'04 Yukon XL hitch??
01-11-2007, 11:20 AM
#1
Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Eastern Lake Ontario
Posts: 2,896
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
'04 Yukon XL hitch??
We've been chatting about trucks and hitches and whatnot over on the Formula section; I've got an '04 GMC Yukon XL, 2500, with a factory hitch. There is discussion that the factory hitch is not up to towing the truck's capacity of 12000 lbs.
Anyone have info on this? Is the factory hitch really not going to hold up to 12k lbs?
Anyone have info on this? Is the factory hitch really not going to hold up to 12k lbs?
01-11-2007, 11:53 AM
#2
Registered
Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
'Bird, is the one on the Yukon the same tubular POS that comes on the pickups? I suspect it is. Just hit up the RV and truck forums for all the horror stories you'll ever want to hear of bent, broken, and rounded-out GM hitches with loads over 7-8K. GM has to bolt the receiver tube gusset itself to the bumper as well, or it'd be twisted before you got out of your driveway.
Take a close look at the dam thing next to an XDR or a Titan...it'll scare 'ya!
it isn't worth the <$200 to have a stock hitch failure and ride out my 20K pound combo getting out of shape.
well-known subject matter for those who tow heavy with later model GM's...
Putnam XDR here...check out the rating. I bolt mine on with big steel backing plates on both sides, top quality bolts/nuts (not the grade 5 chit that comes with all of them), double-nutted, and inspected often.
I also use a 20K rated SOLID drawbar and a raw tool steel heat treated 24K rated big shank ball.
got $250 in the whole setup. The frame or the coupler might fail, but I doubt my hitch setup will.
Take a close look at the dam thing next to an XDR or a Titan...it'll scare 'ya!
it isn't worth the <$200 to have a stock hitch failure and ride out my 20K pound combo getting out of shape.
well-known subject matter for those who tow heavy with later model GM's...
Putnam XDR here...check out the rating. I bolt mine on with big steel backing plates on both sides, top quality bolts/nuts (not the grade 5 chit that comes with all of them), double-nutted, and inspected often.
I also use a 20K rated SOLID drawbar and a raw tool steel heat treated 24K rated big shank ball.
got $250 in the whole setup. The frame or the coupler might fail, but I doubt my hitch setup will.
Last edited by Rippem; 01-11-2007 at 11:57 AM.
01-11-2007, 11:59 AM
#3
VIP Member
Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
www.putnamhitch.com
You want P/N 25162.
It fits the 2500 Subs/Yukons/Avalanches.
You will need to relocate your trailer hitch wiring plug. Its simple to use a hole saw and relocate it to the left of your license plate. You an also opt to get a different model that may install a little easier. There is another model trailer plug that has the round 7 pin connector and a 4 straight pin connector built in that looks pretty nice. Any trailer/rv shop should be able to get it for you.
The Putnam XDR hitch only comes with grade-5 bolts. The factory grade 8-bolts are not long enough to install the Putnam hitch with the required collars that come with it. I would strongly suggest upgrading the grade-5 bolts that come with the hitch to grade-8 bolts by visiting your local industrial hardware supply.
It seams like a lot of effort, but its not. The hitch installs easily with no drilling. The factory hitch actually bolts to the bumper which is no good. The Putnam does not do this.
I always hook my trailer safety chains to the hitch (bolted to the frame), and the trailer brake safety tug to the bumper, which is separately bolted to the frame. This way in case of catestrophic hitch failure, your bumper should stay intact and pull your emergency brake tug.
You want P/N 25162.
It fits the 2500 Subs/Yukons/Avalanches.
You will need to relocate your trailer hitch wiring plug. Its simple to use a hole saw and relocate it to the left of your license plate. You an also opt to get a different model that may install a little easier. There is another model trailer plug that has the round 7 pin connector and a 4 straight pin connector built in that looks pretty nice. Any trailer/rv shop should be able to get it for you.
The Putnam XDR hitch only comes with grade-5 bolts. The factory grade 8-bolts are not long enough to install the Putnam hitch with the required collars that come with it. I would strongly suggest upgrading the grade-5 bolts that come with the hitch to grade-8 bolts by visiting your local industrial hardware supply.
It seams like a lot of effort, but its not. The hitch installs easily with no drilling. The factory hitch actually bolts to the bumper which is no good. The Putnam does not do this.
I always hook my trailer safety chains to the hitch (bolted to the frame), and the trailer brake safety tug to the bumper, which is separately bolted to the frame. This way in case of catestrophic hitch failure, your bumper should stay intact and pull your emergency brake tug.
01-11-2007, 12:04 PM
#4
Registered
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: IAD/FLL
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
Rip, Sydwayz, got pics?
Third, read the sticker on the hitch closely: 5000lbs "carrying", 600lbs tongue. The higher ratings are only when using a weight distribution setup. There's lots of margin built into these things, but if they failed and resulted in an accident, not good.
Third, read the sticker on the hitch closely: 5000lbs "carrying", 600lbs tongue. The higher ratings are only when using a weight distribution setup. There's lots of margin built into these things, but if they failed and resulted in an accident, not good.
01-11-2007, 12:41 PM
#6
Registered
Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
beefy sideplates
crossbar extends through the sideplates (not all do, I personally look for this) when I took it off the 04.5 to put on the '06, I had it welded around the perimeter of the crosstube on the outside before I repainted it. It came welded around the crosstube to the side plate only on the inside.
big thick plates top and bottom welded everywhere (no voids anywhere) crosstube to receiver tube itself.
grade 8 bolts, backing plates (I had a bin of them), and double nutted w/lock washers too.
crossbar extends through the sideplates (not all do, I personally look for this) when I took it off the 04.5 to put on the '06, I had it welded around the perimeter of the crosstube on the outside before I repainted it. It came welded around the crosstube to the side plate only on the inside.
big thick plates top and bottom welded everywhere (no voids anywhere) crosstube to receiver tube itself.
grade 8 bolts, backing plates (I had a bin of them), and double nutted w/lock washers too.
01-11-2007, 12:58 PM
#8
Registered
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: IAD/FLL
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
No winter here in SoFla means no sleep!That's a mean hitch for sure. No fancy coated nuts/bolts?
Interesting that you had the outsides welded; I always wondered if one should weld on a hitch. I guess they're not heat-treated in any fashion anyways. I need to tack my OEM plug mount/tab thingy back on and make it nice again.Thanks for the pics!
01-11-2007, 01:09 PM
#9
Registered
Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
I'm noticing that.
I didn't detail under at all at fall cleanup as if my winter rat lets me down the truck is ready to roll and will get trashed underneath anyway. I'll get under it in April.
Blizzaks on...18's off to the side.
no problem on the pics.
I didn't detail under at all at fall cleanup as if my winter rat lets me down the truck is ready to roll and will get trashed underneath anyway. I'll get under it in April.
Blizzaks on...18's off to the side.
no problem on the pics.
