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Before the full-size SUV became a luxury status symbol, the Chevrolet Suburban was a working family's do-everything machine, and the three-quarter-ton versions were the ones that hauled the boat, the horse trailer, and the kids all at once. This 1996 Chevrolet Suburban K2500 LT 4x4, currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer, is a well-optioned example of that breed, and it packs the big-block 7.4-liter Vortec V8 that makes these trucks so sought-after today.
Offered by a dealer in Sacramento, California, the Suburban has had two California owners and shows 128k miles. As of this writing, bidding sits at $7,700 after five bids, with the auction scheduled to close on Tuesday, September 29.
The Big-Block Year
The GMT400-generation Suburban ran from 1992 through 1999, and 1996 was a key year for the heavy-duty models. That's when Chevrolet's 7.4-liter V8 gained Vortec heads and sequential fuel injection, bumping output to a factory-rated 290 horsepower and a stout 410 lb-ft of torque. In a 2500-series truck, that's the engine you want if towing is on the agenda.
This one backs it up with a four-speed automatic, a dual-range transfer case, a locking rear differential, and heavy-duty trailering equipment from the factory. In preparation for the sale, the selling dealer changed the oil, replaced the air filter, and swapped the rear differential fluid.
If you're a fan of these trucks, you might also like this rebuilt 1991 Chevrolet Suburban overland build we covered, or this final-year 1991 GMC Suburban 1500 SLE with just 31k miles.
Fresh Green Paint and Updated Hardware
The truck left the factory in Emerald Green Metallic, and it has since been refinished in that same shade, a color that suits the boxy GMT400 body well. New headlights and taillights were installed ahead of the auction, and the exterior also wears wheel arch flares, roof rails, rear privacy glass, and a receiver hitch.
It rolls on chrome-finished 16-inch split five-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in fresh 285/75 GT Radial Adventuro ATX all-terrain tires, with Bilstein shocks handling damping duties. Brakes are anti-lock discs up front and drums in the rear.
Buyers should note that a Carfax report shows a minor damage entry from November 2022, which the dealer attributes to a previously installed left-side running board getting scraped. The California title is also a duplicate.
Room for the Whole Crew
Inside, the LT trim brings Neutral leather throughout, covering front captain's chairs plus second- and third-row bench seats. Comfort features include a power-adjustable driver's seat, a center console, cruise control, power windows, locks, and mirrors, and a cassette stereo paired with a CD player. Crucially for a truck this big, it has both front and rear air conditioning.
A leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel sits ahead of a gauge cluster with a 100-mph speedometer, a tachometer, and gauges for fuel, voltage, oil pressure, and coolant temperature. About 200 of the 128k miles on the odometer were added by the dealer.
A Tow Rig With Character
Modern Suburbans have gone upscale, with the most extreme examples like ICON's $1.1 million, 1,000-hp Suburban restomod showing just how far the nameplate has come. But a clean, big-block K2500 like this one offers something different: real three-quarter-ton capability, seating for a large family, and simple, serviceable '90s mechanicals.
Bring a Trailer has been a regular home for classic Suburbans, including this 1972 Chevrolet C20 Suburban. With bidding still under $8,000 and several days left on the clock, this green 1996 K2500 could end up being a strong value for anyone who needs a vintage hauler that can still pull its weight. See the full listing on Bring a Trailer.
