Towing with a Cadallic Escalade

The Escalade with 6.2L is a beast for towing.

The 6.2L is not an HD motor which is why you dont find it in HD trucks, but that doesn't mean its not a strong and reliable motor for non-commercial/private towing.

Buy a Prodigy P2 or P3 brake controller with wire adapter for that year/make/model, buy a good WDH, and go get that travel trailer!

A 6200-lb dry weight trailer will be right at the limit for that truck, once it's loaded for a trip. Depending on the size/weight of your family, you'll be right at the limit or over on your payload.

You obviously will have plenty of power (I have an '09 Sierra Denali 6.2 3.42). If you're planning shorter trips of a few hundred miles, then you should be fine. If you're planning cross-country long hauls, I'd be concerned about the weak semi-floater rear axle.

Either way, if it's that good of a price, I say buy it anyways. It's a fantastic truck, and you'll love it. And now that it's taken the depreciation of the first four years, should hold its value pretty well. You'll likely be able to sell it for a profit in a year or two if you decide to upgrade your tow vehicle.

Bionic Man wrote:


I use my Denali to tow a 7000 pound boat.

There's no comparison between a boat and a TT.

Sometimes this forum has so much fear mongering and misinformation that all you can do is laugh.

The Escalade is a very capable tow vehicle - within it's limits.

I have it's sister vehicle - a 2011 Yukon Denali XL. It's cargo capacity is 1452 pounds. The Escalade might be slightly less, but not much.

I use my Denali to tow a 7000 pound boat. Might be a little less tongue weight than a trailer, and a little more aerodynamic, but considering I make several trips over the Rockies in Colorado (and over the heralded "Ike Gauntlet"), I think that offsets some of the differences.

My Denali does a good job pulling the boat. For a gasser, it has plenty of power. I think it is about as stable as a 1500 can be. Does it tow as well as my 3500 DRW? No. But it wasn't designed to.

My guess (tell me if I am wrong), is that you will be like most, and use it to tow a handful of times over the year, but it will primarily be a DD. It will shine in that role.

I would not be afraid as long as the trailer is 27 29 ft and about 6,000. I think it would be good. Go for a good weight dist hitch

An Escalade is likely to have a lower payload compared to it's GM siblings, due to the fact that it's a Cadillac, and they're all loaded.

Grit dog wrote:


It's not a vette motor. Those are like 600+ hp now.

The Z06, yes. The base Vette, no.

6k dry, 7k loaded, 900-1000 pounds of TW. Verify the as equipped payload per the tire and loading sticker. You may have less than 1400 pounds. Does family weigh less than 500 pounds?

Lots of power from the 6.2L.

Plenty of power and will do just fine. The sheriff also wont know if it's one pound over.

Read your owner's book...all 524 pages....(page 9-60) https://www.cadillac.com/content/dam/Cadillac/Global/master/nscwebsite/en/home/Owners/Manuals_and_Videos/03_pdf/2013-escalade-owner-manual-2k.pdf