Anyone here off-road their Yukon?

[thefrey]

I decided to try some off-roading this weekend and now I’m hooked

I know this definitely is not the best car to do in with the length and approach and departure angles, but it was surprisingly capable. I have some mild all terrains and they did well not aired down. Probably pushing my luck taking this tired big girl on the trails LOL

Had a lot of fun for my first time ever off-roading. Got a lot of funny looks from people, but we all start somewhere lol. I would like to get into overlanding at some point.

I’ve heard the AWD system is basically 4H and that the lack of 4L is a hindrance. I don’t think this is a good vehicle to turn into an off-road / overland rig due to the lack of aftermarket, all-time AWD, and struggles with lifting the suspension. Curious to hear if ya'll think this would make a decent rig or if it should stay on the streets.

 

[SpareParts]

A few of us do. I don't do anything too crazy though. I don't wanna get a bunch of Idaho pinstripes!
They are decent, not great but ok off road. Just let the truck do its thing. There are a few videos of Yukon AWD do off road stuff.

 

[thefrey]

A few of us do. I don't do anything too crazy though. I don't wanna get a bunch of Idaho pinstripes!
They are decent, not great but ok off road. Just let the truck do its thing. There are a few videos of Yukon AWD do off road stuff.

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Sweet! I saw a few videos and they seem like they are decently capable for their size. Is the G80 standard for the AWD/Denali models?

 

[SpareParts]

Not sure. Mine is G80 and i think everyone i ever looked at the RPO sticker said G80.

 

[swathdiver]

Is the G80 standard for the AWD/Denali models?

The G80 was standard with GMC and Cadillac SUVs of this vintage.

We play with ours off-road from time to time. It's always surprised us.

There were some guys on here about 5 or so years ago with AWD Denalis or Escalades that overlanded with them. They posted about how to use the AWD system to your advantage while out in the country. Fun stuff.

Mine is a 4x4 with the 2-speed transfer case and it has gotten us out of trouble before, on soft, wet grass of all things!

 

[SpareParts]

Forgot i had a 2009 Escalade EXT, used that for light wheeling and a hunting rig few years ago.

 

[intheburbs]

Did Dinosaur late last year. Hard switchbacks down to the valley floor then off to the horizon.

Have also done White Rim Drive (my avatar Pic) and Metal Masher at Canyonlands, though I did a few bypasses on metal masher. Couldn't risk breaking anything, as I needed it to tow my 8,000-lb trailer back home.

 

[B-train]

The Denali is just fine for normal wheeling. I've overlanded my 2008 in NM, CO, WY, UT, and WI. I will say having a low range would be nice for some mountains I went up, and down, but overall they are plenty capable.

Tires aired down with the air suspension makes for a good ride. It would be fun to go wheeling with fellow yukon/tahoe owners.

 

[Doubeleive]

THEY CAN DO STUFF!

 

[adventurenali92]

I had my 2006 XL Denali out on a light off pavement track to get up above the valley that our mountain ski town sits in, to see the northern lights last summer when they were visible down here in my neck of the woods. It handled totally fine. Though I’ll admit I didn’t take it on anything too crazy. And the minute it got too rocky and craggily and rutted out I turned around and said nope. lol. Ain’t tryna wreck my street truck. That being said when we get gnarly winter snowstorms and the plows can’t keep up, or they pull their typical plow the snow down but leave a couple inches of compacted snow in the roads, which I eventually ends up with ridiculously deep ruts, holes, and troughs, it’s like off roading and the AWD handles it totally fine. Never really had any issues in the shyte show that is our roads when we get snowstorms lol.

 

[wilcfr]

I used to take my 2004 Tahoe on some two tracks in Michigan when I went flyfishing. Then I got an AWD Explorer Express van with a Hi-Top and did the same thing. The Tanoe was much better, but I only lost one mirror with the Express. Both got me to some pretty nice fishing holes and back, even through mud and loose sand. Both were equipped with Nitto Terra ATs

 

[Smokin Denali]

Had 2003 Yukon SLT, 5.3L, Full Time Awd (w Low 4wd on demand) Factory All Season Tires. Did well on fairly dry, lose beach sand, here on Long Island. Had to air down to 20-22psi to move half way reliably on minor ( 15-20° inclines. ) Very dry sand ( as in zero rain for a week in Summer)

Same with my 2011 Youkon Denalli 6.2 L auto, w both 2WD HI and 4WD Hi/Low. Only little better movement than 2003 had.

