HELP NEEDED! Suburban 2500 older or newer, tongue weight limitations w/o distribution

[bmontini]

I need HELP and suggestions regarding trailering this new setup....

Bought a new 2655 HST Cab w/ Loader and backhoe
Tractor: 4299lbs
Loader: 1270lbs
Backhoe: 1100lbs
Tireballast: 600lbs
Total: 7269lbs
Trailer Weight: 1550lbs (20ft Tandem Axle ALUMA trailer, 9,990lbs rated)
Total tow package weight: 8819
Ideal Tongue Weight: 882-1323 lbs (10-15%)

Little chance of ever towing "everything" but might have to for service one day.

I thought I would just pickup a 2009-2013 Suburban 2500 series. (6.0L) (when not towing, I might sometimes need to haul 8-9 people, hence the suburban instead of a pickup choice) Towing Capacity 9400lbs. However, the HITCH sticker on the Suburban shows 5000lbs/500 or 600lbs tongue weight or 10,000/1,000lbs tongue weight with weight distribution... WHAT?? 500lbs tongue weight?

AND to top it off, you can not replace the receiver because of how it is mounted... (inserted into the frame instead of bolted to it?)

So maybe an older suburban with the 8.1L that is 12000 lb rated. (better engine as well!) However, I can not find any info on the tongue weight ratings... maybe the same... 5000lbs and up you have to have a weight distributing hitch...
SO, if I want a suburban, of any vintage at this time... do I have to have a weight distributing hitch? The only one I can find with enough Drop (level trailer coupler height is only 14") is the Blue Ox SwayPro

Attention Required! | Cloudflare

Thoughts? I didn't think it would be so hard to setup a tow rig! I need help! Its been suggested a Ford Excursion Diesel, but the same thing exists in the ford towing guide. 600lbs tongue weight without weight distribution.... So Confused!
I'd rather not get written up by TxDPS !

 

[4570Man]

I have a 2500 suburban. It’s not my first choice for towing because it’s the least capable vehicle I own but 500 pounds hitch weight is way under selling it. I think it would handle 1500 pounds hitch weight if the hitch is up to it. I haven’t paid a lot of attention to my hitch but know I’ve had at least 1000 pounds hitch weight on it probably more and didn’t feel like it was too much for it. I wouldn’t be eager to hook big loads behind the 8.1 suburban because it doesn’t have an Allison trans. That being said I don’t think towing 9,000 pounds behind a 2500 suburban on rare bases is going to hurt anything. My smaller tractor and trailer is probably around 7500 pounds but I’ve never weighed it and that’s the heaviest load I’ve had behind it. I don’t know how much experience you have with SUVs so I apologize of you already know but the 3rd row seats in all of them are pretty useless. The suburban is better than most but there’s no way the 3rd row is fit for 3 adults especially for any distance. But I don’t care about that. Mine only has the front 2 seats and it’s essentially a 4 door van. The suburbans are far better than a pickup 99 percent of the time. Having your stuff wet and exposed to theft in the back of a truck is way overrated. The Ford excursion is probably a better tow vehicle than the 2500 and definitely has a more room in the cab but they drive worse IMO.

 

[RandyT]

The truth is most vehicles until the last few years have the 500-600 rating without the weight distributor rating. They claim the new trucks don't need weight distributors hitches, but I am not sure how they are getting around the problem of unloading the front axle weight when towing heavier tongue weights. The whole purpose of the weight distributor is to transfer the weight back to the front axle, and even out the stress on the hitch mounting bolts.

 

[Sheldon Hamblin]

Why are you afraid of a weight distributing hitch?
I ran a 9800 gvw livestock trailer, and a 7500 gvw trailer for my tractor for 30 years.
1 ton 4 wheel drive crew cab
3/4 suburban with a 454
3/4 ton crew cab
All used a weight distributing hitch.

 

[dodge man]

The reason is most of the older stuff has a class IV hitch and a lot of newer 3/4 tons have a class V which is rated much higher. You can tell because the shank needs to be bigger for the tow ball or you need an adapter.

 

[TMGT]

The newer frames and hitches are also built much better then the older stuff and are able to handle the leverage from tongue weight much better.

I have a 07 Ram 2500 CTD CC short bed and use an aftermarket Curt hitch, no weight distributing hitch and tow a 14k dump trailer with no issues.

The Curt hitch definitely attaches much better then the factory stuff of that era.

As for the suburban, the only thing I've noticed is the factory rear springs are a bit soft, seems to be common with GM SUV's of that era. A set of heavier springs or helpers would be a good idea.

