nvychf 1 Posted May 10, 2015 Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 Howdy All!!! I want to tow with my 2009 suburban, but it has a very limited towing capacity due to the 3.08 gear ratio. Has anyone upgraded theirs to get more pulling power from their burban? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted May 10, 2015 Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 Years ago on a older suburban I put a larger diameter cat back exhaust system, 3 or 4" not sure which, upgraded to a K&N air filter and also put coil over shocks on the keep it from sagging some when we put the camper on the hitch. Not sure if this is what you are looking for. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nvychf 1 Posted May 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 Rennie that helps some. I am looking more towards changing gearing and drive train upgrades to take the towing capacity to about 8,000lbs. Current set up with the GVRW for the burban is about 11,000. Fully loaded that takea my tow rating to about 3,700 lbs. Even the 233s i am looking at weighs more than that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted May 10, 2015 Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 I had the 308 rear with the 350 motor 1/2 ton and we towed a 30' Shasta travel trailer no slide it did ok but would not go with anything larger until we got a 3/4 ton with the 455, that one did great but would not pass a gas station. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 739 Posted May 10, 2015 Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 I had the ring and pinion changed years ago, don't remember what the ratio was. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LONE-STAR 370 Posted May 10, 2015 Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 I changed the gears out in my 05 f350 went from a 3:73 to a 4:30 big difference. In pulling. But no real change overall but it was a diesel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nvychf 1 Posted May 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 Thanks Gang!! I have a 5.3 (323cui) with the 3.08. I just want to bump it to a 3.55, the little lady still drives daily. @ Rennie did you upgrade your brakes? I am stock from stem to stern. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nvychf 1 Posted May 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 My topic lead says 2000 (oops) it is an 09. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
keith_h 420 Posted May 10, 2015 Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 I have never owned let alone towed with a Suburban but would look into the possible need for additional transmission and engine oil cooling if it doesn't have any type of factory tow package (I would likely do it even if it does). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
parrothead7368 aka Norm 101 Posted May 10, 2015 Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 I have a 2013 Yukon XL with tow package, I have a 3.42 rear and I tow a Jayco X23F. It tows that no problems. If you just go to the 3.42 and add cooling package, you should be in the same place I am. Factory was 3.42 and max towing was 7900 for 4WD and 8100 for 2WD for 2009.Best Regards,NormSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted May 10, 2015 Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 No never did anything with the brakes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BigTom 76 Posted May 10, 2015 Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 Anybody ever consider a underdrive shiftable unit like Gearvendor. You could keep the high 3.08 for mpg and then shift to a lower ratio for towing Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted May 10, 2015 Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 I have never owned let alone towed with a Suburban but would look into the possible need for additional transmission and engine oil cooling if it doesn't have any type of factory tow package (I would likely do it even if it does). Many years ago we towed our TT with a 1986 Suburban. 3:73 rear end. It had a factory tow package, but we added the additional transmission and engine oil cooling. It made many trips to the Fort. In 1996 we sold it in order to buy an F-350 dually so we could carry the golf cart in the bed. We recently ran into the guy who purchased the Suburban. He said it's still going strong, and he continues to tow his TT with it. A good Suburban is indestructible. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nvychf 1 Posted May 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2015 All of you, thanks for the feed back!!! Hope to meet you at the Campground soon!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nvychf 1 Posted May 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 Norm we are looking at the Rockwood Roo 233s. Your post was on the money!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 All of you, thanks for the feed back!!! Hope to meet you at the Campground soon!!! We camp at the Thousand Trails near Matthews Va. is that close at all to you? Not sure yet the next time we will head down there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nvychf 1 Posted August 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2015 Thank you all for the help! This what I am doing; 3.42 gears and pinion change, Detroit Truetrac differential, and CoilRite air bag spring helpers. Changing the gears alone will up my rating to about 8900 lbs, it has a factory tow package. Thanks again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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