Your Opinion!

[jq1031]

My TV is a 2011 GMC Yukon Denali SUV with a gas 6.2L/403hp engine and a 3.42 rear axle ratio. It's equipted with the factory tow package including both engine oil cooling system & HD transmission oil cooler. It's rated to tow up to 8300 lbs of trailer. My trailer weights 6330lbs dry, if I add 1500lbs of "stuff" (which is allot for two people) I'm still under the 8300 lbs max.

I would appreciate any opinions as to what I may expect towing on an extended trip in all kinds of terrain.
Thanks, Joe

[hankpage]

Joe, If all the figures you gave are accurate, you should be fine. The high axle ratio will be noticed when climbing hills. Enjoy camping and both your new purchases, Hank

PS: 1500 lbs. of "stuff" adds up quickly. :D

[jq1031]

Thanx Hank, yea all the numbers are right out of both TV & TT build sheets. Looking forward to putting it to the test. There is so much negetive stuff here on this forum that I sometime wonder if it's me not thinking outside the box or should I pay attention to what I believe is correct.
Joe

[Festus2]

I agree with Hank's assessment - especially his comment about climbing long, steep grades. You might go up a little slower but ---- relax and enjoy the scenery along the way to the top.

[rstuyt]

Joe, I have an Expedition with a 5.4L and towing capacity of 8650lbs. My trailers dry weight is 6200lbs and I have a Reese Dual cam sway contol. It tows just fine, steep hills can slow it down but it's never been a worry.

[jq1031]

Thats what I have also, the Reese dual cam!! Thanx

[GMcKenzie]

I'm surprised the tow package comes with a 3.42. I would have expected a 3.73 with the tow package. Was there an option on rear end ratios?

[jq1031]

No, the 2011 DENALI package comes with the 6.2L, six speed tranny & the 3.42 axel. Actually it's the same system as the Cadillac Escalade & with no options offered, as far as the drive train. The big difference is the window sticker on the Escalade was $72k & on the Denali it was $55k, almost a no brainer unless you have to have the Cadillac badge......joe

[jq1031]

Thanks for all the imput....the high axel ratio will be put to the test this summer as we head out of FL. heading to Las Vegas & on to Portland, OR. We've done the trip before hitting some 6 & 7 degree grades! PRAY FOR ME!

The last trip was in diesel motor home, towing a car, the grades were a piece of cake, but that was a diesel! I was taking them hills at 50 mph passing 18 wheelers like standing trees, now I might be one of them trees.

[chuck&gail]

One thing, watch your tongue weight!!!! Your Denaili likely has a 830# MAXIMUM tongue weight limit. That is a VEHICLE limit, not a receiver limit (receiver usually rated higher). In a perfect world you want 13% of the MAXIMUM LOADED TT WEIGHT on the tongue. This means your maximum target TT weight, fully loaded, is 6,384#. Since your DRY weight is almost that, you need to be real careful loading IMO.

I think the 830# hitch limit assumes a 150# driver, no passengers, and no cargo. Check with the Chevy/GMC dealer to find out for sure. They have a nice book on towing guidelines, at least they did in 2010.

Note if tongue weight is too light, you can easily get sway, so a light tongue is not the answer.

Sorry, I do not mean to rain on your parade, but hopefully to help keep you safe.

[jq1031]

I took your advise Chuck & checked with my GM dealer. My Yukon has a "weight distributing hitch platform" rated to tow up to 10,000 lbs gross TT weight, with a maxium tongue weight of 1,000 lbs or 10%.
My TT's carrying capacity is approx. 1800 lbs. If I were to add that total to my dry TT weight I'm still below the truck tow capacity of 8300 lbs and much below the hitch capacity of 10,000 lbs.

If I were to even overload the trailer (which I won't do) and bring its gross weight up to the trucks tow capacity of 8300 lbs, my tongue weight would still be 830 lbs using the 10% rule. BTW, the total gross weight capacity for both the TT, Yukon & "stuff" is a maxium of 14,000 lbs. The Yukon weights 5400lbs, the TT 6330lbs & using the 1500lb for cargo I'm well within that 14k gross weight limit of both.

It seems like careful packing will make the difference here.

[GMcKenzie]

One thing you shouldn't do (in my opinion) is base the weight issues on guesses when you are close to the threshold.

Find a scale and take your trailer there when loaded normally. Weigh each axle of the truck and weight the trailer. Then disconnect and weigh the truck again.

From that you can see what the actual weight is included how much is on the hitch.

You may decide not to carry water and fill up at the campgrounds. That can be a fair bit of weight as well.

[jq1031]

Thank You for that! Most of our RVing will be in a campground as my wife has a security issue with rest areas, truck stops etc. When on the road, all the tanks will be empty, except for about 8 or 10 gallons of water.....I do definately plan to travel light & watch the tongue weight.....joe

[hankaye]

Howdy;

My TV is a 2011 GMC Yukon Denali SUV with a gas 6.2L/403hp engine and a 3.42 rear axle ratio. It's equipted with the factory tow package including both engine oil cooling system & HD transmission oil cooler. It's rated to tow up to 8300 lbs of trailer. My trailer weights 6330lbs dry, if I add 1500lbs of "stuff" (which is allot for two people) I'm still under the 8300 lbs max.

I would appreciate any opinions as to what I may expect towing on an extended trip in all kinds of terrain.
Thanks, Joe

FWIW... go to a public scale and find out what it all weighs. Load up as you would for a trip... Talk to the scale person as you will want to get what is called an empty and a loaded weights. If you go to a truckstop make SURE that your front tires ar on the front pad, your rear tires are on the second pad and the trailor wheels are on the third. Then you can go back after dropping the trailer and get the "EMPTY" weight of just the tow vehicle (be sure that the tow vehicle's tires are like they were for the first weigh) or scale the truck first then do it again with the trailer attached. Then you should be able to see what your toungue weight is as well what each axle weighs, and your combined vehicle weight is. If you need to make any adjustments yada,yada,...
Please don't forget to add the weight of Water (8.024 Lbs /gal approx.) How much do you intend to carry, for roadside stops ect. if the tank is in the back you can use the extra weight to help "Balance" the trailer.

All sounds complicated but it's really easy and the scale folks will be helpful provide you talk with them FIRST.....

hankaye