yukon xl towing travel trailer

2019 GMC Yukon Towing Capacity

The GMC Yukon was introduced into GMC’s lineup as a full-size SUV in 1991 and is still made today. The Yukon is known for its unique styling and for having the features consumers expect from SUVs, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a 2019 GMC Yukon?

A 2019 GMC Yukon can tow up to 8,500 pounds when properly equipped.

A 2019 GMC Yukon Denali can tow up to 8,400 pounds when properly equipped.

A 2019 GMC Yukon XL can tow up to 8,300 pounds when properly equipped.

The 2019 GMC Yukon tow capacity can vary based on a few different factors such as engine size, drivetrain, and others which we’ll cover in this guide.

There’s a bit more to know about the 2019 GMC Yukon tow capacity which we’ll cover in today’s guide.

How Much Can The 2019 GMC Yukon Tow?

The 2019 GMC Yukon has a towing capacity of 8,500 pounds.

The 2019 GMC Yukon Denali has a tow capacity of 8,400 pounds.

The 2019 GMC Yukon XL has a towing capacity of 8,300 pounds.

The 2019 Yukon tow capacity is affected by other factors like engine type, drivetrain, the weight of cargo and passengers, and whether your vehicle has a towing package equipped or not.

You can always reach out to your local GMC dealership for details to confirm how much your Yukon can tow.

You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.

2019 GMC Yukon Engine And Drivetrain

There are two engine options for the 2019 GMC Yukon: a 5.3 Liter V8, and a 6.2 Liter V8.

The 5.3L V8 engine produces 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 6.2L V8 engine produces 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

2019 GMC Yukon 5.3 Liter V8 Towing Capacity: 8,500 pounds

2019 GMC Yukon 6.2 Liter V8 Towing Capacity: 8,400 pounds

2019 GMC Yukon XL 5.3 Liter V8 Towing Capacity: 8,300 pounds

2019 GMC Yukon XL 6.2 Liter V8 Towing Capacity: 8,100 pounds

2019 GMC Yukon Payload Capacity

The payload capacity of the 2019 GMC Yukon is 1,618 to 1,827 pounds.

The payload capacity of the 2019 GMC Yukon XL is 1,535 to 1,690 pounds.

Please note, the payload capacity will vary based on factors such as engine type, drivetrain and whether or not your vehicle is equipped with a towing package that includes other features like an engine oil cooler or transmission oil cooler.

If you are unsure of your vehicle’s payload capacity, please contact your local dealership for details.

2019 GMC Yukon Tow Package

GMC offers a factory-installed tow package for the 2019 Yukon & 2019 Yukon XL.

This includes a trailer hitch, a heavy-duty cooling system, and a wiring harness.

2019 GMC Yukon Tow Capacity Vs Competitors

The 2019 GMC Yukon has a maximum tow capacity of 8,500 pounds, which makes it capable of doing some heavy duty pulling.  This number is similar to its main competitors, the 2019 GMC Tahoe and the 2019 Ford Expedition.

Here are some similar vehicles to the GMC Yukon and their towing capacities below:

2019 Nissan Armada Towing Capacity : 8,500 pounds

2019 Chevrolet Tahoe Towing Capacity : 8,600 pounds

2019 Ford Expedition Towing Capacity : 9,300 pounds

2019 Dodge Durango Towing Capacity : 8,700 pounds

2019 Toyota Sequoia Towing Capacity : 7,400 pounds

2019 Chevy Suburban Towing Capacity : 8,300 pounds

Data Accuracy

We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2019 GMC Yukon Owner’s Manual on GMC’s website and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.

Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with your GMC Yukon.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy

2021 GMC Yukon AT4 Towing Review: For Enclosed Trailers, Go Bigger or Differently

Look around any track paddock and you’ll see throngs of General Motors’ full-size SUVs. They’re a staple, and for good reason. Based on the GM half-ton pickup chassis, Chevrolet’s Tahoe and Suburban and GMC’s Yukon and Yukon XL offer a wagon-shaped pickup alternative that can tow open or enclosed trailers alike. I took a 2021 GMC Yukon AT4 to NASA Mid-Atlantic’s HyperFest weekend with my 20-foot enclosed trailer in tow to see if this latest Yukon could measure up.

What Is It?

This is a 2021 GMC Yukon AT4. It’s the shorter wheelbase model – the longer being the GMC Yukon XL – but still has seating for six or seven depending on options. GMC redesigned the Yukon for the 2021 model year, with the biggest news being a fully-independent rear suspension that provides a better unloaded ride and more third-row and cargo space.

Also new for 2021 is the AT4 trim level. Meant for those who go off-road a bit more often than others, the AT4 comes with four-corner air suspension, Magnetic Ride Control (rapidly-adjusting adaptive shocks), a two-speed automatic transfer case, all-terrain tires, and software to help manage your driving both on-road and off.

