unable to finance my TT and a new TV this summer. I´m sure many of you have been in this position before. Should I put off the TT bug to get a decent rig first, or ´get by´ with my half-ton as long as I can and get the TT I want first?!? Thirdly, (finally!), I am fairly handy mechanically, and really like the ´96-´99 Vortec suburbans. If push comes to shove, I will likely look for a 454 3/4 ton suburban in the best condition I can find. Is this SUV too much of a dinosaur for today´s Travel Trailers? Assume I can keep it maintained and on the road and not be a hazard to others. Help!

Your tow rating is 6,500 lbs with the half ton suburban and the 5.7L with the tow package and the 3.73 gears.Here is the source I got that information from. 1999 Towing Guide LinkI love older vehicles, and I am partial to the older square Suburbans like you have. I nearly bought a cream puff 1999 a few years ago myself. If you are committed to this trailer the only option I really see is to go with a 3/4 ton Sub with the 454 and get the 10,000 lb rating. Or... If you are a little flexible on your trailer there are options that would work well within the 6,500 lb tow rating. In particular the Apex 28bh looks like a great match. Here is a Link just as an example. Thanks!Jeremiah

How many people and how much stuff will be in the Sub and the trailer? If it's just you and you pack light I'd do it even though you will be technically over the tow rating. If you're talking about putting a family of 4 plus a dog or two and all their stuff in the vehicle then I don't think I'd try it.

Too much TT by a good bit IMO. You're at the truck's max with a dry trailer. For comparison sake a buddy has a 2003 Yukon with similar specs as yours and he got a 4000# dry trailer. It's probably 5000 loaded up and with his family in the TV it's a struggle. In a somewhat fortunate event his truck got totaled - no injuries, it doesn't take much to total a 13 year old truck. So, he'll be upgrading soon.I think you're on a good path looking out for a 3/4 ton Suburban. Ironically, same friend found one used and bought it temporarily until he could get his next vehicle. I think it's early to mid 2000s. He's selling it in the next few weeks but it's out here in Oregon.... not exactly convenient for you. PM me if you have any interest.

I have that exact trailer and pulled it for a year with a newer half ton truck. We're 7800lbs loaded. It was doable but over its payload limits. We now have a 3/4 ton truck. The newer trucks are much more powerful and capable than what you have. You'll be over several ratings and not happy.

I have a '99 Suburban like yours and I would not tow a larger trailer with it. Faced with your dilemma I bought a class A instead. I hope you find a good combination.Miles

limits of 1999 GMC suburban 1/2 ton | Good Sam Community

jerem0621
Explorer II
Jun 06, 2016
Your tow rating is 6,500 lbs with the half ton suburban and the 5.7L with the tow package and the 3.73 gears.

Here is the source I got that information from.

1999 Towing Guide Link

I love older vehicles, and I am partial to the older square Suburbans like you have. I nearly bought a cream puff 1999 a few years ago myself.

If you are committed to this trailer the only option I really see is to go with a 3/4 ton Sub with the 454 and get the 10,000 lb rating.

Or... If you are a little flexible on your trailer there are options that would work well within the 6,500 lb tow rating. In particular the Apex 28bh looks like a great match. Here is a Link just as an example.

Thanks!

Jeremiah
KD4UPL
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
How many people and how much stuff will be in the Sub and the trailer? If it's just you and you pack light I'd do it even though you will be technically over the tow rating. If you're talking about putting a family of 4 plus a dog or two and all their stuff in the vehicle then I don't think I'd try it.
mtofell1
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
Too much TT by a good bit IMO. You're at the truck's max with a dry trailer. For comparison sake a buddy has a 2003 Yukon with similar specs as yours and he got a 4000# dry trailer. It's probably 5000 loaded up and with his family in the TV it's a struggle. In a somewhat fortunate event his truck got totaled - no injuries, it doesn't take much to total a 13 year old truck. So, he'll be upgrading soon.

I think you're on a good path looking out for a 3/4 ton Suburban. Ironically, same friend found one used and bought it temporarily until he could get his next vehicle. I think it's early to mid 2000s. He's selling it in the next few weeks but it's out here in Oregon.... not exactly convenient for you. PM me if you have any interest.
camp-n-family
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
I have that exact trailer and pulled it for a year with a newer half ton truck. We're 7800lbs loaded. It was doable but over its payload limits. We now have a 3/4 ton truck. The newer trucks are much more powerful and capable than what you have. You'll be over several ratings and not happy.
Son_of_Norway
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
I have a '99 Suburban like yours and I would not tow a larger trailer with it. Faced with your dilemma I bought a class A instead. I hope you find a good combination.

Miles
kaydeejay
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
To the OP, your 'burb may have a 6500# max tow rating, but that is with a 150# driver in it, hence the "max" before the number.
Any more than that and the extra has to be subtracted from your max tow rating.
You will very quickly end up with a net tow rating significantly below 6000#.
A 6500# "dry" trailer will be 6700# or more by the time you add battery and propane.
Load up with clothes, pots & pans, dishes, bedding etc and pretty soon you're looking at 7500#.
Your 'burb won't like it and neither will you.
Go for the 3/4 ton.
MegaCab_PL
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
That suburban has a tow rating of 6000 if it's 4x4, 6500 if 4x2.

I had a 99 Tahoe with tow package and 3.73 rear and I would not even think about towing a trailer that is 6500 dry.
The 4l60e will be toasted quickly, and that 350 is not as strong as everybody believes. The new half tons could do it, but not the old GMT400.
boogie_4wheel
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
I had a '97 GMC K1500 truck (350/60E/3.73). Too much trailer weight. My TH in my sig is about 6k before toys, and can exceed 7k on occasion.

I brought my trailer home with the GMC. Then added a 2nd transmission cooler to deal with temperatures (which it helped), but would be put in a bind if I had a head wind.

If my truck was a 5spd man I probably would have kept it longer. The torque convertor unlocks as you apply more throttle, and that generates more heat. I added a lock-up switch to deal with that, but was still at (slightly above) my truck capacity at 12500 gross.

I got a screaming deal on my trailer as it was the last 2010 on the lot when it was new, and we got it knowing that the trailer was probably too big for the truck.

You are looking at a trailer even heavier than what I have. The burb will get it home, or move it in a pinch, but it will not do well as the primary tow vehicle.
likestrucks
Explorer
Jun 10, 2016
I think you should hook it up and take it for a tow and see how the setup feels. Any reputable trailer dealer will allow you to do this, then you can see for your self. You will never know for sure without trying it.

Little things can make a difference. For example, boogie_4wheel had basically the same truck I have now, and it looks like he was pulling the same weight with it. He seems to have been unhappy with the setup. I with the similar truck and similar weighted trailer love my setup. There must be something in the details making the difference even though overall we were running about the same. So yours may tow that weight great like I experience or it may not be all that good. If it isn't that great, could you get by for a year doing it until you can upgrade? I would say yes.
BenK
Explorer
Jun 10, 2016
Here is the cut & paste from the 1999 Suburban brochure for Dimensions & Capacities

NOTE that all of these are for a 'curb' Suburban...AKA stripper model
If you weigh more than 150lbs and have more than just the Trailer Option,
the true payload will be less...why it says: "base payload"...based
on curb

Suburban1999 1999Suburban 1999subSpec SuburbanSpec1999