 |
|
|
|
APT
SE Michigan
Senior Member
Joined: 06/09/2010
View Profile
|
7k dry TT means:
8000-8500 pounds loaded
1000-1200 pounds of tongue weight
I expect your Yukon would be exceeding the GVWR, GCWR, receiver rating, and rear axle rating when loaded up with people inside and TT connected. You have a lot of power and a good transmission. Suspension is your weakest link based on ratings when it was new. Towing with anything 10+ years old will depend far more on condition and how it was maintained.
I recommend sticking to around 6k dry TT for most half tons because of all the other ratings besides manufacturer tow rating.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R
2020 Chevrolet Bolt
|
valhalla360
No paticular place.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
I'd be looking for something in the 7000lb GVWR range.
Also, worth taking the truck down to the CAT scale and find out what payload you've already used. Some of the big SUVs have so much stuff bolted on, they can eat up a lot of payload before you even load people and gear let alone hitch weight. Try to take it in with people and gear loaded as if you were going to hitch up the trailer.
Then with actual axle weights, you can check against the trucks ratings to see what you have available.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
|
Wishin
Grand Rapids, MI
Senior Member
Joined: 10/03/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
My trailer is less than 6k dry but is close to 8k loaded. One reason I have decided to stay with my 2003 Suburban is that the 2007+ versions can only handle 1000 max tongue weight. My trailer tongue is in the 1200-1300 lb range anytime I have weighed it.
Mine is a 2500 model and it tows nicely. Very stable. I would be willing to give it a try with a 1500 model, but I would likely go over GVWR and rear axle ratings. It makes sense to target a lighter trailer. Maybe a loaded weight of 6500 which should keep your tongue weight under 1,000 lbs.
2014 Wildwood 26TBSS - Upgraded with 5200lb axles and larger Goodyear ST tires
2003 Chevrolet 2500 4x4 Suburban 8.1L 4.10's
|
Bionic Man
Colorado
Senior Member
Joined: 04/03/2009
View Profile
|
I had a 2011 Yukon Denali XL, and used it to tow a 7000 pound boat. Engine and transmission temps always ran high (would go over 240* in the mountains), and I never felt comfortable with the stability of the rig (read as the boat would push the SUV around). It was ok to tow at 65 MPH, but at 70, it would wander some. I never felt safe above 70 (which can make it tough to pass on a 2-lane road).
If you don't have mountains, and are using a WDH, you will likely be ok, but not ideal.
2012 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW CC 4x4 Max Tow, Cummins HO, 60 gallon RDS aux fuel tank, Reese 18k Elite hitch
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 Cummins HO NV5600 with Smarty JR, Jacobs EB (sold)
2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 29FRB with Honda EV6010
|
Me Again
Sunbird(Wa)/snowbird(Az)
Senior Member
Joined: 09/26/2012
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
It is always better to use the trailer GVWR and 10-12 percent of that for hitch weight. I do not think it is the right TV or trailer.
2021 F150 2.7 Ecoboost - Summer Home 2017 Bighorn 3575el. Can Am Spyder RT-L Chrome, Kawasaki KRX1000. Retired and enjoying it! RIP DW 07-05-2021
|
|
|
tim1973
Georgia
New Member
Joined: 11/09/2021
View Profile
Offline
|
Bionic Man wrote:I had a 2011 Yukon Denali XL, and used it to tow a 7000 pound boat. Engine and transmission temps always ran high (would go over 240* in the mountains), and I never felt comfortable with the stability of the rig (read as the boat would push the SUV around). It was ok to tow at 65 MPH, but at 70, it would wander some. I never felt safe above 70 (which can make it tough to pass on a 2-lane road).
If you don't have mountains, and are using a WDH, you will likely be ok, but not ideal.
I currently run a 2011 Yukon Denali, pulling a 7200lb trailer. I live on the coast so no mountains. It does it, but it does tax the mechanics. Ive upgraded both the stock radiator and transmission cooler. Ive also installed a set of timbren helpers in the back, to give the air suspension some help. Ive been camping for a long time, had many different tow vehicles...both 3/4 and 1/2 ton.
Guess it all boils down to risk vs reward, the 3/4 ton will always tow better sure. But in my case, its more than just a tow vehicle, its a DD. So the other 95% of my driving I have to deal with the 3/4 ton beast. Good Luck!
|
jerem0621
Tennessee
Senior Member
Joined: 05/17/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Sure thing. Just tow slow and deliberate.
If you saw what my buddy tows “all the time” with his 2011 Suburban it would make many keyboards melt here. ![[emoticon]](http://www.rv.net/sharedcontent/cfb/images/wink.gif "wink")
We are getting pretty good at replacing motor mounts. I suppose you will to.
Drivers side motor mounts are weak on these trucks and I guess yours is probably broke right now if you are over 130k miles OR tow heavy often.
Yea, I swore mine wasn’t broke either. I was wrong.
Have fun, set the hitch up right. Firm up the tires, get better shocks and struts and enjoy the ride.
Dialed in set up with my Zinger and my 2011 Tahoe that “can’t tow nothing”
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/af7cG7Rl.jpg)
WD hitch not set up right at all on this pic
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/oGVvW4bl.jpg)
Thanks!
Jeremiah
* This post was
edited 11/15/21 03:19pm by jerem0621 *
TV-2022 Silverado 2WD
TT - Zinger 270BH
WD Hitch- HaulMaster 1,000 lb Round Bar
Dual Friction bar sway control
It’s Kind of Fun to do the Impossible
~Walt Disney~
|
mkirsch
Rochester, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 04/09/2004
View Profile
|
If you're breaking things on a regular basis, wouldn't that be an indication that the tow vehicle is NOT suitable for what you're using it to pull?
I'm all for pushing the numbers but things should not be breaking.
Putting 10-ply tires on half ton trucks since aught-four.
|
jerem0621
Tennessee
Senior Member
Joined: 05/17/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
mkirsch wrote:If you're breaking things on a regular basis, wouldn't that be an indication that the tow vehicle is NOT suitable for what you're using it to pull?
I'm all for pushing the numbers but things should not be breaking.
Most GM trucks of this era break motor mounts relatively often. We’ve changed them for others too. Many of these trucks with 130k plus a thousand probably have broken motor mounts. But yea, my friends are breaking way too often.
Chinamart is to blame. Not his Suburban.
Thanks!
|
Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/06/2013
View Profile
Offline
|
^True story.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