AT4 sits toward the top of the Yukon trim levels, with the luxury-focused Yukon Denali above and more-attainable SLT/SLE below. GMC offers three engines in the 2021 Yukon lineup, but the 2021 GMC Yukon AT4 only gets one of them, the basic 5.3 liter V8. It produces 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. Maximum horsepower comes at 5,600 rpm and peak torque just a bit lower at 4,100 rpm.

All engines are paired to the co-developed GM/Ford ten-speed torque-converter automatic transmission and above-mentioned four-wheel drive. GMC is making the more powerful, torquier 6.2 liter V8 available on the AT4 trim level for 2022 and beyond. The turbodiesel six-cylinder is available on other Yukon trims, but not here.

Every 2021 GMC Yukon is rated to tow at least 8,200 pounds, and the Yukon AT4 is no exception. GMC allows ten percent tongue weight – 820 pounds – and of course, a weight distributing hitch is recommended if pulling more than half the rated capacity. GMC also provides a VIN-specific sticker in the driver’s door jamb to indicate your particular Yukon’s tow capacity and payload, so you don’t have to guess about a thing. My specific Yukon AT4 was rated for 1,469 pounds of payload.

Given the Yukon AT4 sits toward the top of the 2021 Yukon model range, it’s no surprise that it’s a spendy SUV. MSRP of my 2021 Yukon AT4 included a $9,000 Premium Plus package and totaled $74,960 including destination.

Towing with the 2021 GMC Yukon AT4

My enclosed trailer sits squarely within the 2021 Yukon AT4’s towing capacity, coming in around 6,800 pounds with about ten percent tongue weight. The AT4’s cabin was a fine place to sit for the 250-mile tow to Virginia International Raceway, though I found the driver’s seat to be a bit firm. I wish that was my only issue with how the trip went, but alas.

GMC’s decision to offer the 6.2 liter V8 for 2022 in the Yukon AT4 is a smart one, as the 5.3 liter is simply not enough. It’s pretty slow unloaded – a full-throttle run down an empty VIR front straight was lackluster at best – and has to work hard (remember where on the tach it makes peak power and torque?) to keep speed up with a trailer attached.

We live in a great world when 383 lb-ft of torque and 355 horsepower is “lacking,” and I also think the axle gearing is to blame. GMC equips every Yukon with 3.21:1 axle gears, likely in an effort to squeeze more fuel economy out of the vehicle. While the ten-speed transmission helps, shorter gearing would also make a solid difference.

Thankfully, that ten-speed pulls its weight in the powertrain, with quick shifts and smart gear selections. The shifter has become a series of dash-mounted toggles, with little + and – buttons to limit gears. I left the transmission in Drive and with the Yukon in Tow/Haul mode, it all worked out well with no intervention.

GMC also offers a trailer brake controller built-in to the dashboard, above your left knee. Trailer setup was simple when I first plugged in, and the controller provided seamless stops alongside the plenty-adequate truck brakes.

The biggest challenge the Yukon AT4 faced with my enclosed trailer was the aerodynamics of it all. The AT4 trim is soft. It’s sprung softly with blocky all-terrain tires, and those Magneride shocks can’t firm up enough to combat the spring rate. Choosing the Yukon instead of the Yukon XL means you get a 120.9-inch wheelbase instead of the XL’s 134 inches. Typically, a 120-inch wheelbase would be fine for a small enclosed trailer, but the rest of the tow vehicle has to be stiff enough to handle it.

The short-wheelbase Yukon AT4 is all fine if your weekend adventures involve off-road trips, but I found the 2021 GMC Yukon AT4 relatively wallowy through corners, and easily upset when tractor-trailers passed. Choosing a street-focused Yukon would likely solve the problem, between the suspension and tire differences. If you really wanted the AT4, the longer Yukon XL AT4 would hide some of the softness behind the extra 13 inches of wheelbase.

Finally, fuel economy was average while towing – around 9 or 10 miles per gallon – but as with many large SUVs, fuel tank size is a problem. I had to plan for stops every 180 to 200 miles unless I wanted to coast into the Sheetz on fumes.

Final Thoughts

The “large, body-on-frame SUV” segment is not the biggest, and given they can all tow about the same amount – the key reason to buy one instead of a unibody crossover – the competition is otherwise fierce. The 2021 Ford Expedition is the most competitive against the 2021 GMC Yukon and its siblings, and Ford’s 3.5 liter EcoBoost is a total monster with a trailer hooked up to the hitch. I was less enamored by the 2021 Nissan Armada , and the Toyota Sequoia is long overdue for a redesign.

