New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

[aspeck]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

Just got rid of my 2000 Denali for a 2010 Yukon SLT. 6.0 to 5.3. I wasn't sure I was going to like the smaller engine, but it tows my 19' dual console just fine and gets about 2mpg better towing and around town and a little over 5mpg better on the highway. I am happy so far with my 5.3.

 

[keith2k455]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

Yeah I know the other trim levels are fine ... I've just gotten used to leather (I know ... Spoiled to an unnecessary option). I think I'll just look for lowest miles with the options I want regardless of trim. Thanks for everyone's help and opinion

 

[jkust]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

Yeah I know the other trim levels are fine ... I've just gotten used to leather (I know ... Spoiled to an unnecessary option). I think I'll just look for lowest miles with the options I want regardless of trim. Thanks for everyone's help and opinion

Come on keith, don't talk yourself out of luxuries. I haven't owned cloth in a car for 10 years since I discovered what just a worn out sippy cup and milk can do plus leather is heated. Get your negotiation skills sharpened up and get the top tier for the bottom tier price with similar miles.

 

[90stingray]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

My truck has a 5.3, pulling our boat it could use more... so i added a procharger supercharger. Pulls the boat pretty well. I have my fingers crossed on the trans tho. I know its a ticking time bomb. Next time i will go 6.0 or 6.2 and bolt on the supercharger. Might spring for the duramax dunno... But no more 5.3's for me. I vote yukon denail since you are wanting it for pulling.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

I have a 2001 Yukon 5.3 with 122,000 miles and it has spent it's entire life towing travel trailers, boats, pontoon, and my cargo trailer. Neither the engine or transmission have been touched other than for routine service. It is an excellent tow vehicle.

 

[jkust]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

I have a 2001 Yukon 5.3 with 122,000 miles and it has spent it's entire life towing travel trailers, boats, pontoon, and my cargo trailer. Neither the engine or transmission have been touched other than for routine service. It is an excellent tow vehicle.

Also, don't forget the benefits of the rear end ratio. I've driven new 5.3 silverados, with the base 3.42 and optional 3.73 and there is a decent difference between them. At least where trucks and some suv's were concerned where the 3.73 was an option, I've know quite a few people who didn't realize they got the 3.42 (and the locking differential) until it is too late. Some suv's the 3.73 was a standard and some it was an option.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

Axle ratio is probably the most overlooked feature when looking for a tow vehicle. Most folks look at horsepower and call it good when they see numbers they like. A poor choice of axle ratio makes for a poor tow vehicle. It takes a great deal of power to overcome a poor choice of axle ratio. What you tow, how far you tow, the conditions you tow under, terrain you tow over, and the ratio of towing vs commuting or other travel will have a significant effect on fuel economy so one does need to compromise unless deep pockets play into the equation. Select a middle of the range engine, with an axle ratio in the mid to higher 3's and you will have a respectable tow vehicle that still provides reasonable fuel economy when not towing. Some folks feel a dually diesel is the ONLY tow vehicle. Well -- if you really need one that is certainly a true statement. But most recreational boat owners don't need that much vehicle or the maintenance they require. Back in the late 70's and early 80's I towed a 26 foot travel trailer with a 78 GMC van with a 145 HP 305 V8 but with 3:56 gears and was never in anyones way. That trailer was nearly the same weight as some of the boats being discussed here and it presented a heck of a lot more wind resistance than any of them.

 

[keith2k455]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

Axle ratio is a good point as well that will come in to play for mpg and acceleration.

I do know one thing, whatever I decide on will be better than using a Nissan Murano...I also won't have to listen to complaints about the seat and mirrors being changed anymore.

 

[gtochris]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

If we are only considering Suburbans/Yukon XL in the conversation, the 4.8L was never offered with that platform. Even if it was, it is not a desirable engine since it only has marginally better MPG than the 5.3 and a lot lower torque.

My example was to highlight that even in base powertrain form- it is still a capable hauler- 20ft boat with any of these trucks is NO problem! Granted this one is rated for 6,500 lbs however I dont think I would do that as it would be a dog!

I'd say: Try and get a check on warranty issues/ service history: We have owned ours since 2003, it required a 4x4 encoder motor a few years back- very expensive fix but the ONLY thing it has needed in 10 years and 80,000 miles outside basic maintenance. Some are lemons so knowing what it has needed over the years is helpful.

Other thing- look out for rust- depending where you live.

 

[jkust]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

Axle ratio is a good point as well that will come in to play for mpg and acceleration.

I do know one thing, whatever I decide on will be better than using a Nissan Murano...I also won't have to listen to complaints about the seat and mirrors being changed anymore.

The option for the 3.73 ratio over the 3.42 is literally like a hundred bucks and the locking Eaton differential known as the G80 rpo code in GM vehicles was another hundred or thereabouts. Getting those added/changed out is cost prohibitive with changing out full axles the only way to do it even marginally affordable. I can't emphasize enough the number of people that bought the 3.42 only to regret it later when they started towing. Mostly because they didn't know. When buying both my suv's in the used market, finding the 3.73 AND the G80 AND the 5.3 liter plus all the other options I wanted like nav and rear dvd was unbelievably difficult. As much as I hate buying stuff new, I can almost see why people break down and buy trucks new. Also every single GM I looked at even two years old here in MN had rust under the doors. Literally 600 day old vehicles with rust in the door seems.

