Hello, Im a US Marine and dont know alot about automotive but Im not completly numb... My father in-laws 2003 4x4 dodge pick has been blowing fuse #18 which when blown or removed the dash lights go out... the Instrument cluster still works but no dash lights.... put in a fuse an watch her blow... disconect the battery replace the fuse reattach battery and it blows.....Sounds like a short to me... Are the lights built into the instrument cluster... he was told he needs to buy a whole new cluster to solve the problem.... over $800 dollars at the dealership..... this sound like a scam....

Your have a short to ground , you know how to test automotive electrical circuit's ? They have special tool's to find shorts . Do you know how to repair electrical wire's , solder , protect with heat srink ? Video's on youtube .
Electric Testing Techniques You Need to Know
Basic Electricity for Service Techs Ohm law Current Flow Opens Shorts
How to test for short to ground ohmmeter vs test light
How To Fix and Repair Automotive Wiring Harness

You have a electrical short ! do you know how to do automotive electrical testing ? How to find a short circuit .
Basic Electricity for Service Techs Ohm law Current Flow Opens Shorts
Do you know what a electrical wiring diagram is ? How to read one and view it to find points in the circuit to test at ?
The Trainer 32 How To Read An Automotive Block Wiring Diagram
Electrical Troubleshooting Basics EricTheCarGuy

Sorry but if you don't know these thing's , your best bet would be to take it to a qualified repair shop .

Advanced Electrical Troubleshooting with Jerry Truglia

Has any work been done under the dash. Sounds like you have wire grounded to radio or something else the fuse sends power to.
Maybe you could unhook hot wire to radio. if fuse blows again you know it is not the radio.

The problem is %90 likely to be a blown fuse. I was recently driving around at night, conscious of the fact that my dashboard (gauge) lights were out, but was unaware of my tail (driving) lights being out as well. This lead to an unpleasant run-in with the law.

i fought the law and well,
the law won.

but seriously, look in your fuse box, im not aware of exactly the suburban but i drive a '97 S-10 and they are under the steering column/dash. You gotta lay on your back to get up in there alot of the times. I know in newer chevy's they're under the hood but, should be a 20A fuse, good luck.

would not think so
Indicates an electronic parts failure from overheating a component
Possible a fault code reading will indicate the faulty sensor
Items affect are crank/cam position sensor , ignition control module , coil, ECM, Immobilizer

Get in van. Close doors. Cycle ignition 4 times with key. Do not start. Within 10 seconds of the 4th cycle, press the lock switch on driver door panel. If you here a chime locks are reprogramed.

it may be the vacuum sensor

a little more info
what year and model and what fuse is blowing what does it control.
with a little more info im sure we can find the short or bad component .
also i need to know when it blows
right when you put it in
or when you turn the key on
or do you have to start the car to make it blow
or do you have to turn on a certain assessory?