Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-23-2017, 08:29 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 56
Grade Towing

I have a 2017 Yukon SLE with 6400 lb towing capacity and tow a Clipper 17BH with GVWR 3626 lb using a weight distribution hitch with integral anti sway (Equal-i-zer). I'll be taking this combination across the country (and back) including through the Rockies from Yellowstone to Flagstaff to Santa Fe. The rig tows fine on the (reasonably) flat east coast I81/I84 corridors (I've towed this rig about 8K miles in this area) but I don't know how it will do on the regular 6%-7% grades (some reported as long as 10 miles) I'll encounter on I15/I78/US89 in the Rockies. I figure to stay mostly on interstates (Ixx) and US highways (USxx) which were presumably built with trucks in mind. Anybody have any thoughts/experience?

In addition to tow/haul mode and downshifting on decent is there any advantage/disadvantage to using 4WD vs 2WD? Any other advice?
jamoody is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2017, 08:40 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Portage wi
Posts: 668
You should have grade braking built in on that truck it will hold lower gears and down shift to hold speed.
Never use 4wd at high speeds and on dry pavement
Jmkjr72 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2017, 08:44 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Crusadernoob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 806
You'll be fine, might hit the top of the mountains at 40 mph and screaming at 5,500 rpm but you'll be fine. 4wd is only for slick conditions. Definitely downshift and use the available engine braking. When coming down start at the speed you topped it in, in the gear you went up in, usually a good starting point.
__________________
2006 2500HD CCSB 2WD 2014 Crusader 285RET
Nights camped in 2013 - not enough!, 2014 37, 2015 40, 2016 39, 2017 38, 2018 36, 2019 37, 2020 26, 2021 28
Crusadernoob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2017, 08:47 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 297
Hows the trans temps when you tow?

What gear do you tow in?

6400 lbs not a lot for a yukon... I wonder what the weak link is..
Lawrosa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2017, 08:51 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 459
I just recently towed our 2016 26RR (with trike inside) with my 2016 RAM 2500 4X4 from Vermont to Texas for a total of 1,994.4 miles ~ door to door. Traveled I88, I81, I40 & I30, encountered various road construction with quite a variety of road surfaces.
I used the tow/haul mode for the entire trip, no problems thru the hills & mountains from VT, NY, TN ~ never used the 4 wheel drive as there wasn't a need.
Please, don't ask my loaded weight as I don't want everyone freaking out but lets just say ~ the truck & tt were both freighted as this was a permanent move and things had to get done.
Good luck with your travels, make sure the tv & tt ride level and watch your tire pressures.
Most of all ~
extxn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2017, 08:52 PM   #6
Who Dares, Wins
 
doc73's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Chester County, PA
Posts: 7,063
What motor do you have? If it is the 5.3 it's power curve is at those high rpm, though it sounds terrible
__________________

Pat, Jen, Heather & Sapphire, the head mouser.
2015 Chevy HD D-Max
2022 Impression 315MB
doc73 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2017, 08:55 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 205
Mountain towing is about horsepower. Your V8 @ 355HP should work great. Like others said, be prepared for downhills and know what, and what not, to do. The Mountain Directory series (East and West) can be helpful. These books, and now phone apps, show extreme grades so you know what to expect.
pjnlorrie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2017, 07:52 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
GalsofEscape's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Catonsville Maryland
Posts: 1,963
The thought of towing through the Rockies is intimidating for sure. I certainly fretted about it before our trip. I stay on the interstates, as I figured they are designed for trucks and if a truckload can do it, I should be able to do it. I just towed a 6800 lb gvwr hybrid camper from Maryland down I70 through Colorado, into Utah, down to Grand canyon and back home along I-40 through Tennessee and virginia. We run light at around 6300 lbs actual weight. I tow with a Durango and have the 5.7L V8 Hemi engine with the tow package, have a 7200 lb tow capacity. we had no issues. The engine breaking worked very well going downhill, rarely had to apply the brakes. Uphill, I did not push to maintain the speed limit, was not in a hurry and just kept up with faster trucks. Had a wonderful trip.
__________________
HTT: "EscapeII" 2016 Shamrock 23WS (current)
PUP: "Escape" 2010 Rockwood HW 277 (gone)
TV: "Gill" 2022 RAM 2500
Just us gals (me, Sis and our daughters)
We spend alot of money to go sit in the woods
GalsofEscape is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2017, 02:29 PM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 56
Quote:
Originally Posted by doc73 View Post
What motor do you have? If it is the 5.3 it's power curve is at those high rpm, though it sounds terrible
It is indeed 5.3L. Any idea what a reasonable transient (10 sec) and sustained (10 min) RPM would be for that engine? Will 3000 RPM be a problem (probably not), what about 4000, 5000, 6000? Thanks.
jamoody is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2017, 02:31 PM   #10
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 56
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lawrosa View Post
Hows the trans temps when you tow?

