Picture Thread: K1500/K2500 Suburbans

[special-K]

Well, now I own a '95 K2500 Suburban so I'm keyed in on those things now. I started this thread to give some love to these critters.

I'll start with my newly acquired rig. This thing is all truck and that's what I bought it for...work. It has the HD brakes (hyroboost), 4.10s, no frills, towing mirrors (but no hitch...hmmm), fuel tank skid plate, and the rest I'm still discovering. Plans are to lift it a couple inches (keys/blocks, add-a-leaf, or just auxiliary air springs), 285/75-16s on 8" wheels, also 255/85-16s on 7" Accurides (I have now), a strong rack on top, and hopefully paint later on

[special-K]

Here are some others I like. I'm trying to get away from 35" rubber and it's hard. These look good w/4" lift, but here are some with the suspension still mounted to the frame, about 2" over stock. They just look like they're 4wd

[special-K]

Let's see your Suburban if you have one.

[special-K]

I've mostly been saving K2500 pictures w/o 4"+ lift kits, because I don't want to do all that on mine. but, they sure can look tough!

[OutlawDrifter]

absolutely love that 2-tone brown in your second post.

[special-K]

Me too. Just the way it is. These are nice:

[special-K]

not bad...different

[special-K]

Suburbans need love, too. the truck/SUV market exploded right about the time these redesigned Suburbans came out. They crossed over the utility line to primarily family wagons and that's how we all see these now. But, these are still trucks at heart, just like the first ones nearly 80 years ago. We take these for granted because they are everywhere. But these are damn cool vehicles that are as much a truck as any pickup, yet can haul the gang without being a mile long crew cab.

Here are some updated pictures of my '95 (I know, they are all over the place). I want to keep this thread alive, cuz Suburbans have their place here, too.

[special-K]

Here is the one I had remorse about not buying. It was farther to travel and not from a very non-rusty place. I feared I would get out there and it wouldn't be as clean as it appeared to be. But, I sure wish mine looked like this. Perfect for my tastes:

[OutlawDrifter]

Love that color on the one above. That is very nice.

[special-K]

Me too. I like it being a basic model, but a great color. It looks great with the flares matching (which is usually on the fancy ones), and it had cloth seats and privacy tint. It was $1,500 more than mine, which I would have paid to get exactly what I wanted, but I was in a bind. I only had my '72 and '85 to drive, November came in like January, and I was sweating bullets hoping it didn't snow (salt on roads). I wanted a southern vehicle and that one was Minn, I believe. I needed to do a "go buy and drive back" w/o any hitches. I worried I'd get out there and find it was a painted over rust bucket. if not, it is probably the cleanest Suburban in the region. I realize there are vehicles up there that see no winter driving. My friend has an amazing original paint '72 from there that the guy only used to go fishing (not ice) in. I hoped this was some sort of vacation-only rig but felt I was wishing a little hard. Oh well, I wish I never saw this one because if I could have ordered one new it would have been like this one.

[2manyprojects]

Here's mine I got back in September 96 K2500 , 6.5 , 4.10's. I have a set of 285/75/16 and I'm going to paint the rims black.

[special-K]

I like it.

[nerphin]

Reviving this Suburban thread. Second owner '94 with 114k kms. Applied and got collector plate insurance in January (25 years old, seems crazy). Used to have a '78 C20, but had to change it up for the growing family.

[special-K]

These Suburbans are great used vehicles to buy. Nice low miles on that one. Mine had a bit more at 120k. It's at 180k+ now and just goes and goes. Last picture shows I repainted the grille last summer. Got all new lights/lenses, too

[mingoman]

Nice burb K! I've always like them, they can be had pretty reasonable too, but I can't drive my 4wheeler in the back.

[special-K]

I use that trailer a lot. Yesterday I carefully backed it onto some grass to unload, at an old house I'm working on. It's flat with a lot of standing water but not where I backed the trailer (i thought). First I walked, seemed fine. Then just the trailer (no ruts). Next the rear wheels with fronts on pavement (all good). Then backed it all down to unload trailer full of lumber debris to burn. When I went to move out the rear wheels spun. No problem, just put in 4wd. Couldn't even tell it was in 4wd, still spun. Went at it harder and dug in. Here we go! With a whole lot of finessing, some back and forth, then finally letting her rip I drove it out of there making ruts rim deep. the tires are great for hiway but crap for mud. It did what I needed it to do, though. Caked mud on the lower body, trailer, and flung all over everything else. Pretty amazing how much water is in the ground this year. Move around on foot enough and it gets swampy. Sorry no pics

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

My 1998 K1500 GMC. 276K on the body, and about 110K on the used motor I put in it this past spring. Original motor took its last breath at about 271K, COD was a blown head gasket. Since I figured I could get a used motor for less then $200 I decided it would be easier to just replace it. Have a little less then $2K into the truck with the new tires. Picked it up from the previous owner cheap because it had a bad fuel tank and lines.

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

This was my Father's last truck a 1997 K1500, he got it used in 2001 with 40K on it. My brother owns in it now and it has about 305K on it. We have replaced everything at least once, except the front differential. He has 17" rim on it with BFGoodrich all terrains on it currently, but I don't have any pictures.

[OutlawDrifter]

I guess I better post again since I officially am a member of the "long roof club."

1999 GMC K2500 Suburban. 454/4L80E/4.10s. Has the snow plow package with the 1-ton torsion bars and a 10.5" full floater 14b. Barn doors, leather interior, front/rear air, etc. Picked it up with 88k miles.

When I brought it home:




LT265/75R16 tires, red pinstripe, splash guards, better flowing exhaust, and more:




ECU has been tuned, GMT800 center console, double din headunit and upgraded audio, 2" rear wheel spacers are in the mail, soon to have a diesel bumper/fog lights, possibly a cowl hood.

[special-K]

You found a good one and made it just right. You'll enjoy it I'm sure. It's been about 5 1/2 years now since I got mine. I've put 80k on it.

It's an old war wagon compared to yours, but might as well show a current picture

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by special-K

You found as good one and made it just right. You'll enjoy it I'm sure. It's been about 5 1/2 years now since I got mine. I've put 80k on it.

It's an old war wagon compared to yours, but might as well show a current picture

I'm loving it! Rides better than my 2017 F150. I needed to be back in an 88-98 rig, it's just what I prefer.

[OutlawDrifter]

updated pics:

[special-K]

Hauling a little old style beefy 6" block last weekend (free)

[Already Gone]

How did I miss this thread. I had some square body Burbs over the years but bought this pictured 1994 K1500 with the TBI 350 in 2010 to use as my Winter driverand it was a one owner with 224,000kms ( 138,000 miles ) on it and when i sold it 2018 it had 245,000kms ( 151,000 miles) not a lot for Burb. It was loaded as I like that and sold me completely on them. I wanted the barn doors and and this one had the tailgate but am now either or on tailgate or barn doors.