Is anyone towing with a Chevy/GMC 1/2 ton 3.0L Diesel?

[wayfun]

I'm starting to think about my next tow vehicle. I currently pull with a GMC Yukon Denali with the 6.2L V8. They will soon put the 3.0L diesel in the Yukon. The peak torque on both engines is the same except the diesel gets there at 1500 rpm and the 6.2 at 4100 rpm. I never pull at that rpm. Rarely over 2500 rpm. I would like to hear some real world experiences towing a 5,000 to 6,000 lb trailer with the little diesel. Is it up to the task?

Thanks

[Bionic_Man]

I had a 2011 GMC Denali XL with the 6.2/6 speed.

I have a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 3.0 EcoDiesel.

The GMC was used as a secondary tow vehicle for my 7000 pound boat. I've used the Jeep a couple of times to tow the same boat.

I love my Grand Cherokee. Might be my favorite vehicle I have ever owned. The 3.0 with the 8 speed just drives great. While I haven't pulled my boat through the Rockies, I was never left wanting for power driving I76 (relatively flat). I know it wouldn't pull up the hills as fast as the Yukon, but I think it would do fine. The GM 3.0/10 speed should be a better combo than what I have.

If GM would have offered the 3.0 diesel in a Yukon/Burb when I was buying at the end of last summer, I may very well have ended up in another GM SUV vs the Expedition that I bought.

[wayfun]

KD4UPL wrote:
You rarely pull at an RPM higher than 2500? You must have a really light trailer, live where there are no mountains, or just like lugging the engine to death.

I was pulling about 5000 lbs through the mountains of TN in tow/haul mode with the cruise set on 60 and let the 8 speed do the work. It would occasionally drop 5th gear at 2700 rpm. Most of the time it was in 6th gear at 2200 rpm.

[KD4UPL]

You rarely pull at an RPM higher than 2500? You must have a really light trailer, live where there are no mountains, or just like lugging the engine to death.

[RCMAN46]

The 3.0 l diesel makes 277 hp and the 6.2 l gas makes 420 hp.

You probably will not be happy with the small diesel when towing.

[sayoung]

My Son just bought a GMC 1/2t crew Denali with the diesel. It's pretty nice . He is in the buying stage for a 24-26 ft TT so has not towed but the unloaded Hwy mpg is in mid twenties

[Lwiddis]

The 3.0 is very rare on the road. I watch for them. One so far and not towing.