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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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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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I've been reading all the posts on seating in the yukon/tahoe - yukon xl/suburban. When advertising seating up to 9 (we will soon have 5 kids-family of 7- which makes for interesting automotive transportation needs), I wonder why GM has not provided a shoulder harness or headrest for the middle passenger in the third row seating. Despite my Suburban having a bench seat in the 2nd and 3rd rows, I can really only safely seat six. And if I try to put a child's seat in the middle somewhere, there is little room left on either side for such things as a booster seat in either the 2nd or 3rd row. I'm currently contemplating trading my 01 for an 06 YXL so I can get captain's chairs in the second row thinking that ingress and egress to the 3rd row will be easier on the kids (and the seats) but it will be tough to put three kids in the third row, where two are in boosters and one is tall enough to need a head rest. The '06 model 3rd seat middle has only a lap belt and no head rest. I have been scouring the pics of the '07 version to see what the 3rd row will look like...one pick of the tahoe shows a 50-50 split with 3 sets of shoulder harness seat belts but only two head rests. What are the genius' thinking? Unless families have quintuplets, the kids are usually different sizes and will need a variety of seating options, taking into account boosters/car seats/etc. Many of the posts besmirch mini vans, but I have to say, my wife's 05 sienna has three headrests and three shoulder harnesses in the 3rd row. Great for haulin' the kids around town. Problem is, can't take a trip in it 'cause no room for luggage. Hence the Suburban. And I really don't like Ford. Anybody have any info on the elusive 3rd row seat? Or do I have to submit to driving an airport limo? I also have often wondered why GM has not placed a personal lamp in the headliner for each passenger, similar to an airplane. What a great improvement this would be, as each passenger could chose lighting or not; as it is now, either the entire cabin is lighted in my suburban or it is dark. Hope some of you GM people read these message boards....some great ideas. |
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