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Old 04-19-2009, 04:01 PM   #1
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1966 17' Caravel
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2007 Suburban 3/4 ton - enough guts?

Hi! We are looking to get a new TV for our 1966 17' Caravel. We currently tow with a 1999 Durango 5.2 L engine. We at some time in the future may tow my Dad's 1987 34' Excella. We are looking at 2007 Suburban 6.0 L 3/4 ton with LT3 package for towing. My Dad says we need "the biggest, baddest truck we can find" - nothing less than a 454 Suburban. What do "ya'll" think? Do the new Suburbans have the guts to hall my Dad's AS? We are confident we would have no problem with our little Caravel girlfriend. Thanks in advance for your input!

Angela
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Old 04-19-2009, 04:51 PM   #2
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Not only would it be enough to pull a '66 Caravel, it is overkill. Most folks here seem to use the lighter-duty 1500 for trailers less than 27', especially the older ones that don't weigh much. I pull my 27' Overlander with a Burb 2500 with the 5.7 engine, and it does fine everywhere but long, steep mountain passes (I have to gear down and go slower, big deal). On the other hand, with a Burb 2500 454, you could get a much bigger, or newer (heavier) trailer someday and keep the same TV. There's other threads here discussing this subject. Good luck with your purchase- tim
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Old 04-19-2009, 05:58 PM   #3
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A properly equipped Suburban will tow up to 9600lbs. There are two issues here. First is your pop's 34 footer more than 8500lbs. If so, after you pack, fill with fuel, etc, you will most likely be near the max. In addition, the Sub, though a phenomenal tow vehicle and without question able to tow your Caravel, at 34', which brings me to my second concern, that you really start to look for a bit longer wheelbase, which is what is found in the pickup lines.

In the end I know of many 3/4 Suburbans and GM vans towing upward of 9000lbs with no issues. I personally would not have a big issue towing a 31 footer with my Burb, but that is about as high as I think I'd push it, but that is just perhaps me....I am somewhat conservative.

So the answer is yes, but with due caution with the 34 footer.
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Old 04-20-2009, 08:12 AM   #4
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Thumbs up Good choice!!



The Burb you are considering should do just fine.

Let Dad know there are no new (07 up) Burbs available with the "big block".

(finally sold our 95 454 yesterday, yippie!!!)
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Old 04-20-2009, 08:29 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shinysideup View Post
Hi! We are looking to get a new TV for our 1966 17' Caravel. We currently tow with a 1999 Durango 5.2 L engine. We at some time in the future may tow my Dad's 1987 34' Excella. We are looking at 2007 Suburban 6.0 L 3/4 ton with LT3 package for towing. My Dad says we need "the biggest, baddest truck we can find" - nothing less than a 454 Suburban. What do "ya'll" think? Do the new Suburbans have the guts to hall my Dad's AS? We are confident we would have no problem with our little Caravel girlfriend. Thanks in advance for your input!

Angela
Angela, "may tow my Dad's 1987 34' Excella." As I see it, the real questions are: How likely? How often? How far? and WHERE?

I see you're from Frederick Maryland, which may mean that you'll tow in the mountains, but not likely the Rockies. I think your planned big block Burb should be fine especially if towing your father's Airstream isn't going to be a "fulltiming through all the lower 48" thing.

Oh, and by the way, why wouldn't your dad wouldn't let you use HIS tow vehicle? Or has he had the A/S parked semi-permanently? (If so, worry more about the tires, axles and brakes than the tow vehicle.)

Paula
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Old 04-20-2009, 09:18 AM   #6
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There is an issue you have not mentioned. The rear axle ration is as if not more important than the engine. If your truck of chose has a 3.73 or 4.11 rear you will be OK. If it has a 3.42 you will not be happy.

In any case if you tow with a Sub you want to install an additional trans cooler. Towing in the east coast mountains is harder on a trans than most of the west coast mountains. Out west you just gear down and pull for the long haul. Back here in the east the trans is shifting back and forth and building far more heat, thus the cooler.

The cooler should be placed in the system after the radiator trans cooler.
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Old 04-20-2009, 09:40 AM   #7
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i would try to get the 8.0 engine not thr 6.0 if available and that will give you a lot of HP with 411 rears you could climb a tree .
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Old 04-20-2009, 10:18 AM   #8
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My 3/4 ton GMC van has a 6.0 liter gas engine. I chose the 4.10 axle. We are rated to pull 9,900 lbs. No issues pulling a heavy 31' slideout. I'm not sure what axle that option supplies, but it was a $50 cost at build time to go to the 4.10 from the standard 3.73. I considered it money well spent.

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Old 04-20-2009, 10:37 AM   #9
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If you are looking at a used truck or a new one open the clove compartment and look on the inside of the door. There is a label there with every part code that went into the truck at date of manufacture.

The rear ratios are as follows GT5 is 4.10, GT4 is 3.73, GU6 is 3.42, and GU is 3.08.

The 3.42 is the most common in the lighter Sub because that gave GM the best gas mileage in the Government fuel tests. Don't consider that any advantage as those test are run under controlled phony conditions.
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Old 04-20-2009, 11:08 AM   #10
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Since the new body style was introduced, I am uncertain the 4.10s are even an option, clearly the 8.1L left around the same time as well across the entire light truck line.

That said according to the build your own section of the Chevy site, 3.73s are all that are avail in a 3/4 ton burb. They do however since the refresh have a new 6 speed tranny which may gear equiv to having 4.10s, but don't hold me to that.

I agree that if it's consequential use (towing the 34 footer) and yer not doing a lot of heavy mountain driving, then you should be good, but I would not do it regularly. If you are looking for a Burb, your best bet is to go to a pre-2007 where you can still land an 8.1L and 4.10s if you plan to tow regularly the 34 footer and must have a burb

One note of caution on the Van vs Suburban line is that the driveline in the Van has a full floating axle, whereas the 3/4 ton burb has a semi-float. The full floater is a bit more beefy than the semi floater, but then again, in GM land, the Vans don't have 4x4 options, so there are trade offs, but the 6.0L is nearly identical as is the 4L80e trans of the same year and vintage.
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Old 04-20-2009, 02:12 PM   #11
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1966 17' Caravel
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Thanks everyone! I will double check the ratio that you spoke about. Would probably tow Dad's 34" 89 Excella infrequently. As for Dad's 454 Suburban - he has pretty much turned it into a beach buggy! See the attached cartoon to get the rest of the picture! Back to you soon.

Angela

[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/angela/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-7.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/angela/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-6.jpg[/IMG][IMG]mailbox:///C%7C/Documents%20and%20Settings/angela/Application%20Data/Thunderbird/Profiles/y6z7imp1.default/Mail/Local%20Folders/Trash?number=764785855&part=1.2&filename=rust%20%2 8Medium%29.jpg[/IMG]
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