Hello Everyone,

We've got a Keystone Passport SL 268BHW trailer(overall length 30 1/2 feet) with a hitch weight of 820lb or so when loaded(Sherline LM1000 used). We currently tow with a Ram 1500 with air bags, and it fits our family(three 8-12 year old kids and 50 lb dog) fine. Kids are wanting to bring others with them, and payload(under 1,500 lbs!...worked for the first and smaller trailer fine) on this truck is less than desired as we are up against the max now, so I've got the itch to get something that will work better.

I've been eyeing a larger third row SUV like the Suburban/Yukon XL as a TV and DD. Looking at ~2015+ with the tow package as a must, as the 268BH can max a 7,000 lbs, although we are probably ~6,500 lb or so most of the time since we don't haul with full water tanks.

This is our second trailer, after making the classic rookie mistake of buying one that was too small for the family. We've done a fair amount of traveling and it's been great. I'd like to have the option for the kids to bring a friend or two for the trips as well, but with a truck there just isn't the space. For a trailer that is just over 30 feet I've seen the 'Camco' recommendations of wheelbase, and for the Suburban at 130" it seems a tad on the short side of those. Although I feel like it is probably doable from what I've seen on this forum, and with my towing experience, I also know that the physics with these type of masses aren't to be trifled with. Any thoughts would be great, especially maybe what years to avoid in the 2015+ model, or ways to stiffen up the rear suspension(are air bags a must?), shift weight to the front axle, etc.

WDH currently used is an Camco Recurve R3, and it most likely I'd use it with the next TV. Thanks for the insight! :-D

 

I "quoted" so I could make the text black so I could read the post.

Mrs. Cusser tows a horse trailer with 2 horses with a 2014 Yukon Denali XL with 6.2 liter engine and AWD, works very well, not sure this engine was available in the Suburbans. In the past she has used Suburbans with the 5.7 liter engine which worked fine (just not as powerful as a 6.0 or 6.2 liter engine), but we have zero experience with the 5.3 engine.

As to 2015+ models, Yukons and Suburbans had a design change starting with 2015 year. And I believe switched to expensive 1234yf refrigerant in 2017. These have had GM's "infamous" AFM since like the mid-2000s, but the rash of issues with the GM AFM issues seemed to begin about 2020.

 

The older ones can be quite nice and were really ahead of thier time. I use a 2002 Chevy Suburban 1500 to haul a 16 ft tandem pipe top trailer loaded with my 6800lb bobcat E26 with no real issues. Now the issue with buying a used vehicle can be that you are buying the pervious problems and issues with it. So take any used vehicle for a test drive and pull up to a stop on a hill and let go of the brakes and see if it rolls backwards very much. This give an indication of the health/status of the transmission.

Disclaimer: I do a lot of my own mechanical work so I am not afraid of older used vehicles. Chevy transmissions were always easier to rebuild as well. I also have no experience with new models so I only speak about what I know.

 

I also have a 2002 Suburban 1500 (5.3L V8 Flexifuel) that I've been using to pull various things through the years, and the heaviest I can recall is a boogie trailer with overrun brakes loaded with a Volvo EC27c (excavator) on it with a total weight around 3.6 tonnes (or ~7900lbs according too Google) and that worked just flawlessly. The pressure at the joint was not too bad, approximately around 50kg (~110lbs).

Not sure if this helps your decision but I believe that these vehicles are great for pulling trailers.

 

I tow a 25ft Airstream with a 2018 Premier Suburban without the max tow package. The Airstream is 6000 lbs dry, 7300 lbs GVWR. The rig is perfectly stable with a ProPride weight distribution/anti-sway hitch, but in my opinion, the trailer is too much weight for the 2018 1/2 ton Suburban. I plan to upgrade to a 3/4 ton diesel pick up very soon. The Suburban struggles on even the slightest incline with my trailer. The other primary issue with the Suburban is payload. With 1000+ lbs of tongue weight and only 1500 lbs of payload, the payload and rear gross axle weight rating will max out very quickly. This is the other main reason I am going to a 3/4 ton truck. Don’t get me wrong, I love the 2018 Suburban (I currently have both a 2003 and 2018). It’s just not the right vehicle for a 7000 lb+ trailer. The max tow package (if you can find one so equipped) would give you a 2-speed transfer case and 3.42 differential vs the standard 3.08, but you’ll still have the same 5.3L engine and 6-speed trans. If you really want to tow that rig with a Suburban, I would get the new model with the 3L diesel and the 10-speed trans. But payload and gross rear axle rating (I.e., two of the most important factors - maybe THE most important factors) will still be the issue. If GM would make the 3/4 ton Suburban again, I would buy it in a second. Good luck!

 

IMO any trailer over 5k is a stretch for a 1/2-ton vehicle. Any heavier you're into 3/4-ton trucks. I've had a Sable on a drive on U haul car trailer on my Tahoe and it pulled it but it was working, and that setup had to be at least 5500 lbs, probably more as it was a heavy-duty trailer. My Tahoe has the max tow package also.
I own 4 trailers, boat is the heaviest but under 5k lbs.
30 ft. trailer, you need a 3/4 pickup with a max tow package. Today's light duty subs are not up to it like the old 2500 subs. And never will be since they went to the independent rear suspension.