LOVE this 8.1 Burb!!!

To each their own. While not as stable of a tow vehicle, I’ll take the drivetrain of my 2011 Yukon’ XL Denali over the previous 2003 Burb 2500/8.1. The Yukon pulls with much less effort and faster speed over the passes than my Burb could.

I hope to have this burb for many many more years. My youngest of 4 kids is 1 so it has to. The engines seem to be bullet proof from 99-06. I had a 2000 5.3 burb and just abused the **** out of that thing and nothing ever broke and had over 250k on it. Then I started researching the 8.1 and found out it was a marine grade engine and i was sold. I bought this 8.1 with 175k on the clock but I trust this engine. It does not scare me at all as it runs like a top. I'll just have to watch the 4L80E and the T-case.

I purchased my 8.1 2002 Chevy 3500 155" WB Express Van ten years ago this week from Huffines Chevrolet in Lewisville Texas.Before that we had two PSD Excursions (7.3 & 6.0) and I prefer the 8.1 van because we only use it a few times a year and it has much higher payload capacity with much more storage behind the last bench seat since it is the 12 passenger version on the 15 passenger 155" WB chassis. It feels just like the 2003 6.0 PSD Excursion in power when fully loaded (not towing) with 11-12 people & luggage on Summer trips to Florida with AC on. It could sit for a month in the driveway without using it and it starts up like it was just run. It has every option available with 3.73 posi and LT265/75R16E 31.7" tires. The 16x8" alloy wheels would work with LT285/75R16E tires but I will stick with the 265s.

Agree and why am keeping my 1996 Big Block Suburban a looooong time(a few generations older than yours). Mine is GMT400 and yours is GMT800 platforms


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Have driven several 6.0L model Suburban's (including a 8.6K GVWR that is now discontinued) that has torque/HP curves as good as or better than my 7.4L...not the same and of course IMHO...

Am now finalizing decision on the 1980 Silverado dad gave me...keep my vehicles till either can't or won't fix them anymore. It is now on the don't want to side of things on this 38 year old truck... Now looking for a GMT400/GMT800 7.4L or 8.1L (newer design and torque are about 40-50 more both in torque and HP)

Dad never took care of it and his workers abused it, as dad just thought of it as the grocery/butcher shop truck.

Thanks for posting...helpful in piecing together stuff for my decision on both a replacement pickup and rebuild of my Sub (when that day comes...it still runs strong...just not as strong as it used to now at +168K HARD miles)

I hear you, our neighbor has a Burb with the 8.1 and it is one powerful beast. We have lots of new homes being built in our area and one of the local contractors had one of their back-hoe tractors fail while clearing out a empty lot nearby, they had a newer Ford 3500 4x4 and were trying to pull it out of the thick mud it was stuck in.

My neighbor and I watched from his backyard as they could not accomplish this task, a bit of a braggart he turned to me and stated his Burb could haul it out easily. Sure enough he walked over and offered his assistance to the work crew there, they shrugged their shoulders saying okay although the look on their faces was of uncertainty.

He returned to his house where he fired up his seldom used 8.1 liter Burb, he maneuvered around the corner through the mud positioning his beast in front of the back-hoe. I could see the faces of the work crew thinking this old relic had zero chance of doing the task, lo and behold they watched in amazement as the Burb made easy work of it.

I have no doubt your Burb with 8.1 easily hauled your very large TT, having the space for your kids on long trips is truly priceless. I hope that you get many years of service from your Burb, I have a Silverado with 6.0 and it has been bulletproof although it can get pretty thirsty hauling our 33' TT, we have the 4.10 which helps in the mountains where we RV most.