2011 2500 Suburban/yukon Owners

rlbol · September 16, 2011

I am looking at either a 2011 1500 or 2500 Yukon xl

Other then the engines I was trying to figure out the differences as well as which one to go with.

After reading and reading as well as talking to gm dealers I still have not gotten any closer.

I am looking to find out the differences in ride,towing as well as interior. Ride being the most important to me! Having back problems it has really affected me. I would like to find nicer ring then what I currently have.Towing is also important but is within the 1500 capabilities but having both an f250 and excursion I prefer the 3/4 ton. They Just seem to hold up better.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

asunday · September 16, 2011

I too have been looing for a newer used 2500 suburban 09 or newer. I'm looking for a tow vehicle to tow an 11,000 boat/trailer. I would be curious to hear how they tow, power, stoping etc... I realize the max tow capacity is 9700lbs, which means to be legal I would have to buy a lighter trailer for my boat. I would prefer a 2500 crew cab but it is for my wife and she needs the 3rd seat for hauling kids (it's primary job).

scz71864 · September 16, 2011

you could get the burb in a 6.2 i think, or the 2500 platform might have the 6.0 in it

APT · September 16, 2011

I plan to get one in the next month and have done lots of research. The 2500 comes with the 6.0L/6-spd/3.73 axle. From your 2003 Denali, the engine is more powerful, and the 6-spd trans will feel like a rocket comparatively. From a ride standpoint, Suburban and Yukon XL 2500 will be the same. They are almost the same vehicle. Almost the same features and equipment standard and optional between LS Burb and SLE Yuk and LT Burb and SLT Yuk. Some of the differences I have noticed:

Yukon 4x4 comes with skid plates standard vs. optional on Suburban.

Yukon SLT has optional cooled front seats, not available on any Suburban 2500.

The grill, headlights, taillights and hood are different. Some people prefer one over the other.

The Suburban is about $1500 cheaper for the same equipment.

These are quite rare to find. Unless you like the styling of one over the other or you really want the cooled seats, then buy one that you can get or easier to get in the color you want, or like a dealer/salesmen better.

There are a lot of black and white ones of each. Other colors are hard to find. I am convinced most of these 2500s are custom ordered as GM only makes less than 5000 of each. Current 2011 incentives are $$3000 cash or $1000 cash and 0% interest rate.

Keep in mind a couple things. The towing limit is 9300 pounds for the 4WD, 9600 pounds of 2WD. I would not buy one to tow 11000 pounds. Find a used 0-106 8.1L with 4.10 axle. The 2007+ OEM receiver will probably limit you well under 9300 pounds for anything but a boat. It is rated at 600 pounds weight carrying and 1000 pounds with weight distribution. A properly loaded 9300 pound travel trailer for example should have 930-1395 pounds of tongue weight, which is clearly difficult to load to closer to that 930 pounds and keep under the receiver limit. There are no aftermarket receivers available.

Ridgerunner30 · September 17, 2011

I am looking at either a 2011 1500 or 2500 Yukon xl
Other then the engines I was trying to figure out the differences as well as which one to go with.

After reading and reading as well as talking to gm dealers I still have not gotten any closer.

I am looking to find out the differences in ride,towing as well as interior. Ride being the most important to me! Having back problems it has really affected me. I would like to find nicer ring then what I currently have.Towing is also important but is within the 1500 capabilities but having both an f250 and excursion I prefer the 3/4 ton. They Just seem to hold up better.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

My experience is with newer 1500 & 2500 pickup trucks. I have owned both. One negative to consider in the 2500 is the turning radius of the 2500 vs. the 1500. I assume a 2500 Suburban / Yukon has a larger turning radius (as the 2500 pickup truck) which makes it much more difficult to handle in parking lots than a 1500. The 2500 pickup has a much stiffer ride than a 1500. The 2500 has very large 4 wheel disc brakes and a much stronger frame. Fuel economy on the 2500 is much less than a 1500. MPG on the interstate will be around 17mpg, 12 - 14 in the city with the 2500. The 2500 is a very good platform, but I don't think I would buy one unless I needed the extra capability of the 2500. The MPG, ride, and handling in tight areas are something you tolerate if your needs require a platform like the 2500. Good luck in your decision.

