Heavy Duty Family Hauler: 1996 GMC Suburban 4×4

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There are some vehicles that have achieved “classic” status far sooner than others, the the GMC Suburban is one that stands out among other modern SUVs. The Suburban is one of those rare vehicles that can be considered a mascot for its specific class, a mold from which others are based on. These days, you can still buy a good one for reasonable money, but for how much longer? This 1996 GMC Suburban listed here on eBay comes with a 5.7L V8 and third-row seating with bids to $4,800 and no reserve.

This Suburban looks particularly handsome in forest green paint with a silver two-tone finish that covers the lower body panels and fender flares. Steel wheels are a terrific look for one of these trucks, and gives it a ruggedness the optional alloy wheels fail to convey. The barn-style rear doors are convenient for loading purposes, and the tow hitch likely indicates this Suburban has seem some trailer action in its day.

These trucks were from the era wherein SUVs were still blissfully simple, with modest upgrades like leather seating surfaces beginning to hint at the barrage of luxury and tech equipment that was to come. Current truck offerings from GM and the like pack more entertainment and safety features per square inch than you would have ever thought possible 30 years ago. This Suburban is aging well with attractive leather seats in surprisingly nice shape for the miles and clean, crack-free dash.

The 5.7L V8 will get the job done with ease and while it isn’t as sexy or as sought-after as the turbodiesel variants, this is still a dependable setup (if it had the diesel, you’d see much more active bidding.) As it sits, this Suburban looks like the ideal choice for a simple yet rugged SUVs that can support the needs of most families without the massive price tag modern trucks tend to carry. I’m surprise bidding is still so low at the moment, so it will be interesting to see if things heat up in the nexr 24 hours.

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. Troy

    Nice rig last of the dependable GM trucks I would consider bidding but 1) I have never had good experiences with GM vehicles and 2) I’m not giving $500 dollars to a dealership for maybe $50 dollars of paperwork. Claiming that fee is what let’s them sell it at no reserve.

    Like 9
    • KH

      Not even worth $50 for the document fees.

      Some $10.00 an hour clerk types it up and they charge $500

      Like 10
      • $ where mouth is

        KH , no one gets paid 10 perhour any more, unless thats what youd pay someone. Its a processing fee, and though kinda BS its common.
        The reality is your not a buyer, your another BFs troll and a negative nancy one at that.
        Your comment isnt of any benifit to anyone, perhaps go for a walk outside, drink some real water and ask yourself why your living ;)
        This is a rare and very well kept, high functioning specimen; or BFs likely wouldnt have features it.

        Like 3
    • Don

      Cry Baby..LOL

      Like 3
    • Brian W

      Actually the GMT800 (1999 to 2006) are also a solid and reliable generation of C/K trucks. It was 2007 and later that they started having issues. The GMT800s introduced the truck spec LS V8s introduced with the C5 Corvette from 1997 to 2004.

      Like 1
  2. $ where mouth is

    i was happy to see one of these fine machines posted here, another not a barn find Barn Find ;)

    i own a couple of these and i can attest to just how well built and comfortable they are.
    The Burb i use to haul with has 299k and will celebrate 300 soon.
    It has a 7.4 and all original, except a rebuilt transfer do to all the blue liquid leaking out and i neglected to top off; a known issue with the cases. I have no plans or desire a new truck, and have another just as a back up, so ill be K25 Sub for life :)

    Something not mentioned here yet note worthy is this is a K2500 Suburban, a significant difference than a 1500, more a truck than an SUV. Also, this is a Votec motor, maybe first or second year of the Vortec.
    The condition if it is amazing,
    who ever buys it will be impressed and probably enjoy it for many years. Again, these are built very well, all American and as the advertizing slogan said :
    “Like a Rock”

    Like 14
    • StanMember

      Heavy chasis 2500 is a big plus.
      Would’ve loved to see a lever action for the T-case in there. Otherwise great rig. 👍

      Like 6
  3. Nick

    I currently own a 95 k2500 suburban with the 6.5 Detroit diesel. Also, keeping it nice and low with only about 120k on the odometer. Love my suburban and wouldn’t trade it for anything. Family is happy and fits nicely in it with plenty of room to spare. Amazingly everything has held up nicely and works perfectly.

    Like 0
  4. wjtinfwb

    Great version of a storied nameplate. I had a ‘97 Suburban 4×4, but a 1500 series. Loved the truck but it lacked the chassis for heavy 7k+ towing. 2500 series Subs with the big block were very hard to find and dealers didn’t stock them, it was order only. So my Suburban was replaced with a V-10 Ford Excursion that has served faithfully since new. It’s now approaching 300k miles and runs and drives great. Lots made of Ford vs. GM, when it comes to trucks both manufacturers bring their “A” game and its really personal preference vs. a substantial difference in capability or durability.

