My 1/2 ton does a good job towing our 28'er, but it's at its max, and being in Florida I have never had to tow it more than 50' above sea level. I'm hoping to hold out a couple of years until Chevy comes out with a Suburban with the new clean diesel engine they're supposedly working on - I've heard it will be the '09 model. Point is, as a Suburban fan not in desperate need of a new ride right this minute, sounds like maybe you would be a candidate to wait for that as well. Assuming Chevy is actually going to produce such a vehicle ...
__________________
'06 28' Safari SE / '08 Chev 2500HD Duramax
'64 Me / '60's-ish wife / '90's kids / '06 Black Lab / '02 Poodle / oh, and a horse, too.
My wife and I are close to retirement and would like to tavel in our72, 21 foot Globetrotter Airstream. Problem is what tow vehicle to buy. I've pulled it with my 2002 Tocoma on flat roads and in 5th gear but you know it's a load and I wouldn't want to try out west. I'm thinking of a 2002 or newer Suburban and would like to stick to a 1500 for gas milage purposes. What do you folks think. Will that do it or do I have to go to 3/4 ton? If so will a 6 liter V8 do the job? And what's the benefit of 2WD vs 4 WD in a tow vehicle?
Your 21' Airstream could easily be handled by a Suburban 1500 (1/2 ton) with basic tow package included and basic V8 (6L better, but std V8 OK...).
We towed our 88 Excella 25' trailer with '94 Suburban K1500 for several years, and had no issues other than need to slow down going up serious grades (7-9%) to around 50 mph.. We could live with that, and routinely ran 60 to 65 mph on level or rolling terrain, comfortable we could manuever and stop safely. Suburbans from 2002 to 2004 should be rated at tow capacities from 6500 to 7500 pounds GVW, and your unit should have a GVWR less than 4500#... We upgraded to 2002 Ford Excursion last year for amenities and slightly heavier chassis/towing limits with 6800# trailer, it works great.
As for 4WD, it gets you a free pass on chains when driving in snow in some locations, but few of us are interested in towing with snow on ground. It is also benefit in pulling boats up slippery launch ramps on trailers, but that might not be need for you either. Might help if you loved to camp at ends of gravel logging roads at bottom of steep canyons.. Beyond that, it adds weight and tends to make ride rougher. You'd never tow on highway in 4WD except in a blizzard... With gas crossing $3 again to stay this time, lots of slightly used Suburbans bought as family station wagons and soccer-vans and commute-mobiles are going to be back on the market cheap.. At least here in Calif where the 50 mile one-way commute is common.. Good luck!
__________________ Condoluminum
In Theory, there's no difference between Theory and Practice, but in Practice, there is usually a difference...
As for 4WD, it gets you a free pass on chains when driving in snow in some locations, but few of us are interested in towing with snow on ground. It is also benefit in pulling boats up slippery launch ramps on trailers, but that might not be need for you either. Might help if you loved to camp at ends of gravel logging roads at bottom of steep canyons.. Beyond that, it adds weight and tends to make ride rougher. You'd never tow on highway in 4WD except in a blizzard... With gas crossing $3 again to stay this time, lots of slightly used Suburbans bought as family station wagons and soccer-vans and commute-mobiles are going to be back on the market cheap.. At least here in Calif where the 50 mile one-way commute is common.. Good luck!
As everyone has said, welcome. 4WD can make a difference in very few common situations, but I have gotten temporarily stuck in my 2wd several times. It doesn't take much of a rut or slope to hold back the trailer, and if my truck is on grass or mud, I have to really work to move. Three out of 6 times that I turned up my steep gravel drive, I slipped partway up and had to back down into the neighbors drive to get a running start. (Try that at 12:15am after driving 13 hours ).
Regarding capacity, I am a firm believer in towing "overkill" if that's how you want to consider it. The first time the tails wags the dog, you will have to change your pants, if you don't end up in worse shape. Luckily, it seems that this seldom happens, and has never been an issue for me (I purchased what I thought would be a great TV: I have a Dodge 2500 2wd quad cab with Cummins diesel in a long wheelbase, and it weighs just over 7,000lbs. With my 6 speed, I get about 17 mpg regularly, got up to about 20 on level highway trips, and get about 14.5 towing. I am looking at getting a 4wd before a 2010 trip up the Alcan Highway to Alaska).
I am not sure that everyone agrees but I feel that the tow vehicle that is considered to have adequate towing capacity must also include adequate stopping capacity, and the ability to safely perform emergency manuevers when needed. Most (if not all) 3/4 ton vehicles do.
Good luck and have fun.
__________________ Phil and/or Sue (with Gus, Penny and Roger)
(Buffett RIP 9/15/08) 1983 31' Sovereign 1973 31' Sovereign (project) '01 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad LWB 2x4 6sp Cummins Turbo Diesel
AIR 1753
As for 4WD, it gets you a free pass on chains when driving in snow in some locations, but few of us are interested in towing with snow on ground. It is also benefit in pulling boats up slippery launch ramps on trailers, but that might not be need for you either. Might help if you loved to camp at ends of gravel logging roads at bottom of steep canyons.. Beyond that, it adds weight and tends to make ride rougher. You'd never tow on highway in 4WD except in a blizzard... With gas crossing $3 again to stay this time, lots of slightly used Suburbans bought as family station wagons and soccer-vans and commute-mobiles are going to be back on the market cheap.. At least here in Calif where the 50 mile one-way commute is common.. Good luck!
I have a 2wd F150, in addition to more power I wish I had 4wd. Wet grass, less mud than you might think, and gravel roads have all caused me grief. I tend to be a boondocker so these are issues for me. If you stay in the mega campgrounds and never get on gravel, I suppose it wouldnt be important.
__________________ "If a man does not have an ideal and try to live up to it, then he becomes a mean, base and sordid creature, no matter how successful." Letter to his son Kermit, quoted in Theodore Roosevelt by Joseph Bucklin Bishop, 1915
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