Next, my 2015 Yukon Denali 6.2L. Same gearing as 2011. Stock A/S tires again. Power good on all, but got stuck once, on very dry loose sand. Tried airing down to 15psi but the stock ground clearance held us. even though all my Yuks were short, non XL length.

Basically, I learned to keep little momentum while moving on deeper stuff, (6-14") and inclines only, and it worked. Handled NE snow up tp 22" lose and 10" frozen without issue.
But it's low for much more than that!

Water up to 13" was ok. Go slow. Beware going above factory running boards....

Peace

Smoking Denali

 

[89Suburban]

I wanna take my sled on a dirt road and do some drifting baby.

 

[Sparksalot]

I wanna take my sled on a dirt road and do some drifting baby.

Yer gonna git dirty!

 

[SpareParts]

I put 2 in lower strut blocks on the front and 1 1/2 pucks on the rear along with 2 in shock spacers. Came out sitting about perfect.

 

[thefrey]

I put 2 in lower strut blocks on the front and 1 1/2 pucks on the rear along with 2 in shock spacers. Came out sitting about perfect.

Do you have links to this? Did you get longer suspension ride height sensors?

 

[SpareParts]

You can find the kit's on eBay. Yes, i made longer rods for the height sensors. After i got it all adjusted where i liked it i did the ALC reset.
HERE is the same kind of kit i used. They are all pretty much the same. To keep the rear shocks in the normal running position, i used the RC 2 inch shock extenders.
I made 3 or 4 sets of rods figuring the sensors out.

 

[Marty_S]

I decided to try some off-roading this weekend and now I’m hooked

I know this definitely is not the best car to do in with the length and approach and departure angles, but it was surprisingly capable. I have some mild all terrains and they did well not aired down. Probably pushing my luck taking this tired big girl on the trails LOL

Had a lot of fun for my first time ever off-roading. Got a lot of funny looks from people, but we all start somewhere lol. I would like to get into overlanding at some point.

I’ve heard the AWD system is basically 4H and that the lack of 4L is a hindrance. I don’t think this is a good vehicle to turn into an off-road / overland rig due to the lack of aftermarket, all-time AWD, and struggles with lifting the suspension. Curious to hear if ya'll think this would make a decent rig or if it should stay on the streets.


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Ohhhhhh man, I live 3 miles from end of paved road and a creek runs through it. Some of the better AWD or 4WD vehicles have been, 98 Landy Disco, 88 Celica All Trac turbo, 80 Chev full size p/u, 86 ex FOLLOW ME suburban from Moffett Field NAS, 01 Honda Pilot a redwood tree landed on roof, Jeep CJ and Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo... it is an 03 and current daily drive with a 2WD 01 backup. Meanwhile back to the Yukon; one day while driving next to the creek I notice a couple of trailers next to a hay field. I glance at them forgetting an explicitly directed grading job had taken out about 200' of the road. The next instant I feel drivers front getting air and know it is too late. WHOMP drivers side down. It wouldn't have been so bad if the 'helper' hadn't put a fork lift attachment or edge of loader bucket into the snrf leaving a large upward crease in the sunroof frame. It wouldn't have happened if idiot in charge of grubbing and grading creek had known wtf she was doing. It is better to berm rock and sand up before the barn next to adjacent hay field but that one little trait that cannot be fixed...

So here is a pic of 03 Denali that was as capable and nearly as luxo as the the Land Rover. Darn, Samsung cam is not good in dark. Thank God it doesn't say, "Too dark," with a definite accent. Early Motorola digicam did that and it still saddens me that Kodak took so long to realize digital imagery was well bYond tsunami proportions when they finally tried to play catch up. On the lift frame, bigger rims, higher sidewall tires with stops so rubber doesn't get ground on frame or body. Mine had 22" low rider setup and it was ok. Anywho, Yukon, Honda and Suburban I'd like to get rid of for trade or low dollar sale. Pickup site is at SE edge of San Jose, CA.

 

[swathdiver]

I don't see any pics Marty. @Marty_S

 

[Fless]

I see a black bear at night....