Towing with 1/2 ton SUV NEED ADVICE
I own a 2011 Yukon, 116" wheelbase, 5.3L, 3.42 ratio, with HD tow package, tow rating of #8,500. I'm looking at buying a TT but am unsure about how much of a trailer my vehicle can safely handle. I am...
Forum Discussion
I've towed close to max with my 2002 Yukon XL. Up some pretty steep hills in the Sierras.
No, I didn't enjoy it. But if you're willing to go slow, it'll do it. I don't think I'd want to use it regularly though. My gears are 3:23 though. Not ideal.
Here's the thing. Going up was slow. WDH with anti sway made it bearable. Never made it over 40ish going up a 12% grade. But that's not your real problem.
Your real problem is stopping. If you go uphill, eventually, you gotta come down. And stopping that much weight with a Yukon XL and it's smallish breaks and those gears, sucked. A lot. I'll go as far as to say stupid and dangerous. I swore I would never do it again and had I thought about it, I'd have never done it to begin with.
You need to check if your brakes are bigger than mine. Very well could be. You're already better off with you transmission from what I've heard.
In my particular model and year, I'll never go over 70% of max load again if going up or down hill. 75% period.
That's just my take. Small sample. Many have been towing with worse set ups for a lot longer than me.
No, I didn't enjoy it. But if you're willing to go slow, it'll do it. I don't think I'd want to use it regularly though. My gears are 3:23 though. Not ideal.
Here's the thing. Going up was slow. WDH with anti sway made it bearable. Never made it over 40ish going up a 12% grade. But that's not your real problem.
Your real problem is stopping. If you go uphill, eventually, you gotta come down. And stopping that much weight with a Yukon XL and it's smallish breaks and those gears, sucked. A lot. I'll go as far as to say stupid and dangerous. I swore I would never do it again and had I thought about it, I'd have never done it to begin with.
You need to check if your brakes are bigger than mine. Very well could be. You're already better off with you transmission from what I've heard.
In my particular model and year, I'll never go over 70% of max load again if going up or down hill. 75% period.
That's just my take. Small sample. Many have been towing with worse set ups for a lot longer than me.
