I'm confused - Suburban 1500 tow up to 7,500 lbs?

That's nearing the top end of it's rating and will most likely tow it but will struggle pulling the grades. If you are OK with that then go for it, slow and steady wins the race. If you have to be the first up the hill pulling a RV to make up for other shortcomings then you will need something else.

Good luck

Don

As a general rule of thumb, which has served me well over the past 20 years of towing, is I add 1,000 lbs to the stated weight of the TT and subtract 1,000 lbs from the stated max towing capabilities of the tow vehicle. This gives you
a "safety" buffer to play with. There is nothing more frustrating (or dangerous) than towing with a vehicle which is on the limit.

Another option for a TW is a full-size Van, I've used 4 different passenger vans, which allows me to carry "stuff" (securely locked up) and if comfortable. Take a look at the 3500 Express, you can find clean ones in your price range.

Gerry

Not all Suburbans are the same. The 2000 was the GMT800 platform, which had the 5.3 and 4sp transmission. The 1999 was the GMT400 platform, and had the 5.7.

The 2000-2006 came with a variety of rear axles. These determine the tow capacity. These also came in three-quarter ton series, with 6.0 and 8.1 engine, and 2 rear axle choices. These ranged from 7500lb to 12000lb ratings.

Many tt's are coming with more slides which means more weight, my brother just went from a 1500 to a 2500 to give hime more options while he was shopping for his new tt.

I'd prefer more than enough truck as to cutting it very close. My buddy I camped with this past weekend was pulling his Rockwood tt with his 2005 Suburban 1500 for the last 8 years and just this weekend with his new Chevy Silverado 2500 gas with tow package ( larger sway bar, 4 something gears ) anyway, the Suburban did the job and he always knew it was back there..... Now pulls like a dream and when they look for something else they have many options including fw's

We have pulled a medium size (26' 4600lb UVW) trailer with a 99' Tahoe with a 5.7/3.73, a 2006 Tahoe with a 5.6/3.73, and a 2003, 2500 Suburban with the 6.0 and 4.10 rears. IMHO, a 1500 Suburban, from that era, is going to leave you one unhappy camper once you head into the 6000+UVW range. The best you will probably find is a 5.3/3.73 combo. and it will be very marginal, at best. The other thing we found is that there are a hundred 1500 Suburbans available on the used market, for every 2500 out there. When we narrowed it to a condition and price range, I found four within a few hundred miles of us. Good luck.

Weight is not the only consideration. Pulling 8,000 lbs of trailer that is a flatbed filled with rocks will tow completely different from an 8000 lb big rectangular box such as a camper. Wind drag, stability and other factors come into play. You do as you see fit, but I would never be happy pulling a trailer that large with a that vehicle.

I'd certainly look for an 8.1L engine. Our 6.0L engine towing 7500 lbs gets frustrating going up a hill at 35 mph!

Tow ratings in that era was 5000 pounds to 12000 pounds. Finding the ones with the higher tow ratings can be tricky. In that era and price range, anything half ton with 4-spd trans will be adequate at best when towing any high walled RV. Performance wise, turbo diesels, big blocks, or Ford's V10 would be comfortable. I highly recommend a GM 8.L in 3/4 ton Burb. Any 3/4 ton will come with the necessary towing equipment and payload. They are rare and may be out of your budget. Ford V10 (Excursion?) is what I recommend, or GM 8.1L. Don't forget to look at the twin GMC Yukon XL (2500).

Your limiting factor is going to be your budget on this purchase. You are getting some advice of what would be more ideal, but I think you might need to look at what is workable.

I just went through a search for a Suburban. I narrowed my list to a 2500 with the 8.1, and found that those are few and far between. Unless you are looking at vehicles above 250,000 miles, a 2500 burb will be out of your price range.

The Ford V10 Excursion would be a better tow vehicle, and I was able to find a few of those in decent condition that were in your price range. You might look that way.

As far as 1500 Suburban's, they are rated to tow that weight. It might be slower than you would like, but if it fits your budet you might have to make some compromises.

If you go Suburban, take a look at the hitch. Unless it is aftermarket, it will likely be rated to tow 5000 pounds. It is worth looking at changing out to something heavier duty.

Good luck with your search.

GM's family of full sized SUV's are based on platforms

Mine is a GMT 400, next is GMT 800 (2000-2006), GMT 900 (2007-2014, I think) and
current is GMT K2xx (xx for each different end product...pickup/SUV)
link to Wikipedia, GM GMT platforms

A Tahoe is a Yukon. A Suburban is a Yukon XL. Half ton SUVs are Tahoe, Yukon and
Yukon XL. 3/4 ton SUVs are Suburban and the new Yukon XL, based on the Chevy
Suburban. Starting with the GMT 900, they dropped the 3/4 ton altogether

Best to avoid market badging confusing...best to use their true ratings:
GVWR, GCWR, FGAWR, RGAWR

Forget about MTWR, as that is based or derived from the curb or stripper model

After gathering their true ratings, then the comparison is on an even playing
field without confusion

Add rear diff ratio, as that affects the *TRUE* MTWR

Here are my 1996 GMC Suburban's :

GVWR....8,600 lbs
GCWR...10,000 lbs with a 4.1 diff ratio
FGAWR...4,250 lbs
RGAWR...6,000 lbs....this is where the biggest difference is. 1/2 tons are in the 4,000 range


Engine size and type is a personal choice. As they all 'can' do it. Some easier
than the other and why I ordered the big block.

If MPG is at the top of your have to have list, then it will work
harder towing heavy/inclines/altitude/etc. If performance and
ability to manhandle the setup, then the lower MPG will manhandle
the setup much easier towing that same heavy trailer

Most of that info is on the drivers door label...except for the GCWR. That is
the tough one to find. Generally, it is in the neighborhood of "curb" + "MTWR" + misc

My Sub's curb is listed as 5,400 up to 6,000. MTWR is 10,000 with the 4.1 diff

The generic formula to figure which to get is:

GCWR => TV + TT + Misc

You will find mostly half tons, as most order them as 'cars' (the
new station wagon, mini van) and MPG is high on their have to have
list. Rare will be the 8,600 GVWR, but they are out there. Think you
would be best served by a GMT800 8.1L Sub or even the Yukon XL (same
platform). There is an Avalanche that is based on a Sub and a few 8.6K GVWR's
out there


19 years old and still looks pretty much the same...the main difference
is that the fender flares need repainting
mysub mysuburban