Newbie with a question?

[boatcrazy]

I am in the process of purchasing a really clean Suburban that has been customized to a 1 ton dually and would like to get any opinions on towing capacity considering that it was built on a 1500/350 chassis.

How difficult is it to swap the front end out with a 3/4 unit? Adding larger disk brakes to front and rear? Adding larger transmission cooler? The rear already has air bags but will need to install air compressor to inflate via inside.

I plan on towing about a 7000-8000lbs boat/trailer and would like to feel comfortable knowing it is up to the task.

[boatcrazy]

My last ride towing my boat (2006 Suburban LTZ) that I regret letting go but change of career helped me with the decision. Purchased new in 2006 and they gave me 28k trade at the beginning of 2008 when the gas prices where crazy.

[special-K]

What is under the rear for suspension?Is it just a 1t rear axle?I'd treat it as a 1/2t,but with better rear breaks and bearings for hauling.The axle will handle more,too,but will the springs hold that back.It'll be a better 1/2t for towing than stock,but I wouldn't go any farther with payload/towing capacity.

[justpball]

man that thing is sexy!!! it is not hard to swap to 3/4 but if I where you i would go 1 ton because it would add some more weight and you would get better brakes... just find an old dually at a junk yard or watch craigslist...

[boatcrazy]

Thanks guys for the info. I hope to be picking up the burb over the next couple of weeks and plan on performing a few mods to make this what I want.

In looking over the pictures that I have from the owner and comparing them to other Suburban Dually's I found on the web I noticed that it looks like the rear end is shortened and the fender flares look to be a couple inches less in width. What do you all think?

[Davidmichael]

it does look like it's a narrow rear end. They were made from the factory like that, and someone swapped it into this burban.

[special-K]

I wonder if the wheel houses are widened,maybe using pickup ones.It looks to me about the width of a cab'n'chassis rear axle (leaving less that 48" between the houses.

[boatcrazy]

I have requested pictures showing the rear barn doors open and the measurement between the wheel housings to confirm that notion. The owner did tell me that the gentleman whom originally put together the conversion used to haul his drag bike in the rear and that it did not have the third row seating.

[boatcrazy]

I spoke with the original owner and builder and found out the he used a chassis cab 3500 rear end that is 6"-8" narrower than a standard 3500 true dually. He originally wanted the benefit of a dually rear for hauling but did not want the huge bulge of the standard dually fenders. He modified the fiberglass dually fenders by shortening them several inches as well as narrowing them to just fit the wheels and tires. He then molding them into the rear quarter panel to hug the body and make them look as factory as possible. He informed me that he had to move the inner wheel wells inward 4" each side to clear the narrower rear end. The burb does not have a third row and that may be the reason for it.

The rear end has had it's shackles flipped as well as a couple of the coils removed but he did install 6" airbags to compensate for the loss of load capacity. The front has been dropped with drop spindles but is just a standard 1500 and most likely should be upgraded to a 2500/3500 if going to haul heavy loads for the extra stopping power and strength.

The transmission has some corvette internals (not sure what that means) as well as a shift kit and was built to haul a load. The motor has been replaced less than 8K miles ago with a GM crate motor.

[boatcrazy]

Ok, as luck (or maybe lack of) would have it I had planned on going this upcoming weekend to pick up the 1989 dually burb I posted earlier in this thread and should of stopped looking but have come across another nice example of a dually suburban. I was 99.9% sure that the 1989 was perfect for me but when I came across a 1992 2500 dually burb powered by a 454 I started to think that maybe the 89 was not my best option considering it was a 1500 chassis with a 350.

[SBTork]

as much as I hate to say it, buy the '92. I love the old burbs but that '92 would fit your needs much better IMO.

[boatcrazy]

I really, really like the look of the 89 as it is classy from every angle and is what I originally was looking for but when I found the 92 it made me start thinking again about the capacity of a 1500/350 for my towing requirements.

It has been on my mind for the last couple of days and just wanted to throw it out here on this forum to get a different opinion.

Can anyone tell me the difference in driving the two. I have driven several pre 1991 burbs and had a 2006 6.0LTZ but never have driven a 1993-99 with a big block.

The owner states he has seen an average 18 mpg driving on the interstate doing 75 mph. Is this possible? Seems really good for a dually with a 454.

[Davidmichael]

with out any real info on the truck, I would say the 92 fits your needs better. But you have to start to look at the price difference in the trucks, mileage, ect. The engine bay looks clean though.

[boatcrazy]

The '89 was priced @ $3300 and the '92 @ $4000 but logistically the '92 will cost more to get the vehicle back to Florida. I really had every intention on buying the '89 that is until I found the '92. I know the gentleman that owns the 89 really wants it sold but I am afraid it may not be fully up to the task of safely towing 8-9K lbs and that is what I have been looking for.
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[68Timber]

On the 89, it may take the weight, but the 350 will probably perform poorly with the load you want to haul and the tranny is suspect no matter what they say has been done.

On the 92, well to be nice, I'd suspect anything he says. I've never had a 454 powered truck but from what've I've heard from those that have them that I trust, they get 10 or 11 mpg loaded or empty. 18 mpg sounds great but I doubt the truck would get that kind of mileage with a TBI 350 under the hood going down the hwy unloaded.

Both of them appear to be very nice trucks, but you need to check them out thoroughly. Offhand, I'd say the 92 is the better bet, but it's not going to deliver 18 mpg.

Good luck shopping!

[boatcrazy]

Thanks all for all the info. Looks like I am going to have to wait a bit before I can purchase my burb. Wife says sell one of your three boats and then you can get what you want.

[Davidmichael]

I would say paypal.