I don't remember what year the Suburbans were updated to IFS, but I would kinda like to have one, with 4x4 and one of the Getrag 5 speeds, Vortec 350's and maybe posi. My '97 GMC had posi, and 4x4, but the crumby automatic.
That's why I bought my current '06 Toyota Tacoma. It was about the only truck I could buy in '06 with a stick shift that wasn't a Dodge or Ford diesel. I woulda bought the 5 speed in the '97, but my left knee was giving me a lot of grief. That was fixed with a $30 bottle of Glucosamine/MSM/Condroitin.
FWIW, the Toyota is 80% American built, including the engine and transmission. The engine is awesome, tho the MPG is only about the same as the GMC. The flexibility is amazing, as is the horsepower. It'll pull away from 500rpm in 3rd, and it'll go up about any hill on the highway in 6th. Our "Vantage Grade" is 15 miles of 6%, and it'll do that easily in 6th. It's also seen 120mph on the speedometer, and I honestly think it might do 140 or better, because it was pulling hard and just getting into 5th when I glanced at the gauges.
MPG is claimed to be 19 highway with the towing gears, which I got. It still cruises fine at 80, tho I prefer 70. The close ratio 6 speed always has a few gears that will work fine...
except that I strongly advise against pulling onto a freeway in 2nd. It'll be through 2nd in a heartbeat, and you'll be fishing for another gear, which doesn't happen too fast. The trans is a slow shifting truck tranny...dang. It does also come with a 5 speed automatic. I'd like to put one of these V-6's with the automatic into a hotrod...it'd be pretty quick!
I have a nice Snugtop canopy on it. A taller canopy would be good, but wouldn't haul the canoe as well. I put a shelf on top of the bed rails, and it will haul two models ok. I could probably do something better, but a lot of chairs and sunshades and tool boxes etc., fit nicely under that shelf. The shelf could be "dropped" and maybe another shelf layer added? Vans would be more practical, but none have stick shifts, that I know of.
(stirring the gears!) Steve