Max Towing Thoughts on 2017 Yukon Denali 4x4

[AZ Rat]

Hi Guys & Gals,
I have a 2017 Yukon Denali 4x4.
I am looking to buy a Keystone Bullet 3300BHS with a dry weight of ~7,300 lbs.
My Yukon has a Max towing of 8,100 lbs.

I am fully aware water will be another ~350 lbs and the weight of our gear will add up quickly.

Between the occupants (my Family) and our gear, we will be under the 1,500 lbs allowed.

My Question to this Forum is, if my GMC has a (GCWR) Gross Combined Weight Rating of 14,000 lbs, is it is it still okay to tow (carry) close to that much weight? It would not be on a regular basis, maybe once a month?

I hear some people say NEVER EVER tow close to your Max towing capacity while others, like myself, feel if it's built (& advertised) to tow 8,100 lbs, THEN TOW THAT IF YOU WANT.

I would like feedback!

 

[swathdiver]

Hi Guys & Gals,
I have a 2017 Yukon Denali 4x4.
I am looking to buy a Keystone Bullet 3300BHS with a dry weight of ~7,300 lbs.
My Yukon has a Max towing of 8,100 lbs.

I am fully aware water will be another ~350 lbs and the weight of our gear will add up quickly.

Between the occupants (my Family) and our gear, we will be under the 1,500 lbs allowed.

My Question to this Forum is, if my GMC has a (GCWR) Gross Combined Weight Rating of 14,000 lbs, is it is it still okay to tow (carry) close to that much weight? It would not be on a regular basis, maybe once a month?

I hear some people say NEVER EVER tow close to your Max towing capacity while others, like myself, feel if it's built (& advertised) to tow 8,100 lbs, THEN TOW THAT IF YOU WANT.

I would like feedback!

If you are towing on flat lands in cooler weather she'll do it without issue. But once a month is more regular and you'll be way over your limits with that trailer and that truck. You'll much more quickly wear things out, like the transmission, especially if you do not change the fluid every 30-40k miles and even then, with all that weight, it's just going to wear out faster.

You really don't want your trailer to be over about 6,400-6,600 pounds fully loaded when hauling the wife and kids and their stuff in the truck. You could likely only haul 8,100 pounds if only the driver was aboard the tow vehicle and he weighed 200 pounds or less; something like that anyway before weight limits start being exceeded.

 

[Bill 1960]

That trailer will be over your max tow rating loaded. Dry weight plus propane, fluids, accessories, and all your cargo.

12% tongue weight needs to be around 1,000 lbs. Plus the ~1500 lbs of passengers and vehicles cargo. Probably will be over GVWR.

Load up the family with everything you intend to carry in the vehicle and visit a scale, then you’ll have facts, not guesses. See what’s left for tongue weight in GVWR and trailer weight in GCWR.

33’ is a lot of sail area. My personal experience, that’s a lot more dangerous than weight. I personally don’t mind exceeding a weight rating when I’m driving. I can adapt my driving and remain safe (in my opinion admittedly). But a big box trailer can take control with any gust of wind or passing semi.

 

[ThisIsLivin]

Help me understand, the drive train and brakes are the same between my Denali and the Max Tow Package pickup which is rated at 11,000lbs. I even have the same gear ratio in the differential. Yet the Yukon which also has the tow package is only rated for 8100lbs. I tow a 6500lb boat and trailer and I have pulled the boat up on the trailer for more tongue weight and it sits perfectly level. It tows like a dream and I can leave most sedans at the light with little effort. What formula do they use for calculating max tow capacity? Even towing through the hills of Northern Michigan it doesn't strain at all running 75. I put it in tow mode and set the cruise. I watch my engine and trans temp and they barely rise above normal when towing.

 

[swathdiver]

Help me understand, the drive train and brakes are the same between my Denali and the Max Tow Package pickup which is rated at 11,000lbs. I even have the same gear ratio in the differential. Yet the Yukon which also has the tow package is only rated for 8100lbs. I tow a 6500lb boat and trailer and I have pulled the boat up on the trailer for more tongue weight and it sits perfectly level. It tows like a dream and I can leave most sedans at the light with little effort. What formula do they use for calculating max tow capacity? Even towing through the hills of Northern Michigan it doesn't strain at all running 75. I put it in tow mode and set the cruise. I watch my engine and trans temp and they barely rise above normal when towing.

