For cryin' out loud, I would have thought it would be easier to find. Wife and I are still looking at large SUVs. She favors the Suburban/Yukon. We're looking at '09-'11 models. I can't find any site that lists all the differences between the 1500 and 2500. I know the 2500 is a 6.0L, has a beefier trans, heavier duty suspension. But I can't find a site that actually gives the specifics (which trans, what are the specific suspension differences, etc...). Anyone have better luck in finding it?
Does this help?
http://www.cars.com/go/compare/trimCompare.jsp?acodes=USC10CHS102B0,USC10CHS252B0
<---- Facepalm. I was typing every variation of "1500 vs 2500" into Google I could think of, but neglected to do that. Yes, it helps a lot.
The 2500 trans is the 4L80E, right?
Revision
If it was an 07-08, it has a 4L80
If it was an 09-13 it has a 6L90
Here's some better specs
http://m.trucktrend.com/features/tech/163_2011_chevrolet_suburban_tech_specs/#__federated=1
I think the 1500s had coil spring rears. My 2500 has leafs and rides like a truck. It's been my favorite of the cars I've had at work. It moves better than it should and may be able to push 60 feet of bus up a fairly steep incline in snow, not that anyone would try such a thing. 
If you are going to spend the money, hold out for a 6 speed model. Also, unless you get 410's, the 2500 isn't worth it for towing capacity.
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: *Revision* If it was an 07-08, it has a 4L80 If it was an 09-13 it has a 6L90
No Allison in the Suburban?
In reply to codrus:
Duramax only. Besides the 4l80 is not a bad trans even behind a Duramax.
What is the reputation of the 6L90? It would be my wife's DD, but we would also use it as our family hauler and my tow vehicle for LeMons/HPDE. In our price range, we're looking at models with 80-100k miles, but I've seen umpteen 3/4 ton trucks with 250k+ miles, so shouldn't be a big deal.
My towing needs will typically be 5000lbs and under, so yes any Suburban will do just fine. But if the 2500 is in our price range... I could see needing 4.10s if I towed a lot of heavy loads. But I think the standard 3.73 gears would be sufficient for my needs. Looks like the base 1500 Suburban without tow package comes with 3.08s. That may be a bit tougher for towing, though better for fuel economy.
I'm not a real fan of the 6L90 only because GM manufactured/designed it for MPG in vehicles that aren't made for MPG's. In other words, it's a great idea but poorly executed, typical GM. JMO. It can be fixed to be "right", just bring $. I like the idea of just gear splitting the 4L80 to make a 6spd auto better. But if it's all you got, it's all you got, use it.
I thought the 2500 suburban came with the 8.1L? or is that only in the 2000-2007 trucks?
In reply to tjbell:
Yes.
In reply to tjbell:
I think it was only something like 2000-04. Then it went to the 6.0L as well and the mighty vortec was retired. I love my 8.1L Burban but 9 mpg in town can suck a bag of dicks. Unladen, it is around 13 on the hwy. Towing drops it to 10 or so on the hwy.
From what I've read, the 4L80 is the trans to get (we've been looking at GMT800s). That's pretty much the best reason to get a 2500 over a 1500. (1500 uses the 4L60). If we got a 1500, it would have to come with enough of a price discount to make it worth upgrading it to 4L80 (which is a new wiring harness, crossmember, and driveshaft- about $1200 worth of parts, in addition to the 4L80 trans itself.)
Ranger50 wrote: I'm not a real fan of the 6L90 only because GM manufactured/designed it for MPG in vehicles that aren't made for MPG's. In other words, it's a great idea but poorly executed, typical GM. JMO. It can be fixed to be "right", just bring $. I like the idea of just gear splitting the 4L80 to make a 6spd auto better. But if it's all you got, it's all you got, use it.
How so? I haven't really heard of many issues with them. They hold up to some big power in the CTS-V. They need a tune, but that's not big dollars. What issues do they have that you don't like? Just curious, as my next truck will have one more than likely. Unless I Bob Costas out and get an EcoBoost Ford.
In reply to Klayfish:
If it's your wife's DD, get the 6-speed. The 6L90 is a decent trans. It could use a tune, but it should be fine for your towing needs.
doc_speeder wrote:Ranger50 wrote: I'm not a real fan of the 6L90 only because GM manufactured/designed it for MPG in vehicles that aren't made for MPG's. In other words, it's a great idea but poorly executed, typical GM. JMO. It can be fixed to be "right", just bring $. I like the idea of just gear splitting the 4L80 to make a 6spd auto better. But if it's all you got, it's all you got, use it.How so? I haven't really heard of many issues with them. They hold up to some big power in the CTS-V. They need a tune, but that's not big dollars. What issues do they have that you don't like? Just curious, as my next truck will have one more than likely. Unless I Bob Costas out and get an EcoBoost Ford.
The 6L90 needs a tune more than the LY6 6.0L motor does. Unfortunately, the tunes are relatively expensive ($600 for unlimited email tunes which includes a datalogger/programmer you keep). The reason is that the ECM and TCM are seperate.
Make no mistake, the 6L90 is better than either the 4L60E or 4L80E. On top of that, if you do buy a GMT800 series model, just get the 1500 and have the 4L60E rebuilt PROPERLY. Swapping a 4L80E is a huge headache, and they still can get burnt out from abuse (which they are abused, because they are in trucks used for working).
Besides all of that, the 1500's ride 1 gajillion times better. There is no reason you can't put 350k miles on a 1500 series while doing lots of towing. I've done it. My dad has done it. Everyone in Alberta has done it.
i don't know about those years, but in the mid '00's you could get a "1500" truck that had the full 3/4 ton suspension, 8 lug wheels, and even the full floater 14 bolt rear with 4.10 gears end powered by the 6.0 backed with the 4L80E transmission. not sure about the Suburbans, tho. my cousin had an '04 crew cab "1500" like that, it was a great truck but it did ride a little rougher than his actual half ton '03 Suburban.
In reply to novaderrik:
Almost, they were semi-floating rear end. They were the "1500HD" and from what I know, they were all crew cab. They are identical to the regular 2500 trucks, rather than the 2500HD. My BIL has one, and I have a "light" 2500 of the same generation. Mines a 2000, his is '03. Both 6.0/4L80E, same suspension and spring pack. But mine is an EC, his (like all the 1500hd's) is a CC. Good solid trucks.
My pick would be a properly optioned 1500. By properly optioned I mean 4x4 because I'm a redneck, any towing package available, shortest gearing available, 17s, 4l80. If available but not a big deal and whatever fancy options I wanted.
This would cut down on cost of consumables which are important for a dd and it will tow just fine. If I can tow a ridiculously sized camper with a half ton dodge with 3.92s a burb will tow a race car no problem.
I would have no qualms with a 4l60, they aren't that bad. I see many hi mileage ones that haven't even had the fluid changed, and if you keep good fluids in it you probably won't have any problems, and ifnyou do they are relatively cheap to have redone properly because they have been around forever and are super common. I'd probably run the 6 speed to and never give it a second thought.
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