GMC invited The Fast Lane Truck to join them in a special event known as, Tow Like a Pro. The event featured the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali in both 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8 configurations towing between 5,700 – 6,500 lbs worth of trailer and Polaris UTVs. It was an epic event that brought us to such scenic vistas as Zion National Park and blasting through the sand at Coral Pink Sand Dunes.
While we were on the road, we got to experience the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali both in towing situations and without a trailer. While The Fast Lane Truck (TFLtruck) has quite a bit of towing experience, considering how often we cover it and our good fortune to work with Mr. Truck, there was something to learn with this trip: how others drive when towing, especially those who are unaccustomed to towing.
We were given the brief on hitch types, how to hook-up, chain-up, light check, and most of the towing basics before we departed.
I spent most of the day riding with a young automotive journalist who admitted that he had never towed before. He was great, listening and observing while dealing with me and a cranky old journalist (I nicknamed “Buzz-killington II”) who barked instructions at the young journalist rather than discuss and instruct. Still, even this unusual paring taught me something: assuming another driver who is towing on the highway knows what they are actually doing (or that they were instructed by someone who knows what their doing) is a bad idea. This was made clear to me as Buzz-killington II took command and nearly wrecked three times.
Once we got to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, we unloaded the trailers and each grabbed a Polaris UTV. It was a blast; however, my well-used UTV died in the middle of the dunes when the belt drive;s belt exploded. This cut-short my off-road time, but it gave me extra time to think about the Tow Like a Pro program and the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali.
It dawned on me that there will be an all-new 2019 GMC Sierra coming very soon and that these trucks were on the way out. It also dawned on me that these current GMC Sierra 1500 Denalis could be had at significant discounts. This is terrific news because the current GMC Sierra 1500 Denali with the 6.2-liter V8 engine is outstanding and the one equipped with the 5.3-liter V8 isn’t too shabby either.
The current GMC Sierra 1500 Denali rides like a luxury car and tows like a champ. Sure, it could use rear vents and more comfortable rear seats, but that’s something on GMC’s honey-do list for the upcoming Sierra. All-in-all it was a great trip that showed me that: while my contemporaries and I think we know it all about towing, we have a lot to learn about how others perceive towing.
The video from this event is coming up very soon (please stay tuned).
Take a look at the next generation of GMC trucks – the 2019 Sierra 1500 AT4 off-road package.
