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Are they later year burbs the red headed stepchildren?

dieselndixie

dieselndixie

1/2 ton status
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Jan 14, 2011
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Location
austin, tx
I ask because....I search this forum and no one talks about anything but the 91 and older models.

Here is my thoughts. I have my K5, so I wouldnt want a burb to do any sort of offroading with. (maybe just camping at the coast, goin hunting, towing a small trailer) so yes, there might be "off pavement" trips...but nothing like I do with my K5.

So, if that were the case....are the newer (1992-2005) range suburbans worth it? I recognize the IFS limitations...but I honestly dont want to take this rig into anything it cant do stock. They are cheap in my area with around 150k miles and 4x4. Just brainstorming about how nice it would be to have a more street oriented camping beast that was better for 4hr+ trips. School me?

I like the 90-91 burbs, but I can honesty say...with all the work I have done on my K5....I would want something that was fine in stock form...just needs gas, brakes, and oil changes. Not a hobby truck....but a truck to take me to do my hobbies. Sleeping inside of it is a BIG driving factor for me.

also...given my statements above....how important would it be to get a 3/4 ton over the regular one? And am I right in expecting 14mpg average?
 
My friend has 1993. The '93 is indeed a fine vehicle as is. For camping and long rides it is more comfortable, better fuel mpg, power is good, nice ride and steering, a/c. Driver isibility is great. For a stock as is vehicle and your not using it for anything but mild 4x4 for camping or bad weather, it is a fine truck. Low maintenance since it is basically just a giant station wagon with 4x4. I really like it but can't have everything.

That said, it is a totally different vehicle than my boxy 1980 and 1989. The boxy Burbs seem to be much more basic (mine are plain janes). Not as nice steering or suspension. I'm into the boxy stuff because of ease of work on them, making one into a 1 ton, etc.. for harder use. The other boxy one was cheap and rust free, and a great runner, so I got that for giant station wagon camping duty. It uses more fuel than the '93 mentioned above.

I say get a stock 1992 and newer Burb for what you stated, and keep you K5 for serious wheeling. It will be nice to have a newer Burb with overdrive, street friendly tires, normal ride height, and only need to add gas and oil, and no undo maintenance (due to hard wheeling - your K5 for that).
 
91 and older if you're going to modify it at all, like the boxy look, and like doing all the repairs and maintence stuff yourself. Just remember a 1991 Sub is over 20 years old now:)


If carlike ride, stock everything is important just get as new as you can....
 
I have an 89 k5 right now...so I am aware of the pitfalls of the older stuff. Im not serious enough to do anything yet....just starting to ask questions.

for this vehicle...it would be a rig that only gets taken to the coast, the ranch, etc. so I dont want to build it up, modify it, anything like that. some sand or an open muddy field would be the extent of the offroad. I would just need to be able to do all the regular maintenance to keep her running.

that said. any concerns with snagging a 95-2000 range with like 150k-170k miles?
 
dieselndixie said:
I have an 89 k5 right now...so I am aware of the pitfalls of the older stuff. Im not serious enough to do anything yet....just starting to ask questions.

for this vehicle...it would be a rig that only gets taken to the coast, the ranch, etc. so I dont want to build it up, modify it, anything like that. some sand or an open muddy field would be the extent of the offroad. I would just need to be able to do all the regular maintenance to keep her running.

that said. any concerns with snagging a 95-2000 range with like 150k-170k miles?
Click to expand...

That's a good range. The 95' has the newer dash but I think in 96' the Vortec engine came out. Not positive here. 97' you get dual airbags if safety is a concern.

I have a 2004 3/4 suburban and love it. So comfortable and when I switch over from the Blazer, it's a luxury liner to drive! I have the 8.1L engine so it LOVES gas! I get around 11 mpg on average and maybe 13 on the highway.

1999 is a good year (last of that body style) and you might even try a diesel. Might be interesting to find a 3/4 ton diesel. :dunno:
 
you do much camping in yours? with all the snakes and critters around here, I am looking forward to getting off ground and sleeping in one like a popup.

room for 2 peeps and the dogs?
 
My dads got a 99 3/4 ton burb with right around 200k with the 454. Its a very nice riding truck, feels like a caddy compared to my blazer. It gets about 11mpg with the 454, which imo isnt all that horrible really. Its got good power, nice for towing etc. Oh oh oh and its really comfy to ride in for long periods of time:waytogo:
 
I suffer, and drive a honda civic to commute to and from work....so the k5 is my toy. but now that its so big and built up....its not very good to tow my dirtbikes for 3-6hours. Im starting to explore other options....thus the suburban.
 
dieselndixie said:
you do much camping in yours? with all the snakes and critters around here, I am looking forward to getting off ground and sleeping in one like a popup.

room for 2 peeps and the dogs?
Click to expand...

