Suburban / Keystone Cougar

You're in 3/4 ton territory with a 6400lb dry wt/8000lb loaded for camping wt. Unless you get an Ecoboost, then you can tow anything.:R

You may be able to tow the trailer empty as long as you don't have anybody else along for the ride. SUVs can tow a lot, or they can haul a lot of people, but they can't do both at the se time.

bikendan - We actually have a perm spot on the river in AZ where the trailer will be set up (with the boat, seadoos & quads). Asking this because should the family want to travel anywhere else (which so far for the past 5 yrs they have not wanted to).

I have no problem buying a new TV or even a smaller TT should the burb not be able to tow what we just got, as towing truthfully might only be 2-3 times a year, if even that.

I will look for the other specs requested.

One word - NO.
Your Burb is a half-ton truck with a heavy body on it.
That's a big trailer. The tongue weight is going to be your downfall.
The numbers are very close, but it'll be a bear to tow, especially if you have a lot of people and stuff in the Burb.
If you can't change TVs, air bags and a 1,000# WDH are mandatory. A (bigger?) rear anti-sway bar would be good too. I would consider a Hensley/Pro-Pride setup. Costly, but nice.
I'd also check the load rating on your tires. You'll be near the max I bet. If they are older tires, check for cracking, etc.

Take it slow at first. I know of another person with almost the same setup that ended in disaster on their first trip... Burb and trailer flipped.

probably should have asked this BEFORE you bought the trailer.:E

i have a 2007 Avalanche, basically the same vehicle as the Suburban but with a truck bed.
mine has the 5.3 v-8 but only the older 4 speed trans. it's MAX towing capacity is 7200lbs. with only a 150lb. driver in it.

yours has the newer 6 speed trans but this only gives a modest boost to the towing capacity, IF you have the factory HD tow package.

as was said, need more info about your Burb and how much your passengers/cargo will weigh that will be in the Burb.

I towed a 6K Dutchmen Sport TT with a 1500 Chevy Suburban. Did OK for a little over a year, and then the transmission went out. We replaced the transmission but it never drove the same again. We sold it a couple months after we got the new transmission installed.

We made the mistake of towing in Over Drive. Should have towed in "Drive". We then purchased a 3500 Chevy dually (gas) and it was as different as night and day.

Chris, congrats on the trailer- thats a great floor plan. We need more information on your Suburban- rear axle ratio, max payload, max tow rating, rear axle rating, four or two wheel drive. From the numbers of your trailer it looks like you will be at, near, or possibly over your Suburbans ratings depending on how it is equipped and factors like Donn mentioned- passenger and cargo weight INSIDE the truck.


Length 28'0"
Width 8'0"
Height 11'1"
Hitch Weight 850 lbs
Dry Weight 6,366 lbs
Cargo Weight 1,634 lbs
Fresh Water Capacity 60 gals
Grey Water Capacity 76 gals
Black Water Capacity 38 gals
Furnace BTU 30,000
Sleeps 9
Tire Size ST225/75R15D
Slides 1


2013 Suburban

*Weights and Capacities
MAXIMUM TOWING CAPACITY** 8100 lbs. MAXIMUM PAYLOAD** 1526 lbs.
GROSS WEIGHT 7200 lbs. CURB WEIGHT 5674 lbs.
ANGLE OF APPROACH 16.9 degrees ANGLE OF DEPARTURE 20.5 degrees
CARGO CAPACITY, ALL SEATS IN PLACE 45.8 cu.ft. MAXIMUM CARGO CAPACITY 137.4 cu.ft.
** When adequately equipped, which may require engine and/or other drivetrain upgrades.
DriveTrain
DRIVE TYPE Rear wheel drive TRANSMISSION 6-speed shiftable automatic

The 6 speed transmission is great for towing. You likely either have a 3.08 or 3.42 rear axle ratio- hopefully the 3.42. Your trucks actual payload number should be on a yellow sticker inside on the drivers door.

Probably not. But it depends on a lot of variables. How heavy is the burb when loaded ready to travel? Kids, dogs, cats wife, ice chests, basically everything you add to the Suburban reduces pound for pound what ever tow rating GM gave it from the factory. In general terms 1500 Suburbans are barely able to move down the road loaded with passengers without exceeding their GVWR.
Next what is the trailers GVWR? You will need to add that and use 12% of that weight number as hitch weight which is added to your Suburbans scaled weight.