Do Not Tow With An Awd Suv?

ldegroot · November 16, 2009

I am looking to buy a GMC Yukon or Chevy Tahoe as a towing vehicle for a travel trailer with a dry weight of 5650 lbs. I went to a local Chevy dealer to look at a 2003 Yukon Denali, as I thought the 6.0L engine would be better than a 5.3L. I mentioned during my conversation with the experienced salesman that I was looking for this SUV to be my potential towing vehicle. He then said that the Denali was not a good towing vehicle as it was AWD. According to him the automatic power transfers from wheel to wheel which may occur with changes in traction cause too much stress on the automatic transmission. He said that in the past they had a Denali towed into their dealership with a 25 foot TT attached which had a burned-out transmission and this failure had happened for that very reason. He was not fully confident in his memory on this, however, so he phoned a colleague in the dealership, and that person confirmed that an AWD vehicle should not be used as a significant towing vehicle. He did have a very good chance to sell me that Denali, so I am convinced that he truly believed that what he said was true, since he possibly lost a sale by telling me this. But he sincerely seemed concerned that he might sell me a vehicle which would cause me grief down the road.

Have others heard of this? Should I look at a 2WD/4WD vehicle instead of an AWD as a result? (I can think of some advantages to the 2WD/4WD option in terms of fuel mileage, towing stability with RWD, and easier towing of the SUV itself if it breaks down.) As I am retiring soon, I anticipate towing our trailer 6,000 to 8,000 miles in a typical year.

A penny for your collective thoughts!!!

Many Thanks!!!

Leo de Groot

mjdxtreme · November 16, 2009

I am looking to buy a GMC Yukon or Chevy Tahoe as a towing vehicle for a travel trailer with a dry weight of 5650 lbs. I went to a local Chevy dealer to look at a 2003 Yukon Denali, as I thought the 6.0L engine would be better than a 5.3L. I mentioned during my conversation with the experienced salesman that I was looking for this SUV to be my potential towing vehicle. He then said that the Denali was not a good towing vehicle as it was AWD. According to him the automatic power transfers from wheel to wheel which may occur with changes in traction cause too much stress on the automatic transmission. He said that in the past they had a Denali towed into their dealership with a 25 foot TT attached which had a burned-out transmission and this failure had happened for that very reason. He was not fully confident in his memory on this, however, so he phoned a colleague in the dealership, and that person confirmed that an AWD vehicle should not be used as a significant towing vehicle. He did have a very good chance to sell me that Denali, so I am convinced that he truly believed that what he said was true, since he possibly lost a sale by telling me this. But he sincerely seemed concerned that he might sell me a vehicle which would cause me grief down the road.

Have others heard of this? Should I look at a 2WD/4WD vehicle instead of an AWD as a result? (I can think of some advantages to the 2WD/4WD option in terms of fuel mileage, towing stability with RWD, and easier towing of the SUV itself if it breaks down.) As I am retiring soon, I anticipate towing our trailer 6,000 to 8,000 miles in a typical year.

A penny for your collective thoughts!!!

Many Thanks!!!

Leo de Groot

I used to tow with my AWD silverado ss once in a while. There was a time where I had it loaded down with around 8000lb's. I was towing my buddies 77 ford pickup 200 miles. No problems at all.

cerbomark · November 16, 2009

I also had an 04 Silverado SS AWD and towed once in a while with no issues.

Matt_ · November 16, 2009

as with any vehicle, stay within the tow ratings and you'll be fine. if its primarily used for towing, make sure it has an external trans cooler.

i would bet that burned out denali wasn't due to the awd.... probably overloaded and over worked.

the new denalis have the 6l80e trans which is a beast AND a planetary gear transfer case setup that does not have clutches that would wear.

how much weight do you plan on towing? it might be worth it to step up to a 2500 in any case

hockeypro1411 · November 16, 2009

Sounds like a 3/4 ton 'Burb with the big block would be a nice compromise.

grampadirt · November 16, 2009

+1,I can vouch for that

sablowme · November 16, 2009

the Denali truck back in the day was designed to tow, from the old C3 (first full size awd truck of its kind) wich came with all wheel steering as well as awd, it like having a sterriable front axel on your trailer.

