'02 Suburban K2500 8.1

[Joe383]

Hi this is my first post here and I'm not sure if it's in the right spot.

 

I'm looking at buying a 2002 Suburban 3/4 ton 4X4 SLT with the 8.1 litre engine. It has 230,000Km on the odometer. We haul horses, a camper and a car trailer. I cannot afford new (the horses make sure of that).

 

Am I nuts to be looking at a truck with this much mileage? Anybody know how far an 8.1 will go before it expires? I have 350,000km on the 1998 Yukon and it still works OK, but the Yukons 5.7 litre seems to labour hauling on the hills. Should I be looking for a 6.0 instead?

 

I'm looking for your opinion.

 

Thanks.

[ChrisNJ]

Hi this is my first post here and I'm not sure if it's in the right spot.

 

I'm looking at buying a 2002 Suburban 3/4 ton 4X4 SLT with the 8.1 litre engine. It has 230,000Km on the odometer.  We haul horses, a camper and a car trailer. I cannot afford new (the horses make sure of that).

 

Am I nuts to be looking at a truck with this much mileage? Anybody know how far an 8.1 will go before it expires? I have 350,000km on the 1998 Yukon and it still works OK, but the Yukons 5.7 litre seems to labour hauling on the hills. Should I be looking for a 6.0 instead?

 

I'm looking for your opinion.

 

Thanks.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

No question the burb w/8.1 is a great tower, I have owned an 01 and currently an 03. It must have the 4:10 gears in my opinion to be effective. 140K mi. is a lot but not outragous. I've heard them going 200K mi. If it's cheap enough, maybe you can hold some $ in reserve for a new engine and/or trans down the road. I paid around $25K for a 2 year old SLT w/40K mi on it. Also, these burb's usually came with auto-ride making the shocks expensive replacements. tough call, but new they are 35-40K, and ya can't get the 8.1 anymore. As for the 6.0 to 8.1, I've owned both and the 6.0 struggled towing my 9K trailer, the 8.1 is a pleasure. If your towing 6-7K lbs or less the 6.0 should do fine. Get up around 9K+ lbs and I'd consider the 8.1.