Towing G23 - Avalanche/Escalade EXT?

[jslipher]

I'm in the market for purchasing a wakeboard boat and took a look at the G23 this weekend. What kind of vehicle do I need to tow this thing if I'll likely be towing it every weekend for 3hrs one way? I do not have a tow vehicle yet but will obvisously be purchasing one prior to acquiring a new boat. Ideally I wanted a SUV like the Yukon/Tahoe, but I'm not sure they will tow the G23 but I don't want to have to get a big diesel truck either. Will something like the Chevy Avalanche or Cadillac Escalade EXT tow the G23 decently? Thanks for your help.

[TxJole]

3 hours I would be in an F250 diesel.

[nyryan2001]

5.3L will be good up to about 50mph max... on flat ground...with a 20mph tail wind. Dont even consider a 5.3 for this.

6.0 Avy would be ideal.

I also tow every weekend... back and forth to the lake 2-4 times.. use a 5.7 Tundra...and would NOT reccomend you go any smaller. I get 7-9mpg avg if I am gentle on the pedal.

If you are towing that much, I would reccomend a 3/4 ton Diesel Pickup. from the list you presented... look at the GMC Denali Diesel....

[Pjoachim]

Definitely have to go with a diesel. Gas powered engines will fail over time pulling that much weight.

[ironj32]

If you want an SUV, I'd look at a Yukon Denali. The 6.2L that they come with will perform much better than the 5.3.

Be aware that the conventional towing capacity of a Yukon Denail with the AWD is just shy of 8000 pounds. I took my G23 on the scales and figured it to be at about 8200 I believe.

I just moved into a 2013 Silverado 2500HD Duramax, from a 1500 with the 6.2L. The 6.2L engine can indeed handle the G23. The difference you will notice between the two setups is that the 6.2L will burn a lot more fuel, run a lot higher RPM's, it will shift constantly, and you'll be able to feel the boat back there a decent amount. The 6.2L is actually a bit more responsive than the Duramax, though...when you hit the gas, it down shifts and goes (I think I just need to learn how to be quick with the manual downshift and work the turbo on the Duramax and I'll get the "snap" that I'm used to).

The Diesel will tow so much differently. Burns about 5-7 mpg less fueld, smooooooth shifting and can't even tell the boat is back there.

If it were me and I wanted a G23, but did not want a diesel, I would look for a Yukon Denali.

[ironj32]

The Cadillac EXT also has the 6.2L, so of the two you mentioned in your original post, I'd definitely pick the Caddy....looks like max tow is 7600 on that.

[nyryan2001]

Ya Im not tracking ANY of those SUVs is rated for 8500lbs. you are solidly into a pickup with those weights with the Expedition and 3/4T GM Tahoe/Yukon SUVs no longer avail.

[NautiqueJeff]

If you must have an SUV, look for a good used diesel Ford Excursion. I love mine! I bought it new in 2005, and it now has 175,000 miles, much of the time towing a boat (210, 230, G23). It pulls the G with ease.

[AirTool]

If you must have an SUV, look for a good used diesel Ford Excursion. I love mine! I bought it new in 2005, and it now has 175,000 miles, much of the time towing a boat (210, 230, G23). It pulls the G with ease.

The market laughed when Ford came out with the Excursion.

The market cried when Ford quit making it.

There are many Excursions here in Texas...some hauling horses...some hauling lots of kids.

[SANTE230OH]

Check out the Infiniti Q56 - 8500# tow rating or a Nissan Armada 9100#

[jonsquatch]

Why nobody makes a diesel SUV any longer (and the midget Jeep Grand Cherokee and imports don't count) is beyond me. I have considered more than once doing a Duramax conversion on a Suburban/Yukon 2500 there are a couple of companies that do this, otherwise you are stuck looking for one of a dwindling number of 9-15 year old Excursions or Suburbans, just how many owners were there who bought a 3/4 ton 4wd diesel that many years ago and only hauled kids, most have been used for what they were intended for and have already lived a hard life.

You can get a Expedition EL which claims 8900 with the 5.4 (310hp, 365lb/ft) and the 6 speed auto if you have confidence in that motor over the long haul. You can get the Suburban (or Yukon XL) 2500 thats rated at 9600 with the 6.0 (352hp, 382lb/ft) and 6 speed auto with 4wd if you have confidence in that motor of the long haul. The Nissan Armada is also right there at just over 9K (317hp, 385lb/ft). There are other SUV's that might get close but those are the ones I would be looking at. I don't know why Ford and Chevy don't put the bigger engines (6.2) in their SUV's. I know that the Yukon Denali XL has the motor I want but doesn't have the capacity that I want in the Yukon XL 2500.

If you can swing a Crew Cab Short Bed 4wd then you're golden and have much better power options including the diesels which in general have far fewer problems handling the abuse of long distance towing on a regular basis. I would rather stow my boards in the back of the SUV than under a tonneau cover but I feel like the 6.0 is just barely adequate in a 3/4 ton Suburban (I have the LQ4 which started life at 325hp, 370lb/ft) if you find yourself climbing a lot of hills and spending a lot of time on the interstates (which I do) even though my boat is a probably a good 1700lbs less than what ironj32 is figuring. If you lift it and put bigger tires (guilty) then you decrease your performance a bit more as well although traction and ability to launch from unimproved areas are improved. Its a balance.

[BrennanK]

Diesel Ford Excursion or Suburban 2500 with the 8.1.

Both are 3/4 trucks, but can still carry the people and don't have the diesel pick up look or feel you don't want. The diesel engine will net you better fuel economy, so if you are going to be towing as often as you say you are (and for the long term future) I wouldn't consider anything less. You don't want to skimp on a vehicle if you are going to be spending that much time in it.

I feel it is more about the frame and brakes then the engine. You need to be able to handle that weight pushing you around before you can handle towing fast. The lack of tongue weight most boats have lead people into a false sense of security. In my opinion the G23 is firmly in the 3/4 or greater truck category, especially if you are going to be hauling as often as you claim.

[Neverenough]

We have a Diesel Excursion and pull our 220 all over. G is going to be even heavier than a 220 by a lot! If you don't buy a diesel 3/4 or bigger your talking dangerous driving. A G on a trailer with brakes will push around any 1/2 ton. I don't care what the advertised ratings are on them. Buy a good 3/4 ton diesel and be safe. It would be different if you were a thirty minute trip with a nice ramp. Which is another issue. Big ramps and that weight will suck a little caddy right down in the water. We struggle on poor ramps when they are wet. Talk about sucking a hole in the seat!!!

[rob_usaf]

Don't count out the small import diesels. I've got a 2008 ML320 CDI rated at 7200 lbs towing with its almost 400 ft lbs of torque. I get combined driving 24 mpg over last 3 yrs and averaged 12 towing my 7000 lb trailer on 9 hr trip full of cargo inside and 4 pax. Best was 31 mpg driving 55 for 3 hrs. I love it. I believe 09 and up require DEF, which I find to be a real pain.
Had a 09 GL320 as well--worst gas mileage and lot more expensive. It was 700 lbs heavier with same drivetrain. Auto load level was great though. My old boat/trailer was 4500 lbs and loved how it leveled after hitching. Routine MX costs were high--$1200 per yr. Runflats were $2500 every 2 yrs if you used OEMs. I swapped for regular ones.

[swankster]

If you can live with a truck and have to have gas the new Ford f150 Ecoboost is rated at 11,300 towing. My buddy pulls his backhoe around DFW with it and has no problems. I have to think the backhoe weighs more that the G. We are going to hook the G up to in the first weekend in August for a trip. I'll let you know how it handles.