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04-02-2015, 06:28 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
bremerton
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
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Tow vehicle mod on an older Suburban
I have a 1969 1/2 ton suburban. I have touble towing, and stopping my 3 ton air stream. What would anyone suggest I do? Getting rid of this truck is not an option, what can we do to improve this trucks use?
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04-02-2015, 06:39 PM
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#2
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1987 Avion 34W owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Good Ol'
, USA
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,090
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Any idea what the rated towing capacity is of your Suburban? So far, all I can offer is to make sure the brakes on the trailer are as good as they can be to help get it stopped.
What engine, transmission, and rear end ratio?
__________________
I this great country!!!!
1987 Avion 34W
1995 Ford F250 7.3L PowerStroke
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04-02-2015, 06:52 PM
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#3
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1 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
bremerton
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
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thanks for your quick response. I have been told that this truck should be able to handle it. But I've also been told switch to a 3/4ton.
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04-02-2015, 06:55 PM
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#4
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1 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
bremerton
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
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I have been told that there are some mod's that can improve it's towing and stopping. what do you think? Is it possible?
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04-02-2015, 07:02 PM
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#5
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1987 Avion 34W owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Good Ol'
, USA
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,090
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You first indicated that you won't get rid of the 'Burb. My 1st inclination is keep the 'Burb, get a 3/4-ton to tow the trailer. By the time you upgrade the 'Burb, you could buy a decent used 3/4-ton vehicle. If you're going to keep the 'Burb, I don't think you'd go wrong with upgrades......
Oh, what to do???
__________________
I this great country!!!!
1987 Avion 34W
1995 Ford F250 7.3L PowerStroke
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04-02-2015, 07:03 PM
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#6
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1 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
bremerton
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
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I know there are things I can do to upgrade it. I just need some advice about how to go about doing it, and whether I can do this without spending a whole lot of money. Has anyone done this? And was it successful?
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04-02-2015, 07:07 PM
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#7
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1 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
bremerton
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
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Thank you for that info. My wife and I just bought it. We thought that it would be really cool pulling a vintage air stream with a vintage truck, from the same era.
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04-02-2015, 07:12 PM
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#8
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1 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
bremerton
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
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I know that my brakes will need modified. But I'm not sure how to go about boosting my engines horsepower. Any suggestions?
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04-02-2015, 07:16 PM
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#9
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1987 Avion 34W owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Good Ol'
, USA
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,090
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I agree, it's a neat combination. Seems like the easiest "upgrade" would be a rear-end ratio change. Is the 'Burb struggling just to get going? Are your trailer brakes good?
__________________
I this great country!!!!
1987 Avion 34W
1995 Ford F250 7.3L PowerStroke
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04-02-2015, 07:57 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1994 34' Excella
Warren
, Manitoba
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,253
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Give us a little more info on the TV. Engine, transmission, rear axle ratio??? How many miles, and is it worn out? Do the trailer brakes work? All of these items are importand information needed to give you any help or guidance. Chris
__________________
ACI #7394
2012 GMC 2500 HD Duramax Denali
1994 Excella 34'
1987 Limited 34', 1976 31', 1976 Argosy 22' Gone to new homes
Hensley Hitch
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04-02-2015, 08:37 PM
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#11
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2 Rivet Member
1974 27' Overlander
Twisp
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 73
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Just how tired is your 'Burb? I also have a 27' Overlander, a '74, when we got it, I had a '78 1/2 ton Suburban with a well worn 350 and TH 350 trans to tow it with. Towed it from Tacoma to Bothell, then from there to Twisp, the only place it struggled was going over Blewett Pass. Since then, I've had 3 other 'Burbs as tow vehicles, a '79 3/4 ton and an '88 1/2 ton, both with 350's and automatics, and my current TV is Suburban #4, a '96 3/4 ton with a 454 and auto trans (don't like manuals for towing). The current beast doesn't even know it's there, but none of the others had any issues, either, and they were all stock trucks. If yours is struggling, there's something wrong that needs to be addressed, before you start throwing money at "upgrades". Properly working trailer brakes and a good brake controller are also very important. Good luck!
Dave
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04-02-2015, 08:58 PM
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#12
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4 Rivet Member
1973 Argosy 26
1966 30' Sovereign
Currently Looking...
Southern
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 273
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We have a '96 K1500 Suburban with a similar towing capacity. Our Argosy tips the scales at 3800# give or take dry weight with an additional allowable of 2400# for a total of 6200 GVW...well under the Suburban's capabilities. Our Sovereign is about 400-500# heavier dry weight with a similar GVW...still well within our TV's capabilities. I added spring assist rear shocks to help the towing stance.
What kind of gear ratio & transmision do you have?
__________________
All that is gold does not always glitter...those who wander not always are lost....
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04-03-2015, 12:50 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1960 22' Safari
in the wilderness
, The great Mojave Desert
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,077
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Disc brake conversion and swap in a higher HP engine with a trans that can handle the higher HP and towing.
You could get a more specific answer if you told us what engine and trans you have now.
__________________
I'd rather be boon docking in the desert.
WBCCI 3344 FCU
AIR# 13896
CA 4
Yes, we have courtesy parking for you. About an hour North of Los Angeles.
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04-03-2015, 05:02 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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Are you using a brake controller? What rear ratio on the burn? Peace,jim
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04-03-2015, 07:10 AM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
1987 25' Sovereign
Oregon
, Ohio
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 491
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I hope this does not offend you, but at what speeds are you trying to tow at? Is your weight distributing hitch set up properly. I first towed our 6000 lbs. Sovereign with a half ton pickup and only had to downshift going up some grades. As for stopping , no problem.
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04-03-2015, 09:06 PM
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#16
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1 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
bremerton
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
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the answer to your question is a 350 engine with a quadrajet 4 barre l carb. and a 350 transmission. I was already going to install a set of air bags for the rear to assist in towing.
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04-03-2015, 09:07 PM
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#17
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1 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
bremerton
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
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yes it does have a brake controller, and the brakes on the trailer have been serviced.
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04-03-2015, 09:10 PM
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#18
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1 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
bremerton
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
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I have also changed the gear ratio on the rear end for stronger towing ability.
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04-03-2015, 09:16 PM
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#19
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1 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
bremerton
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
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I know that the easy way would be to get a 3/4 ton truck, but I really want to know that I can make this suburban do the job. I have no papers on when this 350 engine was rebuilt. But I have been told by the seller that it has only 30000 on a fresh engine.
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04-03-2015, 09:44 PM
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#20
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1987 Avion 34W owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Good Ol'
, USA
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,090
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Can you elaborate on your towing troubles?
I would make sure the 'Burb can breath easily and exhale easily... low-restriction on both. For stopping ability, consider disc brake conversions.
When you apply the trailer brakes, can you get it adjusted to where you can lock up the trailer wheels? Are the existing brakes on the truck adjusted properly and in good shape?
What is the resulting rear-end ratio you've settled on?
__________________
I this great country!!!!
1987 Avion 34W
1995 Ford F250 7.3L PowerStroke
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