Dirt Bikes and ATVs with the Yukon AT4: 8,200 Pounds of Towing and Trail Hardware Built for the Trailhead

The 2026 GMC Yukon AT4 tows up to 8,200 lbs when properly equipped, with skid plates, 4WD, and available Air Ride. See it at Northwest Hills GMC in Torrington, CT.

If you ride, your SUV has two jobs. First, hauling all your equipment to the off-road track. Second, carrying you through the rough stuff after the pavement ends. That is exactly what the 2026 GMC Yukon AT4 was built to do, without forcing you to buy a separate pickup.

Here is what that means in plain terms if you are shopping in Connecticut.

Towing: up to 8,200 pounds, properly equipped

The Yukon AT4 tows up to 8,200 pounds when properly equipped, and those last three words matter. To get the full 8,200 pounds, the vehicle needs the Max Trailering Package. Without it, the rating drops meaningfully. So if towing is a big part of why you want this SUV, say so when you order, and ask for the Max Trailering Package by name.

How much is 8,200 pounds in real terms? It is a loaded trailer with a quad on it. Or two dirt bikes plus all your gear. A typical enclosed trailer carrying two dirt bikes weighs somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds once you add ramps, fuel, and equipment. That leaves you a healthy margin, which is exactly what you want for relaxed towing on the road.

The AT4 also brings trailering technology that makes hitching and backing up easier:

• An integrated trailer brake controller built into the truck, no aftermarket install required

• Hitch Guidance with Hitch View, a rear camera view that shows the hitch ball so one person can line up the trailer alone

• Multiple trailer camera views for seeing around and behind the trailer when maneuvering

Trail hardware: it comes ready, not as a wish list

Plenty of SUVs wear a tough look and stop there. The AT4 backs it up. Four-wheel drive is standard, and the AT4 is 4WD-only, so every single one has it. Skid plates protect the components underneath when the terrain gets rough. Red recovery hooks are there for the day your buddy needs a pull out of trouble, or you do. And the high-approach front fascia means the nose of the truck is shaped to climb steeper obstacles without dragging the bumper.

Then there is the suspension. Magnetic Ride Control comes standard. It reads the road up to a thousand times a second and adjusts the shocks on the fly, so the ride stays composed whether the truck is empty or loaded. On top of that, four-corner Air Ride Adaptive Suspension is available as an option, and it is worth a hard look if unpaved roads are part of your routine. It can raise the truck up to 2 inches for extra ground clearance on a fire road, and lower it to make loading bikes and quads easier.

Engines: power versus pulling, and the honest version

Here is where I clear up a point of confusion, because it affects how you order.

The AT4 comes standard with the 5.3L V8, producing 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. There is also an optional 6.2L V8 delivering 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft. More power. More torque. Stronger pull away from a stop with a trailer behind you.

But the bigger engine does not buy you more towing capacity. This surprises a lot of buyers. The 8,200-pound maximum comes from the 5.3L V8 combined with the Max Trailering Package. Choose the 6.2L and the maximum rating actually drops slightly to 8,000 pounds, because the heavier engine eats into the weight budget.

How to pick between the two:

• Choose the 5.3L for the highest tow rating and the better value. It is the max-tow engine in the AT4.

• Choose the 6.2L for stronger power and performance when your trailer weight sits comfortably below 8,000 pounds, which covers nearly every bike and quad setup.

Either way, remember: the engine does not deliver the maximum tow rating. The Max Trailering Package does.

A real weekend with the AT4

Picture the day. You load your quad or two dirt bikes into the trailer. If you optioned the Air Ride suspension, you drop the rear for easier loading and nothing drags on the ramp. You back up to the trailer, the Hitch View camera puts the ball under the coupler on the first try, and the built-in brake controller is ready without any wiring work.

Then you roll out, and the V8 pulls the trailer without breaking a sweat. When the pavement ends and the fire road gets rough, the raised suspension and all-terrain tires carry you through, skid plates shield the underside from surprises, and four-wheel drive keeps you moving when a wheel loses traction. At the trailhead, you unload the bikes, and the same truck that hauled them takes you home in comfort.

That is the whole idea of the AT4. One vehicle for towing, off-road duty, and family transport during the week. It seats 8 people, and the cargo space behind the seats swallows coolers and extra gear.

Why shop the Yukon AT4 at Northwest Hills GMC in Torrington

If you are in Connecticut and the AT4 sounds like your truck, Northwest Hills GMC in Torrington is where to spec it right. The team there can build the configuration around your actual trailer weight, make sure the Max Trailering Package is on the order, and help you pick between the 5.3L and the 6.2L based on your real load, not a guess.

Before you buy, bring the weight of your fully loaded trailer, ask to see the Air Ride raise and lower in person, and test drive the truck on roads like the ones you actually ride from. Torrington sits near real trail country, so the people there understand what riders need. The Yukon AT4 is not the cheapest way to tow two bikes, but if you want one vehicle that does the whole job, it earns its price.