Chevrolet Suburban 3500 Questions

[intheburbs]

You good sir, have summed up in one post what others did in 7 pages worth of posts! Thank you for your input! I actually saw your rig setup on another thread and was impressed.
I will saw the ride is not THAT bad, GM knows how to make a good cushy seat… if only it had the ventilation option…

Once I decide to pull the trigger on a big boat then the class V receiver will be added. The airbags are a component I was thinking will be necessary/useful too. Do you find your truck is over worked going up those steep grades or do you just settle into a comfortable speed and do your thing?

I wouldn't say the truck was overworked in the Rockies, we just weren't winning any races. I have no compulsion to try to maintain the speed limit driving up a 7% grade at 10,000 feet above sea level. I have two primary concerns:
1) Am I impeding traffic? No
2) Am I faster/can I pass the big rigs? Yes

On I-70 towards the tunnel, most passenger cars are going the speed limit, or even more. But the big rigs are going at a snail's pace, and I'm somewhere in between. On the really steep grades, the Suburban seemed to hit its happy spot at 4,000 RPM and about 40 mph in second gear. Could I have gone faster? Sure, but I'm already stressing everything HARD. Why push harder?

Here's the other photo I love to post that makes heads explode:

And, for the record, the Suburban has 255k miles and the original 6L90 transmission. We're planning another epic family road trip dragging the trailer to Yellowstone this summer. I anticipate no major issues.

 

[Bigburb3500]

I wouldn't say the truck was overworked in the Rockies, we just weren't winning any races. I have no compulsion to try to maintain the speed limit driving up a 7% grade at 10,000 feet above sea level. I have two primary concerns:
1) Am I impeding traffic? No
2) Am I faster/can I pass the big rigs? Yes

On I-70 towards the tunnel, most passenger cars are going the speed limit, or even more. But the big rigs are going at a snail's pace, and I'm somewhere in between. On the really steep grades, the Suburban seemed to hit its happy spot at 4,000 RPM and about 40 mph in second gear. Could I have gone faster? Sure, but I'm already stressing everything HARD. Why push harder?

Here's the other photo I love to post that makes heads explode:

And, for the record, the Suburban has 255k miles and the original 6L90 transmission. We're planning another epic family road trip dragging the trailer to Yellowstone this summer. I anticipate no major issues.

The most mind-numbing aspect of this picture is the fuel gauge on F… is that broken?

This is a great picture tho! I do believe GM makes great trucks and happy to be part of the HD community. Hopefully I can be you one day and share my heavy towing experiences.

 

[intheburbs]

The most mind-numbing aspect of this picture is the fuel gauge on F… is that broken?

This is a great picture tho! I do believe GM makes great trucks and happy to be part of the HD community. Hopefully I can be you one day and share my heavy towing experiences.

LoL
We'd just stopped in Silverthorne for gas, and the pic was taken in the middle of our Ike Gauntlet run. From Silverthorne to the Tunnel I was getting 3 MPG.

 

[Bigburb3500]

LoL
We'd just stopped in Silverthorne for gas, and the pic was taken in the middle of our Ike Gauntlet run. From Silverthorne to the Tunnel I was getting 3 MPG.

I smell Prius repellant.

 

[Geotrash]

Pulled the trigger on this one today. Only 18K on the clock. Last model year of a legend.

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[Bigburb3500]

Pulled the trigger on this one today. Only 18K on the clock. Last model year of a legend.

2018 Chevrolet Suburban K3500 LT | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2018 Chevrolet Suburban K3500 LT at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Dang. That is NICE!!! When do you pick it up? We will have to compare notes on thoughts on it after you drive it around a bit. I just got a new set of KO3 on it and they have been really good.

I didn’t think I was much to aspire to or all that influential but you sure are validating these traits hahaha!

 

[Geotrash]

Dang. That is NICE!!! When do you pick it up? We will have to compare notes on thoughts on it after you drive it around a bit. I just got a new set of KO3 on it and they have been really good.

I didn’t think I was much to aspire to or all that influential but you sure are validating these traits hahaha!

If all goes well, I’ll pick it up on Tuesday afternoon. Would love to stay in touch and compare notes!

You definitely inspired me!

 

[Geotrash]

What's your axle gear?

Sorry I missed this. 3.42 on both Yukon XL Denalis and 4.10 on the Suburban 3500HD I’m picking up this week.

 

[Marky Dissod]

What's your axle gear?

... 3.42 on both Yukon XL Denalis and 4.10 on the Suburban 3500HD I’m picking up this week.

Congrats on the hubba-bubba.
Please let us know if 4.10 makes you wonder if either of the Denalis would've been better off with 3.73?
I'm nearly convinced that 3.73
(a) might make highway MpG negligibly worse if at all, likely only for 'speeders' over 70MpH
(b) would IMPROVE city MpG, and
(c) would improve 6L90E longevity / durability.

 

[Bigburb3500]

@Geotrash, since you will be joining the exclusive club of 3500 ownership. I would like to let you know that as a parts bin special it does come with two terrible Chevy traits: no wireless CarPlay/Android auto and headlights that can be outclassed by a matchstick (unlit). Never discussed this here yet, but bought a wireless adapter to plug into the secret cubby off Temu for $25 (identical to the one on Amazon for $60) and also a set of LED bulbs for $8 that make night driving actually feasible. Would love to get Morimoto lights but not in budget right now.