Suburban towing a Suburban

[Pyramid_Head]

Hey everyone.

As stated, I would like to know what I need to do with my 2011 Suburban LT 2wd to tow another Suburban (2013 LT as well). I have bilstein 4600 all around, 2500 springs, Hellwig front and rear sway bars, but still have the stock trans, stock torque converter, and the relaxed 3.08 gears ratio from factory. I also am shopping around for a trans cooler, and a trailer brake system.

My brother's 2013 Suburban torque converter died and wants to tow it to his new home in North Dakota (he lives in Rosamond, CA at the moment). I told him that I would do the necessary upgrades to tow it.

I'm aware they it would be cheaper to just swap out the necessary parts and rebuild his transmission, but he blew his cash on getting the home and only has enough for a uhaul, plus, it's my opportunity to upgrade parts! I'm planning on keeping it for a while.

 

[Marky Dissod]

... would like to know what I need to do with my 2011 Suburban LT 2WD, to tow another Suburban ... still have the stock trans, stock torque converter, and 3.08 from factory.

Any way you can upgrade to 3.73? 3.73 is OE for GMT900 pickup trucks' towing package.

 

[swathdiver]

2500s have leaf springs. Since you have highway gears, leave her in 4th for the run and use Tow/Haul of course. Use a trailer with a weight distribution hitch and anti-sway or a U-Haul with its surge brakes. Pick your favorite trailer brake controller if you're not using a U-Haul with the surge brakes. Change your transmission fluid now if it has more than 30K miles on it or change it when you get back.

 

[j91z28d1]

if he's got enough for a u haul making the trip, tow it with that. it won't even know it's back there and save the wear and tear on your truck.



as for mods to your truck, my 2 cents is how much do you plan to tow with it after this one trip? if not much, it doesn't mark a lot of sense to me to build it into a tow rig.

just change the fluids before you go and after you get back. watch for over heating, if it's over heating just go slower for a while. might be a longer trip, but it's only once. few hours longer isn't worth a ton of one time tow mods to me?

 

[Pyramid_Head]

if he's got enough for a u haul making the trip, tow it with that. it won't even know it's back there and save the wear and tear on your truck.



as for mods to your truck, my 2 cents is how much do you plan to tow with it after this one trip? if not much, it doesn't mark a lot of sense to me to build it into a tow rig.

just change the fluids before you go and after you get back. watch for over heating, if it's over heating just go slower for a while. might be a longer trip, but it's only once. few hours longer isn't worth a ton of one time tow mods to me?

That's the thing. He wants to reserve a 20ft uhaul box trailer, but he has a lot of stuff to pack. Things he's going to load in the box truck is his harley, 2 big sofas, washer dryer, dining table with 6 chairs, arcade, living room table sets, computer desk, 3 beds, a couple of dressers, guns and ammo, tools, dishes, a couple of TVs, clothes, plus, he's going to tow his daughter's car (crv).

Also, I don't mind the mods. I'm eventually going to buy a small farm in either Idaho, or Wyoming, so I will need something tough eventually.

 

[j91z28d1]

ahh if the spot is already taken, it is what it is.

even thou I might tow the crv for him over the suburban haha.


if you'll use it, do it up then. most of the tow mods are good to have if you're going to use them.

there's a very long tranny cooler page around here somewhere that's good a good read. depending on your mileage, make sure you've changed those plastic heater core T's out of you haven't. they have a way of breaking at the worst times.

if it's high mileage, I might think about replacing the radiator too. there's a DENSO one the guys like, I believe it's 150$ and a 1.25in core. so bigger than stock, also has the oil cooler in it, incase you decide to buy the oil lines and run those too.


I know nothing about weight distribution hitches or if you'll need one, but sounds like you don't have the air bag level option, so if you find it sagging a lot, there's good info here on those too. I'd try my best to get it test loaded up at least a week before you gotta get on the road with it. give you time to order parts if you need something.

 

[strutaeng]

I'm guessing you will be over the towing capacity, both in GCWR and maybe GVWR. For sure on the pin weight.

The towed Suburban weights maybe 6,000 lbs, plus another 3,000 lbs for trailer? Check your gear ratio and your owners manual for what your rig is rated. Weigh everything.

Trailer brakes are an absolute must. I believe the owner's manual requires a WDH for anything over a specific weight.

Largest transmission cooler would be ideal. Tow in 4th or 5th, can't remember what's recommended for the 6L80?

We can't do things for you over the Internet. Use common sense and be safe.

Good luck.

 

[intheburbs]

I call the 3.08 the "soccer mom gear." It was a late add by GM trying up their fleet mileage for CAFE. If you look at the towing ratings, the 3.08 trucks are limited to 5,000 lbs of towing. The 3.42 trucks aren't much better at 5,500 lbs. The key is the heavy-duty cooling package with the 3.42 and that gets 8,000 lbs of towing.

If it was me, I'd tow the Suburban with the U-haul, and rent a dolly to tow the Honda with your Suburban.

Save your money to upgrade to another Suburban if you want an actual tow pig.

 

[Marky Dissod]

The key is the heavy-duty cooling package with 3.42, and that gets 8,000 lbs of towing.

3.73 will make things easier on the transmission, and improve both stop'n'go MpG when unladen, AND towing MpG.
The gear was available for Silverados & Sierras, so it's not out of place.

If you also get the TCM reprogrammed, the 6L80E will last MUCH longer before it needs a rebuild,
even if you avoid making it any more fun.

 

[intheburbs]

3.73 will make things easier on the transmission, and improve both stop'n'go MpG when unladen, AND towing MpG.
The gear was available for Silverados & Sierras, so it's not out of place.

If you also get the TCM reprogrammed, the 6L80E will last MUCH longer before it needs a rebuild,
even if you avoid making it any more fun.

You don't get to have your cake and eat it, too. Changing ratios is always a give/take. Yes, 3.73 would be better for towing. 4.10 would be better still.

But the 3.73 will yield LOWER mileage when not towing. Again, that was the whole point of the 3.08 - better mileage to help with CAFE.

3.73 = higher engine rpm while cruising = lower mileage