tow rating

Upgrade the receiver, check the actual payload and keep it in line and do any deferred maintenance.

It's a 15 year old vehicle, so a thorough inspection as well as replacing all the fluids (oil, trans, coolant, axles, transfer case if 4WD) is wise. You'll probably want good shocks too. And budget $200 for receiver. Many of the OEM receivers from that generation pickup and SUV failed well under the ratings when brand new. Otherwise, your tow rating is 12000 pounds with closer to 2000 pounds of payload. 2700 is more like 6.0L.

You still need a WDH and I recommend one with integrated sway control. Equal-i-zer 4-pt, Reese Strait Line, Blueox Swaypro are all good at around $500. And a proportional brake controller - think Prodigy.

I also installed a Curt hitch receiver. The OEM hitch will flex with your weight trailer. The Curt is much more solid and an easy install with no drilling.
The payload on the 2001 8.1L Suburban is 2700+Lbs.Link
The max trailer weight with the 4.10 rear is 12000lbs.Link

Your trailer tongue weight will be 1200+Lbs.
Use a good weight distribution hitch.

The Burb will be fine, but you will need to upgrade the hitch if it is still the factory model. OEM hitch is only rated for 5000 pounds. Curt has a direct replacement that is 14k. That is what I just put on my '03 2500 8.1 Burb.

Here is one of the best OEM TV ratings and is for GM's 2001 vehicles

There isn't enough room in the body tranny tunnel for an Allison, but
the firm who makes the Duraburb has a body lift and stuff in both
the Duramax and Allison


GCWR GCWRGCWR

I guess I was basing it, more or less on my 01' 2500 8.1 Allison with 4.10 in extended cab...it was a towing mule...9200 GVWR and can't remember GCWR, but matters not.....it's not the same as my 3/4 ton pick up.....So, I did make recommendations in my first post to use GVW of the TT and asked what OP's numbers were...So, I can't help....

Overall should do fine.

The trans is a 4L85E 4 spd. Not the allison. Depending upon body style, may or may not have the TH mode in it.

As far as tow rating and gcwr is, These are not true legal numbers, only a warrenty and performance rating by the manufacture. More than likely you are beyond warranty. Even if this trailer was a bit more, which it is not of the manufacture limit, I would still pull it. GM probably rated this rig around 10-12K total trailer wt, with a gcwr of 16-18K lbs, maybe 20K at most. Issue is trans vs the pickups with the Allison is higher.

Just make sure the hitch setup is level from the front of the burb to the rear of the trailer. Not too much wt side to side in the trailer. Trailer is level to slight nose down. A good WD setup minimum. Some will say a sway control to a hensly....I'm saying what I would want minimum!

marty

Suburban GVWR---8600#

4:10 Diff....GCVWR----19,000#

Max Tow (GCVWR-GVWR)--10,400#


Of course Max Tow Rating is a mfg. magical number reached using a 150# driver and 20# cargo.

You will need to subtract ALL passenger weights, any stuff being carried in vehicle etc.

That 8000 'dry weight' trailer........what is it's GVWR? It's 'CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity)?
Figure 13% for tongue weight


What you should do is load up the 'Burb' camp ready.....everybody, everything that would be in 'Burb' when you go camping and go to a set of CAT scales and get weighed.

Front/Rear axles....Total.
Then you will have some real numbers to work with.
Subtract Total from Burb GVWR And that will show how much weight you have left for payload (hitch weight plus tongue weight of trailer)

shasta24 wrote:
2001 3/4 ton suburban. 8.1 engine. 4.10 gears. Just put down payment on salem 36 foot trailer. 8000 pounds dry, 790 pounds tongue weight. Is this safe? Also never pulled anything this long, kind of nervous.

Well, it's a 3/4 ton, it's got the 8.1 with 4.10, (same set up I had on an 01 Chevy 2500 pick up truck...Does it have the Allison tranny ? I don't know what the GVW of the Suburban is, or it's GCWR, but if you have the T/H package, you should be ok.


One think....you need to figure by the GVW of the TT....dry weight is a joke....no one travels dry and it's not a good way to figure out if you have "enough" tow vehicle to do what you want to do. Go by GVW and take 10% of that for tongue weight..

What are recommendations for your truck, (owners manual), as far as towing with it?