APT · September 17, 2011

Turning radius is the same as the half ton XL I believe, same wheelbase. Ride is a little stiffer, but FE is the same as the 6.2L in the half ton. And people are not getting the 20-21MPG highway with the 5.3L. The half tons have very low payload. Enough for a family or towing near its limit. If you want tow 7000 pounds with the family and gear on boar, you need more than 1200-1400 pounds of payload the half ton offers. The compromises is what it is. The 2500 Burb rides better than a 3/4 to pickup and gets as good FE as any 3/4 ton gas vehicle.

herm0016 · September 18, 2011

i drove a 2500 burb from rock springs wy, to williston ND towing a nearly empty 24 foot haulmark enclosed 7k trailer. it towed great and rode great too. the interior is the same as a 1500. we had 6 guys in it on the way back, and while cramped it worked great.

kal el · September 18, 2011

We build alot of the 3/4 ton large suvs.

jandersinc · September 22, 2011

I have a 2010 Yukon XL 2500 4x4. I wrote a long towing report awhile back about towing my 9,200 pound boat on a triple axle trailer from Vegas to Seattle.

It should be in the towing section on here.

Personally at 9,200 pounds the Yukon is sluggish as heck. It'll keep freeway speeds up almost any hill, but it's screaming at 4,200 RPM and full throttle to do it. Around town there are plenty of hills that require full throttle.

I wouldn't ever want to tow 11,000 pounds with it.

Look for my towing report. It'll give you a lot of info about what I experienced and my actual gas mileage.

Here's the link:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=133478

APT · September 22, 2011

See, I don't think 4200rpm is screaming for the 6.0L It just starts to wake up at 3000rpm and pulls strong to 5500rpm. My current truck starts to fade over 4500rpm, so 4200 seem more like screaming for it, at least to my wife in the passenger seat.

jandersinc · September 23, 2011

Well it won't rev past 4,200 because it's got nothing left. So it's working as hard as it can trying to pull my boat. I know they're meant to rev, but it's just working so hard to do it with 9,100 ish pounds behind it.

music · September 23, 2011

Well it won't rev past 4,200 because it's got nothing left. So it's working as hard as it can trying to pull my boat. I know they're meant to rev, but it's just working so hard to do it with 9,100 ish pounds behind it.

And to think... GM rated the 5.3/6-spd/3.42 combo for over 9000 lbs tow rating. Don't think so... !

jandersinc · September 24, 2011

According to GMC's website, the tow ratings are:

Yukon XL

1500 2wd: 8,100 pounds

1500 4wd: 8,000 pounds

2500 2wd: 9,600 pounds

2500 4wd: 9,400 pounds

Yukon

1500 2wd: 8,500 pounds

1500 4wd: 8,200 pounds

2500: N/A

There's no way I'd ever want to pull 8,500 pounds with a 1/2 ton 5.3.

music · September 24, 2011

There's no way I'd ever want to pull 8,500 pounds with a 1/2 ton 5.3.

I was referring to the 1500 truck ratings... my bad.... but yes, 8500 lbs would be pushing it. I'm pulling a ~7k lbs (loaded) camper, plus the family, and we're right at a total combined weight of 13k lbs (5.3/4spd/3.73). I haven't pulled the same weight with 6-spd, but I'm going to guess that it would be similar overall, for most towing conditions. If so, I think the ~ 7k to 8k range is a reasonable upper limit for using the 5.3 truck as a TV, depending on how far, how fast, and how often. With the added weight of the burb, I'd guess 7500 lbs is about it. The 2500/6.0 should pull ~8500 lbs "about the same", but with noticeably better stability and load capacity.