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Thinking about switching brands

volaredon

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2020
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Location
Illinois
I'm a die hard Dodge truck guy, I haven't owned anything but. From a 69 to many 72-93 to a 97 and now a 2012 1500. Also have had a 1/2 dozen Dakotas and a couple of durangos
Throw in 2 each wranglers and XJ Cherokees for good measure. I refuse to buy a Ford as well as an import brand of any kind.
Durangos aren't big enough for our needs and aren't getting any bigger so that leaves a Tahoe or Yukon or suburban
With 2 grand kids in car seats (love the kids but despise the car seats for the pain in the azz factor in putting in/taking out plus the sheer space they take up) and a 28' camper a Durango won't cut it.
I've towed this camper with my 01 Durango as it has the same 360 cu in magnum engine as a 3/4 ton of the same year would have... But it doesn't have enough " azz" so to speak. I have no problem pulling the camper with the leveling bars but I'm right at the edge of capacity by weight. And I haven't done it yet on a windy day. I can imagine I'll get alot of tail wagging the dog.
Besides that unit has 328k miles on it.... (The trans has 16k and is beefed up)
I have a 2003, 28R. Jayco kiwi too. 2 years after mine they changed the name to a jay feather. So it's a "light" unit as campers go. It's 4600ish empty and rated to weigh in the higher 6000s (2 3500 lb axles so by axle rating I could go to 7k)
My Durango is rated as built for the high 6s. My 12 truck (reg cab long bed 2wd) is rated for 7k. So I'm right at the max.

Id like to find a suburban 2500 with a 6.0 in it that doesn't have any rust. Newest they made those is 2014 and that year was only as a fleet vehicle which would be great.
I don't really want to go much newer if any, anyway.
How much would a Tahoe tow? With 5.3? Did they make them with the 6.0? I see a lot with a dummy cover over where others have the hitch. Do the ones with the dummy cover have the hitch behind the cover? Alot of the ones that have the hitch I have seen, that hitch cross member is quite rusty. Is that cross member available new? Factory? Aftermarket? Can I get a under frame mount class IV or V standalone hitch that doesn't involve the ones that go thru the bumper?
What's the most likely things I. These vehicles to have problems with? Remember this would be my 1st GM anything though I've worked on all brands having turned wrenches my whole life.
 
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