Suburban Purchase 1500 or 2500
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Suburban Purchase 1500 or 2500
I want to replace my 96 2500 with a 6.5l diesel. I am looking for something a little newer.
I use it mainly for weekend work. Winter driving in the snow. Towing a travel trailer in the summer (5000lbs ish). Fishing in the mountians etc. We do have some pretty steep passes here in WA state to contend with. My father in laws 5.3 tahoe handles it okay. My diesel suburban tows it fine, but gets a little warm on the mountain passes. Hard to find a good mechanic who knows these old diesels and I dont have time to wrench on it when something goes south. I dont need another project ride.
I have narrowed it down to 2 choices.
Vehicle A - is a 2001 suburban 1500, loaded, 125k miles, single owner, 4.10 rear end for about $8500. Super clean. It has buckets seats in the second row and my wife has "requested" if i go this route to put a bench seat in.
Vehicle B is a 2002 suburban 2500, 156k miles, 2 owner, LS model, 8.1l, 3.73 rear end for about $6500
I am sure the 1500 will pull my trailer just fine. I would add some air bags right off. Later maybe a cold air intake and dashboard tuner.
The 2500 will handle the trailer no problem. I know I wont be getting anything close to the MPG as the 1500, but with the 2k difference in price i could buy a lot of gas. I am assuming that with the larger gas tank in the 2500 the range will be about the same.
I am not sure which way to go. Smaller nicer with better MGP but more expensive or bigger, not as nice, no MPG.
Are there any reliability issues with either? Thoughts?
-Daniel
I use it mainly for weekend work. Winter driving in the snow. Towing a travel trailer in the summer (5000lbs ish). Fishing in the mountians etc. We do have some pretty steep passes here in WA state to contend with. My father in laws 5.3 tahoe handles it okay. My diesel suburban tows it fine, but gets a little warm on the mountain passes. Hard to find a good mechanic who knows these old diesels and I dont have time to wrench on it when something goes south. I dont need another project ride.
I have narrowed it down to 2 choices.
Vehicle A - is a 2001 suburban 1500, loaded, 125k miles, single owner, 4.10 rear end for about $8500. Super clean. It has buckets seats in the second row and my wife has "requested" if i go this route to put a bench seat in.
Vehicle B is a 2002 suburban 2500, 156k miles, 2 owner, LS model, 8.1l, 3.73 rear end for about $6500
I am sure the 1500 will pull my trailer just fine. I would add some air bags right off. Later maybe a cold air intake and dashboard tuner.
The 2500 will handle the trailer no problem. I know I wont be getting anything close to the MPG as the 1500, but with the 2k difference in price i could buy a lot of gas. I am assuming that with the larger gas tank in the 2500 the range will be about the same.
I am not sure which way to go. Smaller nicer with better MGP but more expensive or bigger, not as nice, no MPG.
Are there any reliability issues with either? Thoughts?
-Daniel
CF Pro Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 997
Likes: 21
From: SE MI
If it was me, I'd go with the 2500.
My '01 half-ton is a great truck. She just rolled 200k with the original engine and transmission. Has the 4.10 and a custom tune, but she struggled pulling a 5,000-lb trailer.
But the 2500 is a different beast. It'll tow that trailer like it's nothing.
Don't waste your money with a CAI.
My '01 half-ton is a great truck. She just rolled 200k with the original engine and transmission. Has the 4.10 and a custom tune, but she struggled pulling a 5,000-lb trailer.
But the 2500 is a different beast. It'll tow that trailer like it's nothing.
Don't waste your money with a CAI.
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