I miss my 3/4 ton duramax (sigh), but that size truck will not fit in my office garage. For practical purposes, I bought a 2018 Denali with the 6.2L and, I guess, it tows okay. I do not tow more than 5,000 lbs, but as folks know, towing with a diesel is a much different towing experience that towing with a gasoline motor. I’m looking for real world experience of someone who has towed with the 6.2L set up and the 3.0 diesel set up and a quick compare/contrast. Preferably someone who had the most recent body style 6.2L and the current body style diesel. The current model has a little less towing capacity, but did the suspension change enhance the towing experience? Anyway, I am contemplating upgrading to the new body style with the diesel, but trying to figure out if it is worth it and the biggest factor for me is towing experience. Thanks in advance for folks that can relay their experience.
2022 diesel towing experience vs. 2018 Denali 6.2 gasser
- Thread starter 07 Denali
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Seamus
Full Access Member
Well, I have had all 3 of the vehicles in question and tow a bit --same weight a 5200 lb trailer with race car.
Presently have a 2022 Denali 2500HD CC here in the family. 6.6 Duramax is a beast and complete overkill for anything I do. But a beast, that can pull anything. Not user friendly in local settings...BIG.
Owned for 2 years the 6.2 in a 2017 Yukon Denali XL. Towed great, 8 speeed was flawless, better fuel mileage than todays 6.2 Rear airbags worked great with 5200 lbs.
Rented the new 2021 Yukon XL for a month, cross country trip. 5.3 motor. New platform is a fantastic ride. Its big, needs surround view camera for parking. Rear suspension change is a game changer. Great truck, we love it.
Daily driver is a Sierra Denali CC 3.0 Duramax. Our holdover vehicle awaiting a Yukon Denali XL 3.0. This truck is my favorite and does everything well. Have done interstate towing of 5200 lbs. It is incredible. I love the truck and the motor more everytime I drive it. 24 mpg average. Have gotten 31, but will do 26-28 MPG on the highway if your nice. Torque off the line, very peppy and a pleasure in town. 15 MPG towing!!! Love this truck and motor.
My opinion is a 2022 Yukon Denali XL with the 3.0 Duramax will be my next truck if the new Zo6 doesnt get in the way!! That would be the ultimate truck IMHO. The Denali with the 3.0 is the way to go.
The 6.2 is a rocket ship, but fuel mileage is terrible. Yes its fast. Unreliable motor. The 3.0 is torque off the line and a real cruiser with fantastic fuel mileage. Surpisingly the 3.0 has been around since 2018 and has proven very reliable.
Unfortunately a Yukon Denali XL with the 3.0 is an impossible find. Good luck
Presently have a 2022 Denali 2500HD CC here in the family. 6.6 Duramax is a beast and complete overkill for anything I do. But a beast, that can pull anything. Not user friendly in local settings...BIG.
Owned for 2 years the 6.2 in a 2017 Yukon Denali XL. Towed great, 8 speeed was flawless, better fuel mileage than todays 6.2 Rear airbags worked great with 5200 lbs.
Rented the new 2021 Yukon XL for a month, cross country trip. 5.3 motor. New platform is a fantastic ride. Its big, needs surround view camera for parking. Rear suspension change is a game changer. Great truck, we love it.
Daily driver is a Sierra Denali CC 3.0 Duramax. Our holdover vehicle awaiting a Yukon Denali XL 3.0. This truck is my favorite and does everything well. Have done interstate towing of 5200 lbs. It is incredible. I love the truck and the motor more everytime I drive it. 24 mpg average. Have gotten 31, but will do 26-28 MPG on the highway if your nice. Torque off the line, very peppy and a pleasure in town. 15 MPG towing!!! Love this truck and motor.
My opinion is a 2022 Yukon Denali XL with the 3.0 Duramax will be my next truck if the new Zo6 doesnt get in the way!! That would be the ultimate truck IMHO. The Denali with the 3.0 is the way to go.
The 6.2 is a rocket ship, but fuel mileage is terrible. Yes its fast. Unreliable motor. The 3.0 is torque off the line and a real cruiser with fantastic fuel mileage. Surpisingly the 3.0 has been around since 2018 and has proven very reliable.
Unfortunately a Yukon Denali XL with the 3.0 is an impossible find. Good luck
Stbentoak
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I kept my Ram Cummins Specifically for these reasons. My tritoon is 6200# and behind the 3.0.. you KNOW its back there. It does pull it well though. I have no gas experience as I refuse to pay the premium for premium. (No pun intended...). Premium is higher than Diesel in my area...
While the Denali is good, I appreciate and rely on the bigger brakes and the overall heft of the truck to wrangle it on the roads. It is long and heavy...
Overall though, we love the 3.0 in the Yukon. It is by far the best combination offered in the Tahoe/Yukon format....
