Towing in an EXT

Currently I am looking seriously about buyng the EXT, I do a fair amount of towing and was wandering if anyone had any experience, good or bad, towing a heavy trailer. For the past few years I have been using a Yukon with the 5.3L and with a few mods it does quite well.

I bought mine to be able to haul stuff and also tow, but haven't done it yet. I only pull jet skis, so it's not a heavy load. Towing capacity is about 7500 pounds, which is decent. It's pretty much equivalent to an F150 or 1500 Ram/Chevy. With 345HP/380TQ stock, it may work out for you, depending on how "heavy" your trailer is. The 2007 Escalade will have 403HP (don't know torque numbers) so that should pull your load even better. The thing with the EXT's, though, is that it comes standard with AWD, the heavy duty 4LE60 transmission, an oil and a transmission fluid cooler, so it's setup right for towing.

Also, forgot...it has a load leveling suspension.

Great Post! I bought the EXT to replace a 3/4 ton Avalanche with the 8.1 litre big block. I was aprehensive about the 366 but have friends puling same load with the 3/4 ton Chevy pickups equipped with the 366 and do well. I'm looking forward to trying it out soon. Will be trailering the ZR-1 to Las Vegas for a big Gathering in late October.

Really cool to see other EXT/Vette owner combinations. We also have the 2005 STS that was purchased before the SVT came out. Really considering trading up.

ZR1, where did you get the idea to but an 8.1 liter block in the Avalanche??? I don't think your EXT is going to pull as much as the Avalanche...

quote:

ORIGINAL: VetteViperGuy

ZR1, where did you get the idea to but an 8.1 liter block in the Avalanche??? I don't think your EXT is going to pull as much as the Avalanche...

The 8.1 liter (496 c.i.) is the ONLY engine offered in the 3/4T Avalanche. Chevy really needs to offer the duramax & the 366, especially today with the price of fuel. the 8.1 is an animal and I loved it, but I like the nav system & the other bells & whistles in the EXT. I only tow 3~5000 miles a year, so I didn't need the torque all the time.

That combo will get lot's of looks, happy motoring, and thanks for the pics.

Three weeks ago, we (my husband and I) traded a 2005 EXT for a 2007, and were amazed by the improvements.  We didn't think they could top the already amazing 2005 but nearly EVERYTHING is exponentially improved. 
 
Anyway, we just relocated to another state (over 500 miles away) and towed a trailer of probably around 3,000lbs  (plus a full payload in the vehicle) and it was still a surprisingly smooth ride with the ability to pass any vehicle that got in our way :-)!
 
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the 2007!
 
Our (actually my!) second fav is the Corvette but it just doesn't have enough room for the husband AND the Standard Poodle - so.... 
 

I am considering a used or new EXT. How much trouble would it be to post a few of the differences between the 05 and 07.  Thanks

There's a lot more power ('07 has 403 HP).  It has a heated stearing wheel, heated & cooled seats, rear view camera, a heated windshield washer system (great for getting rid of love bugs!), 22" factory wheels (on the '05 we had custom 22' wheels but they really compromised the ride...now that Cadillac offers these the ride is fantastic), plus the Navigational System is so much more user friendly (you can even play a DVD on the Nav System screen).

These are just a few of the differences.  Once you actually see one and take it for a test ride, you'll be sold!





Thumbnail Image

Okay thanks, I was just looking at kbb and it appears that yours has almost all the options, not sure about moon roof etc. and they are going for about 60K?

For the hp alone it would be worth getting a '07.
 
Also found the 06 at 345 hp for about 1k less and the highway mpg were 17. On the 07 highway mpg were 19, that indicates different tranny, maybe 5 speed to 6 speed? 

We tow a 24 long toy hauler with our 2004 Escalade. It works great. Plenty of power and such a joy to drive. The total length of the trailer from end to end is 29 feet. It has a dry weight of 6000 lb and loaded to the max around 9000 lb with 4 atv's, food and drink. We use the equalizer hitch system. Between that and the factory rear air shocks it tows great. At times we forget that there is a trailer behind us!. I would not tow the trailer loaded to the mountains but around here in the Midwest it is great. We tend to travel to Northern Wisconsin. I have put about 2000 miles on the truck so far with no problems. Mpg is around 7-8. Best of all we arrive in style! Best of luck.
 
Thor

Pics of the rig.

Well, my response is going to be sweet......and.......sour regarding towing with a 2005 EXT & 2007 EXT!
The '07 is a much superior truck in every way, except one.  It gets pitiful gas mileage when towing compared to my '05.  I'm towing the exact same load and drive the same way I always have.  Without the tow, the new 6.2l engine is superior in perforformance and economy.  There must be some difference in gearing or the torque curve.  I got appx 10 mpg with the '05 and get 6.5 mpg with the 07.  What a shame!!
 
I have been seriously considering turbocharging for the torque gain.  I will be able to design the turbo to provide enough boost in the rpm range needed to run hwy speeds in 6th gear.  It should result in better economy towing as it will stay out of downshifting and taching 3400 rpm.
 
Somehow, I get the feeling Cadillac engineering didn't do a thorough job of actual testing under towing conditions.  The towing package should have included a lower (numerically higher) differential gear.  Granted, it would have sacrificed economy in a "no tow" mode, but only slightly if it only required a 0.2 or so lower gear.
 
Just my 2 cents worth, having had both.
 

I have an 06, and I don't see how the trailer package could be much improved upon, it works great. You will like it .        Tim