Can I tow a 4WD Yukon XL on a tow dolly?

Trying to figure out how to get the Yukon on this trip due to the need for a 7 passenger vehicle at the destination. Can it be towed on a dolly??? It is a K1500, 2008 model. Since I bought the dolly to tow our other vehicle, i'd rather not go to the expense of equipping the Yukon to be towable on all fours - assuming that can be done. The RV is a Fleetwood Discovery 39 ft. We are going from Columbus, Ohio to Fort Leonardwood, MO - 9 hours each way - all highway.

Anybody out there with expertise on this? I have seen these vehicles in tow, but honestly do not remember if there was a dolly involved....

Thanks,

Shelley

I downloaded the owner's manual for that vehicle.

Refer to pages 4-45 through 4-48, you cannot dolly tow a 4wd, you can only flat (dinghy) tow it. You have to put the transfer case in Neutral.

It would appear that even on all fours you would be restricted by speed and mileage. You would have to check yourself, but it would appear that to do what you want to do, you would have to disconnect the rear drive shaft. When neutral position is selected things can still spin when being towed, all except the oil pump, if it is connected to the input shaft, and the lack of lube on the moving parts can cause damage. I'm no expert on this model, and I would consult a main dealer and [preferably] a local towing company for recommendations.

The other thing would be to check the towing capability [legality] of the dolly, but I'm not sure I would want to be towing that much weight on a dolly along the highway and over long distances in the first place. I would consider driving the two vehicles to your destination, or hiring a car trailer for piece of mind and safety TBH. Considering the size of your party and the fact that it's within a days drive, it would be more comfortable and relaxing to do the former IMO.

The key in any question like this is always to check the owners manual, as that will provide the exact answer for the specific vehicle - and GLC did for you in this case.

I will say much more generally, you can usually not tow any 4 wheel drive vehicle with a tow dolly. This is especially true with the more modern 4 wheel/all wheel drive and traction control systems that detect when the additional traction of 4 wheel drive is needed, and automatically engage the additional wheels. In most of those cases, you can do severe damage to the drivetrain by pulling them with 2 wheels on the ground, and even flat towing with 4 wheels requires several additional steps for a safe tow.

I'd agree that since you are "only" going 9 hours away, you might be best simply driving the additional vehicle, or perhaps you should look at just renting a minivan in missouri, which could be the cheapest and easiest option.

Reading a few different articles, I got my wires crossed. It would seem you can tow '4 down' with this model. The speed and mileage restriction described in my previous post was using a dolly if you are able to select neutral.

I don't see any issues with dinghy towing that vehicle, and I think it would make a very good "toad". The only other option would be a trailer, but for what it would cost you to rent one you could rent a minivan in MO. You may want to explore that option anyway, it may be cheaper (and/or less hassles) than getting the Yukon set up for dinghy towing.

Ok, so now I am getting mixed answers. I just got this truck and asked here before I had acquired an owners manual to check out. So today I have it and I am reading and see that it does recommend it can be towed Dinghy style, and says to just make sure the transfer case is in Neutral. It also states "Four wheel drive vehicles are not designed to be dolly towed. If you need to tow your vehicle, refer to Dinghy towing section" OK, so flat on all fours only......per the manual.

Then I got the answer from the "ask GMC" website where I also posted this inquiry last night when I posted here. And he says "it can be towed either way, just make sure the transfer case is in neutral" Can i trust that answer?

So now what??? I'd really like to do it, but really dont want to mess something up. All i need is my new Yukon broken down somewhere between here and MO! I guess i could get it rigged for flat towing, but with the cost of that and the fact that we will rarely tow this vehicle, I hate to spend the money on it. Also, I already have the dolly.

Now what do you pros have to say???

Shelley

Do not dolly tow it. When it comes to warranty issues, the manual trumps the Internet.

Like I said, for the cost of rigging it for a dinghy tow, you could rent something when you get there. There are a few rental agencies in the Fort Lostinthewoods/Waynesville/St. Bob area.

I completely agree, I would absolutely not even consider using a tow dolly for this vehicle. If it says you can't do it in your manual, you should never try - no matter what anyone on any website tells you. The only "ask gmc" I'd trust is from a mechanic and your local dealership, and even then, I'd want it in writing since it contradict the manual.

Is there a reason you are against renting a van in missouri? It sounds like that would be a whole lot cheaper and easier for this situation.

im not against renting a van in MO, but if i dont have to, i'd rather use this nice vehicle i already own. Thing is this "website" is supposedly official gmc info, too. It's not just some random chat site i found a guy who said "go for it" It's supposed to be GM certified mechanics/specialists. Guess i dont know what to believe. When in doubt, i'll err toward the safer option.

