Is one that much better than the other?
I looked around the lot and basically if I get an enclosed the 2500 is the one to buy. They are also almost identical in price (ebay) and I havent had a chance to get a ride in either

Anyone have a 1500 or a 2500 that could give me some advice?

 

I used to have an '01 Silverado 1500 and then traded for my current '02 Silverado 2500HD. If you are talking about the latest generation Suburban, I would definitely recommend getting the 2500 simply for the much improved brakes over the 1500. The difference is night and day. You will especially appreciated the better brakes with the heavier enclosed trailer. Towing capacities also jump from approximately 8900lbs. to 12000lbs. The ride does get some what stiffer, but not uncomfortable by any means.


Hope that helps...

Eric Rosen

 

I would go with the 2500 in a heartbeat. The beefier trucks are a lot easier to tow with. Especially at the end of a race weekend, you just don't want to work that hard.
A 1500 suburban isn't bad. But the 2500 is better. You could race on a stock suspension and spare tires, but the race suspension and tires are much more stable, even when you're going slow.

 

New or used? I have a 97 K2500 suburban and it's great. When I was shopping, I "heard" that the 1500 trans (4L60) had "issues" and the 2500 trans (4L80) is bulletproof. That was the main factor in my decision, once I realized (as you did) that there is essentially no premium for a 3/4 ton. With gas prices these days I wouldn't be surprised if a 454 2500 sub is cheaper than a 350 1500 sub.

 

We had a hard time finding a 2500 with what we wanted, in good condition for the price we wanted to spend. I have a 1500 that a guy let go that was in great shape... came with all the towing goodies... airbags, brake controller, and of course some bling, bling cadilac wheels.

We're planning on towing a crx on an open trailer. I'm totally new at this, so I'm doing this on the cheaper side. If you've got the cash, then yeah, go with the 2500.

 

the 2500 I am looking at has the 6.1 liter engine.. So its not going to be amazingly more powerful. I want a diesel but no such beast was made

I thought the 8.1 would be overkil.. but i have no experience to base that claim

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Want2race &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I thought the 8.1 would be overkil.. but i have no experience to base that claim</TD></TR></TABLE>

there's no such thing as overkill when it comes to tow vehicles

as far as I know all the 2500s have the big tranny. its worth getting a 2500 just for that IMO.

joel -- '99 2500, 454

 

I had a 98 2500 454 with the tow rear end.

Sweet. I forgot the trailer and car were back there.. even up hills

 

Like others have said, go for the 3/4 ton.

I went from a 1/2 ton Suburban to a 3/4 3+3 GMC (at least one generation of body style ago). I especially liked the stiffer springs. Could barely tell my tandem axle trailer was there.

 

If you're looking for a &lt;'99 vehicle, look for a 2500 with 8-lug wheels ... it will have the more desirable 4L80 and a 4-bolt 350 (not all the 3/4-ton Suburbans/trucks from that era have 'em).

Pat
'93 Suburban K2500

 

I'd go with a 2500.. Make sure if you buy one with aftermarket wheels that they are load rated for your expected weights, we didn't and spent close to 4K on repairs after a wheel departed our 'burb.

PaulC
#33 PS-1 RX-7
NASA Norcal

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Silkworm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'd go with a 2500.. Make sure if you buy one with aftermarket wheels that they are load rated for your expected weights, we didn't and spent close to 4K on repairs after a wheel departed our 'burb.

PaulC
#33 PS-1 RX-7
NASA Norcal</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is a good point when towing... look at load ratings of tires (and wheels in this case).

 

I've got a Silverado but it has the same running gear. I've got the 3.73 rear end . The motor is actually a 6.0 liter, the only bad thing I've heard about them is piston slap when cold. Also, when driven by soccer moms they tend to get carbon buildup on the pistons and will knock even with 93 octane. If you are towing with it that shouldn't be a problem though. The dealership has always told me it was ok to tow in overdrive with the 4L80E trans, but I recently tried towing in 3rd gear instead and actually got slightly better fuel mileage. I got 13 mpg towing through the mountains of West Virginia, normal towing mileage was 11.5-12.5 mpg with the Civic on a heavy open trailer. I'm going to do some more experimenting with 3rd gear in the future, every little bit helps nowadays.