This is why I went back to the suburban.

I had a 91' suburban and used it a ton. Lots of room to haul almost anything. Traded that for a 02' Tahoe....yea, it had the third seat but nothing behind that. With 3 girls, wife and a dog, it was WAY tight in the Tahoe to go anywhere long distance. I did get a Yakima pod for the top and that really helped!

The next one was the 04' suburban and I just keep using it. In all suburbans, they have designed at least a 4'x8' sheet of plywood to fit with the doors closed so camping/sleeping for two should be no problem. Any of the extra gear got moved to the front seats (or roof) if sleeping was necessary.

Gas just cost some to fill. Not a great feeling when the pump stops at $100 and the tank isn't full yet.:doah::haha:
 
i drive my85 k5 dd . my wifes ride is a 98 suburban 1500. rides great, decent mileage. we tow our trailer or boat with it all the time .5.7 vortec. kids sleep in the burb most of the time camping
 
96 + Had the vortec 350.

I have a 96' Tahoe 2- door as a DD. Not a Burb' But mechanicaly things are mostly the same, as is the interior. It is super comfy, Rides smooth as a Cadilac at 75mph, I have a 4" and 33x12.50 AT's and only take it to the beach or camping. I never changed anything on the front end until 180k

For a new vehicle, I do not find them hard at all to work on.
 
I have a 1995 2500 4wd diesel Burb. It has 255000 on it. It is my kid transport and travel wagon as i hate my wifes minivan on trips. Still rides and drives great. I gave 3000 for it with 200000 on the clock when I got it. It gets 18 mpg doing 70.
 
My parents have had Suburbans for nearly 30 years, of many different styles and setups, from a 76 4/3ton 4x4 with a 454 and 4 speed, to an 82 2wd 6.2 with a banks turbo, to a 98 1/2 350 4x4, currently in a 05 z71 5.3. Dad does not like the 05 as much as the 98, not nearly as roomy, poorly done as far as fitment of parts goes.

My vote would be a 96-99 Suburban 1/2 or 3/4 ton, gas or diesel, as nice as you can find. They are fairly easy to work on, parts are cheap, they have newer(-ish) safety features (abs, dual airbags, etc) and are reliable. My Yukon, (3/4 of a Suburban) has 180 miles on it, and with regular maintenance, gets 18 mpg on the highway, leaks no oil, and fires right up, even at -40. Some people have issues with the 4wd actuators failing on them, but mine are original. Fuel pumps tend to last about 120-150k miles before pooping out, but are fairly easy to replace (given the tank is empty)

I actually want to build a Suburban of that body style when I eventually get a family, with a J-code 6.2, turbo, low copression pistons, neoprene flooring, neoprene seats, 2DIN conversion dash, auto headlights (from a Denali) auto climate controls, rear DVD setup, and of course, 4wd.
 
1995 has the best dash in my opinion. The '92 - '94 have the squared off dash that I think is hideous. I do not want a passenger airbag that came in '96. The 1995 has the nice flat deck in front of the passenger.

That being said, the Vortec is a nice motor.
 
Deuling said:
My dads got a 99 3/4 ton burb with right around 200k with the 454. Its a very nice riding truck, feels like a caddy compared to my blazer. It gets about 11mpg with the 454, which imo isnt all that horrible really. Its got good power, nice for towing etc. Oh oh oh and its really comfy to ride in for long periods of time:waytogo:
Click to expand...

Any issues with that vortec big block? I have the same engine in my 97 2500. It has 127k on it. Nice to see someone hitting 200k with one.

The newer ifs rigs ride sooooo much nicer than the old square body rigs. I will say that the 91 and older burbs seem bigger inside that the nbs ones. But comfy seats, cruise control smarter dash/control layout make them much nicer DD/ road trippers

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL
 
We have a 99 Burb K1500. Gets ~15mpg on any regular grade gas you put in it. It's got 150K on the clock as we speak. Has the dual battery option as well as external transmission cooler option. Rides great, has been on a few family trips in the last year we've owned it and pulled a few trailers.

If I had it to do again, I would get the 3/4 ton. They sit higher and have slightly lower gearing. But, for a vehicle Julie drives all the time, it's worked out well. If I can't find a 3/4-1ton pickup in my price range soon I'm going to get a 3/4 ton Burb for myself. Probably a late 90's diesel for the slightly better fuel mileage but I'd take a 454 one if I can't find a diesel. I drive 4 miles a day to work and back, so fuel use isn't THAT big a concern for me when not towing. I just want something to haul my K5 on if I bust it or go on a longer trip where going over 60mph for a few hours is needed.
 
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