MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,195
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
Regarding a Suburban with a 5.7 V8 and towing capacity... I don't think any combination of gears, transmissions, etc... was spec'd to tow 10K with that engine. 1500 or 2500 series. With the 454, yes. 350, I don't think so. I could be mistaken, but I don't recall any being over 8500# capacity with that engine.
Also, I think the 454s maxed out at 10K per factory specs., but again, check youself to be sure.
Same goes for the vans.
You get in a wreck towing one pound more than rated capacity, even if its not your perceived fault, vulture lawyers will be all over you.
Anyhow, just be sure to check your specs before purchasing and excpecting something more than it is rated to do.
We currently have a 1993 Suburan K1500 with the 5.7 engine. I think its only rated for 7500-8000K. We tow a 7000# car hauler. The car hauler weighs 1500# itself, so we have a usable capacity of 5500# on that trailer.
We had a 3/4 ton 1993 Chevy conversion van before that. And it towed the same trailer just as well.
The van was a conversion van. So it seated 4 captain chairs, and 3 on the back seat, which also folded out into a bed for sleeping. It started rusting out badly, and I wanted 4WD for winter to make sure I got to work, and for driving around off-road on our tree farm. So we sold it and bought the 1993 Suburban. It seats 8. Seats 5 with the rear seat removed. Holds 4x8 sheets of plywood or drywall inside with the rear seat removed and the center seats folded forward, flat. You can even find them with a bench front seat, so that bumps capacity to 9, 6, 5, 4, or 3, depending on which seats you fold or remove.
In my opinion, the Suburban VS Van is a hard one to call. You can haul more inside a van. You can stand up and walk around in a van. If you get a van conversion, you can seat people more comfortably, too. They can be a pain to remove seats for hauling a load, whereas the Suburban (ours, at least), the center seat folds flat. If you have a trailer, you don't need a pickup truck.
If you have kids, friends, family, etc... that you want to take with you, a pickup can get crowded quick.
I have no experience with Ford products. However, I think they make some better towing options than Chevy in the pricerange you're looking for. Good luck in your search.
Just remember, a $3000 truck is gonna be 15-20 years old. Things will break or fail often unless you replace everything at once. Just two weeks ago I lost my radiator in the 1993 Suburban. Replaced it and a couple days later, the top radiator hose blew. Replaced all hoses, and a couple days later the water pump went. The radiator was $125. The hoses were $35. The water pump was $29. And the antifreeze was $17... 3 times! So $51. So a tad over $200 in repairs, and about 4 hours of my time. Belts. Wiper motor. Air conditioning compressor. Brake lines get soft and the metal lines corrode and rust. Heater fans. Brake calipers/drums.... I've taken ours on some long trips in the past few years. I take it twice a year to get our kid from college, about 120 miles each way. Take some tools and a credit card and don't travel at night is about the best advice I can give if you go the old, used rout. :thumbsup:
Also, I think the 454s maxed out at 10K per factory specs., but again, check youself to be sure.
Same goes for the vans.
You get in a wreck towing one pound more than rated capacity, even if its not your perceived fault, vulture lawyers will be all over you.
Anyhow, just be sure to check your specs before purchasing and excpecting something more than it is rated to do.
We currently have a 1993 Suburan K1500 with the 5.7 engine. I think its only rated for 7500-8000K. We tow a 7000# car hauler. The car hauler weighs 1500# itself, so we have a usable capacity of 5500# on that trailer.
We had a 3/4 ton 1993 Chevy conversion van before that. And it towed the same trailer just as well.
The van was a conversion van. So it seated 4 captain chairs, and 3 on the back seat, which also folded out into a bed for sleeping. It started rusting out badly, and I wanted 4WD for winter to make sure I got to work, and for driving around off-road on our tree farm. So we sold it and bought the 1993 Suburban. It seats 8. Seats 5 with the rear seat removed. Holds 4x8 sheets of plywood or drywall inside with the rear seat removed and the center seats folded forward, flat. You can even find them with a bench front seat, so that bumps capacity to 9, 6, 5, 4, or 3, depending on which seats you fold or remove.
In my opinion, the Suburban VS Van is a hard one to call. You can haul more inside a van. You can stand up and walk around in a van. If you get a van conversion, you can seat people more comfortably, too. They can be a pain to remove seats for hauling a load, whereas the Suburban (ours, at least), the center seat folds flat. If you have a trailer, you don't need a pickup truck.
If you have kids, friends, family, etc... that you want to take with you, a pickup can get crowded quick.
I have no experience with Ford products. However, I think they make some better towing options than Chevy in the pricerange you're looking for. Good luck in your search.
Just remember, a $3000 truck is gonna be 15-20 years old. Things will break or fail often unless you replace everything at once. Just two weeks ago I lost my radiator in the 1993 Suburban. Replaced it and a couple days later, the top radiator hose blew. Replaced all hoses, and a couple days later the water pump went. The radiator was $125. The hoses were $35. The water pump was $29. And the antifreeze was $17... 3 times! So $51. So a tad over $200 in repairs, and about 4 hours of my time. Belts. Wiper motor. Air conditioning compressor. Brake lines get soft and the metal lines corrode and rust. Heater fans. Brake calipers/drums.... I've taken ours on some long trips in the past few years. I take it twice a year to get our kid from college, about 120 miles each way. Take some tools and a credit card and don't travel at night is about the best advice I can give if you go the old, used rout. :thumbsup:
