Will a Chevy 5.3L Suburban tow an RZ4?

[EricU]

I've got an RZ4 and a bunch of teenagers to haul around. I am used to diesel trucks and their seemingly unlimited torque. I picked up a real clean 91 Suburban 4wd last year when I was looking for a diesel Excursion.

Anyway, the interior size of the Suburban is great and now I want a new one. I just checked the website and the only engine option is a 5.3L with 335 lb-ft of torque.

• Will a new Suburban tow my RZ4 5,500lb pig ok?

Most of our towing is relatively flat, but I do want to be able to go up to some of the mountain lakes also. I don't want to be lumbering around the mountains in a brand new rig.

335 ft-lbs of torque just doesn't seem like much compared to Ford's 6.7 with over 400 ft-lbs and the Ford diesel with 800.

And I am NOT trying to start a "my truck is better than your POS truck thread" I just am not sure about dumping that much money on a rig and not be able to tow easily.

[JohnnieMo]

I hummed and hawed on this a lot as well. I have an '08 Avalanche with the 5.3L and 4x4.

The number to watch out for is the GCVWR. So this is the combined weight of the truck and trailer together. Mine is rated to a lowly 13,000lbs, but with horsepower (i.e. the 6L or the 4.10 gears) you can nudge this up to 14,000. I think the 2013 'burban is 14000lbs. Either way, you are looking at about a 6000 to 6500lb boat being your maximum.

My Z1 is probably about 6500lbs once loaded up and ready to sail. Yours is realistically about the same. As such, my truck can't really be much higher than 6500 to 7000 itself. This is a tall order considering it is 6000lbs empty.

In the end I put a supercharger on the truck for piece of mind. I've also updated the shocks, hitch and transmission cooler to accomodate.

The nice thing about the newer Suburbans (i.e. >2012) is that they have trailer sway control, and the 6 speed transmission. This will help out a lot. Note that the LTZ package comes with the auto-ride (air filled shocks) suspension, and although it is a nice feature for towing, it isn't heavy duty. I'm in the process of replacing my shocks right now.... You could consider a 2500 model and then you are golden.

Will it do it - yes. Will it be legal - barely. Will it be a joyful ride - no. And teenagers in bulk can weigh a lot on your suspension and on your piece of mind :P

-- Note: I'm not sure if you are referring to the 2013 Suburban, or the pending 2015 model

[EricU]

I hummed and hawed on this a lot as well. I have an '08 Avalanche with the 5.3L and 4x4.

The number to watch out for is the GCVWR. So this is the combined weight of the truck and trailer together. Mine is rated to a lowly 13,000lbs, but with horsepower (i.e. the 6L or the 4.10 gears) you can nudge this up to 14,000. I think the 2013 'burban is 14000lbs. Either way, you are looking at about a 6000 to 6500lb boat being your maximum.

My Z1 is probably about 6500lbs once loaded up and ready to sail. Yours is realistically about the same. As such, my truck can't really be much higher than 6500 to 7000 itself. This is a tall order considering it is 6000lbs empty.

In the end I put a supercharger on the truck for piece of mind. I've also updated the shocks, hitch and transmission cooler to accomodate.

The nice thing about the newer Suburbans (i.e. >2012) is that they have trailer sway control, and the 6 speed transmission. This will help out a lot. Note that the LTZ package comes with the auto-ride (air filled shocks) suspension, and although it is a nice feature for towing, it isn't heavy duty. I'm in the process of replacing my shocks right now.... You could consider a 2500 model and then you are golden.

Will it do it - yes. Will it be legal - barely. Will it be a joyful ride - no. And teenagers in bulk can weigh a lot on your suspension and on your piece of mind :P

-- Note: I'm not sure if you are referring to the 2013 Suburban, or the pending 2015 model

This is what I thought, and even though these are big boats - they aren't huge, I cant see spending $60k +/- on a rig that cant tow my boat effortlessly!

I might have to go back to looking for a low mileage Excursion and upgrading/updating the 6.0L as the 7.3L seem to be made of gold.

I guess that Chevy no longer offers any larger engines due to CAFE regs???

[JohnnieMo]

If you get a Suburban 2500 you can get a larger engine. Still not a diesel though. If you are looking for effortless, get a diesel. Even with my supercharger I wouldn't call it effortless. However I would call it uneventful.

If you can wait, the 2015 Suburban has direct injection technology (like the ecoboost) and it boosts the horsepower noticeably and allows regular gas.

[EricU]

I was under the 2500 build, I want 4wd but I did not see any option for the larger engine.

I did see on the GMC website if I go with the Denali XL it comes with the 6.2L over 400 ft-lbs (420?) and a price tag over 65k!

I will check again on Chevy's site.

[JohnnieMo]

I'm pretty sure the 2500 comes with a 6.0L and some preferential gearing. But it still ain't a diesel. I could be wrong but I don't see how you could offer a heavy duty truck with the 5.3L.