    Like 7
  5. Joe M.

    That is some heavy frame rust!
    I’d walk at any price.

    Like 3
  6. Art Engel

    I remember telling our used car manager to quit buying auction cars from the northeast, the harshest environment for rust in the country. Rusty frames and undercarriages, all the chassis components and brakes just corroded beyond belief, and we were in Michigan! This doesn’t look too terrible from what I was used to seeing. I don’t go for doc fee’s either, a revenue stream dealers created for 10 minutes worth of paperwork, the old monkey see monkey do. This place charges a prep fee too! The push button 4WD was another issue, we had too many intermittent problems with those. Was it too hard to move a shifter from 2WD to 4WD, no!

    Like 7
  7. JohnJ

    I have a 93 with the 7.4. Also a 2500 4×4 but sits considerably lower. Maybe the torsion bars have been cranked up on this one? Mine is a north east truck but must have been well taken care of most of its life, my frame and overall underside looks great compared to this one. Mine has the lever actuated transfer case witch I think is a plus, simpler setup. The exterior of this one does look really good, has the newer style interior but the rust would scare me away. Picked mine up 3 years ago with 98k on it. Curious to see what this one goes for, thought I overpaid a little but maybe I didn’t.

    Like 4
  8. JohnJ

    Would love to post a pic of mine. Enjoy the site, the have to subscribe one of these days

    Like 2
  9. Rw

    Where are seeing chassis pics ??

    Like 2
  10. John D

    Looks clean, pic of the right front tire shows inside tire wear likely needs ball joints, my current dd is a 98 K1500 350 vortec 220k starts every day and takes me 80 miles to and from very comfortably and has never got me stuck . It’s getting old and crusty living in upstate Ny. When it finally dies I wouldn’t be opposed to finding a clean lowere mileage one to replace it with.

    Like 3
  11. Richard Ray

    I had a ’79 GMC Suburban V2500, 4×4. That beast was rated 3/4 ton, 350 v8, Th400 and 4:10 gearing. Anywhere near today’s highway speeds left you fishing for a higher gear. But, it was a beast. BTW, parts between the Chevy version and the GMC did not interchange a lot of times. The steering gear and antisway bar were definitely different.

    Like 0
  12. Heartbreaker AL

    Great truck basically and this one looks like a rare one in it’s class. I’ve owned many Subs over the years, I finally ended up with a 3500 dually big block 4×6. This one will give the new owner his money’s worth no matter what the bidding goes up to! Subs are the words answer to a pleasurable ride that will do the job what ever it is. I encourage anyone bidding to be confident you will be pleased with the truck with what ever you pay for it, because it will only go up in value!

    Like 2
  13. Jack Barley

    GM products are the best. The suburban is bulletproof.
    I own a ‘65 Chevy for 35 years and a ‘66 Chevy for 51 years and a ‘61 Chevy for 15 years.

    Like 2
  14. RayMember

    Texas Cadillac. I’ve had 4. My favourite all-time vehicle. Hard to find anything that rides like a two wheel drive suburban.

    Like 1
  15. Matt S

    Dad had this model in Atlantic Blue. He considered the diesel but figured he could buy a lot of gas for the $3k option cost. Gas was $1/gallon at the time, and I think the 6.5’s now known issues would’ve pissed him off. I spun it around on black ice as a teenager and hit a curb sideways, shearing the 5/8’s u-bolt on the rear axle and cracking a break drum. Dealership had not seen that before. No body damage. Dad traded it (saw it on the dealer lot for $16500 or $18500 with 68k miles) for an ‘01 2500. He drove that for 20 years and put 320k on that before the rot got it. Good memories and great trucks.

    Like 0
  16. Dale Dantoni

    I Owned a 1998 K2500 Suburban. One of my favorites. Had 230,000 miles, It was a Fire Chiefs truck. Work truck model with the vinyl bench and rubber floors.

    It was an absolute tank but so easy to drive. It floated down the road. Saw another comment refer to it as a Texas Cadillac. It’s definitely a working mand Cadillac. The 350 was still going strong with all those miles.

    The automatic transfer cases were known for having “pump rub” and would wear a hole in the side of the T-Case. That’s how I got mine for $1400 10 years ago.

    It got 10 miles to the gallon.. had a 42 gallon tank. I was forced to daily drive it after my Honda got totaled and that gas mileage was too rough on a young man’s wallet. I Miss it to this day

    Like 1
  17. JohnJ

    So It sold for less than I expected. Maybe being a small block and not the 7.4 hurt the value. Or maybe the rust?

    Like 0

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