Sequoia vs. Suburban

Status
Not open for further replies.
Originally Posted By: HawkeyeScott
I think a 1500 would do it fine, but I may sometime upgrade trailers and need to buy accordingly now.

Spend anytime around off-road or RV forums, and you won't have to search too hard to find guys who bought a 1500 Burb that wish they would have went with the 2500 instead.

I know you're out west, but here's an example: https://autoauctions.gsa.gov/GSAAutoAuctions/VehicleDetails/1GNWKLEG4BR361359

GMT-900 Burbs are getting cycled out of government service/fleets now, and can be had for a very good price; that'd get you a very stout chassis and superb drivetrain (6.0L, 6L90 trans, heavy/auxillary coolers for everything, big axles, etc.). Should mention that I'm a bit biased, as I have an older GMT-800 version (picture here): https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4281447/

Regardless of what you go with, good luck on the search!
 
If you're in the mountainous west, and pulling 24', I'd think of going one size up, engine-wise, which might mean 2500 class. A 1500 / 5.3L might be fine in what I consider hills; but long passes at 8k elevation might be a bit different, for you. All depends upon how fast you want to go up (they all go the same speed down).
 
One thing I like about the Sequoia is how well it handles. You could whip it around in a parking lot and park it like it was a much smaller vehicle. Reminded me of a Corolla in that regard which was very surprising. The GM offerings are nice on the hwy and as a cruiser. In the city they seem big, fat and cumbersome. Plus they seem so common, even the police use them.
 
Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
One thing I like about the Sequoia is how well it handles. You could whip it around in a parking lot and park it like it was a much smaller vehicle. Reminded me of a Corolla in that regard which was very surprising. The GM offerings are nice on the hwy and as a cruiser. In the city they seem big, fat and cumbersome. Plus they seem so common, even the police use them.


sequoia is a fine vehicle. My buddy who owns a huge carpet store uses 3 of them for company cars. One has mega miles (over 200k) and still runs perfectly. They have required only minor repairs, all city miles. Very smooth and quiet.

The police have found that GM offers the best resale of any recent vehicle used by them. Hard not to like that...
 
I bought a second hand 2007 Tahoe in Aug 2014. I've put 50,000 miles on and love it. It has convinced me that I never want to be without one again.

I knew when I bought it that it needed tires and shocks. I've had one unexpected repair--a CEL for evap control, a canister attached to the fuel filler neck. The thing just drives beautifully. The only drawback is the very limited luggage space with the third row up. But, that's never inconvenienced me and if it would you, that's what the Suburban is for.
 
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
The police have found that GM offers the best resale of any recent vehicle used by them. Hard not to like that...


Yes and they look pretty nice in black with very dark lettering that says Police. Which is very stealth, one of the cruisers here tried to pull one over on a road that borders both cities. Then the Tahoe flipped his lights on and that stopped that.

The Highway Patrol uses them and Chargers both of which can be bought at auction. If anything is wrong with them it will be listed in the description. I wouldn't want a K9 vehicle since they stink and probably get whizzed in. So traveling urinal on wheels.
 
By far the most vehicles you'll see pulling campers are trucks. For one, fire wood, external dump tanks, and other dirty/wet gear travel better in pickups. But much of this will depend on what you mean by "medium sized" TT. A well-equipped popup is minivan/SUV territory. a 19' camper is about the smallest hardshell you can get with a bathroom, and you'll need a fullsize to pull it. Approach 5,000lbs, +gear, and a fullsize will do it but after another 1000 lbs many feel the long hauls might be better with a 3/4 ton. The newer 1/2 tons have higher ratings - i think some are up to 7900 lbs - I don't have experience there. Mine is rated at 6900 lbs and with a 6000lb loaded trailer was very doable but rather intense at 55-60. There's a general non-scientific guideline to not exceed 3/4 of the tow rating.

Long wheelbase helps greatly. I've had minivans pull, overloaded, better than solid axle short wheelbase SUVs well under capacity. Leaf springs tend to have better towing characteristics than linkage axles with coils though that could be changing with newer tech. I'd discount the sequ for anything more than a pop-up or the smallest hardshell - nothing over like 17' as a rough guideline.

A suburban/yukon probably wouldn't be my first choice - I'd rather have the weight capacity available to the tow hitch rather than the station-wagon rear- but I've never pulled with a yukon/suburban either.

