Koons Clarksville

Chevrolet Buick GMC

Mar 9, 2023

The 2023 GMC Yukon is a full-size SUV with the power and capability to haul cargo onboard the vehicle and via a towing and trailering system. As an SUV, its towing capacities are important because you and many other drivers may need a vehicle to haul trailers and other heavy payloads. If you’re looking for a rugged SUV with the power to haul some of the heaviest loads then the 2023 GMC Yukon may be the SUV for you. Keep reading to learn about how much the Yukon can tow.

Trim Levels

The 2023 GMC Yukon comes in five trim levels and the performance packages, specifically the powertrain of each vehicle, can affect how much the Yukon can tow. The trim levels are SLE, SLT, AT4, Denali, and Denali Ultimate. Along with the difference in towing capacities, the higher the trim level of the Yukon the more luxury features you get on the exterior and interior of the SUV. For example, the Denali Ultimate comes with the option for a better towing package and transmission to support this additional package, which can further increase its towing capacity.

Engines

The trim levels also affect the availability of engines for the GMC Yukon. When you choose your trim level, you may get the option between three possible engines. The performance capabilities of each engine are below:

3.0-Liter Duramax Turbodiesel

The 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine comes as an optional engine for each of the trim levels. This engine can output a maximum hp of 277 at 3,750 rpm and 460 lb-ft of torque at 1,500 rpm. As a powerful engine using diesel fuel, this engine can have an advantage over others when you’re towing heavy loads.

5.3-Liter V-8

The 5.2-liter V-8 engine comes standard on the SLE, SLT, and AT4 trim levels of the vehicle and is optional on the Denali and Denali Ultimate. This engine can output 355 hp at 5,600 rpm and 383 lb-ft of torque at 4,100 rpm. As a gas-powered engine, this engine is often less expensive to maintain, though this can vary based on the regular fluctuations of gas and diesel prices. While it needs more power to tow heavy loads, it’s still a capable engine with powerful towing capacities.

6.2-Liter V-8

The 6.2-liter V-8 engine comes standard on the Denali and Denali Ultimate trim levels of the 2023 GMC Yukon and is an available option for the AT4 trim level but not the SLE or SLT. This engine outputs 420 hp at 5,600 rpm and has 460 lb-ft of torque at 4,100 rpm. This engine is a massive upgrade over the 5.3-liter version but still needs more rpm to tow heavy loads. Even so, this engine can perform quite well when towing.

Optional Towing and Trailering Packages

GMC has two optional towing and trailering packages. The first is the ProGrade trailering system, which is an available option for the SLE, SLT, and AT4 trim levels and is standard on the Denali and Denali Ultimate editions. It offers the following equipment and technology to help while you’re towing:

  • Hitch guidance with hitch view to help you attach the hitch of the Yukon to trailers.
  • In-vehicle trailering app to help you monitor and tow the trailer more effectively.
  • Trailer blind zone alert system to help you monitor your trailer while driving, though it isn’t available on the Yukon SLE.

GMC also offers the Enhance Trailering Technology package, which is available on the AT4, Denali, and Denali Ultimate trim levels. It offers the following technology:

  • Trailer camera provisions to help you monitor the trailer and towing via cameras.
  • Trailering assist guidelines to improve your ability to attach trailers to your GMC Yukon.
  • Auxiliary trailer camera to install and help you monitor your trailer more effectively.

Towing Capacity

The total towing capacity of the 2023 GMC Yukon can vary based on the powertrain of the vehicle, which is affected by the trim levels, performance packages, and the other options you can select when you get a new 2023 GMC Yukon. All 2023 Yukon trim levels come with basic towing and trailering including basic towing equipment and trailer sway control. All of the values are based on having the correct towing equipment. Below are the towing capacities for each trim level of the vehicle:

SLE

The SLE is the base model of the 2023 GMC Yukon and it has a GVWR of 7,400 pounds. While this is a relatively low GVWR, the SLE doesn’t have the performance packages and additional equipment and power to tow particularly heavy loads. Even so, this is an impressive value for a base model of trucks and SUVs. The SLE does have access to a package and set up to give it an additional 100 pounds, for a total GVWR of 7,500 pounds.

SLT

The SLT has similar systems to the SLE and as such also has a GVWR of 7,400 pounds. For this version, it’s still a powerful towing and cargo capacity. Like the SLE and AT4, it’s important to have the right equipment for the trailer and cargo you want to haul. The SLT also has an available package to haul 7,500 pounds.

AT4

Starting with the AT4 trim level, the standard towing capacity of the vehicle increases to a GVWR of 7,500 pounds. It comes with the standard equipment to increase the GVWR such as a more powerful engine and access to better packages for towing and trailering.

Denali

The Denali comes with more interior features to improve comfort and luxury but its standard setup decreases the GVWR back to 7,400 pounds. With access to the optional towing and trailering features, it can increase its capacity to 7,500 pounds, which is an improvement over its base but makes it comparable to the AT4.

Denali Ultimate

The Denali Ultimate trim level comes with the highest GVWR of the trim levels at an impressive 7,700 pounds. Since it has both optional packages standard, it comes as no surprise that it’s the most powerful trim level for the 2023 GMC Yukon.

Now that you’ve learned the answer to, “how much can the Yukon tow?” you’re ready to explore your options for new vehicles at Koons Clarksville Chevrolet Buick GMC. While you’re there, you can explore an inventory of pre-owned vehicles and options for financing your next vehicle purchase. Contact us today to learn more.