Should I tow a 30' 7" 5820lb trailer with 2005 Yukon Denali XL?

[jlrosine]

Hi all, I'm looking for anyone that has had experience with my vehicle or just has a good general opinion of whether or not I should consider buying a camper that weights 5,820lbs dry.

My Vehicle:
2005 GMC Yukon XL Denali
158k miles (transmission and axles serviced every 30k miles since new).
6.0L vortec w/electric fans (335hp/375lb/ft torque)
Towing Capacity: 7,900 lbs

Trailer I'm considering:
Coleman 30' 7" trailer
5,820 lbs

I'm trying to avoid a situation where I have to bump up to a 3/4 ton for various reasons. The first reason and biggest reason is that I have a family of 6, finding a 3/4 ton vehicle like the Yukon I already have is difficult to find and really doesn't offer much over what I have if I add anti sway bars and hitch equalizer. It seems like most of the 3/4 ton burbs are older anyway, and have tons of miles.

I considered "upgrading" to the Expedition EL Ecoboost, but it's still just a 1/2 ton frame I believe. It would offer better power but marginally increase the safety otherwise. I could also potentially get an F150 ecoboost or something similar (3/4 ton), but finding a bench in the front to seat 6 is proving difficult, and expensive.

Am I nuts to try to tow a trailer of that size with the Yukon I have? Dealers all tell me it'll be fine, but research and some experience towing tell me I should be careful.

I'm a very careful/slow driver, and if I did tow with the vehicle I have I can't imagine going much over 55 or 60mph with that large of a trailer in tow.

Any suggestions/thoughts appreciated.

[dodge_guy]

GeoBoy wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I always say to add 1500lbs to a trailers dry weight. this will get you close to its loaded ready to travel weight. that would put a 5800lb trailer at a loaded weight of 7300lbs with 12.5% tongue weight of approx. 960lbs (you will need to load the trailer properly to arrive at this number).

As far as towing at 55-60, that will not be practical. you will get run off the highway at those speeds. I`ve run at 70 on occasion and it still isn't fast enough for most people. the 6.0 can handle it. I would think you will be OK. if your willing to get a new Tow Vehicle then why not tow with it to see how it does. then you can decide if you want something different. and with as many people that will be in the trailer you do not want to go smaller!

Are you serious? Most trailer tires are rated at a maximum of 65 mph, I have been rv'ing since 2006, with TC's and TT's and 60 mph is my max speed. There are lanes for guys like you, they are called passing lanes!

My towing speed 90% of the time is 67mph! My ST tires are rated at 86mph. I have run at 73 before but that's not often. My X tows great at 67 and I'm comfortable at that speed. Especially going through the plains, 60 mph is like eternity going through a vast expanse of nothing!

[GeoBoy]

dodge guy wrote:
I always say to add 1500lbs to a trailers dry weight. this will get you close to its loaded ready to travel weight. that would put a 5800lb trailer at a loaded weight of 7300lbs with 12.5% tongue weight of approx. 960lbs (you will need to load the trailer properly to arrive at this number).

As far as towing at 55-60, that will not be practical. you will get run off the highway at those speeds. I`ve run at 70 on occasion and it still isn't fast enough for most people. the 6.0 can handle it. I would think you will be OK. if your willing to get a new Tow Vehicle then why not tow with it to see how it does. then you can decide if you want something different. and with as many people that will be in the trailer you do not want to go smaller!

Are you serious? Most trailer tires are rated at a maximum of 65 mph, I have been rv'ing since 2006, with TC's and TT's and 60 mph is my max speed. There are lanes for guys like you, they are called passing lanes!

[jlrosine]

Thanks again to everyone.

I ended up buying a slightly smaller camper. It's rated at 4770lbs but the tag on the camper says 5000lbs. I feel a little bit better about staying under my calculated limit of 5300lbs.

[Lwiddis]

"I run 55-60 with my rig and just stay in the right lane for the most part."

Me too, Camoer G. Set the cruise at 56 and enjoy the drive.

[Camper_G]

I just wanted to comment on the highway speed mentioned. I also take my time and run 55-60 on the highway. Most ST rated trailer tires are speed rated to 65mph and exceeding that for any length of time will overheat the tires and they could fail. Lots of damage occurs when that happens.

I run 55-60 with my rig and just stay in the right lane for the most part. I've never had an issue running this way and neither did my dad. The faster you go, the less reaction time you have and the harder it is to stop all that weight.

Be safe. Good luck.

[PAThwacker]

To differentiate denali and run of the mill half tons they are limited to passenger shuttling or towing with no passengers. That's why 3/4 ton suburban and Excursions were built and are still on the roads today highly sought after.

6.0 Excursion Diesels are 25K Wholesale. That's $30k plus on ebay or dealer lots for a 10 year old plus dirty diesel with horrid history.

[PAThwacker]

I have a 6.0 3/4 ton suburban with max tow rating of 7600 pounds. The reason for the low tow rating is only the rear ratio. With a 4.10 ratios the 6.0 3/4 subs of that generation could tow 10,000 pounds. The 07 and up 3/4 subs have 1,000 pound hitch weight max, not replaceable, and are limited to max wet weights of 7000 pounds regardless gear ratios/transmissions.

[wski]

You can probably tow it, but you wont enjoy it. There is reason vehicles have limits.

[jlrosine]

Sorry I think my long link blew the page width out.

[SCVJeff]

What happened to the formatting on this page?

