3/4 ton suburban with 6" lift kit

[lohidoc]

I am about to purchase a low mileage 3/4 ton GMC suburban (7.4 liter) to use as tow vehicle for 34 foot excella. This truck has been modified with a 6" lift kit. Looks impressive, but wonder if this will affect towing characteristics.

Any thoughts?

[BillTex]

Hi lohi, while lifting a truck may look impressive (cool) raising the CG is not a good thing.
I would also question how this truck was used by PO...serious off roading?
Also not good...

But who knows, if the truck was not abused, certainly 3/4 ton Subys are awesome TV's, and you can drop it back down to "normal".

Good luck, Bill

[lohidoc]

Thanks Bill - I appreciate your comments. Truck looks very well cared for, clean inside and out, regular low mileage over the years and well maintained. The cool quotient is not important to me but it does to my kids and anything that gives this dorky middle-aged dad some street cred is a bonus. The truck does have some chunky tires which extend laterally and presumably this compensates with regard stability.
I'm concerned about the towing characteristics- how does it affect towing characteristics? Weight distributing hitch, sway bars etc.

Marc

[59toaster]

What year Sub? 6 inch lift is pretty tall. Its tall enough to clear 36 inch tires. So this may make an issue if they re geared the truck to put it back in its proper effective gear ratio.

In general lift is counter productive to towing. It may require a custom drop hitch to get the correct ball height.
The higher Center of gravity can also cause handling issue.

How did they lift it?

Lift blocks= BAD. creates axle wrap so if it has lift blocks they got to go.

Since the 454 was not available in a 4wd suburban till 92 I assume this is a IFS truck.

Lowering the front may be a bigger problem then you would think. Many lift kits for the IFS trucks require cutting off and modifying the factory brackets. So you may have to hit a just yard and cut off the brackets and weld them on to this truck to be able to put this truck back to stock.

Honestly you might be better skipping this truck if you want to put it back to stock height. It will probably exceed the saving you got on the initial sale.

[moosetags]

A lifted Sub is cool, and it can tow a small boat or something else in the 3000# range. I'm concerned that towing a 34 footer in the 10,000# range would be courting disaster. At a minimum check the tires on the Sub, they may not be load range E's. You really need E's to pull something that big.

I am also concerned that the raising of the Sub has changed the steering geometry and center of gravity. These things are really important when towing heavy at highway speeds.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, a friend of mine and fellow co-worker had a Suburban and towed a toy hauler. Shortly after raiseing his truck, well long story short, truck and trailer went to the junk yard. [ROLLED THEM] I would not suggest towing with a jacked up truck. True cause of the accident was never disclosed.

[LI Pets]

Take a pass on this one, there are too many others to buy!

[lohidoc]

Thanks all for advice - I continue to be impressed by this community!

Consensus seems that towing with a lifted truck is not a good thing, so I'll take a pass on it. Thanks again to all of you!

Marc

[davidz71]

Since you mentioned chunky tires, I picture aggressive off-road tires which have a tendency to pick up larger rocks from the road and hurl them toward your trailer. Small pebbles are picked up by all terrain tires such as the B.F. Goodrich AT KO and others so front window rock guards and lower segment protectors are necessary. My truck is shod with Bridgestone Dueler APTIII tires and I wouldn't want to go much more aggressive than that while towing a trailer. One other point, a previous poster noted that the tires should be at least a load range E. I have also found that a more open tread, particularly if the edge of the tread is open and not closed, has a tendency to squirm more even if in that preferred load range.

[john hd]

I have also found that a more open tread, particularly if the edge of the tread is open and not closed, has a tendency to squirm more even if in that preferred load range.

dittos on that comment. the best towing medium terrain tires i have found have a continous tread around the edges. firestone and goodyear make some good examples.

john

[thecatsandi]

If your trailer gets squirly for any reason. Your Suburban stands a much higher chance of being toss around or rolling over. Pass.

[Silvertwinkie]

Yea, I tend to agree, a lifted truck isn't gonna be a sound choice.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by lohidoc

I am about to purchase a low mileage 3/4 ton GMC suburban (7.4 liter) to use as tow vehicle for 34 foot excella. This truck has been modified with a 6" lift kit. Looks impressive, but wonder if this will affect towing characteristics.

Any thoughts?

Visit "ANY" large wrecked vehicle yard.

You will find an amazing number of high profile vehicles, just like the one you want to buy, that are roll overs.

Couple that with a 34 foot trailer, and your asking for a ride, that quite well may be the last for you and your family.

Using a load equalizing hitch would require altering the laws of physics.

Absolute wrong kind of tow vehicle, under any cirsumstances.

Andy

[lohidoc]

Thanks again all of you - I'm glad I had the inspiration to pose the question before purchase; probably saved me from a serious accident!