Is the Denali Hands Down the Best Tow Vehicle?

[adriver]

"Not sure what you mean about the Z71. They're no different than any other tahoe in that regard."

Except most are 4WD.

Well, James, seems like we've come full circle back to Denalis. Or a Tahoe engine swap.

If I can buy a clean 150,000 mile Denali for $6000-$8000 why would I bother w/ a swap?

You could get a 0 mile 6.0 engine and 4L80 trans for that price..




Not sure what drive you wanted, but you can get a 6.0 escalade in RWD or AWD. Heck, find one that's got a little body damage, and you can probably get it for a good price. I remember almost everyone I looked at was 3.73 (not sure if they all were, or not).

 

[bldn10]

I think we established that the drive preference is RWD, 4WD, AWD, which moves Denalis down the list, all else equal.

To now I have not even considered Escalades because, well, they're Escalades. Not sure I can get my arms around that. But I just now found a 135,000 mile RWD Escalade in Tulsa (I'm in Memphis) for $8950.

I don't know what the Bully Dog does but I assumed it was a Black Bear rival and did the same things. Neither site tells me much.

Justin, what about this local 5.3 Tahoe w/ 3.73 and giving it a good tune?

 

[swathdiver]

But I just now found a 135,000 mile RWD Escalade in Tulsa (I'm in Memphis) for $8950.

What year? If a 900, you'd have 403 horsepower and could cruise at 74 all you want!

 

[bldn10]

“I have to stay w/ the GMT800 because I need a full, flat cargo area for plywood, sheetrock,etc.”

 

[adriver]

I am not completely knowledgeable on the bully dog. Not sure if its a generic tune, or a completely custom tune (someone else probably knows, or see at the least which model it is). Its the handheld generic tuners that just kind of half-ass it and only do a slight improvement. If its a custom tuner, that allows you or a tuner to change parameters, then it all comes down to the tune. I can tell you that blackbear is a custom tune. They get the data from your specific vehicle. Tunes from about everywhere are $300-$600. The 6.0 has more torque down low, and a better transmission. That local sounds on the high end. I'm not sure if you are worried about the mileage or not, but even your 215K is nothing to be worried about.

 

[bldn10]

Thanks to this forum I think I bought the best GMT800 tow truck! '06 1-owner Escalade w/ 72,600 miles, black w/ nice 20" chrome wheels, 6.0, 3.73, RWD, looks and drives like new. The only "downside" is that I bought as a double duty truck to replace my '02 Tahoe work truck and also as a better tow truck, but it is just way too nice to use as work truck.

 

[Big Mama]

Agreed nice rig that’s the last year of that style and the miles are great at only 6k per year. Enjoy

 

[live2pull]

Thanks to this forum I think I bought the best GMT800 tow truck! '06 1-owner Escalade w/ 72,600 miles, black w/ nice 20" chrome wheels, 6.0, 3.73, RWD, looks and drives like new. The only "downside" is that I bought as a double duty truck to replace my '02 Tahoe work truck and also as a better tow truck, but it is just way too nice to use as work truck.

View attachment 219646

That is a unicorn. Most GMT-800 platforms miles are through the roof.

 

[Doubeleive]

Nice I was going to add that the Denali's can also be found with rwd versus awd

 

[adventurenali92]

Nice I was going to add that the Denali's can also be found with rwd versus awd

I’ve never seen a GMT800 Denali with RWD. Only AWD models. From what I understand the RWD Denali package started in 2007 on the GMT900s.

 

[Doubeleive]

I’ve never seen a GMT800 Denali with RWD. Only AWD models. From what I understand the RWD Denali package started in 2007 on the GMT900s.

appears so, seems odd to me that they would have made a Escalade in 2wd and not a Denali

 

[adventurenali92]

appears so, seems odd to me that they would have made a Escalade in 2wd and not a Denali

Couldn’t answer the second bit. Lol.

 

[Sean Collins]

My Tahoe has RPO code GT4 for 3.73. Also has All time 4wd it's an 04. Seems to tow 2 ATV's @ 75mph really well I felt

 

[Woodblocker55]

4WD isn't the same as AWD....

Denali is AWD, all 4 wheels being driven all the time... which means additional drivetrain losses.

4WD can have 2 wheels or all 4 driving. Not as much drivetrain loss as AWD.

IMHO, you want 4.10 gears. 4.10 isn't all that common but they're out there. My XL has em. It'll hold gear up some pretty good grades, rarely downshifting unless speeds drops. At 75 mph rpm is about 2450 so it's putting a little more power to the wheels without kicking trans down due to torque management (hp is a function of torque & rpm).

Lastly, regarding the bully dog tune, what does it do? Does it actually change trans parameters? Black bear tunes change shift parameters to make them hold gear at higher throttle positions (in addition to the other things like more power & torque). I doubt an off the shelf tuner does the trans parameters.

Ok you have 5.3L with 4:10 positraction how rare are they ? I found one I bought it . She's a power house . 2006 . Stop light launches can get any most waxed up car something to think about . [emoji106][emoji16] And next question how many SLT plus packages are out there ? Are they common.
I used a Suburban 3:73 and Yukon XL 4:10 there's alot more of a difference then you think.

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[mikeyss]

My 05 tahoe has 4.10 gears and a LM7. It does get right up when you get on it at a stop sign. It is almost a tad snappier off the line than my 09 tahoe with 3.42 gears and L9H.

 

[Woodblocker55]

Why I noticed a big difference I drove each same day it was very noticable . It's like 3:73 suburban lugged on take off and the Yukon 4:10 was bang it was there. When I tow something will be the tell all.


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[liquify33]

Why not go older and get a 5.7 with 3.73s for dirt cheap?
I traded a ‘17 truck for a ‘99 Z71 and love it.
I’ve only towed a heavy trailer a couple of times but overpasses weren’t an issue. I’m in Houston so no hills around lol.

 

[Woodblocker55]

I have a 1999 Tahoe 3:73 5.7 4x4 up here in Minnesota rust really gets a grip on them .. that's now my plow truck . After I do bit work on it .

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[bldn10]

FWIW I'm thrilled w/ my Escalade. I towed my car from Memphis to Atlanta in 3rd on cruise at 74-77 and not once did it kick down. And got a bit better mileage than my 5.3/3.42 Tahoe.

 

[Woodblocker55]

FWIW I'm thrilled w/ my Escalade. I towed my car from Memphis to Atlanta in 3rd on cruise at 74-77 and not once did it kick down. And got a bit better mileage than my 5.3/3.42 Tahoe.

What kind of mileage did you get in 3rd with 6.0 AWD.?
I used a 5.3 3:73 pulling 8500lb trailer and load I got 10.5 mpg at 55-60 mph ( 2 lane traffic ) couple times I got 9 mpg hitting 65 mph .. that's all towing in 3rd gear. I made run about 13 times 9-10.5 mpg all in 3rd . I was amazed .



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