larryfs

Anybody have an Escalade ESV tow vehicle?
I am so tempted with the deep discounts being offered now.

I'm running a 1500 Yukon xl now, and it's great, but has 100000 miles.

The ESV has 22" tires. The tow capacity is there. the 6 speed tranny is there. I imagine it has a tranny cooler. The big motor is there. The wife would use it as a family SUV with the kids when I'm not towing. The GPS is there. Seems like a great tow vehicle.
It has magnetic shocks like some Corvettes, not the autoride air shocks.
So that may be a problem, but it can tow 7800 lbs....
5 year warrenty..

any one have one.... any comments.?

V8 Juice

FWIW. I towed an open Kraftsman steel trailer hauling a C6 Corvette, tongue box, 4 mounted spare tires, 4 five-gallon gas cans, bolted Tractor Supply box with "stuff" on trailer under tire rack through western Pennsylvania mountains in "Tow Mode" en route to Road America with no problem, trans stayed cool and calm with no hunting for gears and good hold on downhills. The vehicle was 2004 Escalade (not ESV) with 80,000 miles. Steady 65 -75 MPH got 11 to 12 MPG depending on hills. This load was in the vehicle's comfort zone but a 24' or larger enclosed trailer with more tools and spare parts would be at the limit, or worse.

John Shiels

try an Escalade I am sure there is one for more feed back.

AU N EGL

Larry

"but it can tow 7800 lbs...." is squat.

car is 3300, open trailer is 1500,

junk and ppl 2000

that is 6700 with out trying

Now if you want an enclosed hauler that is 4,000 min for a 28'

and IDEALLY you want to be 80% or under tow capacity.

I have a 1500HD with a 24 foot enclosed. I bet I am over my limit.

I get 11.5 mpg towing but can only do 55mph, 65 mph on a very smooth highway and 45 if that up hills or mountains, and that is IF an 18 wheeler does not pass me. If one does, man I do the wiggle dance and that is where i learned to left foot brake,

18 wheeler goes by, left foot is on the brake and right foot on the gas to straighten the whole thing out. ( while the hitch goes left, right, left right ..... )

2500 pick up min for towing, and get a deisel while your at it


I drove Short-Throws 3500 diesel doully with a 32 foot goose from Road America south to almost Chicago. What A DIFFERENCE. Never noticed the 18 wheels, and I94 from Milwaukee to Chicago is almost all 18 wheelers

John Shiels

Larry is looking for double duty. Not sure if Suburban has more capacity they are on fire sale too. Do they come with a trailer package?

the blur

the 1500's are great tow vechiles for a fully loaded open trailer. No problems at all.

The escalade is probably on a 1500 chassis. just nicer interior.

ProgGod

my expedition el limited tows my car fine. However gas mileage gets cut in half. Sure the escalade could manage. I looked at them, but ended up with the expedition because its much nicer in my opinion

John Shiels

what about wheelbase length?

the blur

I believe, not sure, the 1500 XL chevys, use the same frame as the 2500 chevys.

I know for sure the trailer receiver hitch is identical.
we did a side by side comparison of a 1500 with tow package, and 2500 suburban.
the hitch was the same.
the 2500 had 8 lugs, and LT tires. the 1500 has Passenger tires.
The 1500 has an optional 6.0 L motor.
I'm sure there are subtle other differences, but really not needed for 7000 lbs.

what rides stiffer??? 22" escalade tires, or LT tires???

Gordy M

I have an Escalade ESV (2004) and tow and enclosed slope nose trailer with vette and tires, etc. Its weight is 7600lbs. The 6.0L can handle the load, but it is not a 600 lb torque monster like the diesel. For what its worth, you should put the vette servo and billet OD servo in the trans as a minimum, better yet is those + shift kit. If possible beef trans to a Level 3 status. Also I would recommend Hawk HD truck brake pads or equal.

The engine and vehicle are at the limits of its towing capacity but it tows very well. Most of my driving is flat or rolling highway so gas milage is almost acceptable. Flat highway @ 65 is 10.5-11 mpg, rolling is 10-10.5 and hilly it drops down to 10.

The secret to gas milage is keeping it in OD, but when you get to the hills, drop it to 3rd. The air shocks keep the ride very level but you should also have 1000lb equalizing hitch and sway bar. With the newer 6.2L you have a better trans to start with and more torque. Therefore it should tow easier..keep it in 5th gear. However do not use cruise control as it will have a tendency to shift gears (sometime downshift 2 gears) on you.

Again its not a diesel but for dual use it works very good. By the way, I am running 18" wheels, when I had the 22"s on I lost about 1 mpg. Amazing what 150 lbs of unsprung weight can do. HTH

V8 Juice

Perhaps I should clarify my earlier post - I tow with an Escalade because I had the vehicle for other purposes; I would not select it as a preference. It does the job for what i need, has great creature comforts and sound system, etc., but is not the ideal tow vehicle for dancing with 18 wheelers in the mountains while dragging 7000 pounds.

John Shiels

keep the tranny in OD when you not supposed to and it will go up in smoke. Even my dooley diesel and Excursion diesel is suppossed to be in OD when the load is over 5000 or some number close to that.

CodeBlack

2009 suburban 6.0L half ton 4x4 max trailer weight 5400/7900. GCWR 11,500/14,000 3.42 rear. 6.0L three quarter ton 4x4 max trailer weight 9300 GCWR 16,000, 3.73 rear. I saw them in the New York area for 20,000 off sticker. Will the three quarter ton do the trick for an enclosed 24 ft with a C6Z06. 4 spare tires and all the gear?

larryfs

I missed the Escalade I was looking at. Someone brought it for $14K off sticker. I wanted the cooled seats. A b@ll cooler in between sessions would have been nice

I have no doubt it would tow as well as my 1500 now.

I'm not sure the magnetic shocks can lift the rear like the autoride air shocks. I do have to find out about that.

The 6.2 L with 6 speed tranny sounds nice.