Suburban/Tahoe question..... is 4WD really worth it anymore?

For a 35' trailer you want a 2500 period.
 
ManglerYJ said:
so heavier than my current Toyota Sienna can pull and stop safely - somewhere around 4000-5000 lbs.
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ManglerYJ said:
I am looking at trailers that are about 35' long
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Maybe I misunderstood your first post, but you're easily getting into the 8-10k pound camper range. That's a lot of camper to drag around behind a 6-7k pound tow vehicle (maybe 8k loaded down). You will really need to start watching weight ratings on the tow vehicle (tires being a big one, and axles also). But the other thing is you are trying to push potentially 50% more weight than your tow vehicle. I'd want 4wd no matter what.
 
marty79 said:
that's cause you need a good tire. I've ran nothing but Yokahama Geolander AT for years now and even at 60psi they straight up kick ass. I've never not been able to get up my off camber wet grass hill every time, even with my emty 1800 trailer behind it. Of course that's with this G80? rear that somehow works like a full locker lol but tires is everything. Now they hooked me up with free set of Their new line of the MTs!!!
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That's the exact tire we run. I have had to pull the suburban out with equipment so many times it's not funny.
 
Ron said:
For a 35' trailer you want a 2500 period.
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This. The half tons wear out rear ends if towing frequently.

Also, the Suburban isn't all that long. You can head-in into parking spaces pretty much all the time, and the difference in interior space is huge. The Tahoe is about the same footprint (width/wheelbase/etc) as an Explorer.
 
YotaOnRocks said:
That's the exact tire we run. I have had to pull the suburban out with equipment so many times it's not funny.
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Sorry I meant these. If you got issues with these, it's not the tires lol
GEOLANDAR-X-AT-3QL-Web-1_2020-12-20-064513.png
 
You need a 2000 or newer diesel one ton 4x4 to tow /thread

That said...better to have and not need than need and not have on the 4x4 front. Depending on frequency of towing this camper, it doesn't sound like a very comfortable set up. I've hooked up the Expedition to the loaded enclosed landscaping trailer a time or two, I've also towed my 96 Crew cab with the Expedition...both instances were right around 10k, and there are certainly better tools for the job.
 
shawn said:
This. The half tons wear out rear ends if towing frequently.

Also, the Suburban isn't all that long. You can head-in into parking spaces pretty much all the time, and the difference in interior space is huge. The Tahoe is about the same footprint (width/wheelbase/etc) as an Explorer.
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Not looking to tow very often. Most will be twice a year for the next 15 years (foreseeable retirement age). Main reason I was against the idea of a full size pickup - I didn't see any sense in buying a weighted tag to pull a trailer twice a year max.

This vehicle will also be my daily driver replacing the Sienna I currently drive, so gas mileage is a concern as I am averaging 20 MPG combined mileage in the Sienna.

The campers I'm looking at are the Flagstaff Super Lite line.
 
ManglerYJ said:
I didn't see any sense in buying a weighted tag to pull a trailer twice a year max.
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Enterprise rents duallys

Not being a smartass

Honestly if I were in your shoes I'd consider this
 
CasterTroy said:
Enterprise rents duallys

Not being a smartass

Honestly if I were in your shoes I'd consider this
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Ironically I had this conversation with my wife along the same lines. Oddly enough my wife said, "this is one of those times that I'm telling you to stop overthinking it and just get what you want." So now I'm letting you guys do the over-thinking for me! LOL


Oh. And has GMC/Chevy stopped making 3/4 ton SUV's? I can't seem to find an option for them on either of their build sites.
 
I think i posted this recently elsewhere, but since I like the idea so much...
www.ebay.com

2007 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 K2500 | eBay

This 2007 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 is an original with updates to the drivetrain. The owner has had it for 3 years. The vehicle runs great and is used as a daily driver.
www.ebay.com
 
ManglerYJ said:
Ironically I had this conversation with my wife along the same lines. Oddly enough my wife said, "this is one of those times that I'm telling you to stop overthinking it and just get what you want." So now I'm letting you guys do the over-thinking for me! LOL


Oh. And has GMC/Chevy stopped making 3/4 ton SUV's? I can't seem to find an option for them on either of their build sites.
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Yes, 2013 was the last year of 2500s available to the general public. There was another run around 2015, but they were gov only.
 
jeepinmatt said:
I think i posted this recently elsewhere, but since I like the idea so much...
www.ebay.com

2007 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 K2500 | eBay

This 2007 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 is an original with updates to the drivetrain. The owner has had it for 3 years. The vehicle runs great and is used as a daily driver.
www.ebay.com
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Yikes, 14 years old and still $25,000 with a loan on it.
 
ManglerYJ said:
Not looking to tow very often. Most will be twice a year for the next 15 years (foreseeable retirement age). Main reason I was against the idea of a full size pickup - I didn't see any sense in buying a weighted tag to pull a trailer twice a year max.

This vehicle will also be my daily driver replacing the Sienna I currently drive, so gas mileage is a concern as I am averaging 20 MPG combined mileage in the Sienna.

The campers I'm looking at are the Flagstaff Super Lite line.
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The 29RLBS (since you didnt mention which 35' flagstaff super lite) is over 9,000lbs without counting any weight towards stuff you stick in the trailer. Depending on where you camp and if you are hauling home with a partially full grey and black and have topped off the clean you could eclipse 10k in trailer weight. Not hard at all to add 1,000lbs of camping "stuff"...

Towing 10k lbs with a half ton suburban would be a miserable trip, for me. YMMV.
And I think itd be down right scary in heavy cross winds
 
Ron said:
The 29RLBS (since you didnt mention which 35' flagstaff super lite) is over 9,000lbs without counting any weight towards stuff you stick in the trailer. Depending on where you camp and if you are hauling home with a partially full grey and black and have topped off the clean you could eclipse 10k in trailer weight. Not hard at all to add 1,000lbs of camping "stuff"...

Towing 10k lbs with a half ton suburban would be a miserable trip, for me. YMMV.
And I think itd be down right scary in heavy cross winds
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The one I have my eye on is the 29BHS, which according to the specs comes in at 7605 unloaded. My wife is only into "glamping", so full hookups will be required anywhere we go. Will most likely never travel with full clear, black or grey water tanks. I can see 1000 lbs in clothes/stuff and 400 lbs in food as very realistic, but even still I can definitely see the issue with 9000 lbs with a 1/2 ton Suburban.

Gonna have to noodle this one some more.
 
I need 4x4, part of my 1/4 mile driveway is fairly steep and gravel. Unloaded a 2wd with LS is ok but pulling a decent trail? Fugetabowdit.

Wife’s cars have been AWD. Daughter still has a front wheel drive car and she tears up my stone, I have to run the box blade weekly.
 
ponykilr said:
I need 4x4, part of my 1/4 mile driveway is fairly steep and gravel. Unloaded a 2wd with LS is ok but pulling a decent trail? Fugetabowdit.

Wife’s cars have been AWD. Daughter still has a front wheel drive car and she tears up my stone, I have to run the box blade weekly.
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Food for thought....and I am a 4wd advocate and this is a 4x4 website...
4wd adds $3k to the price of a new suburban - quick configurator check. If the driveway forces you to buy 4wd vehicles and no other use "requires" them....how much would you save over your lifetime by asphalting the driveway
 
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