[jlrosine]

I found this site, pretty neat after you plug in all of your vehicle numbers.

https://goo.gl/zR9Yzy


It suggests sort of what you suggest ksu_i, the max trailer weight I should probably be looking at is around 5,333 lbs, if I purchase a weight distribution hitch.

As for weight of my family, I have 3 daughters that are all under 90lbs and projected to be no more than 5' 4". My wife is about 120lbs, I'm roughly 185lbs. My son is 10 and about 90lbs, probably end up being 160-170lbs in high school. We travel pretty light and I'd travel without water, however I still think the 30' 5800lb trailer is pushing it even if I travel light.

I found some older Ford Excursions but they want mint for those too....fun stuff. I could get a truck again, but traveling in a truck with 6 people almost takes the fun out of camping :).

[Drew510]

The 3/4 ton Suburban/Yukon XL was made up through 2013. You can still find low mileage examples, but it does take some time and when you do, they want a mint. I passed on an 07 with 50k miles for $30k. The dealer knew what I was looking for and called me first. I passed and it sold hours later.

I decided I wanted Quadrasteer so that limited me to 2003-2005. I found one in Denver with 87k miles a couple years ago. The 6.0 can handle that weight, but I am not sure the 1/2 ton Burb can. Not that I haven't seen them and Tahoes/Yukons slugging up hills dragging their butts all the way (no thanks!).

[valhalla360]

How much do the 6 of you weigh? (and how much will it increase in the next 5yrs)

You are probably in the 7500-8000lb range by the time the trailer is fully loaded with a 1000lbs on the hitch. Add in 600-800lb of people along with another 300-400lbs of stuff in the truck and you are well over 2000lbs. Does the truck have that kind of cargo capacity?

Obviously, exact info on the trailer, truck and loading would be helpful. If you travel light with tanks empty and it's 2yr old quadruplets and the wife is 98lbs, you are probably within ratings. If you are a well fed family with 4 teenage boys averaging 180bs, I could be underestimating the loads.

No you don't need to go 70mph to be safe. Just avoid major cities at rush hour and 55-60mph is fine. Climbing hills trying to maintain 70mph is just a waste of fuel. Get in line with the semi's and chug to the top.

X2 that there is no point in putting in a 15% buffer. The manufacturer already provided a safety factor when setting the ratings. Unless you plan to increase the trailer size in the near future, there is no point.

[ksu_j]

jlrosine wrote:
Hi all, I'm looking for anyone that has had experience with my vehicle or just has a good general opinion of whether or not I should consider buying a camper that weights 5,820lbs dry.

My Vehicle:
2005 GMC Yukon XL Denali
158k miles (transmission and axles serviced every 30k miles since new).
6.0L vortec w/electric fans (335hp/375lb/ft torque)
Towing Capacity: 7,900 lbs

Trailer I'm considering:
Coleman 30' 7" trailer
5,820 lbs

I'm trying to avoid a situation where I have to bump up to a 3/4 ton for various reasons. The first reason and biggest reason is that I have a family of 6, finding a 3/4 ton vehicle like the Yukon I already have is difficult to find and really doesn't offer much over what I have if I add anti sway bars and hitch equalizer. It seems like most of the 3/4 ton burbs are older anyway, and have tons of miles.

I considered "upgrading" to the Expedition EL Ecoboost, but it's still just a 1/2 ton frame I believe. It would offer better power but marginally increase the safety otherwise. I could also potentially get an F150 ecoboost or something similar (3/4 ton), but finding a bench in the front to seat 6 is proving difficult, and expensive.

Am I nuts to try to tow a trailer of that size with the Yukon I have? Dealers all tell me it'll be fine, but research and some experience towing tell me I should be careful.

I'm a very careful/slow driver, and if I did tow with the vehicle I have I can't imagine going much over 55 or 60mph with that large of a trailer in tow.

Any suggestions/thoughts appreciated.

I've had that exact same vehicle in the past. LOVED it by the way. I had a young family of 5, plus a dog pulling a 25' Fleetwood Mallard. The Mallard wasn't all that heavy and the Denali pulled it effortlessly, even up over a 12,000 foot pass in CO. Of course it slowed down, but I expect that.

Now, in the last year as the family has gotten older and bigger (still just 5 of us), we also traded campers for a 2004 KS Frontier. The GVWR on the Frontier is 7,000lbs. I figure with the 5 of us packed for a week in there, we're probably pretty close to that number. I always guesstimated that the Denali had about 1600lbs of payload. My family was weighing in at about 600 or so, probably more with our "stuff" in the car for a trip. Add in 100lbs for hitch, and 800lbs (estimated) for tongue weight on the camper, and I was RIGHT at the limit of the Denali. Pulling, it was fine still. I was more worried about the tires, brakes, and the expensive rear air suspension that was always running, trying to keep the Denali perfectly level with the new camper.

Result..... I now drive a 2008 3/4 ton Suburban. 6.0 (355hp) and 6 speed. I DO NOT like this suburban as much as the Denali for everyday driving (Denali trim vs LS trim), but this thing is STOUT when pulling the camper. I just feel better that I now have over 2,000lbs of payload capacity which means I have room to spare when the kids all start turning into big teenagers.

That's my story. Note, the Frontier is not as big as what you're looking at. I would not hesitate for a second to go bigger with my current 3/4 ton. And as I just said, I felt the Frontier was too much for the 2005 Denali....