"I Just Bought A 19XX __________ And Driving It 600 Miles Home" videos are popular on youtube.
They are entertaining and beat watching reality tv and cable news.
You mentioned that the Suburban is a "driver" meaning to me, that it is currently in use and has not been sitting. A driver tends to have issues that are minor or can be maintained. A efi truck that has been sitting in the desert will have surprises. Electronics tends to fail on new products within a short period of time; that would include old trucks that have not been used. The in tank fuel pump, the ignition module, coil, relays, etc. Brakes lines are notorious on GM trucks for failure.
That said, if it is a regular driver, that is better. Take your hotel money and invest it in tools when you arrive. A jack, 20v impact, harbor freight tool kit, air inflator, lubricants, coolant, etc. A Suburban has seats in back that fold down; you can use that area for sleeping. Use a truck stop ie Loves, for showers.
Below are two videos from NoNonSenseNoHow. Both are long. They traveled from Pennsylvania to Arizona to drive back Suburbans. The first was a 1973 454. It was a fail. The 2nd was a newer small block, and even though it was in much better condition, still required a lot of stopping, diagnosing, sitting along the side of the road and tracking down parts to keep it rolling.
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I'm not saying not to do the trip. I have and would do it again, however, if it is more than 500 miles, I would likely have a wingman in another vehicle or a strong plan B. You will burn thru your budget if you have to leave the truck and come back, along with the risk of an old squarebody left unattended and out of state.
These three guys bought a hopped up Ford Pinto and drive it 3k miles from Texas to Maryland. I would not have done that.
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