Tow bar for suburban

Oledirtypearl86

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Posts
1,673
Reaction score
949
Location
Whitehall MT
So my sister in law got smoked by a drunk in her truck and has been hauling kids in a borrowed car and needs one so I'm trying to figure out how to haul my burb down this weekend I have a plan for a tow bar I could build in about an hour but I'm skeptical to because I've never pulled with one. It's a 2x2 triangulated to an adapter off where the tow hooks bolt I. Seen plenty pulling small cars and such anyone try with a 6k rig
 

chillman88

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2017
Posts
6,022
Reaction score
6,150
Location
Central NY
Towed an F150 home with a homemade tow bar once, didn't have any trouble but I'm sure it weighed less than the Burb.

Not sure what else you're tying into but if it's just those tow hook holes I'd wrap it up and tie into the three bumper mount bolts on each side as well. That should be plenty stout but I'd hate you to rip out the tow hook holes

Make sure you drop the rear driveshaft if it's an electric shift 4x4. If it's manual shift you can get away with putting the case in neutral if you're not going very far.

I don't remember what year you said it is, I'm assuming 91-01 style.
 

Oledirtypearl86

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Posts
1,673
Reaction score
949
Location
Whitehall MT
Yes it's a 94 k1500 suburban and I'll be towing it about 400 miles and I could tie into the 3 bumper bolt I just don't know what to expect pulling with a tow bar
 

Randy Bush

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2019
Posts
708
Reaction score
453
Location
Great Falls, Mt
Yes it's a 94 k1500 suburban and I'll be towing it about 400 miles and I could tie into the 3 bumper bolt I just don't know what to expect pulling with a tow bar
Have you checked with U-Haul if the have one that would work? A number of years ago towed a E150 behind my other E150 I had at the time. Worked just fine, just make sure pull rear drive line.

400 miles , should just drive it, at a Sunday afternoon drive in Montana LOL
 
Last edited:

snicklas

6.0 and Loving It!!
Staff member
Joined
Aug 7, 2006
Posts
6,163
Reaction score
2,339
Location
Greenfield, Indiana
If you flat tow, make sure to remove the rear drive shaft. With the experience I’ve had with a GM transfer case, I would pull the front driveshaft also.

The lubrication pump for the transfer case is run off of the front drive shaft. If you drive without the front shaft in place, you will eventually kill the transfer case. So if you’re going to flat tow it, the extra few minutes might be worth it to be safe.
 

Oledirtypearl86

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Posts
1,673
Reaction score
949
Location
Whitehall MT
Must be planning on using your Ford then , most Chevy s are broke to lead
Lol

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J327A using Tapatalk

Lol yeah the excursion is broke to lead if all else I'll hook it to the ole dirty pearl but I'm trying to get that sprayed a decent pearl white this weekend or next
 

chillman88

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2017
Posts
6,022
Reaction score
6,150
Location
Central NY
Lol I know I would drive it but I only have 1 driver and need a ride home also I looked at uhaul it's to wide for a dolly

Well... It's not too wide for the old ones. You might want to measure regardless of what they tell you. I hauled my 97 K1500 on an old U-Haul dolly. It was "too wide" but it squeezed on there and I didn't have any problems. If it'll fit tell them you're just hauling a "ford focus" LOL
 

Thewespaul

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2015
Posts
8,796
Reaction score
8,058
Location
Bulverde, Texas
If an E350 van will fit on a dolley I bet you can get the burban on there, but some places are such sticklers they wont even let you try
 

chillman88

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2017
Posts
6,022
Reaction score
6,150
Location
Central NY
If an E350 van will fit on a dolley I bet you can get the burban on there, but some places are such sticklers they wont even let you try

Good point. Come to think of it, I used that old U-Haul dolly to bring my 4wd F350 wrecker home. That was a little sketchy, but it also weighs about 4 tons lol!
 

Oledirtypearl86

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Posts
1,673
Reaction score
949
Location
Whitehall MT
So I went to the local uhaul after mesuring the width of my suburban and the burb is 3 inches too wide for the dolly I asked the guy who I know why they are so narrow and he said uhaul change the width within th last little while because people were overloading the Dolly's so anyways I built the tow bar last night after work and the brackets I'll post some pics in a little when I finally get out of my pajamas and become productive
 
Top