Towing with Chevy Suburban 1500
Hello fellow RV'ers. I recently graduated from a modest little pop-up to a nice Bunkhouse TT and excited about going on some great family trips. I'm a self admitted noob when it comes to the wor...
Forum Discussion
We pull a 5500 lb (more like 6500lb ready to go) 2017 Coleman 27 footer with essentially the same vehicle, a 2000, Suburban 1500 4x4 with the 5.3. The burb does great except for the 5.3. It's working hard pulling those mountains. I guess for what it is it does OK. It's actually the best tow vehicle that I have ever owned, which ain't saying much since I've had one TT in the past. I towed it with an F-150, that did well but was crowded with dogs, a Jeep Grand Wagoneer that sucked and even worse, a Toyota Landcruizer, sucked out loud.
The Suburban 1500 is very stable. Our burb has over 200,000 on it but the engine has about 45,000. I had the rear differential rebuilt a couple of months ago. Mine has the factory tow package and I considered adding an additional transmission cooler but, it has basically two now so.. I service the transmission several times a year, drain and fill 3.5 quarts each time. The 4l60e has been fine so far. Would I prefer towing with a 2500 with the 8.1? Sure but, I don't want to drive that back and forth to work. I considered getting a newer Suburban but, my mechanic says that this body style, 99.5 - 2006 was well built and worth keeping so, I'll just keep it.
I sound like I'm poo pooing the 5.3. I'm not. We moved from a motorhome with a 454 to the burb and travel trailer. The 454 spoiled me rotten for power.
BTW, get yourself some sumo supersprings for that puppy. They really improve the ride and tow-ability.
https://www.amazon.com/SuperSprings-SSR-204-40-SumoSprings-Solo-Upgrade/dp/B00715DKUO/ref=sr_1_7?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1497921302&sr=1-7&keywords=sumo+supersprings
The Suburban 1500 is very stable. Our burb has over 200,000 on it but the engine has about 45,000. I had the rear differential rebuilt a couple of months ago. Mine has the factory tow package and I considered adding an additional transmission cooler but, it has basically two now so.. I service the transmission several times a year, drain and fill 3.5 quarts each time. The 4l60e has been fine so far. Would I prefer towing with a 2500 with the 8.1? Sure but, I don't want to drive that back and forth to work. I considered getting a newer Suburban but, my mechanic says that this body style, 99.5 - 2006 was well built and worth keeping so, I'll just keep it.
I sound like I'm poo pooing the 5.3. I'm not. We moved from a motorhome with a 454 to the burb and travel trailer. The 454 spoiled me rotten for power.
BTW, get yourself some sumo supersprings for that puppy. They really improve the ride and tow-ability.
https://www.amazon.com/SuperSprings-SSR-204-40-SumoSprings-Solo-Upgrade/dp/B00715DKUO/ref=sr_1_7?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1497921302&sr=1-7&keywords=sumo+supersprings
