Cooler Options to Prepare 2011 Buick Enclave CXL for Trailer Towing

Question:

I have a 2011 Buick Enclave CXL fwd. What is max GVWR I can plan on with one of your hitches? Are there any other modifications I might need for the engine such as radiator upgrade, if even possible?

asked by: JACK O

Expert Reply:

According to the online information I found for your 2011 Buick Enclave CXL with front-wheel-drive, the vehicle is rated for a maximum trailer weight of 2000-lbs unless it is equipped with the trailer towing package, in which case its towing capacity increases to 4500-lbs.

Both of the 2-inch hitches we offer for your Enclave have a 5000-lb towing capacity but since the vehicle is rated lower, that lower vehicle towing capacity becomes your actual working limit. The hitch I recommend is the Draw-Tite # 75528 for its lower price and bolt-on/no-drill installation. I have linked an installation video to show you the entire process.

For a 4-pole trailer wiring harness you can use # 118450 from Tow Ready which is a plug-and-play installation at your taillights; no cutting or splicing required. A video for this item is linked too.

For a ball mount and hitch ball I suggest our kit # 989900 which includes two hitch balls and two ball mounts with different amounts of rise and drop to let you keep your hitched trailer level.

Trailer towing usually puts the most stress on the vehicle's transmission, which will tend to run hotter. You can take a lot of that heat burden off the transmission by installing a supplementary trans cooler like # D13503 along with hose fitting adapter # D13035. I have linked an installation video showing a GM vehicle. Coolers are NOT vehicle-specific so you can install as large a cooler as you have space to mount it. The best location is in front of the A/C condenser where airflow is best. Please refer to the linked articles for more.

Another option is to use a combination cooler that can cool both engine oil and transmission fluid in one single product. Derale offers their combo cooler for GM vehicles # D15903 that can cool both fluids with one device. If you wanted to also treat the power steering system, the other system that takes extra stress when you tow, then you could use a standalone cooler like Derale 4-Pass Tube-Fin Power Steering Cooler # D13212. If you choose to cool only one system, then make the transmission your priority.

We do offer aftermarket replacement radiators but as long as yours is in good condition you should be fine for towing by cooling the transmission, oil and power steering fluids.