Need help with Yukon XL Denali or Suburban 2500 purchase

[Matt_]

Hey everyone (who's left anyways ), I'm in the market for a GM vehicle again and need some help since i've been out of the game for a bit. This post is going to be all over the place, so bare with me!

I now have 4 kids, and my 7 seater Jeep Commander just isn't going to get the job done for the vacations we're planning. We want to seat everyone comfortably, be able to rent houses in 4x4 access OBX, and pull a travel trailer (dry weight ~5k).

A standard Suburban or Yukon XL isnt going to cut it, so I'm looking at 2009-2013 Yukon XL Denali's and Suburban 2500s. Either vehicle i'm looking to lift 4" with 33" tires.... because I lift vehicles, its what I do, and for beach.

Honestly I'm torn between the two (so need a sanity check here), and also need help with trans/axle options; want to make sure I get the 6spd in either vehicle, and did any of the Denali's come with a 14bolt rear??

Suburban 2500:
Damn near impossible to find
Selectable 4x4 (better for beach, 4low for boat ramps)
Still has torsion bar suspension?
Not many 4" lift options?
14 bolt rear
Lower power 6.0L
Worse on gas, will likely be a DD @12k miles a year

Yukon Denali XL:
Dime a dozen
AWD (not good for beach, but hear they do well. My 08 sierra denali did great in snow...)
Coil sprung suspension
Lift kit is more expensive... but doable
6.2L 6L80E 3.42 setup better on gas than 2500
Lower tow "rating", but will better engine feel better while towing?

Thoughts/recommendations? I have the convenience of time... so are there any certain years/configurations I should search out? For instance I'm not sure which year the 2500's went away from the 4L80E, or if the Denali XLs ever got a beefed up rear axle.

 

[66nova]

Welcome to the site!


How frequently do you plan to tow?

The 2500 is going to get way worse mileage than the 6.2. The 6.0 is a gas hog. I love mine, but it sucks for mileage.

I don't think for towing you will see a big difference in the power. The difference is going to be in the 6L90 vs the 6L80 in the Denali. Gear ratios and powerbands and such.

Do not quote me on this, but I believe the Denali gets the 14 bolt also. I know in the trucks they do.

For a DD, I would go Denali unless you tow a lot. Plus, you will find a lot more denalis available.

To put something else in the equation. I don't know if every year has it, but some years of YD have AFM. Don't know if that is a game changer for you.

I don't believe they have used the 4l80 since 05ish.

 

[Matt_]

Thanks for the kind welcome! I'll have to poke around a bit to see what this place is like

We won't be towing much... maybe 2 or 3 times a year. With a family of 6 fully loaded i figured the extra capacity of the 2500 would be necessary, but it's probably more suspension/brakes than it is drivetrain. I remember towing some heavy loads with my 08 Sierra Denali and it did alright.

Could have sworn my AWD SD had a 12 bolt...and 2wd versions got the 14 bolt. .. but could be remembering that wrong. Really wish they offered the Suburbans the 6.2L 14 bolt trailering package like they did with the trucks.

Is AFM still an issue? Or still hit or miss?

 

[Darkanion]

Is AFM still an issue? Or still hit or miss?

So far *knock on wood*, I haven't had any issues with the AFM in my '15 Silverado's 5.3 w/ 19k miles. I'm not near as active on the forums as I used to be, so I'm not sure if they're still having lifter issues or not.

And, for what it's worth, the stock tuning on the 5.3 w/ the 6 speed is MUCH better than it was on '07 Sierra Denali (6.2 w/ 6 spd) I had.

 

[Matt_]

I figured a black bear tune was gonna happen too...

 

[Darkanion]

I figured a black bear tune was gonna happen too...

So far, I haven't seen the need. Even the traction control and Stabilitrak are a lot less "nannyish" than they were in my '07 Sierra.

I DO WISH GM would figure out how to get the f'n UP SHIFT button on the gear shift to NOT SIT THERE FOR A SECOND OR TWO before shifting, though....... That is still a gripe about the "manual mode" on the GM trucks (or at least the ones I've driven).

 

[66nova]

I just had a buddy of mine go out and count his. He has a 10 bolt. He has 2011 YDXL. He loves it by the way and pulls a camper multiple time per month in New Mexico.

I sent Justin a text asking him some questions. He is on his second. He had a regular YD and now an XL.

Pulling 2-3 times a year the rearend would not be a concern for me. And upgrading parts is fairly cheap.

My buddies father inlaw has a 2500 suburban and he hates the ride compared to the YD.

For me, AFM is not an issue. I have 101,000 on my 2007.

 

[Matt_]

Appreciate the help

 

[Darkanion]

Appreciate the help

 

[66nova]

Appreciate the help

You could always get an LTZ or SLT and toss a Magnacharger on it. Less money than a Denali and more pulling power.