When my GMT400 isn't enough...

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someotherguy

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Yeah I was pretty shocked to see the '99 C2500 Suburban in Phoenix Craigslist (posted earlier in this thread) with 135k miles for $3700. I mean that seemed REALLY low priced. Then I just looked again and it's been lowered to $3200... seller must be motivated or there's an underlying problem somewhere. If I could find that in good condition in the Midwest (to inspect in person first) I'd buy it tomorrow.
I don't know the market there but around TX there's plenty of Suburbans and they are priced accordingly. Supply is high, demand is so-so; we drive LOTS of miles to get from place to place here and SUV's wax and wane in popularity due to MPG.

Now the relative rarity of a GMT400 2500 Suburban 7.4 will have a nice one priced higher than a 1500 with a 5.7, but still, they are not expensive vehicles to get into these days.

Richard
 

scottydl

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Yeah and mine wasn't expensive a few years ago either (under $5000) but it's also cost me about $1000/year in repairs/maintenance typical of a 20yo truck. I tend to buy stuff and keep it for a long time, so I want to research sufficiently and know what I'm getting before switching to a different vehicle.

I could start checking TX markets too, thanks for that tip. Seems like the used truck marketplace would be fairly plentiful. I could take a 2 hour morning flight to DFW and drive back home in a day if the right scenario came along.
 

JackE

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So what are the real world mpg numbers with a 6.0 towing a 7K lb travel trailer? I learned that they are no better than the 7.4 when you bump up the speed to 85-90 mph. That takes the rpm from about 1900 @ 70 up to about 2600 @ 90. I ran for about 35 miles at 90 the other day and did no better than 12 mpg. I'm going to guess that when towing a big load, it won't be any better than the 10-12 mpg I get with the 7.4. With the 7.4 I can tow 10K without batting an eye.

A few months ago I read a thread from a guy in southern Arizona that did a full rebuild on his 7.4 about the same time I did mine. He went with a bigger cam, some Ford injectors, and a few other minor upgrades and said he was towing his trailer around without any ******* down on the mountain slopes. I can't find that post again, anybody have any idea who that was?

To the OP. I think you are always ahead if you don't have to buy another vehicle, but in this case, I think the TBI is really limiting you. If it were me, and I chose to upgrade vehicles, I don't think I would just go a year or two newer for a Vortec. I don't feel like there would be significant enough gains to warrant the change. I would go as big as I could afford and find an 8.1 or a Duramax. If I weren't looking at the big 5th wheel that I am, I would be happy to go a bit slower down the road and stick with my 7.4 Suburban. Sightseeing is better at a little slower pace anyway!
 

90halfton

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@90halfton do you mean late 6.5?
Lol.....no.... like duramax, 6.7 or 7.3 powerstroke, Cummins with a manual. I used to drive only chipped diesels for work trucks and the company I work for now only buys 6.0 hd chevys. Was like flying a rocket then switching to paper airplanes. 6.0s are rock solid work horses, but not even in the same class as a 1000lb torque diesel. For light duty gassers are the efficient choice unfortunately but for regularly towing 9000 lbs I wouldn't buy anything that took gas
 

Chackerman

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So what are the real world mpg numbers with a 6.0 towing a 7K lb travel trailer? I learned that they are no better than the 7.4 when you bump up the speed to 85-90 mph. That takes the rpm from about 1900 @ 70 up to about 2600 @ 90. I ran for about 35 miles at 90 the other day and did no better than 12 mpg. I'm going to guess that when towing a big load, it won't be any better than the 10-12 mpg I get with the 7.4. With the 7.4 I can tow 10K without batting an eye.

In our 2000 k2500 Suburban with the 6.0 4l80e combo 4.10s and 285’s loaded up with with 3 kids and a trailer close to 7k lbs we get between 8.5 and 13mpg depending on driving style and mountain passes vs flat rd.
 

JackE

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In our 2000 k2500 Suburban with the 6.0 4l80e combo 4.10s and 285’s loaded up with with 3 kids and a trailer close to 7k lbs we get between 8.5 and 13mpg depending on driving style and mountain passes vs flat rd.
Ouch, worse than I expected. That certainly adds to the rethinking on getting a 6.0.
 
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