Buying a 99-06 burb - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

RussTburb · 03-07-2010, 02:24 PM

After several years of talk I am finally ready to buy a new (to me) Tow Vehicle. We have decided on a 99-06 body style Suburban. I tow about 6k lbs of travel trailer and I have some questions for you guys about your trucks.
I am probably going to get a 3/4 ton with the 8.1L but not real sure and just exploring my options as those are pretty hard to find around these parts.

1. Does anyone tow with there 1/2 ton burb and what kind of mileage does one get when towing 6k lbs, with the 5.3L?
2. What kind of normal issues should I expect with either 1/2ton or 3/4ton models? Fuel pump at 120K for example. 4l60e's nuking at 160k etc.
3. How do you read the option codes in the glove box to find the gear ratio?
4. Obviously the lower the miles the better but how many miles can you expect out of these things before major issues? I see plenty on the inter-weby that have well over 200k miles and they claim they still run well.

We are planning a cross country trip towing the trailer and I do not want to have to worry about my rig not being up to the task. If Chevy would have just put the Duramax in the subs then there would be no issue here! I have heard of a company in Florida that does a Duramax conversion on Suburbans, I think that is way cool! They are called DURA BURBS!
Well that’s all I got now, Thanks for reading
Dennis

clinebarger · 03-07-2010, 06:44 PM

Have you looked into a 6.0/4L80E 3/4 ton suburban? I whould not consider a 1/2 ton for towing cross country.

RussTburb · 03-07-2010, 07:45 PM

Clinebarge: Yes I have looked into it. I test drove a couple last year. One was a Denali XL and one was the 3/4 ton with the 6.0L I was dissapointed with the power from the 3/4 ton. The Denali seamed to have way more power than the 3/4 ton. I have also done some research on this site and others and a lot of people claim that the 8.1 actually gets BETTER mileage towing the 6.0L, and the 6.0L dosen't get that better mileage around town. But I'm not ready to rule it out until I drive one. I would love to tow my trailer with both before buying one but I don't know if that will be able to happen. Thanks for the input!

djinva · 03-07-2010, 10:36 PM

It is hard to beat a 6.0, I have seen several around here in 3/4 trucks with well over 200k and no problems.

03-07-2010, 02:24 PM	#1
RussTburb Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Blaine,Wa. U.S.A Posts: 261	Buying a 99-06 burb After several years of talk I am finally ready to buy a new (to me) Tow Vehicle. We have decided on a 99-06 body style Suburban. I tow about 6k lbs of travel trailer and I have some questions for you guys about your trucks. I am probably going to get a 3/4 ton with the 8.1L but not real sure and just exploring my options as those are pretty hard to find around these parts. 1. Does anyone tow with there 1/2 ton burb and what kind of mileage does one get when towing 6k lbs, with the 5.3L? 2. What kind of normal issues should I expect with either 1/2ton or 3/4ton models? Fuel pump at 120K for example. 4l60e's nuking at 160k etc. 3. How do you read the option codes in the glove box to find the gear ratio? 4. Obviously the lower the miles the better but how many miles can you expect out of these things before major issues? I see plenty on the inter-weby that have well over 200k miles and they claim they still run well. We are planning a cross country trip towing the trailer and I do not want to have to worry about my rig not being up to the task. If Chevy would have just put the Duramax in the subs then there would be no issue here! I have heard of a company in Florida that does a Duramax conversion on Suburbans, I think that is way cool! They are called DURA BURBS! Well that’s all I got now, Thanks for reading Dennis __________________ "Red-heads not war-heads, Blondes, not bombs, Brunettes, not fighter jets!" Fligh of the Choncords 72 burb 3/4 ton 2wd 06 2500 suburban 8.1L 4x4 84 chev 4x4 diesel 96 Geo Metro with the 4cylbb, lol! Almost 300k just won't die! 89 Honda Civic, runs on the smell of an oily rag! 2008 Aerolite 26qs Travel Trailer (aka "THE BARN")

03-07-2010, 06:44 PM	#2
clinebarger Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 6,370	Re: Buying a 99-06 burb Have you looked into a 6.0/4L80E 3/4 ton suburban? I whould not consider a 1/2 ton for towing cross country.

03-07-2010, 07:45 PM	#3
RussTburb Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Blaine,Wa. U.S.A Posts: 261	Re: Buying a 99-06 burb Clinebarge: Yes I have looked into it. I test drove a couple last year. One was a Denali XL and one was the 3/4 ton with the 6.0L I was dissapointed with the power from the 3/4 ton. The Denali seamed to have way more power than the 3/4 ton. I have also done some research on this site and others and a lot of people claim that the 8.1 actually gets BETTER mileage towing the 6.0L, and the 6.0L dosen't get that better mileage around town. But I'm not ready to rule it out until I drive one. I would love to tow my trailer with both before buying one but I don't know if that will be able to happen. Thanks for the input! __________________ "Red-heads not war-heads, Blondes, not bombs, Brunettes, not fighter jets!" Fligh of the Choncords 72 burb 3/4 ton 2wd 06 2500 suburban 8.1L 4x4 84 chev 4x4 diesel 96 Geo Metro with the 4cylbb, lol! Almost 300k just won't die! 89 Honda Civic, runs on the smell of an oily rag! 2008 Aerolite 26qs Travel Trailer (aka "THE BARN")

03-07-2010, 10:36 PM	#4
djinva Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dublin VA Posts: 168	Re: Buying a 99-06 burb It is hard to beat a 6.0, I have seen several around here in 3/4 trucks with well over 200k and no problems.



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