How loosely is the GM connectet to the truck?
Not sure what you're asking here - are you asking how "similar" the GM wagons (Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon) are to the equivalent pickup? In terms of "major" drivetrain components the GMT-800 vehicles (2000 - 2006) are almost identical to the equivalent 1500. Suburbans and Tahoes have the 5.3 V8 and the same auto transmission.
Starting in 2007 with the GMT 900 series, low range was an option on the Suburban/Tahoe (I believe it came with the tow package and/or the Z71 package on the years the Z71 package was offered.) So there are 2007+ Tahoe/Suburbans and non-Denali Yukons and Yukon XLs with single-speed transfer cases. This is in contrast to the pickups where all the 4x4 pickups have low range. Otherwise, axles and such are identical to the 1/2 ton pickups AFAIK.
"Denali" package Yukons and Yukon XL's have a different drivetrain. 6.0 V8 (maybe up to 6.2 now, not sure) and the 4x4 models are full-time 4wd with a non-lockable single speed transfer case (IOW no 4wd controls at all.) [/quote]
Can any one of those be compared in terms of strnght to the Discovery 3?
When you mean "strength", I think the "major components" (engine, transmission, transfer case, axles, brakes, steering) are pretty sturdy on all of them. On the "fancier" trim levels I think the problems you run into are what computer geeks might call the "peripherals", that is, the things that aren't necessary to
operate the vehicle but that aid in your comfort and convenience. The more complicated vehicles get the more more "failure points" there are. Things like power seats (mine haven't worked right since I got the truck 3 years ago), climate control systems, power windows and doors, power tailgates, power folding seats - those are the things people tend to have problems with as vehicles get older and older.
And of course, from the
manufacturers standpoint, anything that fails after the warranty period isn't really a problem for them. And really, the manufacturer isn't worried about keeping anybody happy except the
first buyer, because the manufacturer didn't get a single dime from anybody
after the first purchaser.
One example of this is the notorious "blend door" issue on some of the older Suburbans and Tahoes (and I think it might also affect some of the same generation of Silverado pickup but I'm not sure.) This was an issue where a "blend door" motor failure deep inside the HVAC system would seriously hamper the ability of the HVAC system to work. The motor/door itself was a relatively cheap part (maybe $50) but the problem was that in order to get to it, it required that the entire dashboard be removed, which unless you could do it yourself, was something like $1000 in labor alone. As a result, most people just "do without" even though in some cases it might mean having a much less effective heating or air conditioning function.