 

I wouldn't call the 4L80 indestructible, as we just replaced one on my brother's '94 Suburban 6.5TD 2 weeks ago. Granted, the stock tranny has around 150k on it, most of which was towing mileage. The shop goofed on the replacement tranny which blew up 1 week later under normal driving conditions... good thing they have a warranty on it!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WRXRacer111 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I wouldn't call the 4L80 indestructible, as we just replaced one on my brother's '94 Suburban 6.5TD 2 weeks ago. Granted, the stock tranny has around 150k on it, most of which was towing mileage. The shop goofed on the replacement tranny which blew up 1 week later under normal driving conditions... good thing they have a warranty on it!</TD></TR></TABLE>

What was the mode of failure on the 4L80? Just want to know what to start looking for, just in case.

Mike &lt;- towing to Roebling tomorrow with 125k on the 'burb + wife and 3 month old, and not liking the thought of being stranded on I-95

 

Next arguement.. 8.1 liter or is the 5.7 or 6.1 OK ?

 

Hey Paul C, I didn't know you were on here. Ready to give up on the Mazda & get a get a Honda? H4 is where it is at. You will have a lot more fun with us!!

Back on topic, Paul makes a good point about the wheels. There are a lot of mfg that don't match the oem load rating when going bling.

If you are using this for towing, & you are, you should only consider the 6.0 or the 8.1. Which one depends on how much you will be towing & how big. There are the obvious trade offs involved here. The 8.1 = more hp/torque & &lt; mpg. The 6.0 = good hp/torque & a little better mpg.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Want2race &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the 2500 I am looking at has the 6.1 liter engine.. So its not going to be amazingly more powerful. I want a diesel but no such beast was made

I thought the 8.1 would be overkil.. but i have no experience to base that claim</TD></TR></TABLE>

I towed first with a 1500 (Silverado not Suburban) with the older 5.3 liter engine. Although it worked fine most of the time, there were times when the engine couldn't adequately handle my 22 ft enclosed trailer and 3000 pound race car.

Specifically, the big up hill at Watkins Glen it struggled, and if you wanted to go faster than 65 or so it also struggled.

My current two vehicle is the 2500HD with the 8.1 and it can haul a house on wheels. I can easily cruise at 85-90 on the turnpike and up hills.

the difference between the 8.1 and the diesel is HP and Torque. The Diesel makes nearly 70 pound ft of trq more than the 8.1 but the 8.1 makes 40 more HP. Ideally you want a diesel for towing as all the grunt is down low at 2000 rpm's but my truck as to serve as a daily driver here in Northern Va/DC where diesel fuel is harder to find.

In the case of towing always by the most hp/trq you can afford. Forget the cupholders, power accesories and all the other stuff if it's just going to be used for towning.

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
#40 Guident Technologies/HRPWorld.com Integra LS H4

 

Its going to get daily duty as well.

if they made a diesel 2500 suburban.. I would buy it in a heartbeat!

 

Well, if you want a diesel, have you considered the Excursion. There are plenty of people who tow with the 'X'. Once you tow with a diesel, you won't go back to gas.

 

Ive heard too many bad tranny stories to buy a ford X

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Want2race &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Its going to get daily duty as well.

if they made a diesel 2500 suburban.. I would buy it in a heartbeat!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Am I missing something here? My friend Chad uses his 2500 Duramax equipped Suburban to tow damn near every weekend. Navy blue, leather interior, auto, 4x4, 110,000 on it, newer body style Alcoa wheels, 4" exhaust and chip. Picked it up all the way from NJ for a steal. Hard to find, but they are out there.

When I first read the post that was going to be my first comment was "Get the 2500 for the simple fact you CAN get a diesel in them.".

 

a diesel in the newer body ? where can I find out more ?

 

The Sub isn't available from the factory with the Duramax.

There are a whole lot of people towing with the 4R100 tranny. It does have weaknesses. This is known. It is also known how to make sure you don't have problems as well.

 

I got different vehicles.
Take your pick...