1500 Yukon XL Denali vs 2500 Suburban 8.1

ksu_j wrote:
OP here. Thanks for all the replies everyone.

We took the "new" camper out for a weekend trip this weekend and absolutely love it. When I hooked on at the house with the Denali, I hooked my WDH the same way I did my old one. The ride to the campground was bouncy and I felt like I was staring up at the sky. On the way home I hooked up an additional link in the chain and that made a BIG difference. Rode close to level and was much smoother. Plenty of power to pull, that's for sure. But I'm still nervous about the wimpy 20" P rated tires on the Denali, and it still squatted down the Denali a bit, even with 4 links used on the chain instead of 3.

I'm still in negotiations (online) for the 8.1. It's out of state so would be a good drive for me to go get it.

I really appreciate the insight on the payload numbers and the mpg numbers. I know it won't be cheaper, that's for sure. But I guess it's not like I'm going from a Prius to an 8.1 either. I think I'll feel the difference, but not a whole bunch.

I think if I can get almost a straight trade on it, I might be making a road trip to go pick it up. If not, I'll make do with what I got through the winter time and start up the search again in earnest next spring.

I've got a year or two until my kids get too big for this current car. But, that just means all the 3/4 ton suburbans will be a year or two older also.....

With the 2500 and 8.1 you will barely know the trailer is back there. Just got back from a 9000 mile trip (mostly towing a similar trailer to yours) and averaged right at 9 MPG. Plenty of western mountains included. Stuck to low 60's most of the time for speed.
The payload is close to 3000 on that truck.
I have never calculated MPG's not towing. I'm sure it isn't good but I bought it mostly for towing, although we are liking it so much I may make it my daily driver.