I am assuming you are comparing a pickup and a wagon? The wagon weighs more and probably has a lower payload than the pickup. The pickup may have a higher rear axle capacity. From the K2 onward, GM uses the J2807 SAE standardized tow rating procedure.

 

[ThisIsLivin]

I am assuming you are comparing a pickup and a wagon? The wagon weighs more and probably has a lower payload than the pickup. The pickup may have a higher rear axle capacity. From the K2 onward, GM uses the J2807 SAE standardized tow rating procedure.

I checked and I have the same 9.76" axle and drive train as the GMC 1500 Max Tow rated at 11,000. My brother has the GMC Sierra 1500 Max Tow and it uses exactly the same brakes as my Yukon. The tongue weight on my trailer is probably close to 700lbs and it doesn't drop the hitch down more than 1/2" and the air ride system brings it level.

 

[swathdiver]

I checked and I have the same 9.76" axle and drive train as the GMC 1500 Max Tow rated at 11,000. My brother has the GMC Sierra 1500 Max Tow and it uses exactly the same brakes as my Yukon. The tongue weight on my trailer is probably close to 700lbs and it doesn't drop the hitch down more than 1/2" and the air ride system brings it level.

May have the same axle but obviously different springs though both may have the same capacity.

It comes down mostly to weight, the wagon weighs more than the pickup.

My wagon is rated for 7,900 pounds and a pickup with the exact same cooling system, gearing and drivetrain is rated for 9,600 pounds towing. The wagon's rating is considerably less because it weighs more and the difference does not result in a linear gain in towing capacity either.

 

[ThisIsLivin]

May have the same axle but obviously different springs though both may have the same capacity.

It comes down mostly to weight, the wagon weighs more than the pickup.

My wagon is rated for 7,900 pounds and a pickup with the exact same cooling system, gearing and drivetrain is rated for 9,600 pounds towing. The wagon's rating is considerably less because it weighs more and the difference does not result in a linear gain in towing capacity either.

The Sierra crew cab weighs maybe 500lbs less than my Yukon, so I could believe it if the tow rating were 500lbs different, but it's 3,000lbs less. If I get time I will measure the gauge of the frame of my brother's Sierra with the Max Tow package against my Yukon. Same thing with my 03 Suburban 1500, I put 1400lbs of stone in that thing and it barely sat down at all, maybe 1/2" as we were loading it from a fixed platform and could gauge the drop. The only time I got the Suburban to squat at all was with a 4 yard dump trailer stacked 5' high with logs from storm damage I had to clean up. Of course I had E rated tires on it and it handled that load with no problem.

 

[swathdiver]

The Sierra crew cab weighs maybe 500lbs less than my Yukon, so I could believe it if the tow rating were 500lbs different, but it's 3,000lbs less. If I get time I will measure the gauge of the frame of my brother's Sierra with the Max Tow package against my Yukon. Same thing with my 03 Suburban 1500, I put 1400lbs of stone in that thing and it barely sat down at all, maybe 1/2" as we were loading it from a fixed platform and could gauge the drop. The only time I got the Suburban to squat at all was with a 4 yard dump trailer stacked 5' high with logs from storm damage I had to clean up. Of course I had E rated tires on it and it handled that load with no problem.

My daughter also has a crew cab Sierra with the max tow package. The difference between hers and the 9600 pound version are the 3.73 gears, 4200 pound spring capacity and the 6.2 motor.
3.73s make a big difference, our cooling systems are identical.

 

[Big Mama]

From experience I can say the difference I see between the truck and Yukon is the rear suspension. The coils we have don’t have the capability leafs do. I wrestled with this myself knowing my 6.2 is stronger that a trucks 5.3 it just didn’t make sense until someone like James, @swathdiver , explained the rear set up. I pull my 5k lb boat easily but wouldn’t dare pull a 33 foot trailer with my family on board.