Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Big utes with towing power

Nissan Nissan Reviews Nissan Patrol Nissan Patrol Reviews Nissan Patrol 2014 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz Reviews Mercedes-Benz M-Class Mercedes-Benz M-Class Reviews Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2014 Mercedes-Benz ML250 Mercedes-Benz ML250 Reviews Mercedes-Benz ML250 2014 Land Rover Land Rover Reviews Land Rover Discovery 4 Land Rover Discovery 4 Reviews Land Rover Discovery 4 2014 Jeep Jeep Reviews Jeep Grand Cherokee Jeep Grand Cherokee Reviews Jeep Grand Cherokee 2014 Isuzu Isuzu Reviews Isuzu D-Max Isuzu D-Max Reviews Isuzu D-Max 2014 Mazda Mazda Reviews Mazda BT-50 Mazda BT-50 Reviews Mazda BT-50 2014 Ford Ford Reviews Ford Ranger Ford Ranger Reviews Ford Ranger 2014 Audi Audi Reviews Audi Q7 Audi Q7 Reviews Audi Q7 2014 Porsche Porsche Reviews Porsche Cayenne Porsche Cayenne Reviews Porsche Cayenne 2014 Commercial Best Commercial Cars Nissan Commercial Range Mercedes-Benz Commercial Range Land Rover Commercial Range Jeep Commercial Range Isuzu Commercial Range Mazda Commercial Range Ford Commercial Range Audi Commercial Range Porsche Commercial Range SUV Best SUV Cars Nissan SUV Range Mercedes-Benz SUV Range Land Rover SUV Range Jeep SUV Range Isuzu SUV Range Mazda SUV Range Ford SUV Range Audi SUV Range Porsche SUV Range Ute Best Ute Cars Nissan Ute Range Mercedes-Benz Ute Range Land Rover Ute Range Jeep Ute Range Isuzu Ute Range Mazda Ute Range Ford Ute Range Audi Ute Range Porsche Ute Range Car Reviews
GMC Denali utility has a claimed 4.5 tonne towing capacity.
Stuart Martin
Contributing Journalist
27 Feb 2014
6 min read
1 Comment

If driving a Range Rover or LandCruiser briskly through the bends is akin to pedalling a block of flats, then this is like steering a housing estate. Towing serious toys demands the right gear and while there are plenty of wagons that claim 3500kg capacity, sometimes there’s a danger of exceeding the payload or gross vehicle mass.

Cue the Stars 'n' Stripes blowing in the breeze, hoisted by a GI in dress uniform. The local arms of the US brands do precious little to flex them here. Ford, GM and Chrysler crank out large pick-up trucks but leave it to private importers to bring them in.

There are several eastern states importers of GM utes, Dodge Ram and Ford F‒Series bruisers. Now an Adelaide firm has joined the fray, bringing in the Chevrolet Silverado and its GMC Denali cousin. These claim 4.5 tonne towing capacity as well as the ability to go "gooseneck" with the semi-trailer style hitch in the tray for fifth-wheeler mobile homes. That’s not something that can be done with your average local dual‒cab ute.

PRICE

Purchase price is commensurate with capability - some start at about $120,000 in near-new condition. But when you consider a Toyota 200 Series LandCruiser tops out at $120K and can pull "only" 3.5 tonnes, there’s something to be said for singing The Star-Spangled banner Brothers John and Danial Munro of Camperagent RV find homes for these big trucks.

John Munro says entry‒level versions start under $50,000 but there are extra costs before a vehicle leaves the US. "The utes we buy are top‒end diesels, $US65,000 with all the gear on them," John Munro says.

"In the US most (pick-ups) are petrol so we have to search and that can take as long as a month. There aren’t many for sale. Plus you have to pay registration, stamp duty and tax when you buy it (in the US).

"Conversions are $36,000-$40,000. Engineering, certification, seven-year warranty and transport from Melbourne - we do it all."

ABILITY

The company cut its teeth with caravans, motorhomes and fifth-wheelers and looked at the towing options for the larger vehicles.

"(On a conventional tow-ball) you are limited to 4500kg because of the air-brake rules (but) it could be 5000kg," Munro says. "With three passengers and some gear, then the towed vehicle, you could be over the payload. With (the imports) you’re not over the payload or towing capacity and they’ve got the grunt to pull it all."

Munro says boaties, horse people, race-car owners, retirees, builders and small business owners are getting into these large utes. However, more than half the sales are to people wanting just a big comfy truck.

"There are people who need the capacity. If they have an accident and they are overloaded, there could be insurance issues. The thing with these is they have over 1000Nm of torque, more if you tune them up. They are not working hard and they return mid-teens fuel economy when towing,” he says.

DRIVING

After Carsguide’s stint at the wheel of a GMC Denali 2500 HD extra-cab - converted by American Vehicle Sales in Victoria - size became less of an issue. A slight offset of the steering to the left of the driver isn’t overtly off-putting, neither is the column-shift automatic.

