Question about Handling...Looking to buy a Yukon

[karprive]

Hello...I have found this forum to be very helpful as I am currently thinking about purchasing a new Yukon Denali.

To make a long story short, how is the stock handling on these trucks?

I rented an Escalade for a day to test out (and to make sure I wasn't making a huge financial mistake before purchasing), but my wife wasn't too happy with the handling. She thought it felt a bit too "boaty" and that there was a lot of sway/lean during turns.

Can someone please tell if this is "normal" with these vehicles or if the rental I drove probably took too much abuse from others?

Also, if this is "normal" (swaying, body lean, etc.), are there mods that can be done to get firmer handling? - I realize this isn't a sports car, but my current vehicle (Toyota FJ Cruiser) handled so much better than the rental...so, I'm hoping that I just got a bad rental.

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[edgaranah1]

Hello, these trucks handle well IMO, there is some body roll same with all SUVs. FJ cruisers have more stiff suspension because they are designed more of an offroad vehicle. Escalades like the one you tested are more of a luxurious on road SUV.
You could help with the sway and body roll by dropping the ride height and adding aftermarket sway bars. In all I think you would be very happy with a gmt900,

 

[Regency]

I don't notice float at all seems like I'm just gliding on the road but definitley a great handling truck Fj cruisers are a V6 btw so the GMT900 is your best choice

 

[quattrotman]

I have lowered mine with new shocks and bigger sways. It handles better than stock but I wouldn't say it handles well. My Porsche Cayenne handles well for a truck but my Escalade is a bit heavy feeling and vague with the steering. Body roll isn't bad but it still is a very large and heavy truck so I will say it handles well for its size but overall it is a bit floaty (especially on the highway). Bigger wheels with lower profile tires, I would say, will make the biggest difference in handling IMO. Even just 22" will be much better than say 18" with ballons on them. If you want a good handling SUV I don't think this is for you...get something a bit smaller with unibody construction. The body on frame layout is great for durable truck duty but not a great platform for handling. Too much weight and too much flex.

 

[Peaches]

If this is boaty or floaty, I guess I like it. I really dislike the way unibody handles. I personally like a slightly slower reaction, more room for error. Something this big and heavy isn't going to have extremely tight handling anyway. Kind of like how Clydesdales aren't track horses, too big and strong.

 

[karprive]

Thank you for the responses and I guess what quattrotman described is exactly what I was experiencing.

I love the look of these trucks and I do want a full size SUV, so I guess I'll have to test drive it once more and do some serious thinking.

Thanks for the input and hope to hear from others with their opinions.

 

[TowGMC]

I moved from a BMW X5 with factory suspension and the staggered 19" wheels to my current Denali. X5 was far more fun to drive, and far better handling in every way. But it weighed 2/3 ton less. Loved it but a) needed a 3rd row seat occasionally and b) needed a better tow vehicle.

I swore this was going to be the first vehicle I've owned in the past 30 years that I was going leave stock. Yea right. Changing the brakes to Powerslot rotors and Hawk LTS pads was a huge improvement. and I just added a Hellwig adjustable rear sway bar which makes a big difference too. At the moment I think the weak link in the handling is the OE 20" Bridgestones, even at 40 lbs air pressure the sidewalls are sloppy, but I'm now willing to go to 22's and bend rims constantly.

But you can't defy the laws of physics. This is still a big heavy truck on a ladder frame. I have learned that it's far better than the old ones, I'd had an '88 Suburban, a '94 Blazer and '97 Tahoe. The new ones are light years better. Bottom line- I'm happy with the change and have adapted to the differences.

 

[bottomline2000]

Test drive one from a dealership. First time I drove a Tahoe was a rental and it felt terrible. So much that I couldn't wait to get back in my then 9 year old truck. Rentals get beat on and are not a good basis of how they feel when properly maintained.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[karprive]

Good point about rentals getting abused...I'm hoping that is the case as well, but I'm sure the other comments are valid - this is a full size truck and I will most likely have to adapt and not expect it to handle like an X5 (leased one in 2005 and loved how it drove, but now I need something bigger and badder).

I asked the dealer as well and they said the "floaty" feel was because I drove an Escalade and that the Yukon Denali would feel much firmer/stiffer...

I assumed the Denali suspension was similar to the Escalade, but is there any truth to what the dealer said about Escalades being "softer"?

 

[yates ™]

As far as I know they are the exact same.