Towing 33’ trailer with 2018 Yukon with Tow package.

[amesbury34]

Hey folks i have a 2018 Yukon with the HD tow package. I’m currently looking at buying an RV that’s 34’ and about 7000lbs. I’m curious what you guys think about how this might tow and if I may run into any issues. I have attached photos with details about my truck and the RV. Any advice is greatly appreciated in advance.

 

[swathdiver]

You would likely be maxed out weight wise before you even load up the Yukon. And the short wheelbase will get pushed around by that long trailer unless you are running a Pro-Pride type hitch.

She can tow that easily and even more for short distances over flat lands but head out into the open desert or mountains and she'll be a white knuckle ride.

Let's ask some of the fellas who have forgotten more about towing than I'll ever know:

@intheburbs @Geotrash @PG01

 

[Geotrash]

Hey folks i have a 2018 Yukon with the HD tow package. I’m currently looking at buying an RV that’s 34’ and about 7000lbs. I’m curious what you guys think about how this might tow and if I may run into any issues. I have attached photos with details about my truck and the RV. Any advice is greatly appreciated in advance.

Looks like 7,147 is the empty weight if I'm reading that right. By the time you get it loaded up for camping you'll be closer to 9,000 lbs. and the tongue weight will be close to the payload of the truck before you put any people or gear in it. Ours is 7,500 lbs fully loaded for camping with 950 lbs on the tongue, and I pulled it for 4 years with a long-body (Yukon XL Denali) and it's about all I wanted on the hitch in windy conditions. I pull it with a 2018 Suburban 3500 HD now and I'm much happier.

That trailer is Suburban 2500/3500 material, in my opinion.

 

[SpyShops212]

You will not have an issue pulling the bumper pull. I do sell trailers and I use my 2018 Escalade to pull it. I would suggest putting premium gas when towing. Monitor your trans temp and if it goes out of range then get the deep pan & trans cooler.

 

[intheburbs]

Looks like 7,147 is the empty weight if I'm reading that right. By the time you get it loaded up for camping you'll be closer to 9,000 lbs. and the tongue weight will be close to the payload of the truck before you put any people or gear in it. Ours is 7,500 lbs fully loaded for camping with 950 lbs on the tongue, and I pulled it for 4 years with a long-body (Yukon XL Denali) and it's about all I wanted on the hitch in windy conditions. I pull it with a 2018 Suburban 3500 HD now and I'm much happier.

That trailer is Suburban 2500/3500 material, in my opinion.

Never mind the fact that you'll be completely overloading your rear axle, the weak point of the half-ton trucks.

If you're planning to tow it 50 miles to the lake/shore, never going above 55 MPH, go for it. But if you're planning long road trips, you need to reconsider.

The three primary things working against you :
1) Short wheelbase - less stability.
2) Weak rear axle - will be the first thing overloaded.
3) Payload - unlikely you'll have enough left for people.

You want to shop for "half-ton towable" trailers.

For your Yukon - 24-26 feet, 5000-lb dry weight

RV dealers want to sell an RV. They're unlikely to tell you your tow vehicle isn't up to *****.

I tow what you're considering with my 2500 Suburban, and I'm close to its limits.

34', 8000 lbs (loaded).

 

[swathdiver]

You will not have an issue pulling the bumper pull. I do sell trailers and I use my 2018 Escalade to pull it. I would suggest putting premium gas when towing. Monitor your trans temp and if it goes out of range then get the deep pan & trans cooler.

View attachment 453918

Do you pump low octane gas into that Esky when not towing?

 

[SpyShops212]

Do you pump low octane gas into that Esky when not towing?

I never put anything except shell premium. I was just mentioning this for the members with the 5.3 since this is also a Yukon & Tahoe group.

 

[Loki223]

If you really want to go glamping i can sell you a package deal of tow pig and camper


But towing capabilities is something that is often talked about over on the other main forum i'm on. A lot of people tow with the wrong tow pig, and they end up in situations that could have been avoided. I would never tow something close to 7k dry with my suburban. Honestly the only thing the suburban might see is either the small boat or the little utility trailer i have. That's not why i bought it, and i have a tow pig for the heavy stuff. But a camper thats 7k dry is going to be to much for a half ton. Plain and simple, like stated you'll want to down size your trailer, or up size the truck. You'll also probably want to invest in a weight distributing hitch, so include that in your budget. And honestly, anything over 30 ft for me, i would prefer a gooseneck or 5th wheel, especially when talking about RVs and enclosed trailers. They tow much better and safer, but that also gets you out of SUV tow pigs and into trucks for a tow pig which i realize not everyone wants.


Another thing to consider, does your hoe have the max trailering package? if not, your tow rating is 6,400 pounds. With max tow it's 8,400, and a gear change in the axles. That would mean that if your trailer starts at 7k, you would have 1,400 pounds of weight from people, camping supplies, water tanks, food ect ect to be within your rating assuming you have the max tow package. And that weight capacity starts going away pretty quickly....

https://d3959jhrahzb4k.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/29175346/2018-Chevrolet-Trailering-Guide.pdf

 

[Bigburb3500]

Just chiming in on this as well, be VERY careful with going over GVRW - if anything happens while towing over the max your insurance company will likely not cover the incident.

 

[Tonyv__]

I’m gonna chime in on the SWB situation. That’s a big trailer. Anytime I tow with my express van (very similar platform to a LWB Gm truck if toy don’t know) I barely feel the trailer behind me. I can hitch the same 2000lb trailer on my 2015 Yukon and absolutely hate the fact that I feel it 100% of the ride.

I’ve towed a lot of different junk over the years, any swb vehicle is an annoying drive.