While the Denali is good, I appreciate and rely on the bigger brakes and the overall heft of the truck to wrangle it on the roads. It is long and heavy...
Overall though, we love the 3.0 in the Yukon. It is by far the best combination offered in the Tahoe/Yukon format....
WalleyeMikeIII
Full Access Member
Well, I can chime in a bit. 22 Denali w/ 6.2L gasser, tow a 4500lb boat on often. Previous vehicle was a 2013 Suburban LTZ w/ the 5.3L.
I use weight carrying hitch, not distributing. Air ride keeps the squat out, tow totally level, both in my 2013 and in the new 22 Denali. It was a must have option for me.
Now, the 6.2 Denali w the 10 spd is a whole different, way better experience than the 5.3/6spd in my 2013.
Literally, never even feel the boat back there w/ this 6.2/10sp. Great power, smooth trans, very capable.
My Summer, normal city driving w/ the 6.2 does about 15 MPG. Highway, last couple trips, driving sane (70-75 interstate, 60-65 on 2 lane roads), I averaged 20.7 MPG over 470 miles.
Towing, seems to be more like 15-16 in same driving pattern. I have my first long towing trip (500 miles each way) coming next week, will advise after that on fuel economy on that trip.
Someone commented above that the 6.2 is an "unreliable" motor. I don't know if that is completely true...GM has had its issues w/ the AFM/DFM on the gassers, but I believe the bulk of the recent issues were attributed to a bad batch of lifters (although, there have been reports of lifter issues outside the recalled range). That said, I had the same AFM lifters in my 2013 5.3L, and it gave me 115k trouble free miles...I don't think the 6.2 is inherently unreliable, its pretty proven, but the lifter thing turns some off..I bought it knowing this, because for my daily driver needs (short trips) in cold climate, I didn't think the diesel was a good fit (I am in Minnesota).
I use weight carrying hitch, not distributing. Air ride keeps the squat out, tow totally level, both in my 2013 and in the new 22 Denali. It was a must have option for me.
Now, the 6.2 Denali w the 10 spd is a whole different, way better experience than the 5.3/6spd in my 2013.
Literally, never even feel the boat back there w/ this 6.2/10sp. Great power, smooth trans, very capable.
My Summer, normal city driving w/ the 6.2 does about 15 MPG. Highway, last couple trips, driving sane (70-75 interstate, 60-65 on 2 lane roads), I averaged 20.7 MPG over 470 miles.
Towing, seems to be more like 15-16 in same driving pattern. I have my first long towing trip (500 miles each way) coming next week, will advise after that on fuel economy on that trip.
Someone commented above that the 6.2 is an "unreliable" motor. I don't know if that is completely true...GM has had its issues w/ the AFM/DFM on the gassers, but I believe the bulk of the recent issues were attributed to a bad batch of lifters (although, there have been reports of lifter issues outside the recalled range). That said, I had the same AFM lifters in my 2013 5.3L, and it gave me 115k trouble free miles...I don't think the 6.2 is inherently unreliable, its pretty proven, but the lifter thing turns some off..I bought it knowing this, because for my daily driver needs (short trips) in cold climate, I didn't think the diesel was a good fit (I am in Minnesota).
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How much rear sag would be reduced with a properly adjusted weight distribution hitch? I understand on some types of trailers, it may not be practical to use a WDH.
If the weight is distributed properly, I would think it would reduce the rear end sag. The other problem with rear end sag is that the vehicle would hit hit bump stops more often because rear suspension travel would be reduced.
I would like to not have air suspension if it's not absolutely necessary because when the air suspension fails, it can leave the vehicle stranded if the primary suspension is not coil spring or leaf pack based.
WalleyeMikeIII
Full Access Member
Not sure, my boat tongue weight is only about 350 lbs, so not really a need I have
Understood. Air suspension can't hurt, but I'm not sure if a 350 lbs tongue weight would cause too much sag.
One question I do have for you is how high does the hitch receiver sit above the ground with the vehicle unloaded? The reason I ask is because I'm planning on purchasing a Weigh Safe hitch but wanted to know if there was a drop measurement that would work with both the GM full size SUVs as well as a pickup I'm using in a few weeks to trailer a car.
altona
Full Access Member
My Yukon 4wd needed a 2" lower drop than my 2wd pickup with Max Tow Pkg to keep the same cargo trailer level.
WalleyeMikeIII
Full Access Member
Top of the ball mount (where the ball attaches to the mount) using a 6” drop is 16.5” off the ground unloaded, but I have Air ride. Drops about 2-2.5 in after the boat tongue load goes on and then comes back up as the vehicle levels iiself. I’ll measure the receiver to the ground unloaded later today, but should be about 22.5” based on the 6” drop
