So with the family getting bigger, the shortcomings of my current truck, and no longer needing a pickup for a 5th wheel, I've been thinking of selling my '88 diesel crewcab F350 and replacing it with an 80's to '91 era diesel suburban. I kinda want something old and simple and want to be able to haul people and dogs and sleep in it. 20-24mpg from an engine that isn't too picky about what it burns sounds pretty nice too. I might go as far as to also use it as an expedition rig sometimes. Most of my towing is up and down the west coast, with a possible shot up to alaska in the future. The two loads I'd be looking at towing are ~6k and a hair over 10k.

I've been told the 6.2 is slow but will pull all day long, can anyone compare it to the n/a 7.3 I'm used to?

Would a 4wd 3/4ton have a 700r4 or TH400 automatic, and do they hold up if kept cool? Were they ever available with manual transmissions? Whats the rest of the drivetrain, D44/14b I assume?

With the proper hitch, brake, and maybe airbag setup, can this platform handle 10k hanging off it's ass?

Thanks guys,

i have a n/a 6.2/700r4 in my project truck,which is a heavy 4wd dually crewcab. it weighs in around 7000 lbs with me in it at the scales leaving the local shredder or incinerator.

i have towed several things with it. my normal goin wheelin load is my 4000ish scout truggy on my 2100 lb trailer,with id hate to guess how many extra pounds of spare parts,tools,and camping gear. id say at least another 500-1000 lbs.

the other thing ive towed is my 36 foot gooseneck with various things on it-from my xj to my suburban. prolly 8000-9000 lbs.

listen to those that tell you you wont be going anywhere fast. the n/a 6.2 has 120 horse,240ish torque. if you only tow on flat ground,its not so bad ;) the route i take to local trails is about 75 miles each way and fairly hilly during the later half of the journey. i try to be going as fast as is safely and humanly possible at the bottom and use that momentum to help me get up the other side.

id say you will have a noticeable lack of power compared to your n/a 7.3. it may not be a huge difference,but i think it will be there.

my truck has 4.10 gears,wich im sure helps. i do tow in OD,but i cant say if this is shortening its life. the tranny allegedly has a fresh rebuild,and i have temp gauge and big cooler,and it doesnt hunt between 3rd and OD. the tranny actually runs much hotter in 3rd,not to mention limiting speed and sucking down waaaay more fuel.

i do like the 6.2 for what it is(a light duty diesel). i plan to swap a cummins into my truck for more power and much greater reliability. the 6.2 has some issues-they break cranks,stock headbolts are junk,and the C code engines tend to crack heads bewteen valves.

a turbo and intercooler would greatly help the power,but at the sacrifice of reliability. if you go thru a 6.2 and upgrade the fasteners,head gaskets,and get a timing gear set and add the main bearing girdle the engine prolly will live,but at the cost of buying a good used 1st or 2nd gen 12v wich doesnt really need beefed up,and you are limited powerwise by the standyne injection pump.

you may get 20-24 mpg at 55 on the highway,but empty around town driving is likely bo be quite a bit lower. i average 15-16 empty,10-12 towing. never driven a long stretch on the highway at 55 to see what might be possible.

for whatever any of that is worth anyway. let me know if you have any other questions about towing or driving 6.2s :)

Would a 4wd 3/4ton have a 700r4 or TH400 automatic, and do they hold up if kept cool? Were they ever available with manual transmissions? Whats the rest of the drivetrain, D44/14b I assume?

With the proper hitch, brake, and maybe airbag setup, can this platform handle 10k hanging off it's ass?

Thanks guys,

sorry,i forgot this part. 3/4 ton should still have a 700r. im fairly certain you only got the th400 in military trucks. they were availble with manual trannys,id try pretty hard to find one,it will be your best bet for reliability.

axlewise it will be a 10 bolt front,14 bolt rear.

i flat towed and towed my heavy trailer/trail rig for years with a 1/2 ton suburban(gas engine) so yes it is quite doable.

youll be ahead of the game with a 3/4 ton and its bigger brakes. you wont really need a w/d hitch or bags if you load your trailer correctly,but i wouldnt discourage you from using one. id have liked to have had a w/d hitch when my burb was the primary tow rig. add to that brakes on both trailer axles and a good controller and you shouldnt have any other prollems towing with a suburban. with the exception of getting up to speed with a 6.2 ;)

The TH400 or even the 4L80 (only last year or two of the '91-older style Suburbans) is more common in the 3/4 ton versions from my experience, but I believe could be either.

I've owned a 6.2 K5 since '94 but never towed much with it when it was still a DD, though I do tow around 9k now with a 6.0L gas 2500HD that has substantially more power....point being that I can easily imagine dropping down to 25-30 mph towing the same trailer up some of the hills just here in the midwest with the 6.2.

I have an 82 6.2 burban 1/2 ton 700r 2wd that I use to tow on a regular basis... I towed up to gilmer last labor day and had no issues. I ran up and back loaded doing 80. Now when the hill right before barnwell.... It slowed WAY down, but pulled right on up without a single issue. I wasn't towing 10k either... probably closer to 6k.

I also have an 86 burb 3/4 ton th400 4wd, I have not gotten to tow with nor drive this one for any real length... the 400 is crap.

with a turbo they pull pretty well, probably close to what your 7.3 does now..

Buy it and convert it to a dually Burban, that'll handle the weight easy. :D