The reason is most of the older stuff has a class IV hitch and a lot of newer 3/4 tons have a class V which is rated much higher. You can tell because the shank needs to be bigger for the tow ball or you need an adapter.

 

[bmontini]

Why are you afraid of a weight distributing hitch?
I ran a 9800 gvw livestock trailer, and a 7500 gvw trailer for my tractor for 30 years.
1 ton 4 wheel drive crew cab
3/4 suburban with a 454
3/4 ton crew cab
All used a weight distributing hitch.

Not afraid... can’t. The aluminum trailer (Aluma Brand) I just found out says “do not use” with weight distribution hitches. They won’t say why but I imagine it is the stranger point stresses it might on the main beams Behind the coupler.

 

[fried1765]

I need HELP and suggestions regarding trailering this new setup....

Bought a new 2655 HST Cab w/ Loader and backhoe
Tractor: 4299lbs
Loader: 1270lbs
Backhoe: 1100lbs
Tireballast: 600lbs
Total: 7269lbs
Trailer Weight: 1550lbs (20ft Tandem Axle ALUMA trailer, 9,990lbs rated)
Total tow package weight: 8819
Ideal Tongue Weight: 882-1323 lbs (10-15%)

Little chance of ever towing "everything" but might have to for service one day.

I thought I would just pickup a 2009-2013 Suburban 2500 series. (6.0L) (when not towing, I might sometimes need to haul 8-9 people, hence the suburban instead of a pickup choice) Towing Capacity 9400lbs. However, the HITCH sticker on the Suburban shows 5000lbs/500 or 600lbs tongue weight or 10,000/1,000lbs tongue weight with weight distribution... WHAT?? 500lbs tongue weight?

AND to top it off, you can not replace the receiver because of how it is mounted... (inserted into the frame instead of bolted to it?)

So maybe an older suburban with the 8.1L that is 12000 lb rated. (better engine as well!) However, I can not find any info on the tongue weight ratings... maybe the same... 5000lbs and up you have to have a weight distributing hitch...
SO, if I want a suburban, of any vintage at this time... do I have to have a weight distributing hitch? The only one I can find with enough Drop (level trailer coupler height is only 14") is the Blue Ox SwayPro

Attention Required! | Cloudflare

Thoughts? I didn't think it would be so hard to setup a tow rig! I need help! Its been suggested a Ford Excursion Diesel, but the same thing exists in the ford towing guide. 600lbs tongue weight without weight distribution.... So Confused!
I'd rather not get written up by TxDPS !View attachment 640339View attachment 640340View attachment 640341View attachment 640342View attachment 640343

I have a '97 2500 series 4x4 Suburban with 454 V-8.
I tow my 14K equipment trailer (3,400 lbs) with my 8,000 lb. Kubota TLB aboard....11,400 total wt.

I do not need to tow over steep hilly terrain, but I do tow at speeds up to 65 mph.
I use a 12,000 lb rated receiver (Curt) and 14,000 lb.Equal-i-zer hitch.
I keep 1,200 lbs. tongue weight on the hitch.

I added aftermarket air bags to the Suburban suspension system (they are great).
They are not expensive, and are easy to install.

Of course the trailer does have electric brakes, and I set them to begin very early in the braking process.
I drive defensively,..... and I do not tailgate!

I tow infrequently, and for personal use only, so I never need to stop for scales.
I use 6 chains (grade 70-5/16") on the TLB, so there can be no improper tie down questions.

 

[hawkeye08]

Yep, had the issue with our 2008 GMC Yukon XL, decided to upgrade to GMC Sierra 2500HD, put a Torklift Super Hitch on it with dual receiver rated at 30,000lbs (way more than truck is rated for).. I did not like the flex of hitch with weight distribution setup on the Yukon XL, big reason we went to crew cab pickup..

 

[nikerret]

You must realize tow ratings and capabilities have skyrocketed, the last few years. Gas engine HD pickups are rated to pull much more than the best diesels of twenty years ago. The included receiver on most family vehicles (including most half ton pickups), is rated for the occasional camper or boat to be pulled. Even half tons with max towing packages often come with Class IV, or lower receivers. The manufacturers get by with it by adding, “when properly equipped”, in their ads. What the don’t tell you is very few roll out properly equipped. As mentioned, a lot of Class V receivers will have a 2.5” opening, but some will have the more common 2”.

My recommendation would be to not get an old Suburban, to tow. If that’s your best bet, buy a better receiver and mount it on the frame. Make sure the frame is solid, not rusted out, as generally occurs.