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Thinking about switching brands

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volaredon

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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.
 
volaredon said:
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.
Click to expand...
I've heard more than a few Chevy guys complain about the 5.3 engine. A buddy bought a used Suburban with one....the truck was nice but the engine was a pile. I have a 22 Colorado with the Z71 package and the V6 has lots of power but things like the thermostat housing 'failed'....haven't studied how that works yet but seems to be a common issue with this new crap. Got it fixed under the Fed mandated emissions warranty at least. Now the auto headlights are not acting right and some of the display stuff isn't displaying.

My beater 95 Dakota is now been sitting for the past month with needing a new master cylinder, AC is leaking down faster and the transmission is probably on it's last days with the way it's been acting. And still haven't fixed the wiper bushings. Anyways, I have never liked GM stuff and haven't had a Ford since the mid 70's. Still see lots of the old cop cars though so Ford knows how to do things right at times. Sorry, I can't help much with GM stuff except to say there are still lots of the older ones from the early 2000's and newer still on the road but have to look at how many got built vs ones that are no longer running to get a feel of what they are like.
 
I found a 2016 Yukon with a 6.2 in it and 85k miles
They STILL want $28.5 for it NO FREAKING WAY
that's the price of the 2 most expensive vehicles I have ever owned to date COMBINED... 97 wrangler 15k back in 2000 12 ram 1500. $ 14k...4-1/2 years ago
 
How about getting a Sprinter van? That ought to be enough room and towing capacity.
 
I've seen a few escalades around too
I've not thought much about that version because I've seen too many "blacked out" (and I'm not talking body color if the Escalade) or "Mexican'd out" compared to yukons and Tahoe's. Are they more likely to have the big engine? I need that for pulling my camper.
 
I am a GM fan, but there are a few issues to be aware of. Depending on the year the engines are, they are either LS or LT based, both can have DOD. I am not a DOD fan, it can be turned off with a plug in module, or tuned with HP tuners to shut it off. The DOD lifters can be an issue. I believe 3/4 ton trucks don't have DOD. The 6 speed trans started in 2011 I believe and the torque converter can send metal through the trans, but it is usually because of the DOD, they lock it up in 2nd gear, and any load change makes the converter unlock and lock again, and it's PWM so it slips in. I believe starting in 2013 the 6 speed trans has a cooler thermostat, it restricts flow until 190 degrees, there are bypass kits that can be installed so it has constant flow.
Yes, most Escalades do have the bigger engine
 
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