HP and engine is ironically not the first consideration. suspension, stability, brakes first. somewhere after that, powertrain. Also note that vehicles that ride comfortably when unloaded wallow when towing. Trucks that feel good towing tend to ride firmly or even harshly around town. So you definitely end up compromising some.

good luck. camping is wonderful fun!
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Ramblejam
Originally Posted By: HawkeyeScott
that can amply pull a medium sized travel trailer.


Get a 2500 Suburban.


Good advice.
 
Suburban or truck really. I was shopping with similar goals and ended up with my 2500 gmc gasser double cab. Havent towed yet but im sure it will do well. Only the gas mileage is dissapointing but for the HD trans and 4.10 rear you cant ask for much. The truck was cheap and so are any parts i opted to replace.

If i bought a suburban instead i would have needed to buy, store, use a utility trailer for any large pickup bed size loads. The only advantage for a burb is the extra seating.
 
Originally Posted By: DriveHard
Actually you can get a GMC Yukon Denali and an Escalade with the 6.2L if you are really wanting some grunt!


Did they fix the 6.2 issues at some point? My parents have an 07 Escalade and that (regularly dealer maintained) motor sounds worse and worse every time I visit them. From what I've read, the problems were widespread, expensive to fix, and typically manifests after the warranty's up.
 
Any thoughts on a 2015+ Ford Expedition? The 2015+ comes with the 3.5 Ecoboost and can tow 9200 Lbs. You can also get it from the factory with load leveling rear suspension which will help when towing. The interior went through a refresh in 15 so they don't look so ancient.

Just an idea...
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
The police have found that GM offers the best resale of any recent vehicle used by them. Hard not to like that...


Yes and they look pretty nice in black with very dark lettering that says Police. Which is very stealth, one of the cruisers here tried to pull one over on a road that borders both cities. Then the Tahoe flipped his lights on and that stopped that.

The Highway Patrol uses them and Chargers both of which can be bought at auction. If anything is wrong with them it will be listed in the description. I wouldn't want a K9 vehicle since they stink and probably get whizzed in. So traveling urinal on wheels.


I have two German Shepherds and they are amazingly clean dogs if you brush then 2-3 times a week. Mine have never peed, chewed or did anything nasty in the truck, but they do leave fur behind, which will require a roll of duct tape to get off the seats.
 
Right but your dogs don't work out of the vehicle for 12 hour shifts. At auction they for around $1k less.
 
Originally Posted By: terminaldegree
Originally Posted By: DriveHard
Actually you can get a GMC Yukon Denali and an Escalade with the 6.2L if you are really wanting some grunt!


Did they fix the 6.2 issues at some point? My parents have an 07 Escalade and that (regularly dealer maintained) motor sounds worse and worse every time I visit them. From what I've read, the problems were widespread, expensive to fix, and typically manifests after the warranty's up.


The overwhelming majority are fine. The 4.8/5.3/6.0/6.2 engines are produced in amazingly large numbers. Don't let the Internet fool you with amplification...
 
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Don't let the Internet fool you with amplification...


That's the thing, Steve, I'm not echoing the internet so much as I'm reporting, first person, what I have actually observed with my parents' Escalade. It had a prominent cold start tick/knock at only 50-60k miles whose repair involved replacing lifters at the dealer, and now at double that mileage it has a tick/knock at all times, in all temps, in sunny Florida no less. It doesn't sound long for this world...I'll be surprised if this motor makes it to 150k. We've had other 5.3 and 6.0 powered engines in the family before that did not have the problem like this 6.2 is having, which has been subjected to a pretty easy life of regular maintenance with synthetic oils, only occasional towing well within the weight limits, and was rarely even started below freezing temperatures. Looking online, it seems they weren't the only people who've had this problem, by a long shot.
 
All I mean by amplification is that when many MILLIONS of any engine family are produced for all over the world a few will be bad.

Normally these are well less than one percent of the production yet the Net lights up with unhappy folks. Maybe one of our GM insiders can come up with some numbers.

I still feel sympathetic to anyone who has a "bad" one. They could just fix it right the first time at the stealership and likely made a lot of them happy.

A lot of mfgrs could learn from this...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

edyvw
5,000 miles review of new to me 2018 Toyota Sequoia
2 3
Replies
42
Views
5K
edyvw
JHZR2
New old(ish) diesel
2
Replies
25
Views
1K
CleanSump
9
Potential 2018 Tesla Model 3 Performance purchase
2 3 4
Replies
66
Views
3K
buster
F
Older Model Short Tahoe vs. Suburban For Towing
2
Replies
27
Views
5K
meep
M
Hyundai i30N Oil Recommendations
Replies
6
Views
2K
JavierH19
Back
Top Bottom