Crazy Canuck

I'd buy one.

smlporsche

Hey A903Rocket

I too am in construction and have progressively upgraded my regular truck so that I now drive an '06 F-350 Crew Cab diesel
The major advantage to the 350 vs the 250 is the brakes and suspension are both stouter. Fuel mileage with the 6.0 L is the same in both trucks. I get about 14-15 in regular driving from jobsite to jobsite and about 13 hauling my 24 ft. enclosed trailer.
Yes it does cost more initially but it does get better gas mileage and will last far longer. Plus, when you trade it in or sell it you get alot of that premium back.

A930Rocket

Thanks guys.

The bigger trucks (F250, etc) have more room on the inside and with a family of four (plus the mother in law sometimes ), it would be good on trips. I get about 12-13 mpg around town with my 5.4 V8 so it sounds like gas to diesel would be an even trade.

Jim

Bull

Our Govmint took care of that from happening anytime soon.

Larry Herman

I wound up getting a Dodge Mega-cab Cummins Diesel because the Denali had too much trouble pulling the enclosed trailer. I would have rather gotten a new Diesel Suburban too.

Eric in Chicago

Larry, did you have the 6L in your Denali? I bought a 05 Caddy with the 6L to pull my soom to be built steel Haulmark 24' (estimated loaded weight about 7300lbs The recent threads on towing have me wondering what I am in for...

Veloce Raptor

The new 6.0 motors in the 3/4 tons are much more powerful than the pre-2007 models, I think.

The Denali was only a 1/2 ton vehicle.

ltc

Ford has announced they will be putting a diesel into the Expedition Extended Length, 6.4L IIRC.
GM has made no such announcement to date.

FWIW, I'll keep my wife's 05 Excursion diesel until it disintegrates.

justin993

i think starting in 08 there is going to be emmissions on diesels and the test is going to be very expensive and not just trucks but equipment too. i don't know if it is completely true, but it could keep the values of diesel trucks strong for models up to 07. i have a 05 f350 supercab diesel and love it, i put over 22k miles in one year and it still feels as strong as ever.

Larry Herman

My Denali has 320 hp and is the long wheelbase model. Your Caddy should have 345, and that will help somewhat. The new ones have 380 hp. I found that I had 2 problems when going from the open to the enclosed trailer.

The Denali pulled the open trailer just fine, with an estimated weight of 5000 lbs. I could easily run at 70 or so, and get 10 mpg. It has the air leveling suspension and did not need a load distributing hitch. I would occasionally have a problem with power understeer, because under hard acceleration at low speeds the front end would get light and I could spin the front tires.

The 24' Featherlite is a different story. I am running about 7500 lbs, and have a weight distributing/anti-sway hitch setup. It is a must as without it the handling was really spooky, due to weight transfer & spinning the front wheels. It is noticeably tougher to tow, and you can feel the heft of it all of the time. It does go straight down the road, but it does not like to go any faster than 70 due to the lack of power. The trans is constantly downshifting on the smallest grades, and I get about 8 mpg. It is really a strain to tow for any more than 4 hours or so. That is why I pulled the trigger on the new truck.

Eric in Chicago

Thanks for the info Larry!

Glen

The thing I liked the least about towing with the Suburban, Denali, Yukon(had them all) in 3/4 ton configuration was the spooky aspect that Larry is referring to. The rear of the vehicle had a life of its own, every gust or passing /being passed by large trucks was a genuine test in faith. Then when You have Your mandatory single track tow vehicle blowout(it will happen, You just dont know the date). You will stop at the nearest dealership and trade immediately for whatever Dually they have on the lot...lol

Chulo

1/2 ton, or will they make a 3/4 ton Expedition? any idea?

RICHVIZZ951

I had a Denali 1500 p/u with Quadrasteer. Lookswise , nothing much nicer IMO.

For the open trailer no issues, for an enclosed trailer just as Larry says, tranny hunting, not enough ponies. Bought a 3/4 ton Duramax.

I towed alot with the Denali, never a handling problem. The Quadrasteer was really a functionable, awesome feature.

magnetic1

Larry, IIRC, the air suspension does not substitute a load leveling hitch... it only equals ride height. A load-leveling hitch would still be a benefit.

ANyhow.. I too have a GMT800 Denali... since I struck a deer with my open trailer and bent BOTH 3500# axles.. Ive been searching for alternatives. One note to all you guys w/ trailers: Check your insurance policy. Most only transfer liability from your tow vehicle and not comprehensive. In my case, that deer totalled my trailer and I am out $2k.

Ive had some friends insist that my Denali can tow a 24' enclosed with no problems... and others telling me the idea is nuts. I tend to agree with the latter.

Wife hates the pickup trucks, but am still trying to convince her Ideally Id want a F350 DRW diesel.

--
Eric
#199 GTS3 M3