'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?

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. :eek:

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.

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.

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.

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

here's a sticker...

16K/1700lbs. tongue with wieght dist. set-up

15K/1500lbs. wieght carrying

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.

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

more hitch...

and toys sleeping out the winter

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

:D No winter here in SoFla means no sleep!
That's a mean hitch for sure. No fancy coated nuts/bolts? :p 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!

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

I'm noticing that. :D
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. :drink:

Blizzaks on...18's off to the side. :(

no problem on the pics. :)

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

EXACTLY how I installed mine.

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

great minds think alike. :cool:

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

oh and as point of interest...

that implement looking thingy in the left of the last pic is a s n o w b l o w e r

:rolleyes::D

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

I have had several Yukons and pull a 38 Cigarette with it with no problem. The factory hitch is fine. The only thing you may want to do is spot weld the bolt heads at the frame.

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

I think this post speaks for itself...

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

Good input guys, muchly appreciated. I'll be getting a new hitch.:cool:

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

your a wise man 'Bird. ;)

invest in a drawbar and ball as described above and be done with it. Have no question that all those components are up to the task.

I forgot to mention I also use a 20K rated loop handle impliment pin for the drawbar, and a snap-over ring pin to keep it there.

some farm thinking stays with you forever...mechanical safety overkill.

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

so where do i pick one of these up and when can you two install it? 3rd, Rip?

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

Putnamhitch.com will ship it to your front door.

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

I swear bored members (regulars) sign up with aliases and come in here just looking for fun.

There's no other rational explanation...

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

:D :D :D

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

I work in the service department at a Chevy dealer and see them cracked all the time on 3/4 and 1 tons.:eek:

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

Thanks Sydwayz.

Got the truck, got the hitch, just need the 33-35 foot of boat to hook it to. Even Rip would agree the Putnam is overkill for draggin around the '96 polaris on the triton trailer .

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

25182 ring a bell, Rip? Did you get the hitchball through them also? 3rd, that part number is for a TRUCK, not your wifes' new SUV.:eek:

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

I believe the solid steel drawbars and big balls were sourced out of the Putnam catalog also.

There are other sources though I'm sure, but my buddy Cheney hook$ me up, 'cause, well...he's known for 25 years how I feel about paying retail.

:D

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

bells are ringing

are they wedding bells? :eek:

Re: '04 Yukon XL hitch??
 

I had a Polaris SL1050 that I raced. I can't count how many engines I went through.

I can help you get an Active Thunder behind your truck when you are ready. Check the AT forum for some new news.

Bringing this to the top since I'm finally about to get the Putnam.
What did you guys do for the 7-way plug? My OEM piece is ready to come off the stock hitch. Would I be good cleaning it up and welding it on the XDR? I'd prefer not to drill extra holes in the bumper, and I don't want to hold the plug on there with zip-tyes.
Rip, what made you want to have that extra welding done?

nothing in particular... but I was going to repaint it before install on the new truck and figured it couldn't hurt to weld around the box crossmember to the side plates on the inside.

again, overkill thinking.