Tahoe to a Suburban 2500 - would you step up?

So I bought a 2000 Tahoe LT w/ 180k miles 1.5 months ago. Great truck, rust free (some on passenger door but cannot be seen and can be stopped) and haven't had any issues with it. I plan on catching up on the fluids, filters and brakes this weekend. Best part, I paid $1700 for it and it was worth every penny. Here is a picture of it:

Now I've always wanted a Suburban. Even better, a Suburban 2500 with the 4L80E so I don't have to worry about transmission issues. I found a 2003 with 200k for $2800. All I plan on doing is towing some cars around and a lot of house work (lumber runs, drywall, etc). I shouldn't ever peak over 7k lbs which the Tahoe can handle. Would you guys just take the plunge and get the bigger, manlier Suburban?

https://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/cto/6213874109.html

Do you need the longer wheelbase? More interior space?

Do you want to have to drive/park the longer vehicle?

Does gas mpg matter my guess is the Tahoe will do better when not towing.

The burban will tow better even if you never get close to 7,000 tho

btw thats super cheap I cant find anything like that near me :(

Jaynen wrote: Do you need the longer wheelbase? More interior space? Do you want to have to drive/park the longer vehicle? Does gas mpg matter my guess is the Tahoe will do better when not towing. The burban will tow better even if you never get close to 7,000 tho btw thats super cheap I cant find anything like that near me :(

No kids, but it is nice to have it longer so 4x8s fit without a problem. No issues with parking, and the Tahoe already is too wide for the garage door

Gas doesn't matter much. I'm getting 15-16mpg in the Tahoe with my work commute, the 6.0 shouldn't be much worse (I think?) I was borrowing a BMW X5 from my parents that only did 17-18mpg on my work commute and premium gas sucks

The towing is my main reason why, but I'm just wondering if that Suburban is a STEAL and I should get it. I know my Tahoe was a steal. Somebody talk some sense into me!

With how bad I murdered my half ton avalanche not hitting the 8000 pounds towing capacity, I would step up.

I would buy that in a heartbeat. I paid $2700 for a 97 2500 burb in worse shape than that one with more miles. That 2003 looks like a steal to me. The 2500 burb does tow really well too.

If the Suburban checks out, that's a screaming deal!

Alright, I'll wait for a few more guys but I think its pretty unanimous.

You guys must hate hearing this one, but there was also a 01 Suburban 8.1 w/ 200k that I passed on for $3k. I couldn't justify dailying an 8.1L

yes

In reply to MINIzguy:

I think the next time I'm shopping for a burb I'm going to reach out and ask you for leads!

Cotton wrote: In reply to MINIzguy: I think the next time I'm shopping for a burb I'm going to reach out and ask you for leads!

Haha. I'm on Craigslist all the time, even if I don't need a car. Exactly the reason why I have the Tahoe and am looking for a Suburban!

Do it.

Add my vote to the "do it" column. I just bought a 2500 Suburban and it's way cool! Much more like how I wished my 99 1500 had been.

Dissenting voice.

You won't get 17-18 mpg from a 6.0L. 12 mpg would be very nice (I never got more than 10 with mine)

I recently bought a 2008 4x4, and regret it. I don't need the 4x4, and it is a completely different dynamic to drive. I don't like it for primarily highway use. (Note, the 2008 is a different animal than the 2004).

That is a good price, but if you don't need it (like me), you may miss your Tahoe.

I know this is heresy, but "manlier" is not a reason to buy.

SVreX wrote: I know this is heresy, but "manlier" is not a reason to buy.

X10... Isn't this the forum where the answer is always Miata?

SVreX wrote: You won't get 17-18 mpg from a 6.0L. 12 mpg would be very nice (I never got more than 10 with mine)

My 03 Suburban 2500 4x4 QS has never seen more than 13mpg, that is empty and 100% highway. It is very good at many things, but fuel economy is not one of them.

I got 11 in my 6.0 Van. No matter what I got 11.

I wish I had searched for a k2500 instead of the k1500 - as much as I love my truck it's lacking in a few departments, especially when towing.

I've emailed twice about this (once last night before this thread). Hate it when sellers don't leave a number and don't respond quickly with email.

Anyway, things that I may miss from my Tahoe LT is: leather, auto climate control, Homelink and the heated seats. I haven't even used the heated seats and my leather is ripped, but it is nice to have. I don't use the auto climate control either, but its more visually appealing (man that is odd to say, since I don't care about looks).

Gas mileage sounds no fun. Odd that I can get 15-16 out of my 5.3 with no issues doing a mix of driving. I haven't seen higher though.

Still won't hurt to check it out. I really just want a 4L80E for towing and don't need a Duramax

I will second (or 3rd) the abysmal mileage in the 2500 burb. My inlaws had one. Great truck. But always got 12mpg. unloaded. towing a car. full of people. didn't matter. 12 mpg.

You all are reporting worse mpg for the 6.0 than I got with my 2004 8.1 with a 3.73 rear. Which axle ratio are you working with? Sure, 4wd will cost a mile or two but damn. My old 96 with 4wd and 350 Vortec would get 15 with the 3.73. Could a 4.10 account for the difference?

In reply to conesare2seconds:

It's not the 4wd. It's the 6.0L. My truck was 2wd.

The 6.0 was built for torque, not fuel economy.

I'm used to hearing 12mpg for the 8.1, and 8-9 mpg city. That is why I didn't jump on the 8.1.

Anyways, still no response from the seller via email. Not looking good...

I'd rather have a single cab pickup than a Suburban if all it's going to get used for is towing and lumberyard runs.

BrokenYugo wrote: I'd rather have a single cab pickup than a Suburban if all it's going to get used for is towing and lumberyard runs.

I've done both, and the big SUV does have it's benefits. First off, it's getting harder and harder to actually find pickups with 8' beds. And I must say it is nice to go to Lowes Depot and get a bunch of sheetrock or plywood, load it into the Expedition (long wheelbase version), close the hatch, and have it be clean, dry, and protected all the way home. The downside is that you can't load anything too tall or too messy (if you care about messy). Tough to pick up a yard of topsoil in an SUV, after all. But I got a little $600 utility trailer from Tractor Supply that fills that role pretty well.

I'm not going to say that I'm done with pickups, but I defintely don't need one when we have a big SUV.