Yukon XL (9th Gen) Z71 equivalent?

[Carl7309]

Hi everyone. I'm shopping for a 9th Gen (2000-2006) Suburban 1500 4WD Z71. The coil springs, skid plates and locking differential in the Z71 package are things that I definitely want, considering where I'll be driving this vehicle. But I'm actually seeing more Yukon XL 9th Gens for sale around here. I know they're largely the same as the Suburban, but they don't come with the Z71 option. Did GMC offer their own equivalent of the Z71 package on the Yukon XLs, maybe calling it an "equipment group" or some other designation? Or, did they just offer those items I listed above as individual options?

I'm also seeing some Denali Yukon XLs for sale. I'm wondering: would you consider the full-time AWD of the Denali better, as good, or worse than the Suburban's conventional 4WD? I have no AWD experience.

And back to the Suburban...did all Z71 vehicles include the exact same package components? Could there be Z71s in the 9th Gen that had most of the package items installed, but say, did not include the locking diff?

Thanks!

Carl

 

[SDDiver5]

I am 99% sure you could get the Z71 package in a Yukon from that gen but not on the Denali Level and I dont think GMC slapped on the Z71 sticker like the Chevy did. I also believe you could get the G80 as an option without the Z71 package. If you're not aware, the G80 is not a traditional selectable locker. The G80s are auto engage. I wouldn't put much thought into if it is Z71 or not, just like any "offroad" package from any make, its gonna be slightly upgraded shocks, some tin skid plates and a few stickers. Given it would be 20 year old shocks you'd want to upgrade them anyway.

My sister had a 2004(?) denali for a few years, I drove it a few times. The AWD didn't seem to be that beneficial to me. I am in San Diego so if you have weather, the AWD might be attractive. I also enjoy selectable 4x over AWD so to each their own in that regard.

 

[Wilbah]

I had an 01 Yukon (not XL) w/SLT trim level. It came with the rear G80 Ltd slip and worked well when I needed it. I put GM skid plates (as SDDiver said they were thin, but I wasn't rock crawling it- logging and FS roads and they worked great for what I needed). It was a great platform for what I needed with 3 kids, the wife and GSD. Plus it was great maintenance wise- 1 hub, the fuel pump (okay that sucked, it's in the tank), and brakes/filters/etc. That's it. I even pulled the original serpentine belt at 220k and kept it as a spare. Sold it at 265k and it was still going strong albeit a few rust spots from New England winters. Good luck.

 

[Jacobm]

I'd avoid the full-time AWD, and stick with the simpler 4WD system. I'd also consider going to a 3/4 ton Suburban or Yukon XL, because they've got a tougher frame and much beefier drivetrain. The 4L60e transmissions are prone to breaking even under stock power levels, whereas the 4L80e in the 3/4 tons is more bulletproof. I'm biased towards the 2500s though, since that's what I own.

About the only thing from the Z71s that are worth noting is the rear springs on the 1500s are taller, but those can be added to any 1500, and the roof rack is different which some people prefer. I wouldn't worry about either and buy the vehicle that's in the best condition that you can find in your budget. At this point you'll probably be replacing suspension components anyway so focus on the other aspects of the vehicle. Others touched on the G80, that's an option you should look for. Inside the glove box there's a sticker with the option codes, it'll say G80 on it if it came so equipped.

 

[Carl7309]

I am 99% sure you could get the Z71 package in a Yukon from that gen but not on the Denali Level and I dont think GMC slapped on the Z71 sticker like the Chevy did. I also believe you could get the G80 as an option without the Z71 package. If you're not aware, the G80 is not a traditional selectable locker. The G80s are auto engage. I wouldn't put much thought into if it is Z71 or not, just like any "offroad" package from any make, its gonna be slightly upgraded shocks, some tin skid plates and a few stickers. Given it would be 20 year old shocks you'd want to upgrade them anyway.

My sister had a 2004(?) denali for a few years, I drove it a few times. The AWD didn't seem to be that beneficial to me. I am in San Diego so if you have weather, the AWD might be attractive. I also enjoy selectable 4x over AWD so to each their own in that regard.

