Split Decision... Help me make up my mind!!!

[swathdiver]

Have you had to sit in the 3rd row? I'm 5'3 135lbs and I don't even fit back there, haha. For me, locking the 3rd seats up is useless, except for grocery shopping. I store the 3rd row seats in the garage, because I don't really need them. They are heavy, and they don't remove easily at all. That'sall I miss from my old expy, push the button and the seats fold flat into the floor and are gone, no space taken up in the garage either, haha.
I had a:
95 Suburban 2500 - 3rd row sucked
05 and 09 Tahoe (still own both) - 3rd row sucks
99 Expedition - heavy ass 3rd row, lots
of leg room but spits spark plugs
05 and 07 Expedition - awesome 3rd row, but can't remove spark plugs

Yep, even the Pontiac Montana has more leg room and an adjustable seatback in its 3rd row compared to the Suburban. I liken the 3rd row to the back seat in my buddy's '79 Camaro. But Mike, I'm 5'8" and 375 pounds and have sat back there too just to do it in my Yukon XL. I liken the 3rd row in your Tahoe to my uncle's old '79 Datsun 280ZX!

Now Ken, those 3rd gens have lots of room under the hood to work on, the sliding windows for each row to adjust for air flow and big glass for counting license plates on long trips and you could even get a gate or barn doors and they offered manual transmissions!

 

[Derick]

Have you had to sit in the 3rd row? I'm 5'3 135lbs and I don't even fit back there, haha. For me, locking the 3rd seats up is useless, except for grocery shopping. I store the 3rd row seats in the garage, because I don't really need them. They are heavy, and they don't remove easily at all. That'sall I miss from my old expy, push the button and the seats fold flat into the floor and are gone, no space taken up in the garage either, haha.
I had a:
95 Suburban 2500 - 3rd row sucked
05 and 09 Tahoe (still own both) - 3rd row sucks
99 Expedition - heavy ass 3rd row, lots
of leg room but spits spark plugs
05 and 07 Expedition - awesome 3rd row, but can't remove spark plugs

I've not sat back there. I figured/assumed with the captains chairs in the 2nd row, it would be easy enough to access. I will likely pull them and store them too....just havent as of yet. I only have one kid, so I dont need em either.

I dont think anyone can complain about button push seats

 

[thompsoj22]

We are a family of 5 with LARGE dogs. I absolutely loved my suburban. It went everywhere with from Texas to Hawaii to Germany to upstate New York. So basically the heat of the south to the freezing temperatures of the north. The slow road of the islands to autobahn speeds. The 5.3 may seem anemic until you tune it. I never had a problem keeping up on the autobahn or towing our 8k camper.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Ok, it was my intent to be professional and not make reference to "crucified" but, towing an 8k lb trailer with a suburban 5.3 and having no problem doing so leads me to think maybe you have had a few beers??? LOL! anyway, my opinion to the OP is to relive an old memory and get another suburban/yukon xl. they are people movers in comfort. if they have the 6.0/6.2 you can also tow. the expedition, alias "expensive edition" imo is a risky move to purchase pre owned with a big family and a budget that dosent include constant repairs.

 

[M3kanic]

Ok, it was my intent to be professional and not make reference to "crucified" but, towing an 8k lb trailer with a suburban 5.3 and having no problem doing so leads me to think maybe you have had a few beers??? LOL! anyway, my opinion is to relive an old memory and get another suburban/yukon xl. they are people movers in comfort. if they have the 6.0/6.2 you can also tow. the expedition, alias "expensive edition" imo is a risky move to purchase pre owned with a big family and a budget that dosent include constant repairs.

Understand that my suburban wasn't stock and set up properly to tow makes things a whole lot easier.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[drakon543]

i pulled a 05 f150 super crew fx4 5.4 about 5500 lbs 120miles with a 97 with the 5.7. im not going to say you couldn't notice it but i was able to maintain 50-60 mph without trying to kill the truck. i only has to kick it down going up some nasty hills and i still kept it under 3k rpm. i do have an intake shortie headers and a catback but im not gaining enough there to make a huge difference. so 8k with the 5.3 maybe probably not suggesting it was a walk in the park but it can do it.

 

[thompsoj22]

Understand that my suburban wasn't stock and set up properly to tow makes things a whole lot easier.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

WOW! that is an amazing combination!!! im kinda speechless? we love to camp with our 22ft aljo lite 4400 lbs wet. We see rigs like yours out there and envy the space and luxury that you have inside. so what in the heck do you have under that hood?

 

[M3kanic]

WOW! that is an amazing combination!!! im kinda speechless? we love to camp with our 22ft aljo lite 4400 lbs wet. We see rigs like yours out there and envy the space and luxury that you have inside. so what in the heck do you have under that hood?

BB tune, efan, intake, exhuast, and a few other things I can't remember.

But with 3 kids and a great dane I definitely need the space.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Derick]

Here's my rig. 23 ft in total, but really only like 18+the deck.

 

[intheburbs]

Understand that my suburban wasn't stock and set up properly to tow makes things a whole lot easier.

Well, unless you've swapped out the axles and put in freefloaters, installed higher-GVWR brakes, put in stiffer springs, replaced the frame, and installed a new receiver, I guarantee you're overloading something - GVWR, RAWR, GCWR, or all of the above. 8k is way too much for a half-ton truck. You're going to break something, or cause an accident. Hell, my 3/4-ton Suburban is at its limit pulling an 8600-lb trailer.

BB tune, efan, intake, exhuast, and a few other things I can't remember.

But with 3 kids and a great dane I definitely need the space.

None of these mods addresses the weight you're towing - suspension and brakes are the biggest concern. You have a 1500-lb payload, the trailer and hitch probably contribute 1100 lbs. So you, your wife, 3 kids, Great Dane and gear are less than 400 lbs?

 

[M3kanic]

Well, unless you've swapped out the axles and put in freefloaters, installed higher-GVWR brakes, put in stiffer springs, replaced the frame, and installed a new receiver, I guarantee you're overloading something - GVWR, RAWR, GCWR, or all of the above. 8k is way too much for a half-ton truck. You're going to break something, or cause an accident. Hell, my 3/4-ton Suburban is at its limit pulling an 8600-lb trailer.

Well that was the old set up and the picture of what happened to it. Also here is a pic of the new set up.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk