Yukon Denali 6.2 towing Travel Trailer

[swathdiver]

I rented a 2WD 2019 Tahoe this week for work (VIN - 1GNSCBKC2KR331221) and this is what is on the receiver. Didn’t think to grab photo of door sticker.
View attachment 240088

Yours and mine would be the same ratings too. The hitch itself exceeds the vehicles capabilities. While not certain, I think that the 2500s use the same hitch but have a higher rating because their frame is larger out back where the two connect. Well, maybe that and for certain because of their higher load capacity because of the leaf spring suspension and 10.5 full floating rear axle.

 

[swathdiver]

Thanks for all your help. I’m so new to this whole thing I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. I think part of what confuses me is seeing so many people towing heavy rigs with the same vehicle as me but seeing numbers that don’t seem to make that possible for me. And then add to it trying to figuring out how the weight distribution system works and how that effects the weight of the hitch itself...oh man.

Spent a few more hours tonight working on this and doing research. I came across this link and some of the information is the same that I based some decisions on, notably, that the tongue weight doesn't actually change when the bars are tensioned.

I easily made a calculator out of that diagram but cannot find the data needed for my chosen travel trailers!

Anyhow, First post is the meat and potatoes, then the fellas get to bickering and I quit reading after a few pages.


https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/14265335/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm

"A weight distribution system enables a tow vehicle to more effectively handle the tongue weight of a trailer by removing some of the load from the tow vehicle's rear axle and distributing it to the tow vehicle's front axle and the trailer's axle(s). Note - When the WD system is engaged the actual tongue weight does not change. Recommended tongue weight is from 10% to 15%."

 

[skipp65]

I pull a 23 ft travel trailer with a 2010 5.3 L Tahoe with no problem.

I hear so many people say this, there never is a problem till there’s a problem. That 5.3 could pull anything you hook up to it, it’s not about moving it, it’s about stopping and handling and premature wear on parts. A lot of people are overloaded and don’t know it. Camper and trailer dealers just want to sell, they don’t pay attention to weight ratings.

 

[EfrainlCazares]

Anyone on here tow a decent sized (23+) foot trailer with their Yukon? I’ve got a 2008 Yukon Denali XL and I’m trying to figure out if it’s feasible to tow a trailer with it.


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I have a 30ft TT, but I have installed a thee core radiator and a bigger transmission cooler on my 2011, AWD Yukon XL Denali. I only tow once to twice a year, from Central Texas to Arizona. First time I towed, I towed about two hours to a lake and I didn't like the temps. Transmission jumped to 230 and engine to 225. I called GM and was told it was normal for a AWD to be that high. I didn't like it and now, when I tow transmission only goes to 195-200 and motor stays at about 210 like it should. I tow with no issues and never let my RPM'S go above 3000rpm. Above all, ensure you do regular maintenance on your vehicle!

 

[mikeyss]

I have a 30ft TT, but I have installed a thee core radiator and a bigger transmission cooler on my 2011

Where did you get the 3 core radiator and your transmission cooler?

 

[intheburbs]

I have a 30ft TT, but I have installed a thee core radiator and a bigger transmission cooler on my 2011, AWD Yukon XL Denali. I only tow once to twice a year, from Central Texas to Arizona. First time I towed, I towed about two hours to a lake and I didn't like the temps. Transmission jumped to 230 and engine to 225. I called GM and was told it was normal for a AWD to be that high. I didn't like it and now, when I tow transmission only goes to 195-200 and motor stays at about 210 like it should. I tow with no issues and never let my RPM'S go above 3000rpm. Above all, ensure you do regular maintenance on your vehicle!

These engines make maximum torque at over 4000 RPM, and maximum HP over 5000 RPM. Now I'm certainly not advocating cruising across country at 4500 the whole time, but keeping it below 3000 all the time is limiting how much power you have, plus it's putting additional stress on your transmission, since you're in one of the OD gears.

The 225/230 temps are normal when towing heavy and pulling long grades. AWD has nothing to do with it.

