Community Forums

66vette · 07-11-2017, 12:28 PM

Has anyone towed a Yukon with a Ford Gas V10? I am considering doing this with a 2000 35 ft. motorhome and a 2002 Yukon. This would be with the 2 valve engine and 4 speed transmission.

l1v3fr33ord1 · 07-11-2017, 12:30 PM

66vette-

I don't tow a Yukon behind my Ford V-10 motorhome. Before I did, I'd figure out if the motorhome is rated to tow that much weight. Do you know if yours is?

lllkrob · 07-11-2017, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 66vette

Has anyone towed a Yukon with a Ford Gas V10? I am considering doing this with a 2000 35 ft. motorhome and a 2002 Yukon. This would be with the 2 valve engine and 4 speed transmission.

That Yukon has a curb weight of 4850 lbs to 5485 lbs. I doubt your motorhome has enough GVWR rating or hitch rating to handle it. You would need to get everything weighed together on a certified scale.

66vette · 07-12-2017, 05:37 AM

Motorhome and hitch is rated at 5,000 lbs. right at maximum limits. Hitch can be beefed up if needed if Yukon is at maximum weight, minimum weight is under 5,000 lbs. I am just inquiring as to what to expect how the engine and drivability is affected when towing at maximum.

lllkrob · 07-12-2017, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 66vette

Motorhome and hitch is rated at 5,000 lbs. right at maximum limits. Hitch can be beefed up if needed if Yukon is at maximum weight, minimum weight is under 5,000 lbs. I am just inquiring as to what to expect how the engine and drivability is affected when towing at maximum.

It will pull it but you won't be winning any races doing it. Every up hill will be a slowdown and mountain driving will be slooooow. The biggest problem you will face is stopping. The brakes on those older coaches were not the best. You will need a very good toad braking system in the Yukon that provides proportional braking or the brakes on the motorhome won't last long. Your fuel mileage will drop by about 1 to 1.5 mpg due to the transmission constantly downshifting from 4 to 3 when on any road that isn't pool table flat. Also you will need to service the coach cooling system, transmission, and differential with new fluids and add a trans cooler if it doesn't have one.
A toad that is pushing the GCVWR of the coach will tend to push the rear of the coach around on turns, however it will tend to make it a little more stable when big trucks pass you, which they will.

66vette · 07-12-2017, 11:33 AM

I will be using a Brake Buddy the same one I used when I pulled my Jeep Wrangler, I am in the process of selling the Wrangler or trading it in on a Acadia Limited which is slightly less in weight than the Yukon. The reason for choosing my Yukon is that it is older does have four wheel disc braking and I don't have to be concerned about all of the issues with camping in all type of weather and resulting dirt and grime from parking under trees etc. that would impact a new vehicle.

Boondockin · 07-12-2017, 03:09 PM

We have a 1999 F53 20,500lb. Chassis... 2 valve V10... 5.38 rear gear ratio... we flat tow our 2003 Silverado Z71 4x4... the truck weighs in at 5300lbs. travel load and The MH pulls it fine... the truck was designed to be flat towed... shift the manual transfer case into neutral... transmission in park... ignition in the lock position... super easy... super fast...

I recently ran hard 400 miles with it and averaged 5.5mpg... wide open throttle up every hill...literally held it to the floor... 70 - 75mph on flat ground... stupid and foolish I know... won't happen again...

on the 400 mile return trip I took it easy... ran 60 mph and it averaged 7mpg... soooo much more enjoyable...

It pulls it just fine... just slow down and take your time...

Our MH weighs in at 17,300 travel load... 2000 Georgie Boy Cruise Master 3501

That puts our GCVWR (gross combined vehicle weight) @ 22,600lbs.

I'll have to check when I get home but I think our GCVWR is 26,000lbs...

vsheetz · 07-12-2017, 03:13 PM

I towed our ~5000 lb jeep with 2002 37' Pace Arrow with V10. It got the job done without excessive straining.

Boondockin · 07-12-2017, 03:27 PM

Yup... with 5.38 gears it will pretty much tow anything... just not optimal with the little 415 cubic inch engine...

I wish Ford would have made a V12 for the MH's ... it would be right at 500 CID and easily well over 500 lb. ft. of torque...

66vette · 07-13-2017, 05:04 AM

Thanks for the additional information and support for my proposed Yukon toad.

DryCreek · 07-13-2017, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boondockin

I recently ran hard 400 miles with it and averaged 5.5mpg... wide open throttle up every hill...literally held it to the floor... 70 - 75mph on flat ground... stupid and foolish I know... won't happen again...

Interesting picture. I noticed that your speedometer wasn't working, so you had the GPS where you could see it - but I didn't see where it was displaying current speed. I was curious as to what gear you were in (O.D. and TC locked up?) and what speed you were were at to show 3K RPM. As a point of reference, in 5th gear at 65 I show about 2,600 RPM on an 18K GVWR F-53.

Boondockin · 07-13-2017, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DryCreek

Interesting picture. I noticed that your speedometer wasn't working, so you had the GPS where you could see it - but I didn't see where it was displaying current speed. I was curious as to what gear you were in (O.D. and TC locked up?) and what speed you were were at to show 3K RPM. As a point of reference, in 5th gear at 65 I show about 2,600 RPM on an 18K GVWR F-53.

71 mph (lower left corner of gps)... was in OD... converter should be locked up...

The ratio calculator that I'm using says 2763 RPM @71 mph... 245/70/19.5 tire... 0.71 OD gear... 5.38 rear end gear...

DryCreek · 07-16-2017, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boondockin

71 mph (lower left corner of gps)... was in OD... converter should be locked up...

The ratio calculator that I'm using says 2763 RPM @71 mph... 245/70/19.5 tire... 0.71 OD gear... 5.38 rear end gear...

Ahh, I see it now that you mentioned it.
Have you tried to replace the speed sensor in the differential to see if that revives your speedometer? I would think that you would have thrown a code without it working.

Boondockin · 07-16-2017, 07:31 PM

DryCreek,
I have not replaced the speed sensor... I was told if it was bad the transmission would not shift properly... you're probably right on the trouble code too... but it shifts fine and no trouble lights so far... it happened sometime over the winter months... worked just fine when I parked it in the fall... didn't when I drove it the first time this spring...there is a repair shop I have sent other instrument clusters to in the past... they said they could fix it for $230.00... I just haven't had time to deal with it... I'll probably send it out this winter...