2011 GMC Yukon Denali Sways when Towing a Trailer and Will Not Shift Into 6th Gear

Updated 01/30/2014 | Published 01/28/2014

Products Featured in This Question

Reese Strait-Line Weight Distribution w/ Sway Control - No Shank - 12 lbs GTW, 1,200 lbs TW

(76)

$855.32

2-5/16" Hitch Ball - 1-1/4" Diameter x 2-3/4" Long Shank - Chrome - 12,000 lbs

(2626)

$23.25

2" Hitch Ball - 1-1/4" Diameter x 2-5/8" Long Shank - Chrome - 10,000

(3881)

$20.93

Question:

I AM PLANNING ON BUYING A HOLIDAY TRAILER SPREE KZ 32FT LONG, DRY WEIGHT - 5400LB. WHEN THE PROFESSIONALS SET ME UP FOR A TEST DRIVE THE TRAILER WAS CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO SWAY SEVERAL TIMES ON A DISTANCE OF LESS THAN 10KM AND WHEN A BIG TRUCK PASSES ME. I FELT VERY UNEASY WITH THE TEST DRIVE. MY VEHICLE WAS USING 5TH GEAR MOST OF THE TIME I WAS DRIVING EXCEPT WHEN I WAS GOING DOWNHILL IT WILL CHANGE TO 6TH GEARNO BRAKING INTERFERENCE. THE VEHICLE IS RATED 8100LB. I REALLY WANTED THIS TRAILER SO BAD BUT IM NOW DOUBTING WHETHER THIS TRAILER IS THE RIGHT ONE OR ELSE MY TRUCK WITH A V8 6.2 ENGINE 1500 CANNOT HANDLE THIS SIZE OF TRAILER. I PLAN ON DRIVING LONG DISTANCE BUT THE FEELING WAS NOT COMFORTABLE AT ALL WITH BOTH MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IM VERY EXPERIENCED TOWING TRAILER ESPECIALLY FROM THE CARGO HITCH WITH COMPANY VEHICLES. PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT WE DID WRONG OR IF THE TRUCK IS TOO SMALL TO HANDLE THE LOAD. SHOULD I CONSIDER A SMALLER TRAILER.

asked by: ANDY

Expert Reply:

Travel trailers are big lumbering things that offer a lot of surface area for wind to push it around. Using a weight distribution with sway control is going to help tremendously with sway problem you are having. To choose a system you will need to go by the total tongue weight.

Total tongue weight is calculated by taking the tongue weight of the trailer when loaded and ready to tow and adding to that the weight of anything loaded behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. Based on the dry weight you have indicated it is likely that your set up will be somewhere in the 600 to 1,200 pound range. You can follow the help article I have linked to help you calculate tongue weight.

Reese Strait-Line system, # RP66074, that you have referenced is also my top choice. The dual-cam sway control is a proactive system that stops sway before it starts by forcing the trailer to ride in a straight line behind the truck. You would just need to add a properly sized ball, # A-90 for a 2 inch or # 19286 for a 2-5/16 inch, and a shank.

To choose a shank you need one with the correct rise or drop needed to tow the trailer level. You can calculate this by following the ball mount help article I have linked. I have also linked the shanks that are compatible with the above system.

The 2011 Yukon Denali staying in 5th gear is not surprising. Check to see if your Yukon has a tow mode, a button that you push to change how the transmission behaves so it is more suited for towing than regular driving. I checked the owners manual online and it was not very helpful on whether or not there was a tow mode. Usually the problem is that the transmission will shift too often. I would check with a GM technician about how the vehicle should behave when towing a trailer.