One of my few complaints about the 6-speed is no 1:1 ratio. In my 2001 Suburban, I just locked it in 3rd, 1:1, minimal stress on the transmission, engine around 3100-3200. For thousands of miles, towing 6k and 7k trailers. That truck now has 280k miles and still has the original engine and transmission.

 

[Oldewing]

14 with 6.2 here, 27 ft TT @5200lbs. Tows like magic, MPG is 10 to 14 depending on hills. Done the mountains in 100 degree heat, 6 people and stuff, Trailer and never saw trans over 231, I am going to upgrade the cooler anyways just for piece of mind.



Update, 2/28/2020......Opened the hood, dang if it did not come stock with a good size tranny cooler, so no upgrade needed. I will do a full tans flush before the season starts.

 

[BG1988]

Also for consideration is that I will be towing almost exclusively in the western US...so lots of hills.


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I would get a rental towing puts excessive heavy wear and tear on a vehicle. unless you have some elaborate setup to do so..


like the people on A&E shippingwars they use a beefy setup to tow... it's not just a stock unit i bet they got some beefed up Heavy Duty HIGH SPEED cooling fans (police version HD cooling) and filter system installed...


if i ever plan on towing i'll get a rental instead of using my own... even long distance trips i would not use my own...



with the cooling package you can haul assand still stay with in a comfortable temp if your getting to 230F you don't have the cooling package as it would be about 190-210 range



for me with out a trailer it's 165F winter to 175F in the summer
with the HD cooling package.
honestly i rather spend 45$/day, then put the wear and tear on mine.. transmission cost $10,000 for a new one(if you can find it) when a 3 day rental is 150$ or so(might get a discount on a 3 day).... that is only 1.5%

 

[avalonandl]

10,000 for a trans?

As I stated earlier I have no issues towing 6k with the Yukon XL Denali.

Having said that have a trans flush done. Almost all the Denali's came with the tow package which include a pretty substantial trans cooler.

 

[swathdiver]

I would get a rental towing puts excessive heavy wear and tear on a vehicle. unless you have some elaborate setup to do so..


like the people on A&E shippingwars they use a beefy setup to tow... it's not just a stock unit i bet they got some beefed up Heavy Duty HIGH SPEED cooling fans (police version HD cooling) and filter system installed...


if i ever plan on towing i'll get a rental instead of using my own... even long distance trips i would not use my own...



with the cooling package you can haul assand still stay with in a comfortable temp if your getting to 230F you don't have the cooling package as it would be about 190-210 range



for me with out a trailer it's 165F winter to 175F in the summer
with the HD cooling package.
honestly i rather spend 45$/day, then put the wear and tear on mine.. transmission cost $10,000 for a new one(if you can find it) when a 3 day rental is 150$ or so(might get a discount on a 3 day).... that is only 1.5%

To each his own Brent. I came across a gorgeous 2500 Suburban for sale late last year. The seller said It ONLY needed the rear frame welded back up. One ad showed it in a Walmart parking lot. Then I found another picture of it parked at the RV park in front of the mammoth trailer it was towing around all over the country. No wonder the welds failed!

A man's got to know his limitations! LOL

 

[BG1988]

To each his own Brent. I came across a gorgeous 2500 Suburban for sale late last year. The seller said It ONLY needed the rear frame welded back up. One ad showed it in a Walmart parking lot. Then I found another picture of it parked at the RV park in front of the mammoth trailer it was towing around all over the country. No wonder the welds failed!

A man's got to know his limitations! LOL

but rental you can rent any size truck from a F150 to a F750 or Chevy GMC. 1500 to 7500 series



gmc c5500 gvwr is the biggest with a standard DL

dodge can barely get out of it's way

 

[swathdiver]

but rental you can rent any size truck from a F150 to a F750 or Chevy GMC. 1500 to 7500 series



gmc c5500 gvwr is the biggest with a standard DL

dodge can barely get out of it's way

I get it, but we like to pat our cars on the hood and say we did this with it, we did that with it, it took us over this mountain, through that swamp, down that drag strip...

