suburban owners

[sharon]

i am considering a suburban as my next tow vehicle. i was hoping some current owners would comment on gas mileage. i was thinking of 2wd with limited slip rather than 4wd. i was also thinking of 1997 or newer. is there a lot of difference in mileage from 4wd to 2wd and does the 3.42 vs 3.73 rear end make much difference? would only be towing an alum boat 3500lbs max. and use as a commute to work vehicle as well. thanks for all comments.

[gonfishn95]

I have a 1999 GMC Suburban pulls my 620 ranger no problem. It gets fabulous gas mileage. I am in the market for a new one and it is for sale 36,000 actual miles, 1 owner. fully loaded. want more info e-mail me has not been drove in winter usually park it around end of oct and pull out in March.
Larry Dawson NPAA # 273

[Big Santa]

I've got a 2000 Yukon XL (GMC's name for a Suburban). I get 16 MPG highway, 12 MPG when towing a 3,500 lb. rig. Barely feel the rig behind it. I towed a 6,000 lb rig last season and it did a fine job towing that as well.

I previously owned a 1997 Suburban. In my opinion, no comparison between the two. Better ride, better handling, more power, better towing with the "new model". If you can swing it, I would go with the 2000 or newer model. Great vehicle.

[wish2fish]

I have a 2000 Silverado with the "trailer towing" package, 5.3 and it has the 3.42 gears. I just picked up a Lund 2150 (2090 lbs) Baron, gas (80 gals), motors (700lbs) and trailer (1000lbs) about 4200 -4400 lbs. I think the 3.42 struggles to keep the rpms in the power band at 65MPH.

My last rig was a 97 Sub that did not have the trailer towing package. It was a soft ride and would slosh back and forth. The rig I was pulling was a 19' Ranger on a single axle trailer (3200-3400 lbs). I pulled this boat with the Silverado without any swaying and also a 92 Ford 150 PU without any problems.

I would get the trailer towing package and the 3.73's if you go over 3000 lbs.

[Hans]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-04-01 AT 08:21PM (CST)[p]I'd equip it with 5.3L engine, 2WD, 3.73 locking rear (not limited slip), electronic traction assist, and the towing package (tranny cooler, hitch receiver, trailer wiring, shocks).
Your transmission will have the "tow/haul" electronic management.

I run a 2001 Silverado equipped that way, and it is pure towing sweetness, plus the mileage (it's also my daily commuter) isn't bad -- around 18-19 open road empty, 15-17 pulling a 2500# rig.

4WD would be "cool", but costs $3500 dollars more, lowers your gas mileage, and drastically increases maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle. The 2WD locking rear and electronic traction management hasn't let me spin a wheel yet, on even the slimiest/greenest asphalt boat ramps I've been able to find.

Hans

[TJ]

2000 Yukon XL with 3.73 here too. Great tow vehicle. Get the automatically adjusting rear suspension! Tows a 619 like a jetski.

[Phil T.]

If you're considering Suburbans as old as 1997, my 1987 1/2 ton has a similar powertrain. 350 cu.in. (5.7L)V8, auto transmission, 4X4, positraction rear, 3:73 axle ratio, trailering package.
Running empty, not speeding, not bucking heavy winds, I can get as much as 16 or 17mpg. Towing my boat(not in overdrive)burns gas at a rate of 10mpg. The boat package weighs 2500 lbs.
This truck has been the most trouble-free vehicle I've ever owned (no, I'm not trying to sell it). In my case, a 3:42 axle could have worked. Of course, then that would have put more strain on the engine and transmission.
Limited slip instead of 4X4? You may not like limit4ed slip in the winter if yo commute on icy roads. If one wheel loses traction, the power transfers to both, and now both lose traction. Been there, done that. It was kind of fun for me, but that oncoming Geo Metro didn't see the humor in the situation. 4X4 has another advantage, that of a low range. It is really nice on poor gravel ramps to be able to back your boat into the waer without braking. If you use 2wd and brake, the front wheels skid, losing their steering ability. 2wd Suburbans are best left to people who tow only on decent roads, like Airstream owners.

[Sharon A. Kinney]

gonfishn95. pls post your email address. tx.
hans - i have never heard of locking rear ? what does this mean?do you have a control for this in the cab of truck ? is this an optional thing or does it come with the tow/haul mode ? also you metion in your post electonic traction assist. is this limited slip or something else? does it have a control in cab or is it done automatically with some kind of computer? in looking at some of the new pickups i see limited slip on the 2wd vehicles but have never seen either of these two you mention. i am not in a position for a new one just hoping you could tell if a used one had these items. i would guess the sub would have the same options as the pickup correct ? tx.

[Hans]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-05-01 AT 08:55PM (CST)[p]A "locking" rear end is similar to "positrac" or "limited slip", except it is superior in that it hard-locks both rear wheels together when it detects one spinning. This is an option you need to buy (about $250 if I remember right), and it is "automatic" -- you don't control it from the cab.

Electronic traction assist is also a separate option (about $280 I think) which electronically modulates your throttle and your transmission when it detects low traction, making it almost impossible for you to "spin out" on slippery surfaces like wet/mossy boat ramps, or winter ice. It is "computer controlled" in that it detects the situation and "goes to work".

These two options work together a lot, and make a 2WD truck almost feel like a 4WD in poor traction situations. I think you also need to specify the "towing package" to get these options.

The tow/haul mode on the trannys (I assume it also comes on Subs, Yukons, etc.) is a standard feature designed to manage your transmission when towing. It is not directly related to the other things I've been talking about.

All of these are recent GM items, so won't be available on most used vehicles more than a couple years old.

Hans

[hiwayman]

I'd go with the 4 whl. drive if you drive in ice or snow at all. Had a '99 with the locking Diff. Didn't like it near as good as 4 whl. drive pulling the fish house on the ice in the winter. Went back to an '01 5.3, 3.73's, limited slip 4x4 with the trl. package. and love it.

[hiwayman]

Oh ya, gas milage. Keep track of every tank. Poorest was pulling a 4 place snowmobile trailer with the sleds and all the gear, 200 mi. of the trip in 4 whl and a foot of snow, got 12.3. Best empty
on the freeway 19.6. I've averaged 14.7 in the first 13000 mi.probably half of the mi. have had the sled trailer or a 16' fishouse, or a 3500 lb. boat behind.