Towing with an SUV

Our Mercedes GL350 dsl got 15 mpg towing a small enclosed trailer, same as our new Yukon. The MB would get 25-26 everyday and once a high of 31. The Yukon gets 18-19 everyday. Your not saving the planet or money by buying a MB dsl.

If your real world use of the Sequoia got 20% less than the EPA city estimate, so will any other vehicle including the MB diesel, except maybe a hybrid.

My diesel car that has almost 38mpg lifetime average over 48k miles gets under 20mpg in the winter if I only drive a couple miles at a time. It never gets warm enough to get into the peak efficiency. You need to understand your use case.

We are concerned about the cost, of course, but also about the sheer amount of fuel used. The MB gets twice the mileage.

Grit dog wrote:

MargaretB wrote:
Can of worms? A question that generates informative discussion is a "can of worms"? Sorry. I had no idea.

We got rid of the Sequoia because downhill with a tailwind and no TT, we were getting between 10 and 12 mpg and were going broke. As I mentioned earlier, a friend tows with an MB diesel and encourages us to do the same. That's why I asked.

You got rid of a Toyota because it was too expensive and are thinking about a Mercedes??
Not sure what to say.

No Kidding, the logic or lack thereof still amazes me at times here.

Larry

terminator35 wrote:
I have a question. I purchased a 2008 suburban with a 5.3 vortex engine and 3.73 rear. I want to know what size TT can I get in order to tow with the burb without burning it up? any help will be appreciated.

you probably should have started your own thread, since this one is focused on the OP's needs.

but i have an '07 Avalanche, which is the same as the Burb, without the rear seats and has a pickup bed in place of the seats.
same engine and rear end.
i believe your towing capacity is 7000-7200lbs., IF it has the factory tow package.
your payload is probably less than mine, since it's an SUV.
i tow a 24' HTT that weighs around 5000lbs. loaded for camping.
i wouldn't want to tow anything much heavier, but i live out West and have lots of mountain ranges to deal with.

you shouldn't go any longer than 27' ultralight and a yellow sticker weight of no more than 5000lbs.
and a brake controller and good WDH with sway control.

MargaretB wrote:
Can of worms? A question that generates informative discussion is a "can of worms"? Sorry. I had no idea.

We got rid of the Sequoia because downhill with a tailwind and no TT, we were getting between 10 and 12 mpg and were going broke. As I mentioned earlier, a friend tows with an MB diesel and encourages us to do the same. That's why I asked.

You got rid of a Toyota because it was too expensive and are thinking about a Mercedes??
Not sure what to say.

I have a question. I purchased a 2008 suburban with a 5.3 vortex engine and 3.73 rear. I want to know what size TT can I get in order to tow with the burb without burning it up? any help will be appreciated.

naturist wrote:

MargaretB wrote:
You mention mileage being important for environmental reasons, yet you are considering a diesel powered vehicle. Are you aware that a diesel engine emits far more pollutants into the atmosphere than a comparable gasoline engine?

According to what we've read up on, urea-injection diesel systems emit H20 vapor and a small amount of NOx.

In 1950, that was true. It is not true today. Modern diesels, equipped with a particulate filter and urea injection emit less pollutants that gas engines, as well as less CO2.

I work in the automotive industry. Funny thing about the emissions testing machine. When we hook it up to any diesel engine vehicle, the readings are always higher, by a good margin, than a comparable gas engine. Well within State limits, but still way higher than gas engines. Waiting for someone to say they "have read" this is some kind of conspiracy with the testing machine, lol.

naturist wrote:

MargaretB wrote:
You mention mileage being important for environmental reasons, yet you are considering a diesel powered vehicle. Are you aware that a diesel engine emits far more pollutants into the atmosphere than a comparable gasoline engine?

According to what we've read up on, urea-injection diesel systems emit H20 vapor and a small amount of NOx.

In 1950, that was true. It is not true today. Modern diesels, equipped with a particulate filter and urea injection emit less pollutants that gas engines, as well as less CO2.

It was also true in 2000, so you don't have to go back to the 50's. Unleaded gasoline burning engines have traditionally been much kinder to the environment than pre-DPF and Urea equipped diesels. NOx output is still likely to be higher in a diesel than a gas vehicle. The line is definitely blurred at this point, and any modern vehicle is significantly cleaner than any ICE vehicle in from the 70's.

2008-2013 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 2WD has a 6200 pound tow rating. The receiver should be the same as every 2007-2014 at 1000 pounds using a WDH. I do not know about payloads. For a vehicle its size, it gets very good fuel economy.