 

[Oldewing]

+1 on Denali's coming with a good size trans cooler. Good thing I raised the hood before clicking of the shopping cart..............

 

[avalonandl]

Optimus . Your getting caught up in the numbers.... With a WDH you can pull a big trailer....

 

[BG1988]

I get it, but we like to pat our cars on the hood and say we did this with it, we did that with it, it took us over this mountain, through that swamp, down that drag strip...

basicly if your going to tow


you will need a upgraded:
transmission cooler
oil cooler & heavy duty filter system(for extended oil changes )
Beefy heavy duty cooling fans (PPV/SSV version)
rear differential aux cooler(Aux transfer case cooler if 4x4 equipped )..


heat is the enemy towing makes more heat...

 

[swathdiver]

basicly if your going to tow


you will need a upgraded:
transmission cooler
oil cooler & heavy duty filter system(for extended oil changes )
Beefy heavy duty cooling fans (PPV/SSV version)
rear differential aux cooler(Aux transfer case cooler if 4x4 equipped )..


heat is the enemy towing makes more heat...

I will counter this and say one doesn't NEED any of this Brent if they are towing within the limits specified by GM. Are the fan motors on the PPV/SSV greater than 700 watts? My research indicates two fan motor power ratings, 500 watts and 700 watts. Are they nice to have and could they extend the life of those components? Yep.

 

[BG1988]

I will counter this and say one doesn't NEED any of this Brent if they are towing within the limits specified by GM. Are the fan motors on the PPV/SSV greater than 700 watts? My research indicates two fan motor power ratings, 500 watts and 700 watts. Are they nice to have and could they extend the life of those components? Yep.

The specs is that its designed to last 100k miles and that is it. then you buy a new one..
(some will get significantly less if not taken care of to the minimum service schedule )

anything after 100k miles is bonus.... pretty much after the stock market crash in 2008 it came at a cost of quality .. 2010 and higher have lesser quality then

any year before 2009 model years(Excluding 2009.5 models "Government Motors" at the time)

 

[swathdiver]

The specs is that its designed to last 100k miles and that is it. then you buy a new one..
(some will get significantly less if not taken care of to the minimum service schedule )

anything after 100k miles is bonus.... pretty much after the stock market crash in 2008 it came at a cost of quality .. 2010 and higher have lesser quality then

any year before 2009 model years(Excluding 2009.5 models "Government Motors" at the time)

The timing chains are rated for 200K miles of service. What is different quality wise between a 2008 or 2009 GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Tahoe and a 2010 or 2012? I can think of the front row grab handles, what else? Did they use different parts in the 6L80 or even the subsequent year Hybrids?

 

[BG1988]

The timing chains are rated for 200K miles of service. What is different quality wise between a 2008 or 2009 GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Tahoe and a 2010 or 2012? I can think of the front row grab handles, what else? Did they use different parts in the 6L80 or even the subsequent year Hybrids?

they cut corners as they refined the manufacturing process. to speed things "up" and cut costs quality suffers as the result.. GM is guilty of this with the Wbody , gen(2000-2016)..


the GMT800 had issues with the brake lines "expanding" = weak braking power

i drove a GMT 800 with the issue the brake went straight to the floor very week (99 silverado) I'm sure many many accidents were caused by it (almost had two accidents with in 10 seconds, with my GMT800 silverado 2004 ) almost tboned a car and almost Rolled back into the car behind me(throttle lag +weak brake)


the person who bought it from me wreaked it shortly after buying it from me... the GMT800 is a death trap...


I don't recommend anyone do any towing with the GMT800 tell they get ALL the brake lines replaced with High quality aftermarket new ones...

 

[gooffeyguy]

I've never had any brake problems (except for the pedal squeek when releasing) with my 2001 and it has 210k on it. I've towed many times with it also.

2001 Yukon SLT
2012 Yukon Denali XL
2011 Yukon Denali RIP 5/20/18