So..... how to go about getting the Yukon rigged to tow on all fours?? Just on the off chance i may choose to go that route, any recommendations? Are their cheaper places to get this done than just walking into an RV dealer and paying full price?

I'd never personally tow a 4WD Yukon, unless it was an emergency. I'd trailer it, but I wouldn't tow on four tires either.

Faced with this scenario -- I'd go to a 4WD aftermarket retail store/garage and see if they'd recommend doing this.

Mark

Are you ready for this? MSRP for a 7500# towbar is $945 and MSRP on a set of baseplates is $430. That's for a Blue Ox Aladdin towbar and Blue Ox baseplates. Add labor and you are over $1500. The Yukon XL is too heavy for a cheaper 5000# towbar. Installing the baseplates is a 2 hour job and requires cutting and drilling.

You can buy the towbar and baseplates online for $1100, but are you capable of doing the install?

Personally, no, but i am checking with my 'peeps'. I have a couple options including my mechanic and the owner of the local RV storage who does all kinds of maintenance/repair/winterizing. I do need to make sure we are safe to do this, though. Trip to the dealership is in order, i think.

I bought the dolly before our summer trip planning that we'd always use my daughters 2WD Escape as a toad, and since, she has traded it in on a Honda CR-V and it's 4WD. Now i have a dolly we wont really be using and trying to decide on how to best set us up for future outings. This trip we need a 7 passenger, and i am sure it would come in handy part of the time down the road, but we wont always need such a big toad, so i kinda hate to plan to have the Yukon set up to be the "all time" toad. It's a big vehicle to lug around..... what to do..... I've actually considered a trailer, but the parking dilemmas of campgrounds are making me think that may be a hassle-filled option..... and @ Mark, why would you never do a flat tow with this vehicle if the transfer case can be set to neutral? Is there more i am missing???

While I've never towed a Tahoe dinghy style, I have towed similar vehicles on a tandem-axle car hauler trailer. I also own a 2010 Chevy Equinox All Wheel Drive. Here's my take on your situation:

I would not tow the Tahoe dinghy-style, period. As you've noted, it's a heavy vehicle to use regularly as a toad, and the costs to purchase and install the towing gear is extreme for something you're reluctant to tow regularly to begin with.

I don't see hauling it on a trailer (not a dolly) as being more difficult than towing dinghy-style. In fact, I envision it being much easier, since the trailer isn't much longer total length-wise and you can back it up as needs may require.

I haven't a clue as to similarities or differences in the 4WD/AWD systems in the Tahoe vs my Equinox, but my Equinox manual says something silly like: tow dinghy style, not on a dolly, but "start the engine and let it run for a few minutes at every fuel stop for the tow vehicle in order to ensure all drivetrain parts are receiving proper lubrication". I don't know what the heck Chevy or GM is trying to say with that jewel of wisdom, but I want no part of it.

Foy

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tow dinghy style, not on a dolly, but "start the engine and let it run for a few minutes at every fuel stop for the tow vehicle in order to ensure all drive train parts are receiving proper lubrication". I don't know what the heck Chevy or GM is trying to say with that jewel of wisdom, but I want no part of it.

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I think this is along the lines of what I was referring to earlier. Even with the vehicle set in 'Neutral,' drive train parts that require lubrication can still spin, [friction ?] the problem is that without the oil pump operating as it should do from the input shaft, [that turns when the engine is running] it will cause damage to those parts over long periods of time and/or at high RPM. That's why some are classed as towable, but only at low speed and for short distances for recovery purpose. A dolly was first designed for 'recovery' only, [here in the UK anyway] and it is still a bit of a legal 'mine field' when using a Dolly to tow a drivable vehicle over here.

I agree about wanting no part of it TBH, even if the vehicle shows no sign of damage immediately, no one can say by how much it might shorten the life of the transmission for sure, and that ain't gonna be cheap to fix !

You may be overlooking something - with the transfer case in neutral, nothing is moving in the transmission which the manual says to put in PARK, not neutral. The only things moving are the axles and driveshafts, and the transfer case output shafts. To the best of my knowledge, transfer cases do not use pressure lubrication and the "splash" lube should be sufficient for the output shaft bearings.

I maintain my opinion that dinghy towing that Yukon as a "toad" is fine, if you spend the big bucks to set it up correctly. If it wasn't fine, why would the owner's manual give you the detailed procedure for doing it - and have no mention whatsoever on distance or speed restrictions? The manual also doesn't say anything about the need to start the engine at fuel stops.

