Re: [A/S] GM 454 motor

["Richard Dorsten <richarddorsten@xxxxxxxxxxx>" <richarddorsten@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

  I have a 96 half ton suburban that I tow a 85 31 foot Airstream 
with and it does just great. It has a 350 in it. The Vortex has a lot 
more power than the old 350's. I also have a 95 van with a 350 and 
the difference is day and night. You need to determine how much 
mountain driving you do. You need to find out the hp. and torque 
specks of both engines. I get between 10 and 11 towing the trailer 
down to Florida this year and I got 18 and 19 
solo coming down to Florida last year and that was running 65 and 70 
mph. I tow in overdrive, whenever the situation allows me, mostly on 
flat roads. The best I ever got on the van was 9 towing and 16 solo. 
I find, 
for my application , the half ton is more than enough to tow with. I 
don't know how much weight you plan on hauling in the back of the 
suburban, the half ton rides very smooth and is comfortable to ride 
in towing and my theory is you are not hauling the whole trailer, 
just the tongue weight. I know a lot of people will not agree with me 
on this , but that is what I believe and have had know problems 
towing Airstreams with half tons. I have had a 73, 76 and now an 85 
and it is the heaviest of the three and really cannot tell a 
difference in towing any of them. I have towed with water tanks full 
and empty. I still can tell no difference. I have said this before, 
if you can keep up with semis, you are not under powered in my 
opinion. Everyones towing situation are different, I just want to 
give you something else to think about and give you more options. The 
end thing is you have go with what YOU are comfortable with. My two 
cents worth, 
Richard.                                                              
                                                                      
 85 31' Excello, 99 GMC half ton 
Suburban