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New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2017 11:16 pm
by bugdewde
Well, I've gone from this Super-Dooper tow rig......
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To this:
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1999 Chevy Suburban K1500 ... yes, I said 1500 (looks like a 2500)
4x4
8-lug
14-bolt 9.5" semi-floater rear (not the 10.5" full-floater of the 2500)
3.42 gears
Much-hated and misunderstood 6.5L Turbo Diesel (just my style..... for example: My favorite step-child engines.... Vega 2300, Buick 215, Pontiac 301)
4L80e

Seems the 1500 that got a torque-laden 6.5L TD, got some of the required 2500 goodies... but still kept the softer 1500 springs.

200+ mile trip home towing the Miata on a rented u-haul trailer (total about 4400 lbs) got 15.6 mpg at about 70-80 mph through the Kentucky mountains.
As you old regulars may recall..... I'm 51 years old and have never owned a truck. Many Jeeps, but never a real truck with a bed. Never felt the need. My trailers handled everything.... decently.
But let me tell you, EVERYONE needs a Suburban!!!!! Wow! What a difference!

Tow rig 300.jpeg

Re: New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 1:46 am
by Monza Harry
Dwight I leased a '99 Suburban and I am JEALOUS! You have an oddity as far as I can tell, the 1500 was offered with only the 5.7L, 8 lug and Diesel were exclusive to the 2500 only. I searched this out online [both Canadian and American sites] before I went to the dealers looking for the price of my dream. I have aquired 5 'Burb's overall and yes everyone should have one! Sweet Looking Ride there Dwight, Congrat's! Harry

Re: New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 7:39 am
by spencerforhire
Man, that thing is tall; I have a 1994 2wd 'Burb, and it's a foot lower. I've never seen a 1500 truck with 8-bolt wheels, but I'm not going to argue about if it's a 1500 or 2500; GM has done some strange things. My brother has what he calls a "unicorn" 1994 Silverado 5.7 gas 2500 2wd, but with 6-bolt wheels. It sits up like a 4wd, and has an odd mix of running gear. Every time he goes to the parts store for anything like suspension or brake parts, he has to give them the VIN and then wait for parts that aren't in stock. It also has the narrow track width of a normal, 5-bolt 2wd truck; I tried to give him a spare set of 16's from my 2003 Silverado, and they not only scraped on the front control arms, they looked really stupid pulled way inside the fenders.

Re: New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 9:28 pm
by BadBowtie
Sweet rig, but i cant stop looking at that TJ Unlimited Rubicon. Thats a hard to find Jeep where I'm at, definitely not good for towing though.

Re: New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2017 11:46 pm
by bugdewde
'05 Unlimited Rubicon was bought brand new..... all my cars at the time "died" and I decided to get me a vehicle I didnt have to work on. 120k of the hardest miles a vehicle shouldn't be allow to experience. One of the best vehicles I've ever owned.

Harry,
The 'Burb is definitely a 1500, per the V.I.N. ........ AND.... the original window sticker. A 1500 ordered with the 6.5 turbo motor got some beefier items due to the torque output of the diesel (410). Even more torque than the big block 454.
However, I've read that the 6.5L turbo diesel was de-tuned a bit if ordered in a 1500. .... due to a less beefy 14-bolt rear.
Some big goodies for the diesel in a 1500.
Big brakes
4L80e
14-bolt rear .... but not the 2500 14-bolt. 1500 got the 9.5" semi-floater rear versus the 2500's 10.5" full-floater 14-bolt.
Of course, 8-lugs
.... not much for beef..... but the smaller 14-bolt rear got 3.42 gears instead of the 2500's 3.73 or 4.10. Since the turbo diesel was designed as a higher fuel mileage alternative to the 350, it got taller gears if ordered in a 1500....
fuel mileage took priority over towing with this particular package.


Haven't figured out the spring rates, but the front seems stiff..... (heavy engine).... and the rear seems pretty soft.... squats a little bit with a load.

Re: New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 8:05 pm
by Sunula66
Very nice !!..and my colors !!...definitely the vehicle for towing and when a large truck or bus goes past, you're not white knuckles anymore...been there, done that..and the smell of POO isn't around anymore when you need to panic stop lmao !! :shock: 8)

Re: New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 12:17 am
by sirrick4
Notice anything about this one. Yep........ it's a Holden Suburban. A bit of badge engineering for you.

Re: New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 9:00 pm
by Diesel Dan
Nice ride!
Yes it is a 1500 with 8 lug. Seen many over the years and only a 6.5TD configuration IIRC.
GM also made 1500HD 4 door pickup with 8 lug wheels which was basically a LD 2500.
You should have 3.42 gears where a 2500 would be standard with 3.73 and optional 4.10s.

Make sure it has a remote FSD and possibly carry a spare in the glove box.
For towing get a boost gauge and EGT gauge, drive by the EGT.

Make sure the lift pump is working properly so you don't starve the DS4 injection pump, $1K+ repair.

Use lubricity additive in the fuel unless you know for sure the pump and injectors have been replaced with newer, hardened ones for ULSD fuel.

Re: New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 10:08 pm
by blownvega1
very nice ,that looks like it is very good shape one thing to check is the harmonic balancer they have will go bad over time and can cause big damage to the crank or block,I have had several over the years with good luck and have one now in a 3/4 ton but that is the first thing I check they are cheap to replace compared to back in the day.Alex

Re: New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:01 pm
by Diesel Dan
A fluid dampener is something I'd like to install someday. If I don't repower the truck first. We also need to keep an eye on the crank drive pulley since it is rubber dampened too.

Re: New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 3:12 pm
by blownvega1
my mistake I was referring to the crank drive pulley but a fluid damper would be extra insurance

Re: New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 11:45 pm
by bugdewde
Lift pump seems fine..... spits fuel out the fuel filter housing every time. However, the injector pump might be giving up the ghost. When hot, it sometimes won't start. Have to pour cool water on the pump/solenoid on the intake.... then it fires right up.

Haven't checked the dampener yet. Will be on the list.
can't get cruise control to work for some reason.?

Re: New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 5:58 pm
by Diesel Dan
Has the pump mounted driver (PMD) been relocated off the injection pump yet? If not order a relocation kit and a new driver. I keep a spare in the truck, if you were closer we could swap in my spare and see if it helps.

With the lift pump I recommend hooking up a manual low pressure gauge and verify holding positive pressure under load. One of the places I tapped into was the water drain line.

Re: New to me tow rig ........

PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 6:01 pm
by Diesel Dan
On the dampener, I used a paint stick and put marks on the inner and outer hubs to watch for slippage.