Suburbans-tow ratings

[Craig]

I've been shopping for a 1993-1999 Suburban 2500 to tow my 78 Excella 500 31', rated at 8,500 lbs.

Does anyone know where I can find tow rating for the Suburban? I've been primarily looking at the 7.4L 454, but wondering if the 5.7L would work for me.

Any help would be appreciated.

Craig

[overlander64]

Greetings Craig!

You'll not be sorry if you search out a 7.4 liter Vortec equipped Suburban. I am certain that the C/K 2500 Suburban with 4.10 gearing can handle your trailer as it is rated at 10,000 pounds trailer towing capacity with the factory trailer towing package. On my 1999 K2500 Suburban, the heavy duty trailer towing package included:

Heavy Duty Shocks, Heavy Duty Radiator with external transmission and motor oil coolers, auxiliary electric cooling fan, Heavy Duty class IV receiver hitch, and Heavy Duty Alternator.

My dealer special ordered the vehicle for me and it now has over 94,000 miles and has been a faithful servant. There have only been two major expenses - - complete brake overhaul ($750.00) at 70,000 miles and a major tuneup ($250.00) at 82,000 miles. Other than that it has been strictly routine maintenance - - new tires at 55,000 miles and the next new set will likely be needed at about 107,000 miles. My normal solo mileage varies between 12 and 17 MPG, and my towing mileage varies between 11 and 13 MPG with a 6,000 pound Overlander - - the 3,000 pound Minuet doesn't even seem to impact mileage - - 14 MPG my last trip with it in tow.

Good luck with your search.

Kevin

[Craig]

Thanks, Kevin.

I did find a 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 with 37,000 miles, and the heavy duty trailering package. It's a private sale and they are asking $24,500, which seems just a little on the high end to me. But at the same time, the 2500's don't seem to be very common.

Craig

[overlander64]

Greetings Craig!

Depending upon equipment, the Suburban that you are looking at would have had a list price of between $38,000 and $43,000 in 1999. My 1999 K2500 Suburban with the 7400 Vortec and most every option except the sunroof had a MSRP of $42,100.

I know that the prices for Suburbans can vary somewhat from one region of the country to another, but here in the Quad Cities area of Illinois/Iowa I have been seeing C/K1500 Suburbans of the 1999 model year with asking prices between $22,750 and $23,500. I have only seen two 1999 C/K 2500 Suburbans of the 1999 model year for sale in this area recently, and the asking prices were $25,500 (5700 Vortec & only 24,000 miles), and $24,900 (7400 Vortec & 43,000 miles). Both of the C/K 2500 Suburbans sold in less than 10 days - - or at least they disappeared from the dealer's lots where they were located.

Kevin

[Craig]

Thanks for the info, Kevin.

I have a copy of the original window sticker from the owner. The list price was $43,000.

I should probably jump on it before it's gone and I regret it. It really is a nice truck. Pewter(silver) with 37k miles and looks like every option but the sunroof too. Must be very similar to yours.

Craig

[davidz71]

Craig,
Get it quick! You will be much happier with the 7.4 litre towing capability over the 5.7. I think the towing package of this model has a 4.10 rear end but you would be equally pleased with the performance with the 3.73 rear.

[lee_jachter]

I just upgraded from an 88 350 TBI Burban to a 96 2500 7.4 Vortec to pull our Tradewind.

Now please don't kill me, but, we bought this one, with 122,000 miles (the 88 only had 98,000) on Ebay, for $10,200.

It seems we had been watching for one, and I found one, in Salt Lake City, Utah, with a "buy it now" price of 10,200. It was a good seller, and close, and he had like 40 pictures of it... Nice.

The sellers rating on ebay clinched it.. and it is a great truck. New shocks, plugs, lubricants.and we've had it to Moab utah for its first trip. Wow, does it tow nice.

There was another one, (a preVortec 95) for 13,500 in town here, but I found one electrical problem that killed the deal. Glad we waited.

[Craig]

Lee,

Why would anyone "kill you"? Because of the mileage? As long as you are happy with your choice, that's all that matters...

I just spoke to the owner and he's willing to go down to $23k, so I think I'm gonna do it!

Craig

[Craig]

Can anyone explain to me what the difference in tow ratings between the Suburban K2500 5.7 and 7.4 is? Why was the 5.7 standard on the K2500 and also available in the K1500?

Thanks,

Craig

[Kirby Stone]

Craig,
I had an 87 7.4 liter with 4.1 then changed to 3.73. It towed
fine but mileage was always 7-8 mpg.

I had a new 95, 5.7 liter with 3.73 and trailer towing.
It was plenty adequate for 31 ft. Excella, even in mountains.
got 10-12 mpg towing. Up hills you have to slow down some and perhaps use 2nd gear on very steep ones.

I now have a 2001 1500 with 5.3L Vortec, 4.10 rear axle, it tows
even better than the 5.7. Great mileage, on level gets 11-13 with
trailer. The 5.3 really revs up easily and pulls very well in 2nd or 3rd gear. The new 6.0 would really be great but you will need a
newer model.

Some may disagree, but I feel a 5.7 or 5.3 with right axle does the job fine in 99% of towing, slow down and gear down for other 1%. Then when not towing you get much better gas mileage.

Kirby

[lee_jachter]

I agree. We had an 88 with a 5.7 (350) in Ohio. Last year, we moved to Colorado, so driving in the mountains is now standard. In Ohio the 350 was just fine. But here in CO, it was a real dog with the trailer. That is the reason why I got rid of the 350 for the 454Vortec. I figured if I am going to change for power, and get rid of a good truck, go all the way. The new truck is much better. Surpising, fuel mileage with the trailer went from 8-9 with the 350 to 11 with the 454. It gets the same 12 around town so far..Maybe 14 on the highway with no trailer.

[Craig]

Thanks.

Kirby - what is the weight of the 85 Excella? On my 78 Excella the GVWR is 8500lbs.

Craig

[Kirby Stone]

Craig,
My 85 Excella has GVHR of 8300 lbs. I believe this is the max
load allowed by the axles, tires, etc. My actual wet weight
is approx 7,000 lbs or slightly less. THis was estimated at
truck wt scales weighing the 2 axles and compensating for the hitch weight. The trailer was loaded for a long trip and had
approx 3/4 tank of water or approx 57 gallons. Dry wt. at factory was more like 5900 lbs.

I pulled this same trailer with an Olds 88, 5.7 liter, 2.73 axle ratio to Fla several times, Jellico Mt. in Tennessee, etc. Again, I had to use 2nd gear and about 40-45 mph on long hills. The same vehicle with a 24' Argosy in Colorado, Montana, etc., did suffer loss of power at the high altitudes but always made it to top.

There is no doubt the 7.4 has a lot more HP and torque, but again I find that the 5.7 or 5.3 in a Suburban with a 4.1 axle can handle the load fine.

Pulling mountains takes Horsepower, if one slows down somewhat the Horsepower required drops since HP required is proportional to speed up the mountain for a given load.

The Vortec engines with fuel injection all get better mileage whether 5.7 or 7.4. The newer designs, 5.3, 6.0 are based on the new Corvette engine and really rev up easier as well as get
better mileage; however, I don't think they were available before
2000 or so. My 87- 7.4 and my 95-5.7 were not Vortec engines, the oldest Vortec's came out in 96.

Kirby