Excellent info. I'll definitely watch for the G80. Thanks for the reply!

Carl

 

[Carl7309]

I had an 01 Yukon (not XL) w/SLT trim level. It came with the rear G80 Ltd slip and worked well when I needed it. I put GM skid plates (as SDDiver said they were thin, but I wasn't rock crawling it- logging and FS roads and they worked great for what I needed). It was a great platform for what I needed with 3 kids, the wife and GSD. Plus it was great maintenance wise- 1 hub, the fuel pump (okay that sucked, it's in the tank), and brakes/filters/etc. That's it. I even pulled the original serpentine belt at 220k and kept it as a spare. Sold it at 265k and it was still going strong albeit a few rust spots from New England winters. Good luck.

Very good to know. G80 seems to be the key...everything else, I can add or change easily. If I shop out of town, I'll try to look south where there's less snow and road salt. Thanks for the reply!

Carl

 

[Carl7309]

I'd avoid the full-time AWD, and stick with the simpler 4WD system. I'd also consider going to a 3/4 ton Suburban or Yukon XL, because they've got a tougher frame and much beefier drivetrain. The 4L60e transmissions are prone to breaking even under stock power levels, whereas the 4L80e in the 3/4 tons is more bulletproof. I'm biased towards the 2500s though, since that's what I own.

About the only thing from the Z71s that are worth noting is the rear springs on the 1500s are taller, but those can be added to any 1500, and the roof rack is different which some people prefer. I wouldn't worry about either and buy the vehicle that's in the best condition that you can find in your budget. At this point you'll probably be replacing suspension components anyway so focus on the other aspects of the vehicle. Others touched on the G80, that's an option you should look for. Inside the glove box there's a sticker with the option codes, it'll say G80 on it if it came so equipped.

Very interesting. I appreciate the info on the transmission. That's a big plus. Dropping my Z71 quest and adding the 2500s into the search is going to give me many more vehicles to choose from. G80 is really the one key component.

One thing I read in a 9th Gen review talked about 1500 Z71 vs 2500 ride quality...the leaf springs on the 2500 gave a superior highway ride but were bouncier off-road, while the Z71 1500 was a stiffer highway ride but had better control off-road. Would you agree with that assessment, or would you say the difference is negligible? 95% of my miles will be on the highway, and my off-road driving will be slow and cautious. Maybe I don't need those coil springs.

Thanks very much for your help!

Carl

 

[Jacobm]

Very interesting. I appreciate the info on the transmission. That's a big plus. Dropping my Z71 quest and adding the 2500s into the search is going to give me many more vehicles to choose from. G80 is really the one key component.

One thing I read in a 9th Gen review talked about 1500 Z71 vs 2500 ride quality...the leaf springs on the 2500 gave a superior highway ride but were bouncier off-road, while the Z71 1500 was a stiffer highway ride but had better control off-road. Would you agree with that assessment, or would you say the difference is negligible? 95% of my miles will be on the highway, and my off-road driving will be slow and cautious. Maybe I don't need those coil springs.

Thanks very much for your help!

Carl

I haven't spent much time in the 1500s but I don't have any complaints about how the 2500 rides off-road. A popular upgrade is Bilstein 5100 shocks, which I'll swap in whenever my originals give up. Another thing that can greatly effect ride quality is torsion bar settings and front bump stops. It's fairly easy to crank up the torsion bar keys to level the truck, but doing so reduces suspension travel and can give a much harsher ride. The front bump stops are prone to failure and cause the control arm to crash into the frame, which is also unpleasant. They're cheap and easy to replace.

One final weak point is steering components - you can spend as much as you like on tie rods, center links, and pitman and idler arm supports, but it all depends on how harsh you are on those components offroad. Tie rod sleeves are cheap, but upgraded parts from Kryptonite are common upgrades.

The 2500s have an interesting fuel system, with a main tank and an aux tank for a total of 38 gallons. The aux tank pumps into the main tank when the gauge reads 3/4, so you can drive about 40-60 miles without the needle moving. I think the 1500s have a 32 gallon tank. Range is probably the same since 2500s can be thirstier, depending on engine and gearing, although none of them are economical by any means.

