2011 Yukon XL LT - Overland Build - Input Appreciated

[Tozan]

 

[osb40000]

View attachment 417132

I love your rig! Looks like an awesome setup!

 

[Marky Dissod]

Axles: Not sure on what gearing he has or how to find out, need to look into that.
Hoping it's at least 3.73. How do these rear ends hold up to tight limited slips with bigger tires?
I don't think he's interested in doing a locker, but maybe.

There are people who can tell if it's 2WD or 4WD merely by looking at the VIN.
Look under the front for axles and a differential, or just ask him.

If it has a 4L60E, 4.10 axle or axles minimum, with all the extra weight.
If it has a 6L80E, 3.45 or 3.73 minimum.
Ask him which transmission.

 

[Mondaytown]

I'm building a 2015 Yukon Xl into an overlander. I'm still getting advice on the suspension but the Motor and trans I know well. I did a Mishimoto Radiator and Trans cooler. The trans oil does not run through the radiator so its fully independent.

It works very well. Trans temps while towing never get over 150's even up the big mountain passes we have here in utah. I am also double the HP of the stock motor so that adds some heat and strain on the tranny. I would highly recommend mishimoto.

 

[Tozan]

There are people who can tell if it's 2WD or 4WD merely by looking at the VIN.
Look under the front for axles and a differential, or just ask him.

If it has a 4L60E, 4.10 axle or axles minimum, with all the extra weight.
If it has a 6L80E, 3.45 or 3.73 minimum.
Ask him which transmission.

One important factor is does he have a 2 speed tranfer case??? The following advice is based on having a two speed tranfer. With a single speed case it might be better to have the 4.11 gears.

The 2011 should have a 6L80E and running on 33's with a limited slip the 3.73 should work out fine. Even running 35's on mine I sometime wish I had 3.73 because my 4.11's are a little deeper than needed for light off road use but, I also have a two speed transfer.

 

[Marky Dissod]

"If it has a 4L60E, 4.10 axle or axles minimum, with all the extra weight."
"If it has a 6L80E, 3.45 or 3.73 minimum."

To be clear: by 'minimum', the above could very well be interpreted as follows:
"If it has a 4L60E, 4.10 axle or axles minimum, with all the extra weight.
4.30 or 4.56 or even 4.88 may be preffered depending on tire size and weight."

"If it has a 6L80E, 3.45 or 3.73 minimum.
4.10 or even 4.30 may be preferred ..."

 

[Tozan]

"If it has a 4L60E, 4.10 axle or axles minimum, with all the extra weight."
"If it has a 6L80E, 3.45 or 3.73 minimum."

To be clear: by 'minimum', the above could very well be interpreted as follows:
"If it has a 4L60E, 4.10 axle or axles minimum, with all the extra weight.
4.30 or 4.56 or even 4.88 may be preffered depending on tire size and weight."

"If it has a 6L80E, 3.45 or 3.73 minimum.
4.10 or even 4.30 may be preferred ..."

Most likely he has a 6L80E and with 33 tires anything over 4.10 will be horrible unless you plan on running 37's In my experience running 35's with 4.88 s they will get about 10 mpg highway tops and it will be a slug on acceleration it will also be shifting into 6th gear around 35 mph. It will be shifting into 3rd gear by 15 mph. with 35's and 4.11 gears it will get 16 mpg and with 33's and 3.73 you should be getting even better MPG and it should pull just fine.

I have a set of 4.88 gears in the garage they were a terrible choice even with my 35's Also at highway speeds the trans will be doing a lot of searching and shifting up and down.

Best choice 3.73 with a 6 speed running 33's should work great.

Pulling the weight... My rig weighs around 7200 pounds loaded out and has no problem pulling it's weight it still out accelerates a stock Tahoe.

 

[Marky Dissod]

No ecm-tcm tune?

 

[Tozan]

No ecm-tcm tune?

No I run a tuner on both trans and ecm... 4.88's even with 35s really sucks unless you want to rock crawl with it... But if you want to rock crawl with it then a solid axle will be necessary because the front diff is a weak point.

This is slightly exaggerated but, if you want to feel what 4.88 gearing will do just shift it into 4wd low and hammer it.. You go nowhere fast. Tons of torque lots of shifting but, very slow acceleration. The other downside is turning over 3000 rpm at 65 mph and that is a disaster on MPG.

If anyone wants to try 4.88s I am pretty sure mine are still in the garage send money for shipping and I will give you a set with less than 5000 miles on them..

 

[Tozan]

I do around 3000 miles a year off road with mine. It's been to Lake Tahoe, California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and Arizona. It's driven pretty hard sometime but, I try not to do too much body damage... lol

Catching a little air...



Black Rock Desert at the Burning man site when no one is there...