well this sucks

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lime4x4

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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thought i found a nice tow vechile for are new 27 footer which weighs in around 7300 lbs with trailer and no gear or fuel.Can get a good deal on a 94 chevy subarbun 3/4 auto and 5.7 liter engine.Well according to trailerboats.com that vechile is only rated for 7000 lbs towing.if that doesn't just suck..
 
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grizzley30814

Cadet
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May 22, 2007
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Re: well this sucks

Find you a Ford crew cab 250 with the old 7.2 Power stroke auto or manual trans. Can't beat it for towing. I use to pull a 1972 23 foot winner cuddy with mine. Only spun a tire once on the York river ramps in VA. Had alot of sand left by a storm to do it then. 2 wheel drive.
 
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DaveM

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Re: well this sucks

You might want to recheck that this 3/4 suburban is only rated for 7000 lbs. My 1994 GMC K1500 Ext. cab SB was rated for 7500 lbs. I would be mighty surprised that a 1/2 ton anything would out tow a 3/4 'burb. But then again, I have been surprised before.
 
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KM2

Chief Petty Officer
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Oct 15, 2003
Messages
556
Re: well this sucks

Edmunds has the tow rating at 10k. Does the truck have it's owners manual? That would be the best source. These website's seem to make a fair number of mistakes.

The diesel ford idea would tow that boat a lot better than a 5.7. But if your not doing a lot of towing than it should get the job done.
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

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Re: well this sucks

DaveM said:
You might want to recheck that this 3/4 suburban is only rated for 7000 lbs. My 1994 GMC K1500 Ext. cab SB was rated for 7500 lbs. I would be mighty surprised that a 1/2 ton anything would out tow a 3/4 'burb. But then again, I have been surprised before.
Click to expand...

GM has interesting tow ratings sometimes. Although the 3/4T has a different transmission than the 1/2T the 5.7L engine would be the same. Since the 3/4T is heavier than the 1/2T the tow rating is lower because they go by combined vehicle and trailer weight along with engine and axle ratio. That is also why the 4x4 tows less...because the vehicle weighs more.
 
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Bindernut

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Jul 12, 2006
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63
Re: well this sucks

bruceb58 said:
No such animal.
Click to expand...

Yep, there is. At least in the mid-90s and older anyhoo. You normally don't find them in the public population, but lots of em in fleet use (railroad, state fleets, etc).
Available with the 350, the 454 and the 6.5 diesel...manual and automatic.

But to the OP...
That 5.7L 2500 sub could handle that load with a suspension upgrade (helper leafs and HD shocks) and if it's geared right (3.73 or lower). If it's a 4wd, you've got low-range to help out on the ramp too.
 
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lime4x4

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Apr 25, 2007
Messages
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Re: well this sucks

Yeah i know guys that pull well over the 7000lbs and never had a problem.I think i will buy it and c how it performs with the boat.By brother inlaw moved it tonight for me with a 2005 chevy 1/2 ton ext 4wd truck with the 5.3 liter engine and he had no problem pulling it up a steep hill.Worse cause if i have to i'll change the rear gears and build up the engine for more torque.But i think the way the subarbun is right now it will pull it no problem..Also if the 4l60e trans doesn't hold up they make kits now to install the 4L80E trans
 
bassboy1

bassboy1

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Re: well this sucks

My 1994 3/4 ton (2500) with 7.4l. 454 is rated at I believe 10,000 with load distributing hitch.
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

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Re: well this sucks

Bindernut said:
Yep, there is. At least in the mid-90s and older anyhoo. You normally don't find them in the public population, but lots of em in fleet use (railroad, state fleets, etc).
Available with the 350, the 454 and the 6.5 diesel...manual and automatic.
Click to expand...

Show me a picture of one. I have owned 4 Suburbans dating back to the mid 80's. Have never seen a 3500 Sub.

I have seen trucks advertised as 3500 Suburbans but they are just 4 door trucks with beds.
 
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lime4x4

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Re: well this sucks

actually i've seen a few 3/4 ton trucks with the 4L60E trans.Big blocks and diesels got the 4L80E as standard equipment the 5.7 it was an option
 
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Bindernut

Seaman
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Messages
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Re: well this sucks

bruceb58 said:
Show me a picture of one. I have owned 4 Suburbans dating back to the mid 80's. Have never seen a 3500 Sub.

I have seen trucks advertised as 3500 Suburbans but they are just 4 door trucks with beds.
Click to expand...

Yes, they did build em. I've ridden in one and have seen several others. My ex bro-in-law worked for BNSF railroad where they use them as track crew shuttles and light service units.

one for sale, no picture though.
http://www.carsearch.com/781890.htm
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

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Re: well this sucks

My brother is a used car dealer and he has also never seen one. They don't list them in Kelly Blue Book.

Last evening, I searced the internet and could not find one 3500 Suburban photo. Saw a lot of ads that said they were suburbans and then were really pick up trucks and a few that said were 3500 in the ads but also said they were 3/4T in the body of the ad.

There must be just a tiny number if there are any.
 
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Bindernut

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Jul 12, 2006
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Re: well this sucks

You're right bruce, they don't have any listed in Kelley or NADA. I do still see the XBIL on semi-friendly terms every so often, so I'll have to ask him about those things. Knowing that those railroad rigs are pretty heavily customized underneath (for the narrow wheels and trolley systems), it's possible that these things come out of a custom shop instead of straight off the assembly line. The front hubs and rear axle at least were definitely tonner parts, heavier than the 3/4t stuff. They're badged as 3500s too...but again, that's just a chunk of plastic on the door too.

I don't want to drag the thread off topic any farther than it's already gone. I'll see if I can get a pic of one of these rigs and PM ya. Hope I didn't sound too grouchy.
 
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