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2023 GMC Yukon towing capacity

The 2023 GMC Yukon tows 7,300 lbs to 8,400 lbs depending on how it's built. The top number needs the 5.3L V8, Yukon, 2WD. Requires available Max Trailering Package.

✓ From 2023 GMC Yukon / Yukon XL Features & Options, p. 11 ↗Checked 2026-09-27202520242023202220212020

GMC Yukon
Photo: HJUdall, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
8,400
Max towing, lbs
7,300
Lowest rating, lbs
24
Configurations
6
Model years

Try it

Will it pull your trailer?

Use the trailer's GVWR (on its VIN sticker) if you don't know what it weighs loaded — the dry weight leaves out water, propane and gear.

Yes, in every configuration

Across all 24 configurations in the maker's guide.

▲ top rating 8,400 lbs

  • Tongue weight ≈ 460 lbs — 10% of the loaded trailer, the figure Ford's towing guide uses (no more than 200 lbs up to 2,000 lbs). It counts against your payload, together with passengers and cargo.
  • ✓ up to 90% of the rating · ! 90–100% (little room for cargo, hills, wind — common advice, not a GMC rule) · ✕ over the rating.

Read this before you buy

Why the numbers differ

  • Engine choice moves the top rating from 8,100 lbs (3.0L Turbo Diesel) to 8,400 lbs (5.3L V8).

  • With the tow package the 5.3L V8 goes from 7,900 lbs to 8,400 lbs — it requires available Max Trailering Package. p. 11 ↗

  • The body style counts too: Yukon is rated 300 lbs higher than Yukon XL with everything else the same (3.0L Turbo Diesel · 3.23 axle · Yukon · 2WD). p. 11 ↗

  • The drivetrain counts too: 2WD is rated 300 lbs higher than 4WD with everything else the same (3.0L Turbo Diesel · 3.23 axle · Yukon · 2WD). p. 11 ↗

  • Same top rating as the 2022 model (8,400 lbs).

In real life

What 8,400 lbs means in trailers

Ford's towing guide sorts trailers into four weight classes; the classes describe the trailer, so they apply to any tow vehicle. With the right configuration the Yukon reaches:

  1. Class I✓ Yes

    up to 2,000 lbs

    Small folding camping trailers and trailers for small boats, motorcycles and snowmobiles.

    2026 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide, p. 4 ↗

  2. Class II✓ Yes

    2,001–3,500 lbs

    Large folding camping trailers, single-axle, small- to medium-length (up to 18-ft.) trailers.

    2026 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide, p. 4 ↗

  3. Class III✓ Yes

    3,501–5,000 lbs

    Dual-axle or large single-axle travel trailers.

    2026 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide, p. 4 ↗

  4. Class IVUp to 8,400

    over 5,000 lbs

    Largest travel and 5th-wheel trailers made for recreation.

    2026 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide, p. 4 ↗

Real trailers

Can the Yukon pull these?

3 heavier trailers the Yukon isn't rated for

Weights are what each trailer maker publishes (retrieved 2026-09-27). We compare the trailer's GVWR — the most it may weigh loaded — with each Yukon configuration's rating, and never a dry weight when a GVWR exists.

Compare

Towing capacity by engine

5.3L V87,500 – 8,400 lbs

8 configurations

6.2L V87,300 – 8,200 lbs

8 configurations

3.0L Turbo Diesel7,700 – 8,100 lbs

8 configurations

Orange = the range across that engine's configurations. Bars start at zero.

Fine print, made plain

What the rating assumes

Every rating assumes a 150-lb driver and passenger and no other cargo. Add people, gear or accessories and the trailer you can tow goes down by the same amount.

New to towing?

The five weights, in one picture

Tongue weightLoaded trailer weightPayloadGVWR: the loaded truckGCWR: truck + trailer together
Loaded trailer weight — must stay under the towing rating
The rating “It assumes a towing vehicle with any mandatory options, no cargo, tongue load of 10% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15% (5th-wheel trailer), and driver and passenger (150 lbs. each).” Weight of additional options, passengers, cargo and hitch must be deducted from this weight. p. 7 ↗
Tongue weight — the part of the trailer pressing on the hitch
“For trailers up to 2,000 lbs., tongue load not to exceed 200 lbs. For conventional trailers over 2,000 lbs., tongue load is 10% of loaded trailer weight. For 5th-wheel trailers, king pin weight is 15% of loaded trailer weight.” p. 7 ↗
Payload — people and cargo the truck can carry
“Payload is the combined maximum allowable weight of cargo and passengers that the vehicle is designed to carry. It is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating minus the Base Curb Weight.” And: “When towing, trailer tongue load or king pin weight is also part of the Cargo Weight.” p. 6 ↗
GVWR and GCWR — the two ceilings
“Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum allowable weight of the fully-loaded vehicle (including passengers and cargo).” “Gross Vehicle Weight PLUS Loaded Trailer Weight EQUALS Gross Combination Weight (GCW) GCW must not exceed GCWR.” Your GVWR is on the label on the driver's door jamb. p. 6 ↗

Towing it behind a motorhome?

Can you flat tow a 2023 GMC Yukon? Some versions

GMC allows it for: 4WD with 2-speed transfer case.

Steps and conditions →

From the maker's table

All 24 configurations

Conventional towing:
EngineBodyDriveMax trailerGCWRSource
5.3L V8Yukon2WD8,4001not listedp. 11 ↗
5.3L V8Yukon XL2WD8,3001not listedp. 11 ↗
5.3L V8Yukon4WD8,2001not listedp. 11 ↗
6.2L V8Yukon2WD8,2001not listedp. 11 ↗
3.0L Turbo DieselYukon2WD8,100not listedp. 11 ↗
3.0L Turbo DieselYukon2WD8,1001not listedp. 11 ↗
6.2L V8Yukon XL2WD8,1001not listedp. 11 ↗
6.2L V8Yukon4WD8,0001not listedp. 11 ↗
5.3L V8Yukon XL4WD8,0001not listedp. 11 ↗
5.3L V8Yukon2WD7,900not listedp. 11 ↗
3.0L Turbo DieselYukon4WD7,800not listedp. 11 ↗
3.0L Turbo DieselYukon4WD7,8001not listedp. 11 ↗
  1. Requires available Max Trailering Package.

Weights in lbs. “Not listed” means the maker printed no GCWR for that configuration — we don't estimate one.

More GMC towing capacities

Questions people ask

What is the towing capacity of the 2023 GMC Yukon?

From 7,300 lbs to 8,400 lbs, depending on engine, axle ratio, body and drive. The 8,400 lbs top rating is for the 5.3L V8 · 3.23 axle · Yukon · 2WD (Requires available Max Trailering Package).

Does the 2023 GMC Yukon need a tow package?

GMC's guide lists no separate package requirement for this model.

How much tongue weight can the 2023 GMC Yukon handle?

Not listed in the maker's guide.

Can you flat tow a 2023 GMC Yukon?

Only some versions: 4WD with 2-speed transfer case.

Citing these numbers?

Can Tow That. "2023 GMC Yukon Towing Capacity." From 2023 GMC Yukon / Yukon XL Features & Options, PDF modified 2023-07-11. https://cantowthat.com/gmc/yukon/2023

Source: 2023 GMC Yukon / Yukon XL Features & Options (General Motors (GMC), PDF modified 2023-07-11; retrieved 2026-09-27). Page links open the PDF at the page each number is printed on.

24 ratings checked against the PDFHow we verify