Suburban going to Lambda Platform - Good Idea or Mistake?

Rumors are flying that the next-generation Chevy Tahoe and Suburban will be based off the unibody, front-wheel-drive Lambda crossover chassis. Do you think this is a good idea or a mistake? Personally, I think Chevy should offer at least one full-size, body-on-frame, V-8 SUV for those that really want/need the capability.

What are your thoughts?  

All GM has to do is somehow strengthen the unibody frame and the SUVs will be able to tow more. It'll drive up the cost a bit, but the way I see it unibody is going to be everywhere in the future anyway, just like anything else that can be easily automated in production.

I think it's too early to jump to any conclusions that the Lambda chassis will not suffice for towing/hauling. The next-generation Tahoes and Suburbans will probably be RWD and offer 4WD anyway. Some current Lambdas come with 4WD so that shouldn't be a big deal.  

I also think going with the Lambada type Sub' would be a mistake.  Until all of us are "slim and trim", some are going to need a vehicle large enough to "fit in" comfortably.  
retired2001
2010 Colorado Crew Cab Z/71 V8
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I'd maybe consider a two-pronged approach. A light-duty, unibody Suburban, and a heavier-duty, 2500HD-based Suburban with a traditional BOF configuration. Just call the regular one "Suburban" and the beefier one "Suburban HD."  

Anything with a unibody will have problems when pushed hard, repeatedly. I have an '89 Camaro (IROC/Z28) with a crack in the sheet metal, approximately 3/16" long, just above the upper rear corner of the Drivers' side window.  There is a "Safety Reinforcement" just behind that crack , it goes across the roof and down the sides(hidden) for some rollover protection.

The car does not have a sunroof, was driven 98% of the time on paved streets, was never "off - road", and was not raced nor abused. It has 74K miles on it, it's one of my retirement projects.I bought it new.

Asking around, I was told that this roof cracking (sheet metal,not paint!) is very common on gen III Camaro's.Maybe that is the reason a manual trans could not be ordered with the 350?

I never towed anything with it, and never had a hitch on it, even though it has a 350 TPI.

Any vehicle expected to tow, or haul, without a frame....will greatly disappoint.

How many Classic Vehicles can you name with a uni body? Hot rodders' constantly add multi-point "cages" and "sub frames" to make vehicles handle,and to take the flex out of the body.

GM ALREADY makes several uni body "Suburbans", they just call them by different names.They're listed as "Crossover SUV's".

It's no harder, but it's more expensive, to put a real frame under a vehicle.That's because the frame has to be strong!So it's thick steel...adds weight,less fuel economy.

I know this, because I retire 4/01/09 after 36.3 years at Flint Truck assembly.Up until '89? We were the only plant that made Suburbans,we also made full sized Blazers, and pre- '88 standard cab pickups. We now make 2500HD's and 3500HD's (900 series), and the 560 series of Medium - duty commercial trucks.(They all have real frames).

Uni bodies are junk.  

I think they should keep them body on frame, GM already makes a full size cross over, its called the Traverse and Acadia, it as big or bigger then the Tahoe inside so I don't see why they would want another cross over. Keep the Suburban, body on frame, for those of us who need to tow stuff.  

Yup, I agree. And indeed, the Traverse is bigger than the Tahoe  inside so it's more spacious.

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Get a handful of transmission toolsto get your work done.  

We just bought our second Suburban.  A '07.  Our first was an '03 and they are excellent vehicles!  In my opinion, Chevy's Suburban and Truck models are the best selling product they have.  If they switch over, they'll be shooting themselves in the foot!  

Seems like the latest consensus is that that Tahoe might be going unibody or being replaced by the Traverse altogether, and that the Suburban will continue to be BOF, truck-based.