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I maintain my opinion that dinghy towing that Yukon as a "toad" is fine, if you spend the big bucks to set it up correctly. If it wasn't fine, why would the owner's manual give you the detailed procedure for doing it - and have no mention whatsoever on distance or speed restrictions?

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Your absolutely right about that. The owners manual should be your 'bible'. And yes, I side tracked about Foy's Equinox and say possibly why his manual tells you to start the engine up at stops, which had nothing to do with the Yukon. I can understand why this caused confusion. lol.

Having looked at a few RV sites, many list the Yukon as fine for flat towing as well. It looks as though it's a case of will it be done regular enough to warrant the equipment costs.

We sure are beating this one to death, but why not?

Let's stop and think about this for a minute - what *IS* the difference between dinghy towing and dolly towing when the transfer case is in NEUTRAL? I don't see ANY difference but for some reason GM does. If you want to take a chance on dolly towing it, I think I'd pull the rear driveshaft just to be completely safe.

However, what is the capacity of your dolly? You have a 6000 pound SUV there, and I know for a fact that U-Haul won't rent you a dolly to tow something that big, they will only rent you a trailer.

.......I'll suggest there are large-scale design differences between the AWD system in my Equinox and the 4WD system in the Yukon XL, which for some reason I referred to as a Tahoe, above. I believe the Yukon has automatic locking front hubs allowing the front wheels to freewheel around the axle spindles when NOT in 4WD. Furthermore, the transfer case is probably behind the transmission, so when the TC is in neutral, the transmission doesn't spin. Wholly unlike my Equinox AWD system which is primarily a front wheel drive but with a transfer case integral to the transaxle. But.........

I wouldn't dinghy tow EITHER of them behind a motorhome, even a large Class A. If the Yukon XL is a GMC Suburban in terms of length and weight, that's more than I'd want back there, and the aforementioned silliness about cranking up the Equinox at fuel stops tells me dinghy towing it is but marginally recommended by Chevy.

Foy

Now - if the GM auto locking hubs work like 2004+ Ford's, they are ENGAGED with the engine off. Why? They work on vacuum, vacuum is applied to UNLOCK them. Doesn't really matter when dinghy towing whether the front diff and driveshaft is spinning or not as long as the transfer case is in neutral.

Foy, the only way I'd tow an Equinox like yours is on a trailer or on a dolly with the rear driveshaft removed.

Getting off topic, but if I wanted a 4wd vehicle, I'd want an old school manual transfer case and manual locking hubs!

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Originally Posted by glc

Foy, the only way I'd tow an Equinox like yours is on a trailer or on a dolly with the rear driveshaft removed.

AGREED HERE!

Getting off topic, but if I wanted a 4wd vehicle, I'd want an old school manual transfer case and manual locking hubs!

Good luck finding one! I put Warn Heavy-Duty manual locking hubs on my 02 F350 when the borderline useless factory plastic crud gave up, which fortunately was simultaneous to the vacuum hoses actuating the locking mechanism giving up, but I've still got the dashboard switch driving a solenoid to take the TC in and out of gear, and to access low range. My two older Scouts each have "twin stick" TCs. A neighbor's kid once asked me "what are all of those shifters for?"

Holy Smoke, I just realized the '04 and up Ford owners are going to have a handful when their vacuum hoses give up--they're liable to be whipping down the highway and one side or the other tries to engage. That might not be pretty on the inside of those hubs!

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Well, that pretty much dumps out my entire memory bank on 4WD systems and towing them, at least!

Foy

Hate to tell you, now that we've all put all this energy into this discussion, but I'm just not going to tow this truck at all. Even though it sounds from the local dealership and the owner's manual that it is not harmful to do, It is insanely expensive to rig the truck for towing. Too much in my opinion for an "occasional" toad. Upon final estimate, with the braking system install, we are looking at over $3000 to set this up. With the weight of this vehicle at 6000+ lbs, it has to be rigged for braking, no doubt about it. So, for this trip to MO in a week or so, we'll just rent a minivan once there, and for future trips, we will use the dolly and tow the one remaining front wheel drive vehicle in the family. Guess the Yukon will just have to stay home!

Thanks guys for all the information and at least if i ever do decide that situations have changed enough to use this as the full time toad, I will know what I am in for as far as set up.

And BTW, just returned from Mohican area in Ohio for a wonderful weekend of nice weather, good friends, beautiful fall leaves and plenty of hiking and kayaking fun. THAT is what it's all about!! Hope you all are having your end of summer adventures as well! I LOVE my RV! :)

Good to hear your decision. Considering the cost and hassles, It seems like a slam dunk to me.