Questions for the Suburban/Yukon XL owners out there...

[thebmrust]

From what I have learned in the past year (mostly on this site), get a 2004-2006 2500 with a lift gate (not a tail gate). Sadly the barn doors aren't available on those models.

Earlier years are good too but those 04-06 have a slightly refined comfort level than 03 and earlier.

 

[rayra]

now now don't be an ************** about it, Buliwyf, you're just wrong.
Lot of people on this board who actually have them, have put a lot of miles on them in all sorts of travel conditions and loads and might actually know what they are talking about.


Also on the 800/900 choice, you can put the larger diameter 900 front rotor / brakes on the 800s, as long as you have 17" (or larger) rims. It's a bolt-on upgrade / swap.

http://www.rayra.net/imageshare/Suburban/frontsuspensiontweaks05.jpg
http://www.rayra.net/imageshare/Suburban/frontbrakes06.jpg

 

[TNSG]

Went with a 2500. It is big it goes where i want and being in the TN State Guard, it hauls a shift ton of schtuff...

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[Buliwyf]

What's the GVWR of the 1500 we're talking about? What's it's weight? How much actual weight can it actually handle and remain level or better?

I get that you guys have your "feels", but such things as a highlift jack and a 5g bucket of chain at the very rear of the truck, adds up.

 

[rayra]

We're not talking about gear-festooned rock-crawling beaters, so go argue somewhere else. Pirate4x4 might give you what you are after.
Especially if you aren't going to bother to read the weight info already posted.

eta look, I'm not disagreeing with your arguments, I'm saying they're not germaine to this topic at all. We're talking about a multi-purpose family cruising wessel, not a rock-crawling mobile junkyard.



eta here's the corrected link for the GMT800 / 'Suburban Mafia' around here
https://www.expeditionportal.com/fo...uburban-yukon-etc.155266/page-21#post-2302987

 

[ajmaudio]

The comment on the 2500 brakes being smaller... even if they are.. 2500 has HYDROBOOST... LOTS more brake pressure. Honestly, this alone is enough for me, but I have a thing for kung **** brakes. The 6.0 is a bit thirstier than the 5.3, but if your up for doing or getting a tune the mileage can be improved a fair amount as well as power. If your game for a cam then your in for serious gains. The 6.0 has lots of umph left on the table. Honestly I think the worst part of the 2500 is the first gear in the 4l80... its not as deep. Gear accordingly.

 

[Buddha.]

The six speed low gear is pretty sweet.
I think a half ton with tow package is fine if you aren't maxing out your payload

Assuming the drivetrain in the 2500 trucks is same as the suburban:
My truck did Eisenhower tunnel and rabbit ears (towing 10,000lbs) at 30 mph and 4,000 rpm. It does 13mpg not towing and 7 towing across flat Kansas terrain. No idea of mpg at altitude.
Sometimes I wonder if 6.2 1500 would pull faster over the passes but I'd need airbags to level it for sure.

 

[ajmaudio]

the six speed in the 900 platform would be nicer than the 4l80 in the 800. That said... I feel like the 800 series is a touch more solid, though some of the refinements of the 900 are nice.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I get that you guys have your "feels", but such things as a highlift jack and a 5g bucket of chain at the very rear of the truck, adds up.

We don't just have "feels" we have actual, real-world experience with the EXACT vehicle that the OP was asking about: The GMT-800 and 900 Suburban. Do you?

You've made your dislike of GM products quite clear in other posts. I get it, some people like Coke, some people like Pepsi. We all get to choose.

Do you have anything constructive to offer or do you just like to crap in threads regarding GM vehicles?

I've never cared for Land Rovers but I don't see any point in jumping into every LR discussion and telling people what POS's they are.

 

[Buliwyf]

It's a simple 1500 vs 2500 thread. I didn't even mention F vs G vs D. The 2500 the I DO have experience with, seemed a bit overloaded with a similar load as the OP posted. It wasn't fun to drive. If a 1500 is weaker, on any of the model years chosen, than the 2500 that I drove, I would avoid it. There's still plenty of used 2500's available everywhere.

The Suburban 1500 is very popular, I suspect that the over the top support for it here, is not because that it's BETTER than a 2500, but because 1500 owners are just trying to make themselves feel better about their own choices. Misery loves company.

If you're here, then obviously you're interested in more than an empty family truckster. Start off right, with the heavier truck that can grow a little more with you. Eventually the tear drop will make way for 16' TT. And eventually you might want to actually make good use of the 4wd and take advantage of boon dock camp sights. With the 1500, you might just find yourself in the same predicament as with the Toyota Sequoia you already have.

Start off in the many Yukon and Burb threads here, with many of them having the 2500 parts swapped in ala cart.

 

[Martinjmpr]

The comment on the 2500 brakes being smaller... even if they are.. 2500 has HYDROBOOST... LOTS more brake pressure.

1500's got Hydroboost starting in 2004.

 

[Lykos]

One thing that Rayra mentioned that should be echoed is that there is a difference between the z71 and non z71 1500s. To the best of my knowledge there are no z71 2500s. (How ************ would that be though?)

You'll get skid plates.
You'll get 3.73 gears with g80 locker.
You'll get a heavier duty roof rack.
You'll get a trans cooler. {I'm going to upgrade mine but that's me, I'm weird like that.}
You'll get a monochromatic paint job the 2500 guys wish they had. ?

Yes a 2500 is set up "beefier" but you'll pay a price in weight. They also have 8.1 or 6.0 engines which are stonger than the 5.3 but you'll pay a price in fuel economy.

I have a 03 z71 and have no regrets about the purchase. Yes there are a few upgrades I'd like but you'll have that no matter what you buy.

Current mpg is 13.4 in town and 18 plus on the highway. And I'm telling you, the thing rides like a caddy on the factory bilstein 4600s.

If I were towing a very heavy trailer I'd go 2500. I'm talking construction or large tandem cargo trailer. But, my z71 spent the first 168,000 miles of its life pulling a 27' camper with only a replaced trans. These trucks are tough man.

 

[Martinjmpr]

One thing that Rayra mentioned that should be echoed is that there is a difference between the z71 and non z71 1500s. To the best of my knowledge there are no z71 2500s. (How ************ would that be though?)

You'll get skid plates.
You'll get 3.73 gears with g80 locker.
You'll get a heavier duty roof rack.
You'll get a trans cooler. {I'm going to upgrade mine but that's me, I'm weird like that.}
You'll get a monochromatic paint job the 2500 guys wish they had.

I should point out that except for cosmetic details like paint, wheels and the luggage rack, you don’t need a Z71 to get most of those features.

My LT has the 3.73 gears, the G80, and skid plates.




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[Hillbilly Heaven]

Since the G80 has been mentioned a few times, I am curious what type of locker is it? I assume it is a limited slip type. Is it a clutch type or a torsen type with helical gears?

 

[Lykos]

Since the G80 has been mentioned a few times, I am curious what type of locker is it? I assume it is a limited slip type. Is it a clutch type or a torsen type with helical gears?

No, it's an actual locker. When one wheel spins 100 rpms more than the other, forward or reverse, it locks in. It will not lock and will unlock at speeds greater than 30 mph.

The 10 bolt version is known to be weak if you hammer on it. When people start talking axle swaps on here it's usually to get a stronger unit.
I've considered bigger axle for this reason but have decided against it because I'm just not that hard on my stuff.