2008 3/4 ton Chevy Suburban

[ksu_j]

Hello again everyone,

There are probably a few of you who have followed my year+ long saga into the world of 3/4 ton Suburbans.

Well hopefully my search for the right vehicle is finally over. Sold my 2004 with the 8.1 the weekend before last and flew to Phoenix to pick up a pretty nice 2008 Metallic Blue 3/4 ton Suburban. The new one is a 4x4 with the 6.0/6speed. While this is a 2008 model year, it only had 42,000 miles on it. After a quick test drive, I signed on the papers and started on my way home (1200 miles or so).

The new 'burb with the 6speed almost required me to learn how to drive it all over again, as the 6speed transmission is light hears different from the 4 speed with the 4.10 gears in my 2004. Once I figured it out though, I'm really enjoying it.

On the drive from Phoenix to Kansas I was pushing it pretty hard the whole trip with the 2nd day being a wind-filled day. At highway speeds of 80+mph I was still able to get 14.8mpg. (Best I ever got with the 8.1 was 12 at mostly 60mph side road speeds). I do feel that once I finally don't drive this thing so hard, the mileage will go up.

I also hooked onto the camper for a little 100 mile tow home through the Flint Hills of Kansas on I-70. Anyone who's done that drive knows that even though it was in Kansas, there are some decent hills on the stretch between Topeka, and Junction City. Again, I almost had to relearn how to drive with the 6speed, but once I figured it out, I was able to hold 63mph in 5th gear on all but the longest of the grades on that stretch of road.

THis new truck is nice and quiet on the road, no road noise to speak of, pretty smooth riding, and so far I'm finding the mileage acceptable. My hope is with this thing now having only 43,000 miles on it, it should last for several years to come. (I work from home so no daily driving needed).

The truck is 4x4, with seating for 9, a six speed transmission with the 352hp 6.0 V8. Payload of 2,119 lbs per the door sticker. I'll be using it for roadtrips since the wife's Pilot is getting older and pulling a 2004 KZ Frontier with the quad front bunks and rear slide-out. Hopefully I'm done with large purchases for a while now!

[ksu_j]

Dadoffourgirls wrote:
You are definitely a lucky man. Is the Blue the dark blue, or the blue that looks green depending on light?

Keep us informed on how you compare the 6.0 to the 8.1. I think you will like the empty mpg.

It is more the darker blue that almost looks black sometimes. I had the blue that would change colors to green or even purple on an old Denali I had.

So far I'd say for just pure pulling, the 8.1 with the 4.10 rear end still does it easier, although not by leaps and bounds. But non-towing, this thing wins hands down, and it isn't even close.

The dealer put on new E rated tires before I bought it. They are 265/75's rather than the 245's that are the stock size. I like the looks of them MUCH better, but I know that lowers the effective gear ratio just a bit also. All in all, no complaints so far. Except for the dash lights now working at night. That sucks. But I'm looking at getting that fixed.

[APT]

Congrats! We love our 3/4 ton Suburban. We can get over 18mpg if we keep the speeds down in the spring/fall. The winter trips non towing were closer to 15mpg like you. The 6L will need to spin more compared to your old 8.1L, but that 6-spd helps a lot.

[Dadoffourgirls]

SouthpawHD wrote:

spoon059 wrote:
I think that its absurd there aren't more 3/4 ton SUV options available...

Glad you found your 2008. That 6.0 is a great engine, mated to that 6 speed transmission you shouldn't have any problems towing. Congrats and enjoy! Put some miles on that sucker now!

I agree that we should see more 3/4 ton SUVs. But with today's ever increasing prices in the truck/SUV market, could imagine the price on one????

That being said, GM is coming out the 3/4 Burb, but rated to tow only around 3,000 pounds. Definitely geared more towards government agencies and high-end limo needs.

OP, congrats and enjoy.

GM has a Suburban 3500HD. It has a tow rating of 3000lbs, but has 4000lbs of payload. It is only available in 4wd. It is also for fleet sales only.

Fully loaded, it is $88k. Only $80k in LS trim.

[hawkeye-08]

I think that one still has the 1,000lb rating on hitch without any aftermarket hitches available. I have heard some have added a hitch to increase capacity (not over payload though).

Nice find, congrats!

[SouthpawHD]

spoon059 wrote:
I think that its absurd there aren't more 3/4 ton SUV options available...

Glad you found your 2008. That 6.0 is a great engine, mated to that 6 speed transmission you shouldn't have any problems towing. Congrats and enjoy! Put some miles on that sucker now!

I agree that we should see more 3/4 ton SUVs. But with today's ever increasing prices in the truck/SUV market, could imagine the price on one????

That being said, GM is coming out the 3/4 Burb, but rated to tow only around 3,000 pounds. Definitely geared more towards government agencies and high-end limo needs.

OP, congrats and enjoy.

[spoon059]

I think that its absurd there aren't more 3/4 ton SUV options available...

Glad you found your 2008. That 6.0 is a great engine, mated to that 6 speed transmission you shouldn't have any problems towing. Congrats and enjoy! Put some miles on that sucker now!

[Dadoffourgirls]

You are definitely a lucky man. Is the Blue the dark blue, or the blue that looks green depending on light?

I miss my 3/4 ton SUV. As life changed, mine was only getting 5k miles a year. So after changing to 2500HD, and hearing about no room for 6 adults, it was on to the 3500 Express (that does not have 4wd and is not as quiet as a SUV). I love the fuel economy of the 6.0 and 6 spd.

I was unfamiliar with your Flint hills until a month ago, and will probably visit them at least two more times this year. We came out for a K State Vet school interview, and now my daughter will be starting there in August. I guess I need a purple KSU sticker for my Express!

Keep us informed on how you compare the 6.0 to the 8.1. I think you will like the empty mpg.

[ktosv]

Congrats on the truck, sounds like a good one.

We downsized late last year and while my wife's Yukon XL has the 6 speed, I do miss the 6L/6 speed combo that was in our Express.