Slot it into drive and the surprisingly quiet V8 turbo diesel effortlessly shifts the large 4WD and the two-tonne caravan hitched to it. The grunt is immense. This vehicle is set up on a full ladder-framed chassis.

Steering is over‒assisted and light but the turning circle isn’t too shabby for something this long - and the transmission and exhaust brakes team well (especially in Tow/Haul mode) to pull up without much apparent effort either.

Without a load, ride quality from the leaf‒sprung rear end is jumpy, as you’d expect but, as with most utes, with a bit of cargo on board that would probably settle down to an acceptable level.

The cabin quality is better than some previous efforts from the US, and the features list isn’t underdone either - 18-inch wheels, full-size spare, dual-zone climate control, heated and cooled front seats, power-adjustable and extendible exterior mirrors with kerb mirror, tyre pressure monitor, auto headlights, reversing camera, dual front and side airbags, - but the steering adjusts for tilt only.

Power adjustable pedals offset that to some extent, as will the less-stressed nature of the drive and the fuel economy when towing. The test vehicle was the extra-cab version with the rear-hinged back doors for wide access to the jump seats (which could easily accommodate a couple of kids).

VERDICT

There’s a lot to be said for having the big, bold and brawny tools for the job. The workhorse has the muscle on its bones to haul heavy loads and even though it won’t make a regular inner-city commuter it feels capable of completing most daily tasks without issue.

GMC Denali / Chevrolet Silverado
Rating: 3.5/5
Price: from $129,000 (est)
Engine: 6.6-litreV8 turbo diesel , 297kW/1036Nm
Transmission: 6-speed Allison automatic; 4WD

Top mainstream towing vehicles that pull 3500kg*

Porsche Cayenne

Price: from $101,100 (92A)
Engine: 3.0L six-cylinder, 180kW/550Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto, 4x4 On Demand
Thirst: 7.4L/100km, 195g/km CO2 

Audi Q7

Price: from $90,500 (TDI)
Engine: 3.0L six-cylinder turbodiesel, 180kW/550Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto, 4WD
Thirst: 7.4L/100km, 195g/km CO2

Ford Ranger

Price: from $51,390 (XLT)
Engine: 3.2L five-cylinder turbodiesel, 147kW/470Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto, 4WD
Thirst: 9.2L/100km, 246g/km CO2

Mazda BT-50

Price: from $48,890 (XTR)
Engine: 3.2L five-cylinder turbodiesel, 147kW/470Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto, 4WD
Thirst: 9.2L/100km, 246g/km CO2

Isuzu D-MAX

Price: from $36,300 (LS)
Engine: 3.0L four-cylinder turbodiesel, 130kW/380Nm
Transmission: 5-speed auto, RWD
Thirst: 8.0L/100km, 211g/km CO2

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Price: from $51,000 (Laredo)
Engine: 3.0L six-cylinder turbodiesel, 184kW/570Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto, 4WD
Thirst: 7.5L/100km, 198g/km CO2

Land Rover Discovery

Price: from $68,545 (4 TDV6)
Engine: 3.0L 6-cylinder bi-turbodiesel, 155kW/520Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto, 4WD
Thirst: 8.5L/100km, 224g/km CO2

Mercedes-Benz ML

Price: from $82,900 (250)
Engine: 2.1L four-cylinder turbodiesel, 150kW/500Nm
Transmission: 7-speed auto, 4WD
Thirst: 6.4L/100km, 168g/km CO2

Nissan Patrol

Price: from $60,390 (ST)
Engine: 3.0L four-cylinder turbodiesel, 118kW/354Nm
Transmission: 7-speed auto, 4WD
Thirst: 11.8L/100km, 313g/km CO2

* For all vehicles, ball download and overall capacity can vary with vehicle model and load, check owner’s manual.

Nissan Patrol 2014: ST (4X4)

Engine Type Diesel Turbo 4, 3.0L
Fuel Type Diesel
Fuel Efficiency 11.8L/100km (combined)
Seating 7
Price From $30,140 - $36,300
Safety Rating
Stuart Martin
Contributing Journalist
GoAutoMedia Stuart Martin started his legal driving life behind the wheel of a 1976 Jeep ragtop, which he still owns to this day, but his passion for wheeled things was inspired much earlier. Born into a family of car tinkerers and driving enthusiasts, he quickly settled into his DNA and was spotting cars or calling corners blindfolded from the backseat of his parents' car before he was out of junior primary. Playing with vehicles on his family's rural properties amplified the enthusiasm for driving and his period of schooling was always accompanied by part-time work around cars, filling with fuel, working on them or delivering pizzas in them. A career in journalism took an automotive turn at Sydney's Daily Telegraph in the early 1990s and Martin has not looked backed, covering motor shows and new model launches around the world ever since. Regular work and play has subsequently involved towing, off-roading, the school run and everything in between, with Martin now working freelance as a motoring journalist, contributing to several websites and publications including GoAuto - young enough for hybrid technology and old enough to remember carburettors, he’s happiest behind the wheel.
About Author
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication. Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.

Comments