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SUVs Chevrolet Suburban & Tahoe 2007 and newer Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon
3125 messages, Last post on Nov 27, 2009 at 6:32 PM
You are in the Chevrolet Suburban & Tahoe Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Why take a step down? DrFill
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4 weeks ago, I traded my faithful (250K miles) 1996 Tahoe for a new 2006 model. I love everything about this new vehicle, except the disappointing towing experience as compared to my '96 model. For years I have towed a trailer, up to 4,500 lbs. and never felt short on power with the '96 model. The first two towing trips with the '06 model, and only 2,000 lbs produced disappointing gas mileage (the vehicle shifts down to 2nd gear for just a moderate incline or moderate head wind) but made me feel there is no towing muscle under the hood. We put a converter back performance exhaust ($265 installed) in the vehicle and are planning to add the performance chip ($365) when it becomes available. I realize I have gone from a 5.7 liter to a 5.3 liter engine but did not expect that much loss in towing performance. Will the power chip even come close to providing a remedy? Am I on the wrong track trying to spruce up the '06 Tahoe to make it have similar power than the '96 model? Using the vehicle also for family, I am trying to avoid purchasing a truck. Is there any way around, or do I simply have to get a truck, maybe a duramax diesel? Thank you for your insight and suggestions. |
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Replying to: callmedrfill (Nov 27, 2005 5:18 pm) Thanks for clarifying. L |
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Replying to: ahightower (Nov 15, 2005 3:35 pm) |
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Replying to: louis4 (Nov 27, 2005 10:35 pm) The 5.7 had less hp, but it did have more torque. My boat weighs between 4500-5000lbs depending on fuel and gear. When hitting the hills I have go 80mph down so I can maintain any speed going back up. What is really sad is my previous tow vehicle was an 01 Nissan Pathfinder (3.5 v6) and it would tow my boat up hills better than my v8 powered Suburban. Even though both vehicles have similar power to weight ratios, the Pathfinder had more aggressive gearing along with an engine that developed its torque at a lower rpm. |
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Replying to: louis4 (Nov 27, 2005 10:35 pm) |
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Replying to: lobsenza (Nov 30, 2005 6:30 am) Note that when they dropped the standard gear from 3.73 to 3.42, they also added about 10 hp and lb/ft, so that may help offset it. Have they published this info for the next generation yet? I wonder how much of that fuel economy improvement is attributable to aerodynamics and engine efficiency versus even lower gearing and playing with the numbers to get a good-looking average for the press materials.
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One thing that will help a lot is the 6 speed automatic. Unfortunately, it is only available on the upper end models.
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Replying to: ahightower (Nov 30, 2005 2:43 pm) If i buy another Suburban, I'll avoid the 5.3. If I have to go with a Denali to get the 6 or new 6.2L so be it. We tow our boat on lots of long trips. By the time we've added a weeks worth of luggage and gear anything more than a modest hill results in having my foot to the floor to maintain speed. |
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Replying to: lobsenza (Nov 30, 2005 9:02 pm) |
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