Budget for a 2500 burban?

Blaise wrote: Interestingly, my friend who teaches transmission rebuilds for GM said D and tow mode is good to go.

If I remember right, tow mode locks out OD on those trucks. It's been a while since I've driven a 4L60e truck though.

Chadeux wrote:

Blaise wrote: Interestingly, my friend who teaches transmission rebuilds for GM said D and tow mode is good to go.

If I remember right, tow mode locks out OD on those trucks. It's been a while since I've driven a 4L60e truck though.

Suburban 2500 GMT800 is a 4L80E, I think.

So 2007+ is only the 6.0 is there any reason to go for the newer ones besides the body styling and overall wear and tear?

Jaynen wrote: So 2007+ is only the 6.0 is there any reason to go for the newer ones besides the body styling and overall wear and tear?

6L90E and gen IV LS blocks, so put an LS7 in there would be "easy." stainless brake/fuel hardlines is nice too.

Chadeux wrote:

Blaise wrote: Interestingly, my friend who teaches transmission rebuilds for GM said D and tow mode is good to go.

If I remember right, tow mode locks out OD on those trucks. It's been a while since I've driven a 4L60e truck though.

It does not, just locks up the converter faster and shifts more firmly.

I have my Torque app showing trans temp and TCC slip to be sure :)

fidelity101 wrote:

Jaynen wrote: So 2007+ is only the 6.0 is there any reason to go for the newer ones besides the body styling and overall wear and tear?

6L90E and gen IV LS blocks, so put an LS7 in there would be "easy." stainless brake/fuel hardlines is nice too.

Would you want to be swapping in a LS7 for towing ;p?

In reply to Jaynen:

Need that extra displacement for big loads

Furious_E wrote: In reply to Jaynen: Need that extra displacement for big loads

Sounds like a good punchline to a poopjoke

Jaynen wrote:

fidelity101 wrote:

Jaynen wrote: So 2007+ is only the 6.0 is there any reason to go for the newer ones besides the body styling and overall wear and tear?

6L90E and gen IV LS blocks, so put an LS7 in there would be "easy." stainless brake/fuel hardlines is nice too.

Would you want to be swapping in a LS7 for towing ;p?

If were talking fictitious money, why not!

Yeah I am definitely thinking budget minded here which is why I am looking at the burban over the crew cab truck. I already have an 8 passenger vehicle with the minivan.

However it does not seem that the 8.1 carries a premium as much as it just is much less common

fidelity101 wrote:

Jaynen wrote: So 2007+ is only the 6.0 is there any reason to go for the newer ones besides the body styling and overall wear and tear?

6L90E and gen IV LS blocks, so put an LS7 in there would be "easy." stainless brake/fuel hardlines is nice too.

So that's the 6 speed trans? Some people say that helps the 6.0 a lot

Jaynen wrote:

fidelity101 wrote:

Jaynen wrote: So 2007+ is only the 6.0 is there any reason to go for the newer ones besides the body styling and overall wear and tear?

6L90E and gen IV LS blocks, so put an LS7 in there would be "easy." stainless brake/fuel hardlines is nice too.

So that's the 6 speed trans? Some people say that helps the 6.0 a lot

It sure is and it doesn't make such a big difference when the truck weighs 6500lbs. 6 speed in the 1/2 ton with the 6L sure does good though.

Can a 3/4ton burban especially with the 8.1 for sure tow like a 10,000 lb trailer? I feel like about a 30ft toy hauler with a 10ft garage is kind of what I want. And they run about 10-12k GVW max

In reply to Jaynen:

my 6.0 was rated for 9 or 10k I'm sure you can do 10-12k with a well maintained vehicle 8.1 powered. If you run a gooseneck/5th wheel I've seen the 8.1 pickups tow up to 20klbs

The 8.1 with 4:10 gears was rated to tow 12k. I towed 10k with my 6.0 3:73 Sub, it struggled in the hills but the chassis was ok with it.

Furious_E wrote: In reply to Jaynen: I've always felt, and have heard others say this as well, that the 4x4 GM trucks sit a bit lower than their counterparts from Ford and Dodge. I have no data to back this up, so it might be complete BS

I believe this to be true. I had a 4x4 F350 and it sat noticeably higher than my current 6x6 K3500 Dually. Tire size is identical. The Chevies got IFS whereas the Fords of that vintage were still solid front axle.

As for towing MPG, the 454 (basically, a smaller 8.1) non-vortec gets 9 mpg towing 8000 pounds of car, trailer, and spares. And 10 mpg empty.

Jaynen wrote: Can a 3/4ton burban especially with the 8.1 for sure tow like a 10,000 lb trailer? I feel like about a 30ft toy hauler with a 10ft garage is kind of what I want. And they run about 10-12k GVW max

I towed a 28 ft enclosed that weighted around 9K lbs, did it quite well. My 8.1L Burb has 3.73 and is 4WD, so it is rated to 10,100 lbs. 2WD with 4.10 is rated at 12,000 lbs.

Gotcha, I don't really need 4wd if the rear axle has the limited slip, but if I had it I guess then I would have a mountain/snow rig and a 10,000lb trailer on damp grass might mean having it is nice.

It seems relatively hard to find them in 2wd tho.

fidelity101 wrote: In reply to Jaynen: my 6.0 was rated for 9 or 10k I'm sure you can do 10-12k with a well maintained vehicle 8.1 powered. If you run a gooseneck/5th wheel I've seen the 8.1 pickups tow up to 20klbs

I don't need the bed very often but being able to run a 5th wheel does make me wonder about the premium for the truck vs the burban. Hard to turn down the burbans price premium of about 4-5k cheaper tho

I am guessing you could put 4.10s into a 3.73 geared burban pretty easily?

Gear swap would be easy, or just get a whole rear axle. I believe the 2500 pickups use the same axle, which is an AAM 10.5"

My guess is with that and maybe airbags you could set one up to tow 10-12k fine. But you would not have the bed so no 5er obviously

https://www.youtube.com/embed/XixtZqpILm4

Jaynen wrote: Gotcha, I don't really need 4wd if the rear axle has the limited slip,

Not sure about the 2500 but on my 1500 it has an Eaton G80 locker. It works really well.

volvoclearinghouse wrote: https://www.youtube.com/embed/XixtZqpILm4

lol, I am sure the roof is great at holding 1000+ lbs ;p

Would you guys do a fly and drive or ship one of these without seeing it in person?

There does not seem to be that many good deals showing up around my area. Obviously try to get someone to check it out first but any other tips?

I did a fly and drive for my Burb (from a board member). They are reliable vehicles and parts are readily available, so a fly and drive should be an easy one to do.