Thoughts on a 2010 Sierra Denali

[Dozer]

Im in the market for a different truck, looking at a Denali. Truck has a 6.2l and a 6speed. What makes me nervous is the AWD, is this going to be an issue bombing around the lake with chains on pulling a wheel house. How is it going to pull my 8.5'/16' wheel house? Will the 6speed make up for the 3.42 gears?

[Jeremy airjer W]

Why does AWD worry you?

[Dozer]

I guess its not so much the AWD im worried about, my concern is this transfer case is designed for on road street use not off road lake use. There is no Low range in the transfer case but im not real concerned about that since I cant remember the last time I used Low range.

[CaptainMusky]

I have the Yukon XL variation of this powertrain. Absolutely love the 6.2L engine. The power seems limitless.

Regarding the 6 spd tranny and the 3.42 gears I think the 6 spd makes up for the taller gearing.

I have a 19' boat that I pull to Canada every summer. It pulls the boat magnificent. If I keep my speeds down to around 65 I get 16mpg pulling the boat. If I go over that it drops to like 13 or 14.

I rarely use tow/haul mode.

Not sure if AWD would help/hinder your offroad travels on the ice. I would think it would be great considering some of those Subarus you see driving around LOW with tracks on, but I haven't really Baja 1000'd with it. I don't think it would do real well pulling stumps out of the ground or guys out of the ditch, but otherwise I think it would be fine.

If I drive reasonable not towing I have gotten over 20MPG. By reasonable I mean around 65. It surprised me a bit because I didn't expect it to be that great considering how terrible the 6.0 is on gas, but this is clearly much more efficient.