Just completed the torture test - PASS!

[intheburbs]

Well, the big vacation of the year was a success. Heaped some major abuse on the Suburban, but she came through without a single hiccup.

Highlights:

Trip duration: 18 days
Total miles: 5,300 (MI-AZ-UT-CO-MI)
Towing miles: 4,900
Most miles towing in one day: 776 miles (Loveland, CO to Iowa City)
Days of 600+ towing miles: 3 (3 more days at 400+)

Pulled the trailer through the Eisenhower tunnel and over Vail Pass on I-70.
Visited 5 National Parks - Grand Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Natural Bridges and Rocky Mountain
Scaled Pikes Peak (without trailer ;))
Climbed Trail Ridge Road
Logged ~20 miles of moderate 4 wheeling in Moab - Gemini Bridges and White Rim Road. Not just dirt roads - some frame-scraping.

Very pleased with how the Suburban performed. Only service I did during the trip was an oil change in Moab, after about 2700 miles.

Here's a shot from White Rim Rd, parallel parked next to a 300-foot drop:

[rickeoni]

Had our Sub for 22 years. it was great while we were raising the 5 kids (no minivan for us 😉 ) 3 engines, two transmissions and 600,000 miles later, we put her out to pasture. 2 big for DW daily driver but with Grandkids coming along who knows?

[texasclarks]

Burbs' Great run down thanks for sharing!

I agree that everyone should see the Grand Canyon. I hiked down it and back up a few years ago - very majestic place.

[intheburbs]

I was able to cover huge mileage from Detroit to Albuquerque because I was alone. Had two straight days of 12-hour drives. The wife and kids flew into ABQ from a visit with her mother.

Ok, here's the itinerary:

Indianapolis 7/2/14 Dry camp - Walmart parking lot
Tulsa 7/3/14 Cherry Hill RV Park
Albuquerque 7/4/14 ABQ Central KOA
South Rim 7/5/14 Grand Canyon Trailer Village
South Rim 7/6/14
South Rim 7/7/14
South Rim 7/8/14
South Rim 7/9/14
Moab 7/10/14 Canyonlands Campground
Moab 7/11/14
Moab 7/12/14
Moab 7/13/14
Colorado Springs 7/14/14 Garden of the Gods RV Resort
Colorado Springs 7/15/14
Loveland 7/16/14 Loveland RV Resort
Loveland 7/17/14
Loveland 7/18/14
Iowa City 7/19/14 Iowa City

And here's the mileage for each leg:

Home - Indy 296
Indy - Tulsa 660
Tulsa - Albuquerque 641
Albuquerque - South Rim 412
South Rim - Moab 551
Moab - Colorado Springs 390
Colorado Springs - Loveland 110
Loveland - Iowa City 795
Iowa City - Home 481

I selected all the RV parks based on Woodalls ratings, except for Trailer Village (we wanted the close-in location). All were acceptable and as expected based on ratings. The two standouts were Canyonlands Campground in Moab and Trailer Village.

The Loveland RV Resort was nice, but more of a long-term park, and I'd prefer Johnson's Corner RV Park so I don't have to drive to get my cinnamon rolls, but they were full.

If I could do it again, the only thing I'd change is the order. Once we saw the Grand Canyon, everything else seemed to pale in comparison. We went to the Major League ball game first, so by the time we went to the Class A ball game (Garden of the Gods), it didn't seem that impressive. Maybe part of that was because we lived in Colorado for 10 years.

Every American should see the Grand Canyon. Words and pictures do not do it justice.

[Wishin]

APT wrote:
If you have documentation already prepared, I've love to see the details too! PM for email if that's better.

I'd also love the details of what you did.

[APT]

If you have documentation already prepared, I've love to see the details too! PM for email if that's better.

[Locky]

Sounds like an awesome trip OP.
Wishin, hi west michigan neighbor. Wife and I are planning a similar trip. I'm going to message you if you don't mind.

[intheburbs]

Wishin wrote:
We got 7.6 mpg overall with our 8.1L, what did you get with your 6.0 6-speed combo?

Depending on wind/grade/elevation, I was around 8 MPG driving through the Plains states, dropping as low as 6.5 at higher elevations in the mountains.

MARK VANDERBENT wrote:
They are our favorite !! longest running nameplate out there. Been building them since 1935. GM sells a ton of them. 200,000 on our 2000 burb tow our camper all over the place !! Glad to here your good news . Wife wants to head our west next summer, she is planning it now. Would love to hear your agenda if you wouldn't mind sending us a private message ?

PM sent.

[MARK_VANDERBENT]

They are our favorite !! longest running nameplate out there. Been building them since 1935. GM sells a ton of them. 200,000 on our 2000 burb tow our camper all over the place !! Glad to here your good news . Wife wants to head our west next summer, she is planning it now. Would love to hear your agenda if you wouldn't mind sending us a private message ?

[Wishin]

What a great sounding trip, we'd love to do the same/similar one in a few years. We just did MI,Niagra,VT,NH,Maine,Mass,RI,CT,NY and home to MI. 3,300 miles, all but about 150 was towing I'd guess. I think we have a nearly identical 2014 Wildwood version of your trailer (26TBSS). We got 7.6 mpg overall with our 8.1L, what did you get with your 6.0 6-speed combo?

I do 100% of the driving as well. I thought when we upgraded tow vehicles my wife would be more willing to drive, but she still doesn't want to. I don't mind so I guess it doesn't matter.

[Tystevens]

Sounds like a great trip. We are fortunate to live just a few hours from many of those spots.

And we have loved our Suburbans, too. Ours have been 1/2 tons, but they have met or exceeded my expectations in all respects.

[intheburbs]

APT wrote:
Did you let your wife drive/tow any of those miles? Our suburban is my wife's DD, but she hasn't towed anything before. I've love some help if we make a longer trip!

I wish. DW wants nothing to do with driving the rig. I don't mind doing 90-95% of the driving, but the occasional break/nap would be nice. 12 hours on the road with the trailer makes for a long day.

I'm a seasoned road warrior. In a previous life I drove 30k, 40k, sometimes 50k a year. Very few things in life are as enjoyable to me as driving. Especially when it's with the family. The kids are also seasoned road warriors, so they're used to long drives. All in all, I don't mind doing all the driving.

[Sandia_Man]

Not surprised as your towing combination is well matched. Your pics remind me that I haven't been to some of those places in quite some time. Our 3/4 ton Chevy gasser does a great job towing our 32'TT all over the mountain west region of the country.

[APT]

Did you let your wife drive/tow any of those miles? Our suburban is my wife's DD, but she hasn't towed anything before. I've love some help if we make a longer trip!

[ianmac23]

I did a similer trip from Ohio and my GMC Sierra preformed great too. I can't wait to plan my next trip out West