2500s also have about 3000 pounds of payload and 10-12,000 pounds of towing capacity - useful if you need it. I loaded about 1800 pounds of flooring in mine and didn't feel like it changed the driving dynamics too much, my typical camping trip load is much lighter.

 

[colierar]

I'd also go with the 2500. I had a 1996 and loved it. I wouldn't worry to much about the ride, you probably wont notice the difference much. Plus you know you'll overload it with gear sooner or later and the 2500 will come in handy. Also if you ever decide to tow a trailer, the 2500 will be nicer (bigger rear end, bigger brakes etc..). Good Luck! If you've never owned a Burb, you are going to love it.

 

[Carl7309]

I haven't spent much time in the 1500s but I don't have any complaints about how the 2500 rides off-road. A popular upgrade is Bilstein 5100 shocks, which I'll swap in whenever my originals give up. Another thing that can greatly effect ride quality is torsion bar settings and front bump stops. It's fairly easy to crank up the torsion bar keys to level the truck, but doing so reduces suspension travel and can give a much harsher ride. The front bump stops are prone to failure and cause the control arm to crash into the frame, which is also unpleasant. They're cheap and easy to replace.

One final weak point is steering components - you can spend as much as you like on tie rods, center links, and pitman and idler arm supports, but it all depends on how harsh you are on those components offroad. Tie rod sleeves are cheap, but upgraded parts from Kryptonite are common upgrades.

The 2500s have an interesting fuel system, with a main tank and an aux tank for a total of 38 gallons. The aux tank pumps into the main tank when the gauge reads 3/4, so you can drive about 40-60 miles without the needle moving. I think the 1500s have a 32 gallon tank. Range is probably the same since 2500s can be thirstier, depending on engine and gearing, although none of them are economical by any means.

2500s also have about 3000 pounds of payload and 10-12,000 pounds of towing capacity - useful if you need it. I loaded about 1800 pounds of flooring in mine and didn't feel like it changed the driving dynamics too much, my typical camping trip load is much lighter.

Excellent info, which I'll keep for future use. Everything I'm seeing for sale has at least 150K miles on it, so I'll likely have to replace some of these parts right out of the gate. Thanks very much for all the detail!

Carl

 

[Carl7309]

I'd also go with the 2500. I had a 1996 and loved it. I wouldn't worry to much about the ride, you probably wont notice the difference much. Plus you know you'll overload it with gear sooner or later and the 2500 will come in handy. Also if you ever decide to tow a trailer, the 2500 will be nicer (bigger rear end, bigger brakes etc..). Good Luck! If you've never owned a Burb, you are going to love it.

Thanks for the reply! Never had a Burb, but I did some off-road camping in an Envoy last year. Even that had enough room for me. A Burb/Yukon XL will seem like a palace after that. So glad I decided on this route instead of a van. I've driven vans, and never cared for the ride.

Carl

 

[wirenut]

My 2009 2500 Sub does a great job. I often have my family of 5 and a dog in there with a 6,500 pound boat on the hitch. It will run interstsate speeds on cruise over the mountains. I've also used it to pull 8,000 pounds of flatbed and excavator thru the mountains of WV to a job site. It also does great going off road to job sites. About 14 MPG solo, 10 towing.

 

[phsycle]

Nothing to add. I just love that Gen Suburbans. Hope you find one to your liking.

 

[Carl7309]

My 2009 2500 Sub does a great job. I often have my family of 5 and a dog in there with a 6,500 pound boat on the hitch. It will run interstsate speeds on cruise over the mountains. I've also used it to pull 8,000 pounds of flatbed and excavator thru the mountains of WV to a job site. It also does great going off road to job sites. About 14 MPG solo, 10 towing.

Sounds like a beast. Thanks for the reply!

Carl

 

[Carl7309]

Nothing to add. I just love that Gen Suburbans. Hope you find one to your liking.

Thanks very much! Still shopping.