3/4 ton or 1/2 ton Suburban??

[YBSTUK]

Soon, i'll be looking to buy a 1996-1998 GMC Suburban (i think the GMC grill looks sharper than the chevy - chevys look nice, i just like less chrome). Anyhow, i'm being real anal on the truck i want, and i think i'm going to have a LOT of trouble finding the one i want. I want it to have the 350 v8, 4wd, a tailgate instead of the barn doors, and i'd like to have it be dark blue, burgundy, or dark green. Now i originally wanted a 3/4 ton, due to the extra towing capacity, little more ground clearance, and the 8 lug wheels (i'd like to put the newer GMC alum. wheels on). i'm not ready to purchase yet, but i've been looking around, and in the 3/4 tons, i can't find what i want at all, ANYWHERE in the country. most of the 3/4 tons are the 454, and most have the barn doors. if i do find a 3/4 ton with the 350, it usually doesn't have the tailgate, and it's usually white (i REALLY don't want white).

So, with me being so picky with my requirements, i know it would be a LOT easier to find a 1/2 ton with all my specs. I just wont be able to put my 8 lug wheels on it, it wont sit as high, and it's tow rating won't be as high. i occasionally pull my built '95 jeep wrangler on a trailer for long trips.

So, basically, i'm asking for opinions. Should i hold out forever for that 3/4 ton with all my specs?? (could take a while) or should i settle for a 1/2 ton? i REALLY want a GMC over a Chevy, but if i had to buy a chevy, i could always switch the grills. does anybody have any input?? i guess if i got a 1/2 ton, i could always throw a 2" BL on it, to bring it up a bit, and i could probably find some aftermarket rims that look good... the more i look online for 3/4 tons, the more i find that NONE of them meet my requirements....

Anybody with any thoughts?

thank you in advance.

Bryan

[2bulls78]

Ok, if you want a 3/4 ton's towing capacity why would you not want the 454 power to do this towing? I have a 95 chev burban with the 454 and I do only tow occasionally, but when I do its for long distances like you described. I noticed that with the 454 that even though I don't need the power all the time that on these trips it helps greatly. The gas milage is lower than a 350 but the 454 will be less in maintenance.(last longer before needing a rebuild.) I hope this helps a bit. I'm sure what you decide will be great for you!

[YBSTUK]

thanks for your reply - i do see where you're coming from, but 99% of the time, this would be my daily driver, so the fuel mileage wins over the extra towing capacity. thus the reason for the 350 over the 454.

[Dirtsled]

For the power you can easily get the 350 at and above a stock 454, all while improving the gas mileage. Banks makes a nice kit for these motor's, a chunk of change but quality components. So I wouldn't worry about the power of the 350 you can make them produce whatever you need; I would be more concerned with the rear diff and tranny.

Towing another vehicle is a big task for any 1/2 ton truck.

I just bought a 99 K1500 Chevy Burban that I tow a 24' pontoon boat with all the time. It does alright, lot's of big hills in between me and the lakes here in AZ so it really get's a work out. (no upgrades YET) I also wanted a 3/4 ton but couldn't pass this rig up, (44k miles LT ex-soccer mom vehicle). I will just pamper the drivetrain like always and replace whatever needs to be replaced with something stronger.

Though as you see I'm a rookie here on this site so let all the other "veteran" burban drivers chime in. I know GM vehicles like the back of my hand and never driven anything else but this is my first Suburban.

Cheers~

[YBSTUK]

the more and more i think about it, i think it's worth me at least trying to get a 3/4 ton. i like the fact that it's more "heavy duty" than the 1/2, and it's more capable. all i want is 4 major things: 3/4 ton, tailgate, 350, and NOT white. Hopefully something will come up when i get ready to buy...

[mrrpm]

I own 2 'burbans - a 1/2 ton w/350 and a 3/4 with a diesel. I've used the half ton to haul everything from go-karts to 8000lb bobcats and was never disappointed. Yes, the 3/4 holds the load better, but if you're only doing occasional towing, is it worth the wait to find one? I got one because I tow A LOT of stuff (pulling a trailer between 3-5 times a week). I found my 3/4 in about 2 weeks on e-bay, but again, it's a diesel, which is what I wanted. Regardless of which one you get, you need to check things like trans filters and rear diff. fluid regularly.

[Eggert]

Hi,
most 3/4 tons have the 454 for the tow capacity and barn doors that do not get in the way of boat trailers.
As for the gas mileage, there is none anyways...
Mine is 10 city, 14 highway .
You may want to consider the rear axle ratio, too : 3.73 or 4.10.
My 01 Yukon XL with the 6 liter engine and the 4.10 rear tows 10,000 lbs.
So does the 8.1 liter engine with the 3.73 rear end.
The 8.1 with the 4.10 rear end tows 12,000 lbs.
This may be similar with your models.

One last note: My 95 Suburban 1/2 ton had the radiator with the engine cooler, but it did not come connected, this is easy to upgrade with factory parts (oil filter flange and lines). Also add the tranny cooler, I had to exchange one line back to the tranny and add a short line from the regular cooler to the extra one. Again, all factory parts.

