Really enjoying this new Denali XL

[avalonandl]

I thought boat and gas mileage weren’t supposed to used in the same sentence ever!

There was a lot of punctuation.....

Oh, and trans temp never got over 190...

 

[swathdiver]

I thought boat and gas mileage weren’t supposed to used in the same sentence ever!

BOAT - Break Out Another $$$$ Thousand $$$$!

That's great Roger, another member here makes short runs like that all the time with his, some even larger.

 

[avalonandl]

Gas is the cheapest part of boating. And believe me, those old Merc 300 Promax (2) suck fuel....

 

[avalonandl]

BOAT - Break Out Another $$$$ Thousand $$$$!

That's great Roger, another member here makes short runs like that all the time with his, some even larger.

I was way over my rated tow capacity. I estimate about 9500 lbs boat and trailer. Tow capacity is 7800 lbs.

 

[swathdiver]

I was way over my rated tow capacity. I estimate about 9500 lbs boat and trailer. Tow capacity is 7800 lbs.

Yeah, but you weren't towing the boat over the Eisenhower Tunnel or crossing Death Valley, just a short hop on flat roads which she'll easily handle. I was always curious as to how the tow ratings are determined and just the other day came across a youtube video explaining the "new" industry standard for determining a vehicle's towing capacity which I found quite interesting. Then read the back story, GM tested the later models of the GMT900s to the new standard but kept it quiet until Ford released their new model, then everyone else started to get on board, save for Toyota, they were first to embrace and use the standard if memory serves. SAE J2807.

Let me see if I can find it if interested.... here:

 

[avalonandl]

Swath- I'm with you. I didn't even have the boat correctly loaded on the boat- I used a different ramp and the pulpit kept jamming on the trailer so I was 3 feet back on the trailer.
So I was light on the tongue weihjt which makes it HARDER to tow. More apt to wag the tail. Marina is going to move it forward and shrink wrap it for winter.

The first XL 2500 I looked at was a 07... it had a tow rating of 7600. 200 less than my 12' Denali... that's not right.

 

[swathdiver]

The first XL 2500 I looked at was a 07... it had a tow rating of 7600. 200 less than my 12' Denali... that's not right.

Those '07s had two gear ratio options, 3.73s and 4.10s and with the latter got higher tow ratings. They also had 1350 series u-joints and the 4L80 transmission. Trans was plenty tough but highway driving with 4.10s wouldn't be as pleasant compared to what came later. I reckon a 2012-2013 would make a mighty fine tow machine with all the software enhancements like trailer sway control, hill start assist and the different grade braking options.

 

[avalonandl]

Those '07s had two gear ratio options, 3.73s and 4.10s and with the latter got higher tow ratings. They also had 1350 series u-joints and the 4L80 transmission. Trans was plenty tough but highway driving with 4.10s wouldn't be as pleasant compared to what came later. I reckon a 2012-2013 would make a mighty fine tow machine with all the software enhancements like trailer sway control, hill start assist and the different grade braking options.

When I go to pick the boat up I will see how it tracks when properly loaded. Although it will be a lot more tongue weight. The power with the 6.2 and 6 speed was plenty although I did pt it in Manual and used 4 and 5 on the highway.

 

[swathdiver]

When I go to pick the boat up I will see how it tracks when properly loaded. Although it will be a lot more tongue weight. The power with the 6.2 and 6 speed was plenty although I did pt it in Manual and used 4 and 5 on the highway.

She'll tow all day long in 4th, that's the recommended gear in the shop manual with the 6-speeds.

 

[avalonandl]

• Everyone worries about towing power when brakes and stability are the REAL concerns.

 

[avalonandl]

The boat is wrapped and in the yard. It was windy and the boat was getting pushed around even on the local roads at 50 mph

. The plastic sheeting acts like a sail. The boat was pushed up against the bow stop.

 

[petethepug]

Pull the spare tire down before it gets any colder and lube up all the pesky bits with waterproof marine grease. Make sure you have a set of gloves, small plastic tarp and blanket stuffed in next to the jack if you end up in the sticks with a flat. I carry a plastic bag the size of a pack of cigs made just for dropping a dirty tire in.

If I get stuck with that biotch job of changing a flat with the factory jack, it’s all going in that bag so the back stays clean and I’m ready to deal with the flat.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[avalonandl]

Did a recalc on my towing weight for the Donzi and realized I was WAAAAAAY over the tow limit...

You should have seen some of the flamers on the boating website.

Boat is probably 11,500 lbs on the trailer to maybe 12,000.

Amazingly the Denali handled it.

 

[avalonandl]

Losing about 5 psi overnite on the REAR tires only.

I think its corrosion around the rims. I think the rears are original rims and the fronts were replaced. The chrome looks better on the fronts.

 

[avalonandl]

Well, puncture in sidewall/shoulder on one of them. Getting new shoes all around. Michelin Defender LTX - great tire.

 

[swathdiver]

Well, puncture in sidewall/shoulder on one of them. Getting new shoes all around. Michelin Defender LTX - great tire.

There's not a better highway tire IMO!

 

[avalonandl]

The Denali drives like a new SUV... smooth quiet. Will probably be the last set of tires I have to buy for this vehicle.

 

[avalonandl]

I wish I had put new tires on it when I bought it. Realizing how smooth and much better it drives now, I should have bit the bullet. Especially when I look at how much weight I towed. Live and learn.

 

[avalonandl]

Oil changed at 146,760 Put in Synthetic 5-30 and an AC PF63

 

[avalonandl]

Brother arrived in Naples Friday night at 11:18 pm after drivingstraight thru from Mich. with a friend....