LOVE this 8.1 Burb!!!

Good eye. I thought we were going to get a used 247. But we ended up increasing the budget to get SurfGate, and the 23LSV. Love the boat. But would love a 25LSV even more. There is always something nicer........ :)

Bionic Man wrote:
P.S. if you are towing 9000 pounds, you should look at upgrading that hitch. This is the one I bought. Here

Much heavier than the light weight OEM that is on the 2500. I wish they made one for my body style.

haha. Thats the exact hitch I installed a couple months ago. Thanks for the advise though.

Bionic Man wrote:

anw7405 wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
To each their own. While not as stable of a tow vehicle, I’ll take the drivetrain of my 2011 Yukon’ XL Denali over the previous 2003 Burb 2500/8.1. The Yukon pulls with much less effort and faster speed over the passes than my Burb could.

Hmmm. This is just odd to me. I pulled the same trailer with both the 6.2 and the 8.1. I broke one 6.2 and replaced it with a new GM certified 6.2 installed by GM and it still struggled. It overheated and had to stay way up on RPM's to move the 5k trailer. 4th gear is all it could ever get to.

I traded that in for an 05 8.1 and towed the same trailer on the same trip with the same temps. The burb towed it in 4th gear 95% of the time. It only hit 3rd gear on the long steep mountain passes. I couldn't even imaging trying to set my 9k lbs trailer on the back of that denali.

I guess it all depends on what you are towing and where. Maybe sea level affects the big block more than the 6.2. Don't know?

I remember having this same discussion with you when you were going through those troubles. My experience is just different.

For this vehicle, it is towing a 7000ish pound boat.

While my Yukon spends most of its time on the Interstate in 5th, that is still better than my 8.1 would spent all of its time in 3rd.

Going up the passes in Colorado, they both will drop down to 2nd, but the Yukon is easily faster up the hills.

The Yukon gets similar MPG towing to what the 8.1 would get solo (admittedly on more expensive fuel). Solo, it is around 17-18 MPG at 80 + MPH. Same speeds, the 8.1 would maybe get 10 MPG.

Engine and tranny temps were similar.

Not to mention how much nicer the newer body style is.

I just don't miss my Burb.

Glad you are enjoying yours though. :)

I have to say your denali looks way better pulling that shiny 247? or 23lsv? I used to run a wakeboard/ wakesurf ministry here in OKC. That is one sweet boat!

P.S. if you are towing 9000 pounds, you should look at upgrading that hitch. This is the one I bought. Here

Much heavier than the light weight OEM that is on the 2500. I wish they made one for my body style.

anw7405 wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
To each their own. While not as stable of a tow vehicle, I’ll take the drivetrain of my 2011 Yukon’ XL Denali over the previous 2003 Burb 2500/8.1. The Yukon pulls with much less effort and faster speed over the passes than my Burb could.

Hmmm. This is just odd to me. I pulled the same trailer with both the 6.2 and the 8.1. I broke one 6.2 and replaced it with a new GM certified 6.2 installed by GM and it still struggled. It overheated and had to stay way up on RPM's to move the 5k trailer. 4th gear is all it could ever get to.

I traded that in for an 05 8.1 and towed the same trailer on the same trip with the same temps. The burb towed it in 4th gear 95% of the time. It only hit 3rd gear on the long steep mountain passes. I couldn't even imaging trying to set my 9k lbs trailer on the back of that denali.

I guess it all depends on what you are towing and where. Maybe sea level affects the big block more than the 6.2. Don't know?

I remember having this same discussion with you when you were going through those troubles. My experience is just different.

For this vehicle, it is towing a 7000ish pound boat.

While my Yukon spends most of its time on the Interstate in 5th, that is still better than my 8.1 would spent all of its time in 3rd.

Going up the passes in Colorado, they both will drop down to 2nd, but the Yukon is easily faster up the hills.

The Yukon gets similar MPG towing to what the 8.1 would get solo (admittedly on more expensive fuel). Solo, it is around 17-18 MPG at 80 + MPH. Same speeds, the 8.1 would maybe get 10 MPG.

Engine and tranny temps were similar.

Not to mention how much nicer the newer body style is.

I just don't miss my Burb.

Glad you are enjoying yours though. :)

BenK wrote:
Newer...yes, but not by much, IMHO

For much less money...up dating my Sub will have a rebuilt 4L80E rated for +1,000 HP, 4.88 diff ratio’s, a gear splitter that will provide 8 forward gear ratios (double OD along with a super low First)

Yes, not as ‘nice’ as new, but not that important to me... Yes would love to have rear disc, but have tuned my rear drums to out stop many cars...

Enjoy what you have...if not, then buy whatever ‘you’ like better...I love my K3500 Suburban

Bionic Man wrote:
To each their own. While not as stable of a tow vehicle, I’ll take the drivetrain of my 2011 Yukon’ XL Denali over the previous 2003 Burb 2500/8.1. The Yukon pulls with much less effort and faster speed over the passes than my Burb could.

Different strokes for different folks. I like new/nice. I don't miss all the rattles the 03 had (although the 11 still has more than I would like). Or the cheap dash. Or the TERRIBLE fuel economy, towing or solo.

Honestly, my 2011 is likely the next vehicle in my stable that will be replaced. I would like the newer body style with better amenities, but I really have my eye on a 2018 + Expedition. Just not wanting to pay that price yet

Glad there are folks that like the older vehicles. It means I have a market for mine when I am done with it. :)

Bionic Man wrote:
To each their own. While not as stable of a tow vehicle, I’ll take the drivetrain of my 2011 Yukon’ XL Denali over the previous 2003 Burb 2500/8.1. The Yukon pulls with much less effort and faster speed over the passes than my Burb could.

Hmmm. This is just odd to me. I pulled the same trailer with both the 6.2 and the 8.1. I broke one 6.2 and replaced it with a new GM certified 6.2 installed by GM and it still struggled. It overheated and had to stay way up on RPM's to move the 5k trailer. 4th gear is all it could ever get to.

I traded that in for an 05 8.1 and towed the same trailer on the same trip with the same temps. The burb towed it in 4th gear 95% of the time. It only hit 3rd gear on the long steep mountain passes. I couldn't even imaging trying to set my 9k lbs trailer on the back of that denali.

I guess it all depends on what you are towing and where. Maybe sea level affects the big block more than the 6.2. Don't know?

Dick_B wrote:
and my 2011 Suburban with its 6.0L engine gets the same towing mileage as my old 8.1 burb.

The newer 6.0 is a great engine. I have nothing bad to say about the drive train but the plastic on the 07- 13's were awful in my opinion. and they want a ton of money for them. I do like the look of them though.

Newer...yes, but not by much, IMHO

For much less money...up dating my Sub will have a rebuilt 4L80E rated for +1,000 HP, 4.88 diff ratio’s, a gear splitter that will provide 8 forward gear ratios (double OD along with a super low First)

Yes, not as ‘nice’ as new, but not that important to me... Yes would love to have rear disc, but have tuned my rear drums to out stop many cars...

Enjoy what you have...if not, then buy whatever ‘you’ like better...I love my K3500 Suburban

Bionic Man wrote:
To each their own. While not as stable of a tow vehicle, I’ll take the drivetrain of my 2011 Yukon’ XL Denali over the previous 2003 Burb 2500/8.1. The Yukon pulls with much less effort and faster speed over the passes than my Burb could.

and my 2011 Suburban with its 6.0L engine gets the same towing mileage as my old 8.1 burb.