Take care, Eggert

[1BADGTO]

Eggert,

I'm looking at a 2001 K2500 Chev Suburban LT 4X4 with the 6.0 and assume 4.10's. It's high mileage but looks tough and price is pretty good. It also has 33" AT tires on the chrome 16" aluminum wheels. Do you think mileage would be similar to your Yukon? Also, had any issues with yours? Anything to look out for? Thanks!! Chad

[Winterbreedll]

I have had Suburbans for 20 years, 1/2 and 3/4, 2wd and 4x4, I have a 94 Chevy with 330.000 miles, no rebuild, and I pull up to 8000 to 10,000 lbs. no problems. Last year I drove My 99 GMC from Fl. to Iowa pulling a 4 hourse slant load, empty, and came back loaded, good handling and power both ways, and that is with a 350 in a 1/2 ton, this truck had over 95,000 before I left, 1/2 ton will do well as long as You put on elec. brakes and a swaybar, don't go cheap, the swaybar is around $150.00, worth every bit of it on a 1/2 or 3/4.
I have barn doors on both of mine, easier to open when hooked up to a trailer, but the tailgate has it's strong points also.
Good luck, Don

[Eggert]

Hi Chad,
you probably have the 3.73 rear, RPO code GT4.
4.10 is GT5. The codes are on the white sticker in the glove compartment (all 80 of them).
My list of things to have, at least the last 3:
AJ7 Side Air Bags
G80 Limited Slip
Z55 Autoride
Z82 Trailer Prep

Are you correcting the computer calibration for the larger tires?
Tire pressure is 40 front 50 rear for light load,
50 front 80 rear for towing and full load (it will bounce on light load).


I am not a GM expert, so I don't know, what to watch out for.
How high is the mileage, and how good is the price?
I would stay at or below NADA wholesale.
I have the NADA books, if you want to msg me with details.

Take care, Eggert

[gregory914]

I have a K1500 (1/2 ton 5.7) and it tows just fine even with it's 3.42 rear end. My freind has the same and put "Air- Lift" bags on the back axle and he has towed cars and trucks from the west coast to Cleveland, OH. with no problem, he also has 4.11 gears.

Another freind has a black 97 K2500 454 w/4.11's, and passes everything but a gas station. He gets between 6 to 8 MPG hi-way city it doesn't matter. I, on the other hand get 12 to 13.5 MPG city and 15 to 17.6 MPG hi-way. In round numbers he uses twice as much fuel, big $$$$$$.

Figure out what you'll be using the truck for and buy the appropriate vehicle. I ordered mine new in late 96, with every available option, and was pissed I didn't get the 3/4 ton big block. But as time has gone on my big red Burb cruises great at 80 to 90 and I still get abuot 16 MPG because I'm only turning 2400 RPM. Also when ever you tow forget about the gas mileage, I get about 11 MPG towing a 4k pound 22 foot Sea-Ray to the Lake Erie Islands at 55 MPH and about 8 MPG at 60MPH and 6 MPG at 65 MPH you see the same pattern I do?

And oh yeah, no matter what you buy, TWO WORDS....MOBIL ONE!!!!!!
I did the cold test, Castrol and Pennzoil would not pour, they looked the bacon grease, Mobil 1 poured like water. I did the hot test and they stuck to the pan and Mobil 1 almost boiled but never got burnt. And NO, I don't work for Mobil but I've used their oil and lube products for 17 years and feel they're worth the extra couple bucks! I have also steched my oil changes to 5K miles and currently have 113K miles on my Burb.

[DDotson]

I have a 93 with 130.000 plus. I tow a camper (fully self contained) that is bigger than the burban in length height and width. Been to the north coast, south coast and east coast (hoping for west coast this year) It is a k1500 with a 3/4 ton towing package. 350 motor of coarse and have not had a problem one towing through storms, up and over mountains, down hills, mud, sleet and snow. Just about everything you can imagine. As said by others consider your uses. I drive mine for work and play, only vaction long distances with the trailer 2-3 weeks of a year. Fuel milage wins out for me. Oh and by the way, I myself still use the recommended 5w-30 Pennzoil and can still pass these darn emission tests in Memphis every year. Just take care of it, do your services as recommended, which ever you finally get. Oh mine is tailgate also. I liked it better than the barn doors.

[Eggert]

Hi,
here is my take, I had a 1995 Suburban K1500 and now have a 2001 Yukon XL K2500, 6.0 liter, 4.10 rear. That gives a tow capacity of 10,000 lbs.
If you do not need the tow capacity, then go with a small engine with a long (low number) rear.
This keeps the RPM, power and fuel consumption down. The 1/2 ton has P (Passenger) tires at lower air pressure, the 3/4 ton has LT (Light Truck) tires at higher air pressure.
So, it is either comfort and economy or load capacity.
Get the 1500 unless you really NEED the 2500.
Take care, Eggert

[DDotson]

Just realized I put 130000 instead of 230000 plus. Thats all just had the milage wrong

[sub006]

As long as a 1/2 ton has the maximum trailer towing package, it has at least 80% of the components (like brakes) that come on the 3/4 ton. Unless you have a REALLY big boat or something (and if you want a 350 you probably don't) then the small block will do just fine.

And pay no attention to the earlier posts. Small blocks have always lasted WAY longer than big blocks. I just retired my 370,000 original mile 350. NEVER opened up as highway gas mileage with load had dropped from 16 to under 15 and it was getting tired.