How to Tow With a Yukon XL Denali

The Yukon XL Denali sport utility vehicle, produced by by General Motors Corporation, is a choice for families in need of a spacious cargo hold and seating for up to nine passengers. With a top of the line Denali trim package, the vehicle offers interior comforts like heated seats and a rear-view camera. Meanwhile, power provided by a V-8 engine gives the Yukon XL Denali a towing capacity of 8,000 pounds, meaning that with the proper trailer set-up and driving style, the Yukon XL Denali is a capable cargo-toting rig.

Things You'll Need

  • Tow hitch
  • Drawbar
  • Tow ball
  • Bumper hitch trailer

Hooking Up the Trailer

  • Inspect the rear bumper area of the Yukon Denali to see if a tow package came stock with the vehicle or has been previously installed. If not, purchase a tow hitch that will handle the weight of the trailers that you intend to tow. A Class III hitch is capable of handling loads up to 5,000 pounds, while a Class IV hitch is safe to tow loads up to 7,500 pounds. Choose a hitch system that can be bolted on to avoid having to permanently weld the package to the vehicle.

  • Slip the drawbar, which will hold the tow ball onto the hitch, into the receiver and secure it using a hitch pin. Install the correct size tow ball to the drawbar for the trailer that you will be towing. The most common size tow ball is 2", although sizes can vary by trailer type. Refer to any markings on the trailer's tongue to determine the correct ball size.

  • Check the weight of the trailer, fully loaded, to ensure that it does not exceed the Yukon XL Denali's maximum tow rating of 8,000 pounds. Locate tags on the trailer that should list the empty weight of the trailer and add the weight of the cargo you have loaded into the trailer. Also note that the vehicle has a maximum gross combination weight rating of 14,000 pounds, meaning that the combined weight of the fully loaded Yukon and the trailer should not exceed 14,000 pounds.

  • Once you have confirmed that the trailer weight is not over the maximum tow rating of the Yukon XL Denali, back the vehicle up to the trailer. Have a partner guide you back to line up the tongue of the trailer with the hitch. Lower the trailer tongue onto the tow ball and connect the safety chains on the trailer to the vehicle's hitch. Plug the trailer's wiring into the electrical outlet installed with your hitch.

  • Walk around the vehicle to ensure that the trailer brake lights and turn signals are working. Adjust the side view mirrors to allow as much sight around the sides of the trailer as possible.

Driving With the Trailer

  • Place the Yukon XL Denali's automatic transmission into "Drive." Engage the tow/haul mode by pushing a button found on the end of the vehicle's shifter. As you are driving, the automatic transmission may be manually shifted into lower gears while navigating steep inclines.

  • Take off from complete stops slowly, allowing the vehicle's transmission to adjust to the stress of towing additional weight. Maintain a following distance at least double the distance you would without a trailer. The weight of the trailer will require a greater distance to come to a safe stop. Follow the maximum posted speed limit for vehicles towing trailers at all times.

  • Plan passing other vehicles so that you will have plenty of room for delayed acceleration and extra space needed to safely navigate the vehicle and trailer back into the proper driving lane.

  • Avoid making sharp turns. Depending on the length of the trailer tongue, sharp turns may cause the trailer itself to come into contact with the rear of the vehicle and cause damage.

  • Have a partner help guide you while backing up a trailer to avoid hitting any items in the blind spot behind the trailer. Remember that the trailer will turn in the opposite direction of the vehicle while moving in reverse. Hold the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand left to navigate the trailer to the left, or right to turn it in the opposite direction.