Need recommendations for a Tow vehicle.

[ray1970]

Not sure if it's been brought up yet, but the smaller her tow vehicle the more likely that trailer is going to push her around. I'm not just talking about braking because trailer brakes will help with that. I'm talking about bumps, curves, and definitely the wind.

For what it's worth, my truck is factory rated at 410 ft. lbs. of torque and pulling a 4,000 lb. trailer up across the mountains is about all I can do comfortably and easily. And that drops my gas mileage down to about 11.

[drift_g35]

Ive pulled that with my 2014 4runner with no problems. I put a brake controller it (already wired, just had to mount it) They are rated for 5500. Got about 14-17 while towing.

[ACE2GOOD]

That's pretty much why we went with the Suburban. My thought was, "If I'm going to get 11 - 12 mpg anyway, I might as well be comfortable."

Driving the Suburban is like piloting my living room couch down the freeway. (my sister and brother-in-law borrowed it last weekend and they said it was more like driving their WHOLE LIVING ROOM down the road. )

I was toying with maybe the shorter Tahoe (since it's just the wife and me, kids are all grown) but when I looked at the numbers I realized that the Tahoe and the Burb get just about the same MPG but the 'Burb is 2' longer and has 5 more gallons in the tank. Also having a 14" longer wheelbase it tows better on the freeway.

No, it's not fun to park in a big city (though I parked in downtown Seattle in the middle of rush hour last year!) but for everything else it's been perfect.

I got a 2013 when the Ecoboosts were just getting popular and supposedly mpg was better in the 2013's but wish we would have waited to see more reviews and not buying at first release to see it was still crap mpg when towing. My Uncle had one of the first ones I think when ecoboost first started coming out and he got worse mpg then me when towing so maybe the 2013 is a little better. But oh well, it's almost paid off and I'm going to drive it till it dies!

[Great-Kazoo]

I am helping a recently widowed friend find a vehicle to tow her camper. Camper is about 3500# loaded up. She wants a midsize SUV of some sort. She doesn't want a huge gas guzzling beast.

How much power/torque is enough to get the job done in Colorado? Is a V6 with around 300 ponies enough to comfortably tow in the mountains? I think the tow ratings on some of these vehicles are a bit optimistic.

If she's not going full size, suggest she sell it or trade for a smaller unit. Having towed many a pull behind, those V6's sound nice. Till you're up hill into a headwind in bad weather. Then there's the off the main drag in 2 lane switchbacks. There's very few who know or realize there's other gears in an AT to do the job and burn the trans out before they've hit grand junction.

Gas mileage is going in the crapper. Might as well enjoy it in a full size with minimal issues than waiting for AAA to get you off hwy 14. Also make sure there's an external trans cooler installed.

[gnihcraes]

Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel

I third this suggestion. (2015 year) I can take her for a ride along with the wife's. 420lbs torque is fun. I can hook up the camper just for giggles. (large popup)

Problem with Eco... expensive oil changes. ($200 dealer, about $80 DIY and Fuel Filter changes) Dealing with DEF and diesel. My wife loves driving hers. Sounds a bit like a truck, and loves the power when she needs it! MPG around town is running about 22-24, 30 on highway! (no towing)

caution though too, they tested a GC ecodiesel and it was getting warm pulling Eisenhower tunnel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRo4uNWCy5E

[Firehaus]

My totally stock '07 pulls my popup (about 3500 lbs) fine.

That surprises me with the 3.8. You pull that up passes going 80? Any overheating?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hurley842002]

That surprises me with the 3.8. You pull that up passes going 80? Any overheating?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Curious as well, I haven't heard much good about the 3.8's in the power department. My brothers 3.6 2 door moves pretty good for a Jeep (still not on par with my Xterra tho ).

[newracer]

That surprises me with the 3.8. You pull that up passes going 80? Any overheating?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Curious as well, I haven't heard much good about the 3.8's in the power department. My brothers 3.6 2 door moves pretty good for a Jeep (still not on par with my Xterra tho ).

I can't do 80 up the hills but I can usually hold 65-70. Easy bound on Vail pass was the toughest, I think I was only going 55-60 when I hit the top. I added an additional transmission cooler due to the known issues of them overheating. I don't pull the trailer with it very often anymore since I now also have a Chevy 2500 Duramax.

[Great-Kazoo]

I can't do 80 up the hills but I can usually hold 65-70. Easy bound on Vail pass was the toughest, I think I was only going 55-60 when I hit the top. I added an additional transmission cooler due to the known issues of them overheating. I don't pull the trailer with it very often anymore since I now also have a Chevy 2500 Duramax.

Once again, bigger is better. Mid size is nice for mall crawling, towing, not as a the primary vehicle. If you want it to last.

[newracer]

Once again, bigger is better. Mid size is nice for mall crawling, towing, not as a the primary vehicle. If you want it to last.

I don't even notice the camper behind my Chevy and I can go as fast as I want up the hills.