Many people who had these 4 wheel steer trucks will say they loved them for towing, i remember the denali commercial where the guy was doing dougnuts with a trailer attached to his truck. They also said the 03 sierra denali had a tighter turning ratio then the smallest saturan at the time...check out you tube for the road test.

Stevens03 · November 16, 2009

I agree, stay within the towing limits and you'll be fine.

C. Charles Hahn · November 16, 2009

By "experienced salesman" you must mean "experienced dumbass." I used to tow with my AWD TBSS and never once had a problem. That thing was rated to tow 6600#, too. Just be responsible about what you tow and how you tow it and you'll never have a problem.

ldegroot · November 17, 2009

By "experienced salesman" you must mean "experienced dumbass." I used to tow with my AWD TBSS and never once had a problem. That thing was rated to tow 6600#, too. Just be responsible about what you tow and how you tow it and you'll never have a problem.

Thanks everyone for your vefy helpful responses! When I say the salesman was experienced, I meant he was not some peach-faced kid, but had been around the block in the automotive business for many years. But, judging by the group's collective answers, on this particular issue he was obviously misinformed!

I love the internet and I will love this group! I have learned more in a couple of days of reading postings here than I would have learned with a full year's trailering out on the asphalt!

Cheers!!!

Leo de Groot

Matt_ · November 17, 2009

By "experienced salesman" you must mean "experienced dumbass." I used to tow with my AWD TBSS and never once had a problem. That thing was rated to tow 6600#, too. Just be responsible about what you tow and how you tow it and you'll never have a problem.

Thanks everyone for your vefy helpful responses! When I say the salesman was experienced, I meant he was not some peach-faced kid, but had been around the block in the automotive business for many years. But, judging by the group's collective answers, on this particular issue he was obviously misinformed!

I love the internet and I will love this group! I have learned more in a couple of days of reading postings here than I would have learned with a full year's trailering out on the asphalt!

Cheers!!!

Leo de Groot

Was he misinformed... or did he already have a buyer lined up for that Denali and wanted to sell you another vehicle???

stlavsa · November 17, 2009

By "experienced salesman" you must mean "experienced dumbass." I used to tow with my AWD TBSS and never once had a problem. That thing was rated to tow 6600#, too. Just be responsible about what you tow and how you tow it and you'll never have a problem.

Thanks everyone for your vefy helpful responses! When I say the salesman was experienced, I meant he was not some peach-faced kid, but had been around the block in the automotive business for many years. But, judging by the group's collective answers, on this particular issue he was obviously misinformed!

I love the internet and I will love this group! I have learned more in a couple of days of reading postings here than I would have learned with a full year's trailering out on the asphalt!

Cheers!!!

Leo de Groot

Was he misinformed... or did he already have a buyer lined up for that Denali and wanted to sell you another vehicle???

Thats exactly what im thinking, and that could be an explanation. This is a wierd scenerio because you usually dont have a salesmen turn down a sale.. especially on a used car. Its not like he would get more $ for selling him a new truck, he would most likely make less. Still seems like he may have had an agenda tho..

smattei14 · November 17, 2009

The only thing I can add is that I recom. adding a bigger trans cooler...and Amsoil front to rear...if you look at my sig you can see what I have added.

I have towed with Suburbans, tahoes, and I currently have a Yukon Denali....the biggest diff. that I can feel is that the suburbans have a better suspension vs the denali....the 'burb's sus. is "tighter" then the denali's....if you recall the 'burb has the leaf springs, vs the auto ride system (air) the denali has....both has pros and cons...

I also noticed that the 5.3 vs the 6.0 that the 5.3 has a better power curve....esp in 2nd gear...I don't have the power i had in the 5.3 vs the 6.0 going up hills in 2nd grear...for some reason the trans and the power curve on the 5.3 is better for towing is better in the 'burb vs the denali....

that is my thoughts...feel free to PM me if you have any other questions...

P71_CrownVic · November 17, 2009

By "experienced salesman" you must mean "experienced dumbass." I used to tow with my AWD TBSS and never once had a problem. That thing was rated to tow 6600#, too. Just be responsible about what you tow and how you tow it and you'll never have a problem.

Exactly. Believe me...salesmen don't work at dealers because they know a lot about automobiles........