What gear do you tow in?

6400 lbs not a lot for a yukon... I wonder what the weak link is..

The transmission temp on the flat while towing is about 190, no idea what it is on a steep grade. On the flat I leave it in automatic mode so I have no idea what gear it is in.
jamoody is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2017, 02:39 PM   #11
Site Team
 
bikendan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,601
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamoody View Post
It is indeed 5.3L. Any idea what a reasonable transient (10 sec) and sustained (10 min) RPM would be for that engine? Will 3000 RPM be a problem (probably not), what about 4000, 5000, 6000? Thanks.
The 5.3 has run run at high rpms when pulling grades.
It's pretty normal for the 5.3
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
bikendan is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2017, 04:21 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 297
The 5.3 power band is 4000 rpm. You have the 6 speed trans. I have the 4 speed so I am limited.

I tow in third.

If your truck hunts gears in and out of overdrive you may want to tow in 4th or 5th. This causes heat in the trans.

I installed a large trans cooler in line with the factor cooler. My trans temps see 160 on highway in 100f florida heat. Stays cool up grade also. If it gets to 180f that will be a stretch.





My engine temps got high though pulling grades. Up to 230f at times. By time I got to top 5300 ft in NC I pulled over and let truck cool for 10 minutes while we enjoyed the overlooks..

Here is video pulling long mountain grade. 5500 lbs, 1st gear , 30 mph, 3500 rpm.

220f coolant, 175f trans




https://flic.kr/p/WztwfL

I dont like my trans temps to get anywhere near 200f.. Many here have thier own opinions on it.

I got full synthetic in the trans, as well as engine oil is full syn.

remember your not winning any races. Dont burn up the trans...
__________________
2020 Ram 1500 classic 5.7l hemi 3:21 rear 8 speed
2019 Palimino XLE 24 RD
Lawrosa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2017, 04:42 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 297
Like I said all trucks have a weak link somewhere.. Trans, engine running hot, tires, ect..

I addressed the trans on mine, next I will try to figue out the cooling.. May be normal, but I am sure @ 90k miles on a 12 year old truck the coolant may just need to be flushed and replaced..
__________________
2020 Ram 1500 classic 5.7l hemi 3:21 rear 8 speed
2019 Palimino XLE 24 RD
Lawrosa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2017, 05:02 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Zephyrhills FL
Posts: 1,106
Your truck should have no problems pulling those grades, you may want to slow down if you don't like to hear the engine noise at higher speeds while going uphill but with the engines and transmissions these days you can't make that truck hurt itself, the computers will not let it.

I agree with others to use lower gears and engine braking on the down grades, and do not use the 4 wheel drive unless you run into snow.
__________________
(Previous) Coachmen Mirada Select 37RB
(Previous) Coachmen Freedom Express 246RKS
(Current)2022 Grand Design Reflection150 226RK
2022 F150 Powerboost Hybrid.
DougW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2017, 08:22 PM   #15
Who Dares, Wins
 
doc73's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Chester County, PA
Posts: 7,063
Yeah it was normal for me to be in the 5 or 6k range.. It screamed but it pulled great. It just did not sound like it was happy
__________________

Pat, Jen, Heather & Sapphire, the head mouser.
2015 Chevy HD D-Max
2022 Impression 315MB
doc73 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
towing

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:08 PM.