My '01 Suburban with the 5.3 is nearing 250K miles. I used to tow a boat and small camper when it was new, but nothing the last 5 years or so. I know it would handle a 14' boat and trailer, but with that much mileage on an engine and trans I wonder how it would handle a 26' camper at this point. I had the trans flushed at 50K and 150K with another due soon. I also had the pan dropped and filter changed at 100K and 200K. I was told it looked like new at the filter changes, but what can I expect out of this trans?

 

awesome that the fluid looks new. the vehicle has outlived most at that mileage. Its a guess. If the towing was flat highway and 2000lbs I'd do it. I wouldn't put any great stress on something near the end of life.

 

I'll second the no heavy towing. It's got a quarter of a million miles on it, everything in the trans. is worn. Clutch's in the trans. normally wear just like brake linings and manual trans. clutch's. Doing proper fluid service has gotten you this far so unless your prepared for a tranny replacement I would not tow heavy stuff with it.

 

My 01 is my 4th Suburban and my last. I don't need the stress of wondering if the trans is going to hold up, even here in Illinois. Think i will just leave it for hauling material or pulling the boat or winter weather driving...at least its still reliable for that.

 

Like I just mentioned to tech2, it will be hard to take a relaxing camping trip if I'm wondering if the trans will hold out. And no, I'm not prepared to throw a rebuild into a vehicle that looks like it's seen 20 Chicagoland winters. I will just keep it for general purpose and likely look at a C class motor home rental; even that's better than forking out 60K or more on a vehicle that's just to much for two people. Thanks for the sane advice.

 

2007 Suburban LTZ with 325K miles. I personally rebuilt the transmission at 202K miles due to a broken forward sprag. I checked the specs on everything inside and everything was well within specs. I did replace the steel and friction plates and did a couple other mods as well. If I didn't have to replace the sprag, based on what I saw, I'd expect to get 500K+ out of the transmission easily.

I've been towing a 3200 lb camper several times a year with it before and after the rebuild. My wife also tows a 10' trailer loaded with dance props several times a year. She just recently did a 500 mile trip to the beach and back. Absolutely no issues. Did a trans fluid change shortly after and I was surprised by how new the fluid still looked.

Just today, I did a weekend camping trip about 60 miles away. The suburban did great.

If the oil and trans fluid is routinely changed, I'd have no problems towing with just 250K miles on the odometer.

 

if it had new clutch pack frictions plates....I'd tell him to pull hard too.