Chevy Suburban an ok tow rig?

[AMRarey]

My hubby and I just recently bought a 35' travel trailer with a dry weight of about 7700 lbs. We need to tow it from AZ to WA, and would love some input. Our current vehicle is a 2002 Chevy Suburban 1500 Z71, which has a maximum tow capacity of 8100 lbs. We're trying to decide if it is capable of towing our trailer effectively/safely, or if we could put some upgrades on it to make it so (air-ride, sway bars, etc). Any info for us newbies would be much appreciated!! Thanks!

[2Macs]

We towed our first 26' TT with a 2003 Suburban and a 5.3 Liter engine. It was OK on flat land, but in hills and mountains, it was terrible. We took a 7 week trip out west in 2005. If we had a head wind, low hills or mountains, it really labored to make headway. We now have a Chevy 1 ton dually with a Duramax/Allison power train we purchased new in 2007. It tows our new 37' TT like it is not there.

[CavemanCharlie]

Chevy pickups and Suburbans of that era have bad transmissions. About 1/2 to 3/4 of them will need a new transmission between 80,000 and 130,000 miles. Not all of them but, many do. It's weird how some of them will hold up forever and the next one gives out early.

[IBcarguy]

A half ton 6.0 would not do a good job of towing, especially on grades. I agree with Dick B that the 2500 8.1 would be a great tow vehicle if you could even find one. Too bad GM dropped that motor in their trucks and SUVs, it was a beast for towing. I think they were made from 2001 to 2006.

[dodge_guy]

To give you an idea here, My trailer is 7100lbs dry, 9200 lbs. loaded for a week long trip. I`m towing it with a V-10 Excursion (basically an F250!) I wouldn`t try it with a 1/2 ton burb, even empty would be a chore! Find someone to tow it for you or buy something capable of towing it!

[PAThwacker]

Max tow with my 2500 suburban is 7600lbs. Thus appropriate trailers for my 6.0 3.73 rear and 2400lbs payload is the 5500 to 6200lb dry weight campers.

[aclay]

We towed with our Yukon XL 5.3 and it was tough. We had a Jayco 26BH at around 7500#. Watch any load (water, tanks, stuff, people) in the RV or the suv. We eventually got a 35' that we tow with a 3500 truck. I think you're right at the edge...

[APT]

No way you have 2000 pounds of payload. That's more likely 1400-1500 pounds. Some of the 8.1L 3/4 tons don't have 2000 pounds.


That TT would put your vehicle over at least 4 of its ratings and quite frankly not be comfortable for anyone. You could spend $2500 on a premium WDH plus another $2500 on suspension upgrades and you'll need a replacement receiver if it is still the stock round tube design. And even with those mods, you are still over the truck's ratings and I'm not sure it would be comfortable. Then you have a performance issue with the 5.3L/4-spd trans. That's solidly into 3/4 ton range, and if you are looking at similar era of early to mid 2000s, you will want the optional engines. So 8.1L or diesel for GM, V10 or diesel for Ford.

[azrving]

I had a 2013 Silverado 1500 with 5.7 pulling 5,000 and the bed was loaded to max of 1650 with tongue. It would get up and go and merge smoothly. I certainly knew it was there but it wasn't a pita. I thought it was just about right for easy driving in a 1/2 ton truck. The max was 9700. If it was close to home I'd maybe go 7,000. A 3/4 ton would make a big difference

[camp-n-family]

It's an ok tow rig, but not for what you have. That tt is well into 3/4 ton territory to be safe and comfortable.

[2012Coleman]

Payload trumps max tow capacity. Payload is what the TV can carry. Look at the door jamb sticker to get the number where it states total weight of cargo and occupants not to exceed xxxx lbs.

Air bags, sway bars do nothing to increase the payload of your vehicle.

[AMRarey]

Thank you all for the honest opinions! We've never tried pulling with the suburban, and my gut has been saying we shouldn't even try. I'm glad I asked you all!

[AMRarey]

I think so! The suburban payload is little over 2000 lbs, and the dry weight is listed, so I imagine it is heavier than that. Thank you for the reply, it has confirmed my feelings on buying a truck instead! We're looking at a 99 Ford with the 7.3 diesel.

[ChooChooMan74]

7700 "dry" will put you close to 9000 loaded and probably 1100 on the tongue weight. Too much for a 1500, in my honest opinion.

[MFL]

You would most certainly need a WDH. Most better ones will help for sway also. It is obvious you are near your burb capacity, with nothing in the trailer, or truck, for that matter.

It may get you where you are going, but not going to be the best experience. You would not be the first, or last, to be on the short side of having enough tow vehicle.

Jerry