Towing Elite II with 2020 Yukon Denali

[Lamar]

We are looking at purchasing an Elite II. Our TV is a 2020 Yukon Denali 1500 4x4 with an 6.2L V8 (not the recalled engine).  Tow rating is 8100 lbs with 1000 lbs tongue weight rating.  Cargo weight is 1547 lbs.  We currently tow a Forest River Mini Lite and never have it close to GVWR.  We have towed it up through the Tetons and Yellowstone a couple of times w/o issues other than gas mileage is more like gal per mile vs miles per gal :-). 

Wondered if others have towed with this vehicle and if what thoughts you might have.

[topgun2]

I'd guess that if you check the details, you will find that a weight distribution hitch will be required by the manufacturer when towing an Ollie II.

Also, remember that the hitch weight gets deducted from that 1547 and with most Elite II's that will mean something like 600 pounds which will leave you with under 900 pounds.  So, you will need to be a bit careful on that weight.

Bill

[Rivernerd]

18 hours ago, Lamar said:

Wondered if others have towed with this vehicle and if what thoughts you might have.

Our tow vehicle for our 2022 Oliver Elite II is a Toyota Tundra, also a 1/2 ton truck like your Yukon Denali 1500.  The key limitation for our trucks is cargo capacity, not towing capacity.  There are threads on this forum thoroughly discussing whether a 1/2 ton pickup is an adequate tow vehicle for an Elite II.  This one is informative:

The bottom line:  your Yukon Denali 1500 with 1547 lb. cargo capacity should be adequate, but not optimal, to tow an Oliver Elite II.  That said, you should verify whether  your owners manual requires a weight distribution hitch when towing over 5K lbs. (which an Oliver Elite II will be).  The Andersen weight distribution hitch is the one recommended by Oliver.  It may be the only one that works with the Oliver design.

We have found our 2019 Tundra with a 5.8L V8 engine and tow package, which we owned before buying our Elite II, to be adequate with an Andersen WD hitch.  I know the trailer is there, but it is manageable.  Yet, whenever we replace the Tundra, we will buy a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck, which many Oliver owners who post on this forum verify will make towing an Elite II much less stressful.

[ChristianD]

I towed with a Yukon and it pulled great.  No issues.  Ours was newer but we never had any issues with it.  When I bought the trailer, I picked it up a few hours away from home and didn't tow it back with the weight distribution connected.  Towed fine.  On longer trips, I did pull it with the wdh and never had any issues either way. 

 

[Lamar]

Thank you all for your comments.  They are very helpful.  We also have a 2nd vehicle that we want to be able to tow with, a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 5.7 Hemi.  However, it is not adequate for the Elite II in my book.  Topgun's comment about the hitch weight would be a major concern.  Since posting, we have toured both the Elite II and the Elite I owned privately.  The Oliver community is so welcoming and the tours were so helpful.  While we have a Mini-lite, we also have a Tab 320 and have taken it across the country.  We are used to small.  We decided to go with an Elite I.   So it is on order and due to deliver in March!  Either vehicle will be fine to tow with.  I'm also a believer in a sway controller based off of a couple of near misses while traveling.

Thank you all.  I'm sure I'll have more questions once I take delivery.

[Rivernerd]

12 hours ago, Lamar said:

We also have a 2nd vehicle that we want to be able to tow with, a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 5.7 Hemi.  However, it is not adequate for the Elite II in my book

Agreed.  The ratio of tow vehicle weight to trailer weight is critical to stability, to avoid having the "tail wag the dog."  Jeeps are not quite heavy enough to tow an Elite II as safely as I prefer.  

[Golfnut]

@Lamar,  I have an Elite 1. Also 2022. I use to have a 2020 honda ridgeline. It pulled the camper fine.  Having going out west the first year we got it and going over the divide three times   I was worry about the transmission..  I have a 2024 Toyota tundra.. i lost some MPG. But tow/ haul mode on trans is great.. we used to have a Tab clamshell ,my wife misses that camper..   Your tow vehicles will be fine..  You will have to let the forum know how the new 2026’s perform Stay safe out there ..