The 6.2L runs about the same power as my supercharged 5.3L but the blower gives me a better torque curve. It is sufficient. Just be careful the Denali doesn't have the AWD system. It is a weak link for hauling over 5000#

I looked at a Sierra Denali and the salesman convinced me to stick with the avalanche due to AWD.

I've heard good things about the Toyota. You might take a look there. (as much as I hate to say it)

Or just buy a nice 2012 burban and strap on the blower . Same money, better grunt.

[JohnnieMo]

I took a look at GM's website and I also can't find the 2500 Suburban. It was there in 2013, but not 2014. Perhaps they are pulling it off the line until 2015. Again, if you can wait I think the new 2015's will be out by boating season. The 5.3L gets a good power boost.

[EricU]

Wow, in 2015 there will be a new Suburban, making anything that I buy now depreciate even more, there is NO 2500 (3/4 ton) version....

So I guess I am really stuck at picking up an old Excursion. The GMC has the 6.2L option, but no 3/4 ton.

[JohnnieMo]

You don't need the 3/4 ton. But once you've gone diesel it is hard to come back.

The suburban has so many nice features. You can't beat the ride quality. The 2500, even if you find one, runs rear leaf springs, so you lose that nice ride. I refused to lose the benefits of the GMT-900 (avalanche/tahoe/suburban/escalade/yukon) so I just made it work. I'm happy I did.

Try a test drive. Take one out and tug your boat around. You may be impressed. And like I said, the 2015 has more power.

Note: I previously mentioned the trailer sway control. That only works if your boat trailer has electric brakes.

[EricU]

...Try a test drive. Take one out and tug your boat around. You may be impressed. And like I said, the 2015 has more power.

I was planning on swinging by the Chevy dealer this Saturday, start kicking tires. But they would have to make quite a deal to get a '14 when the revamp is right around the corner and the new interior looks pretty sweet.

Note: I previously mentioned the trailer sway control. That only works if your boat trailer has electric brakes.

The boat trailer does not have electric brakes, and I really wonder why it doesn't and that they aren't more boat trailers with electric brakes. All my other trailers have electric brakes and I love being able to reach over and give the controller a little squeeze to either straighten it out or help on the downhills.

Are your electric brakes, electric over hydraulic?

[JohnnieMo]

Mine are hydraulic surge brakes. I was also surprised. I think there are two reasons :

1. Boats are pulled by many different vehicles with sometimes uninformed drivers. Surge brakes offer security so people don't unknowingly pull a boat without a brake controller.

2. Dunking electric brakes under water repeatedly could increase the likelihood of failure.

And maybe it's just cheaper? I'm like you - I hate the surge brakes.

[Bakes5]

My 2008 suburban is an absolute dog towing my older 2200v. Transmission heats up even on flats. I have spent a long time trying to come up with a people mover and boat towing rig. I still don't have a good solution. I can tell you that the 5.3 is NOT it....especially if you have any mountains or even hills.

I am thinking about a full size GM van with a duramax though.

If you find something with 400+ ft-lb torque, 4x4 and carries 8 passengers let me know. Maybe I'll just re-gear and add a big transmission cooler

[talltigeguy]

I hate suburbans since I had my 1999 Lemon. I know, it is time to let go of the past.

It looks like the Ford Expedition will get the Ecoboost, or at least the Navigator version will. http://www.fordcarstrucks.com/2014-ford-expedition/

These conversations frustrate me that we cannot get a decent diesel people hauler like the Excursion. I am told repeatedly that it is due to government regulations, but I still have a hard time thinking that with enough people wanting them, it could happen.

My wife and I keep thinking of getting rid of our 2005 Excursion, but it is worth so much to us, and it just doesn't seem to be worth that much on the market. A serious toy hauler that can hold 8 people is worth its weight in gold, IMHO.

[Travism]

I have a new escalade SUV standard size with the 6.2L bone stock. I have a Z3 and pull through the mountains every weekend in the summer.

We load the boat up with all the gear, plus everything I want to take to the cabin inside the boat as well as the vehicle loaded with passengers etc...

There are no problems pulling the boat at 70mph. It does drink the gas but I can pass people and drive like business as usual.

Also have an F350 diesel and prefer towing with/driving the caddy.

I don't think you can go wrong with the 6.2L.

[Av8tor]

My 2008 suburban is an absolute dog towing my older 2200v. Transmission heats up even on flats. I have spent a long time trying to come up with a people mover and boat towing rig. I still don't have a good solution. I can tell you that the 5.3 is NOT it....especially if you have any mountains or even hills.

I am thinking about a full size GM van with a duramax though.

If you find something with 400+ ft-lb torque, 4x4 and carries 8 passengers let me know. Maybe I'll just re-gear and add a big transmission cooler

How about the Toyota Sequoia?