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TexanTravelerdotUS: Look on GM’s site.
Part of it depends on the platform, the weight it carry’s on that platform, and if a towing package is installed (larger radiator, trans cooler, ps cooler) and such.
pjmcandr: Vehicle weight is a factor too
zap_p25: Limiting factor…manufacturer’s weight ratings are registered with DOT and are the legal ratings for that vehicle. Vehicle may be able to go above that…but if you get caught it’s your problem.
That being said, in many states you can’t put a 12 valve in a 2005…emissions equipment has to meet the production year model of the vehicle so you would be limited to a B5.9 ISB CR (common rail from 2003-2007) or LLY Duramax (2005/2006) if they will even fit (the 6.6 should, the 5.9 may not) which will also require modifications of the suspension.
andrewse: When towing an RV the limiting factor is almost always the truck’s payload rating. You’ll run out of payload well before you reach the tow rating. At a guess I think the Escalade might have 1300 lbs or payload rating. Subtract the weight of passengers, hitch and cargo which might bring you to 900 lbs. If you install a diesel engine that weighs 1000 lbs more than the original your truck will be overloaded by 100 lbs before it even has a trailer connected.
the_ocalhoun: Looking into getting a vehicle like these for my new tow vehicle, and I’m trying to figure out the implications of possibly modifying it.
(If this isn’t the best sub to ask in, let me know where to put it instead.)
I’ll be running it stock for a while — maybe until the stock engine/tranny blows — and then I’m thinking about doing a diesel swap for better mpg: either a 12V Cummins or a Duramax.
What I’m trying to figure out, though, is what effect this will have on towing capacity.
In the screenshots above, you can see that the highest towing capacity is the short AWD model — because it has the least weight while also having the 6.0l engine (I think). The bigger ESV and EXT both have the AWD option, but get rated lower, I think because they weigh more. (And how crazy is it that the Escalade actually has the highest tow rating out of all its chevy/GMC clones?)
The odd thing to me is that the base model with the 5.3l engine 2WD actually has significantly less towing capacity, even though (I assume) it has the same or comparable suspension, brakes, and lower drivetrain.
Now … doing a diesel swap would give it a much more heavy-duty engine and transmission (which should increase the towing capability if that’s the limiting factor), but it would also add around 1000lbs of weight (which should decrease the towing capacity if that’s the limiting factor). (Also, all of that weight would be on the front axle. Not good for unladen handling … but maybe that would actually be good for stability when it’s got a heavy trailer pushing down on the other end as well?)
So I’m really trying to find out what’s the limiting factor on towing capacity for these things — will doing a diesel swap make them better or worse for towing?
(Also, if it’s anything other than the frame itself that’s the limiting factor, there’s the possibility of stealing parts from the Suburban/Yukon 2500 in order to beef it up.)
