Suburban 2500 discontinued

[remphoto]

During a trip to Washington, D.C. one will see black, heavy-duty Suburbans everywhere. The government must buy thousands of these each year (of course some are then fitted with armor, bulletproof glass, etc.) Hard to believe that GM would give up on this market

[dznf0g]

Don't count on it for retail.

[phbarnhart]

Interesting... I notice they're calling it "Suburban HD" and have dropped the 3/4 ton language. Given that these guys don't do anything without 75 board meetings I wonder what the PowerPoint on that name change looked like. It certainly brings it in line with the Silverado nomenclature.

[SafariSS]

I have read on several boards that it will be fleet or only available to approved buyers? I wonder if they are going to sell them for premium so they are not sitting around dealers lots like the last generation. Never any problem selling em down here in Texas.

[Goin camping]

Originally Posted by ericpeltier

I had no idea you could get an 8.1 liter Suburban......Is the mpg "If you have to ask......"

With 3:73's I get 13 and change unhooked and 11 with the trailer.

Pulls almost as well as The Ford PSD. Unlike the PSD it doesn't break down and it only cost 10K used. Traded them the PSD and got the burb and a check.

Been towing with it for about four years and am still spending the trade in money.

[dznf0g]

Post #61 and 64 are dancing around the truth. No sense discussing it for towing trailers.....unless you get used at a Govt. auction.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by ericpeltier

I had no idea you could get an 8.1 liter Suburban......Is the mpg "If you have to ask......"

I get 13-14 mpg without the trailer and 7-9 mpg with depending on speed and wind, with my 2004 8.1 burb.

Now that it's nearing the end of its service life, the 'burb is proving expensive to maintain. I just replaced the heater core and both of the a/c evaporators, and have a leaking rear main seal and an airbag electrical problem both of which will be well over $1000 each to repair. Over 10 years old, over 160,000 miles, so that's not surprising for a large, capable, complex vehicle.

I'm pretty much resigned to replacing it with a pickup when the time comes. By then my kids will be a little older and we won't have as strong a need for the 3rd row seats.

[nvestysly]

I noticed late model 3/4 ton Suburbans were used to escort Pope Francis when he visited Washington, DC in September 2015.

I've attached a few pictures. Can anyone identify the year model of the Suburbans in the pictures? The vehicles don't look like the latest model but appear to be only one body style earlier.

How do I go about finding these on the used/auction market?

Which engines were used in these government vehicles?

[dznf0g]

They will probably never be sold, but scrapped. And you'd have to be shot if you knew what they're built with. Not your typical street truck.

[Foiled Again]

I had one in 2003. I think they were discontinued in 04 or 05.

These might be "Dura-burbs"

There's an outfit in Florida (if I recall correctly) which takes late Suburbans and 2500/3500 Chevy or GMC trucks that have been totaled and creates melds them together. Want one? Here's where you start:

https://sites.google.com/a/duraburb.com/duraburb/

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...son-83702.html

Looks like some sites aren't very active any longer. But good luck searching.

Paula

[DanB]

3/4 ton burbs will be available as a "fleet purchase" next year. It will be labeled "3500", no idea why.

To rich for me, maybe in 7 years o so.....

[dznf0g]

Folks, read the GMFleet.com description: "If you need big power along with big capabilities, the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban HD gives it to you. A 6.0L Vortec V8 mated to a 6-speed heavy-duty automatic transmission means Suburban HD has power to spare, while the increased-capacity suspension with air leveler can keep everything in balance. The added utility makes Suburban HD a perfect platform for up-armor applications when your security cannot be left to chance. Only available for fleet deliveries."

These are only sold to specific upfitters for armoring and sale to government(s), and foreign (and American), dignitaries. They won't be on dealer lots, and don't usually make their way to the used car retail stream.

[Tincampers]

You'd have to pry mine away from my cold, dead curling fingers. At 165k, it is NOWHERE near the end of it's service life. These vehicles are built to last well past that. I still see 'burbs on the road from the nineties. I saw one that had over 500,000 miles and was still going strong.

[DanB]

"These are only sold to specific upfitters for armoring and sale to government(s), and foreign (and American), dignitaries"

Where are you getting this from?

I'm betting Chevy isn't spending multiple millions gearing up this product for such a limited market.

I think if you can qualify for a fleet purchase, you can order this truck.

I also bet it will be on the consumer market in 2017-18ish

[moosetags]

We also tow with a 3/4 ton Suburban. We have had three of them, an '01, an '04, and an '05. The two latter one are Quadrasteers. We still have the 2005 which is a four wheel drive Quadrasteer, named Olivia. Olivia now has 140,000 miles on her, and she is out with us on an Airstream trip right now.

Olivia still runs great. It's the ancillary systems that are starting to fail. We keep her going mainly to keep the Quadrasteer which is absolutely amazing in its ability to maneuver a trailer.

I would hope the GM would see fit, at some point, to make the new 2500's available to the general public, if only by special order. The market really needs a real 3/4 ton SUV that is comfortable towing a larger Airestream and still have payload capacity for substantial cargo in the tow vehicle.

I guess that return of the Quadrasteer wiuld be too much to hope for.

The discontinuation of the 3/4 ton Suburban has left a void in the trailer towing community.

Brian

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by DanB

"These are only sold to specific upfitters for armoring and sale to government(s), and foreign (and American), dignitaries"

Where are you getting this from?

I'm betting Chevy isn't spending multiple millions gearing up this product for such a limited market.

I think if you can qualify for a fleet purchase, you can order this truck.

I also bet it will be on the consumer market in 2017-18ish

It's not multiple millions. Chassis has some mods to existing hardware in the HD parts bin. Cost comes from disrupting normal builds on the line. I am sure they will be built in batches to minimize this. And starting at $79k for an LS.....it's paying for itself.

Only certified armor upfit fleets can get it. If other fleets want it, I am sure they will be denied...or scrutinized closely.

I'd take that bet. might lose, but I don't think so.

[DanB]

"Only certified armor upfit fleets can get it. If other fleets want it, I am sure they will be denied...or scrutinized closely."

Again, where are you seeing this?

[nvestysly]

Here's some information about a 2500 (3/4 ton):

2016 Chevrolet Suburban HD will be 3/4 Ton; Fleet Only

And some information on a 3500 (1 ton):

2016 Chevy Suburban 3500HD Engine, Details & More | GM Authority

I guess nobody really knows what GM will offer until it's actually ready for production and orders are placed. I'd sure like to see the 6.2L gas or the Duramax as engine options.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by DanB

"Only certified armor upfit fleets can get it. If other fleets want it, I am sure they will be denied...or scrutinized closely."

Again, where are you seeing this?

It's my job.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by nvestysly

Here's some information about a 2500 (3/4 ton):

2016 Chevrolet Suburban HD will be 3/4 Ton; Fleet Only

And some information on a 3500 (1 ton):

2016 Chevy Suburban 3500HD Engine, Details & More | GM Authority

I guess nobody really knows what GM will offer until it's actually ready for production and orders are placed. I'd sure like to see the 6.2L gas or the Duramax as engine options.

I think all we ASers need is a 1500 maxtow, 6.2l, 8 speed with more rear axle capacity, like the pu.