An open trailer behind the 2021 GMC Yukon AT4 would have posed no real challenges. For those of us looking to tow a smaller enclosed trailer with a large SUV, though, there are better options that provide far more confidence behind the wheel. Some of those even come from GM, in theory.

While I haven’t spent time with every variant of their “T1xx” SUV platform, I think the GM sweet spot would be a longer-wheelbase Suburban or Yukon XL (or Escalade) and, ideally, the 3.0 liter turbodiesel six-cylinder. Retain the Magneride shocks and a more street-focused tire and spring (or airbag) configuration, and you’d be good to go.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

2025 GMC Yukon Is A Happy Medium Between The Chevy Tahoe And Cadillac Escalade

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Key Takeaways

• GMC introduces the updated 2025 Yukon full-size SUV.
• Available with a 6.2-liter V8 or a 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine.
• High-end Denali Ultimate and all-new AT4 Ultimate trims available.
• GM says the new Yukon will be made available at the end of 2024; pricing is yet to be announced.

Last year, Chevrolet revealed an updated Tahoe/Suburban and, just recently, Cadillac showed off the facelifted 2025 Escalade . It was only a matter of time before the GMC Yukon received its refresh, and now it's arrived with updated styling, more technology, and a new trim.

The engine options remain unchanged. That means buyers can choose between a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. It provides strong performance (and a delightful exhaust note) and is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Customers can also opt for a 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine that delivers 305 horses and 495 lb-ft. Interestingly, this engine has been killed off for the Escalade .

2024 GMC Yukon

2024 gmc yukon xl, subtle styling updates keep the yukon desirable.

The Yukon has come to represent GMC's high-end offerings, and the new model introduces new styling cues. Not only does the Yukon look fresher and more contemporary but also more upmarket. The grille has been restyled, while the headlights have been sculpted into a boomerang-style cluster, with animated lighting animations. The same technology has been applied to the taillights. As a result, the Yukon has more of a family resemblance to the smaller Acadia and Terrain, both of which were recently facelifted .

Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.

Google News

GMC also offers the Denali Ultimate and the AT4 Ultimate trims. The latter is new for the Yukon nameplate and receives a host of touches that lend the full-size SUV enhanced off-road ability. For a start, it's fitted with Air Ride Adaptive Suspension that raises the vehicle as much as two inches. There's also a front skid plate, along with 20-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain rubber. GMC hasn't forgotten luxury, though, and the AT4 Ultimate ships standard with full leather seating in Obsidian Rush and Ash Burl wood trim.

"Following the all-new GMC Acadia and next-gen GMC Terrain, the addition of the updated 2025 GMC Yukon completes GMC's reimagined SUV lineup. We're raising the bar on what our customers expect from GMC's flagship and the addition of the AT4 Ultimate trim fuses ruggedness and capability with craftsmanship and refinement."

- Duncan Aldred, Buick and GMC Global Vice President.

Even More Luxury From The Denali Ultimate

The Denali Ultimate is the, well, ultimate expression of the Yukon luxury SUV. For the first time on a Yukon-badged vehicle, there are laser-etched 24-inch wheels, while occupants enjoy 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, massaging, and ventilation functionality. The second row Executive Seating boasts luxury captain's chairs, which is a first for GMC. Inside, you'll find a Bose Performance Series audio system with as many as 22 speakers. Tasteful open-pore wood trim - with laser-etched topographical patterns - enhances the interior ambiance.

2024 GMC Acadia Gets Bigger, Cooler, And More Luxurious

The AT4 trim looks especially tough.

Inside, the Yukon benefits from a thoroughly redesigned dashboard, with a new portrait-oriented 16.8-inch Premium GMC Infotainment Center screen. To accommodate the new screen, the air vents have been repositioned, while the switchgear appears more upmarket and tasteful than before. There's also a digital gauge cluster behind the revamped steering wheel. An available eight-inch rear climate control touchscreen can also be specified for rear occupants.

Safety And Trailering Technology Makes Life Easier

There are plenty of safety features onboard the yukon, including:.

• Night Vision
• Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking
• Rear Cross Traffic Braking
• Side Bicyclist Alert
• Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking
• Super Cruise hands-free advanced driver assistance

The 2025 Yukon also receives sophisticated towing technology. With a towing capacity as high as 8,400 lbs, the Yukon is a supremely capable full-size SUV, and the trailering technology makes things even easier for those who haul heavy things.

Yukon Pricing And Availability

The 2025 Yukon will be built at GM's Arlington Assembly plant in Texas. GMC says it will reach dealerships at the end of 2024, with pricing and additional details to be shared closer to the production start. As a reminder, the current Yukon has a starting price of $58,200. We expect the updated version to have a slightly higher price tag. While the GMC Yukon is an appealing full-size luxury SUV, keep in mind that the all-new Lincoln Navigator will arrive next spring , but will likely be more expensive than the Yukon.