 

[keith2k455]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

I know this is a terribly old thread, but I got a new tow rig a few weeks ago...2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV....cheaper than any xl or suburban within 200 miles, great condition, 103k miles and it has 6.0 with autoride. Hopefully this should keep us vacation and towing happy for quite a few years.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

Yeah...don't post to old threads. Besides, those Escalades have bad heated seats and power mirrors I hear.

 

[JB]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

Note that keith2k455 is the OP, who is permitted to update his own thread.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

Ahhh yes...didn't notice he was the OP!

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

Congrats, you are gonna love that 6.0. I have a 5.3 in our Trailblazer EXT, which only has a wheelbase an inch less than yours. It struggled a bit, but after a tune from PMC of NC it is a completely differant beast. We towed for years without the tune and I have to say, had I known how much better it tows I would have done it the day we brough it home. I bet on a 6 liter it will really wake it up. I got 2 tunes, because we have HPTuners to swap them, but once I loaded them, I just left the tow tune it. The only reall. differance was torque management and I like having less anyway.

If you have a 4l60E, and if you do not already have a tranny cooler, I highly recommend one. Actually a tranny cooler is always a good idea, but especially on that transmission when towing.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

I recently got a silverado extended cab Z 71 with the 5.3 and 3.42 GT 80 and while I haven't towed much with it I didn't have any problems with it here in the mountains in WV but then I only tow 3000 or so. It gets 15-16 around town and 12-14 or so towing.

 

[jkust]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

Congrats, you are gonna love that 6.0. I have a 5.3 in our Trailblazer EXT, which only has a wheelbase an inch less than yours. It struggled a bit, but after a tune from PMC of NC it is a completely differant beast. We towed for years without the tune and I have to say, had I known how much better it tows I would have done it the day we brough it home. I bet on a 6 liter it will really wake it up. I got 2 tunes, because we have HPTuners to swap them, but once I loaded them, I just left the tow tune it. The only reall. differance was torque management and I like having less anyway.

If you have a 4l60E, and if you do not already have a tranny cooler, I highly recommend one. Actually a tranny cooler is always a good idea, but especially on that transmission when towing.

The 6 liter that was available in the swb Trailblazer and far nicer SAAB 9-7x with dozens of upgrades over the TB, does more than wake it up. Guessing you already know that though. They are astonishingly fast but interestingly the 400hp and 400tq does not increase the tow capacity from the 5.3 liter middle engine option as they are limited by drive train. When you retune the PCM via a third party instead of HPTuners diy, you generally need to denote whether you tow and then have a bit more torque management removed than simply removing all of it for a non-tow vehicle. I've got two of the 5.3's and owned a third one prior and when I'm towing you really notice the torque management when you are rolling through a stop but need instant torque...it manages it down versus if you gun it from a dead stop where it allows you to take off much faster. GM tuned one of my 5.3 liter suv's by sheer stupidity and the original is stock and the difference between the two identical vehicles is pretty suprising.

 

[britisher]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

I have a 2004 Suburban 1500 with 2WD. It pulls a 19 foot Sea Ray bowrider. Apart from ensuring I give myself plenty of thinking/action time on braking, it's completely fine and the whole thing connected doesn't give me any headaches on the hwy. According to the electronic readout, the 5.3 gives me a 15.7 average mpg whether I have the boat on or not. I've run it with the instant mpg on and it doesn't go down the toilet like some do. My mates Expedition pulling his Sea ray Sundancer drops to about 9 mpg. As a Brit, I am used to higher top speeds on euro roads, BUT trailers are always limited to 55 mph. That seems a good safe logic for here in the USA as well. Why would you want to do 70 with a boat trailer on the back?? Cannot be safe, no matter what argument is promoted. The Sub offers all the space you could want, though TBH my previous vehicle (GMC Safari) was more practical at the rear with dutch doors and the interior room on that thing was more than the Ford Excursion dinosaur. I would also make the point that, apart from the size of the vehicle being a 'man mine's bigger than yours thing, you ain't going to be pulling a boat 7 days per week, so it would be an advantage to be driving something that gives you half decent mpg figures when you are driving without the trailer. just my 5 cents worth.

 

[jkust]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

I That seems a good safe logic for here in the USA as well. Why would you want to do 70 with a boat trailer on the back?? Cannot be safe, no matter what argument is promoted.

ST tires are rated at a max speed of 65mph...seems like a pretty good argument.

 

[keith2k455]

Re: New tow vehicle: Yukon XL Denali vs. Suburban Z71

Bruce ... You're cracking me up.

That 6.0 has plenty of go power for this 3 ton beast...it does have me thinking brake upgrade when the next set of pads is due, but with the yearly mileage I'm looking at it may be a while