Towing capability with a 5.3L v8 Suburban

[girlsma]

We are considering trading in our 2009 tahoe for a 2011 suburban in order to be able to tow a lightweight travel trailer, instead of a hybrid trailer as we have now. The maximum towing weight is listed as 8,000 lbs so my question is what do you feel is the most we could tow without any problems. We would be removing the 3rd row seats.

[hmknightnc]

IMHO the 5.3L Tahoe will tow just as much the 5.3L sub. Have an '05 factory tow equiped Tahoe. Towed several 10s of thousands of miles with a 6,000# (scaled) TT. Won't want to tow more with that engine, Don't get that wrong, it's a great engine and runs great but struggles more than I liked pulling 8% grades. It's a personal preference. BTW still have that Tahoe (165k miles) doesn't do tow duty any more but stays on the road with my daughter. Runs like a scalded dog and has never been touched mechanically except routine maintaince. Great vehicle, got a cold one bet it will make it 250k miles.

[PAThwacker]

Trade the Tahoe for 3/4 ton crew cab truck.

[adayjk]

My problem with my GM wasn't towing capacity, it was GVWR. Once I added people and a little stuff to the van there was no capacity left for tongue weight. I'm not sure of the other posters logic, but I'd guess they about accurate if you do the math after the fact with weight readings from a scale.

[EldIr]

Lots of variables, but without any problems, 6000lbs loaded. You can find quite a few nice trailers in that range. That's about what my old Jayco is, give or take a few hundred, and I was pulling it with an old 5.7 Suburban with 3.42 gears. I wouldn't have wanted to go in the mountains with that rig, but it did just fine on the rolling hills of the midwest. The 5.3 has more power and torque than the 5.7 although it may run at higher rpm doing the same job.