3/4 or 1 ton SUV ?

ktosv wrote:

Gator398 wrote:
Three years ago we pulled a 5x8 enclosed trailer with our 9 passenger 2012 GMC Savana explorer van, 3 adults and 4 kids and cargo trailer usually at about 3k lbs. We had brake rotors replaced every 3 trips or so, whenever the braking vibration would get unbearable.

If you think the 2005 Excursion was the last vehicle made for towing and hauling, you must not be aware that GM made the 3/4 ton Suburban through the 2013 MY and we all know the Suburbans actually had a higher payload than an Excursion, thus actually making it the better tow vehicle.

Agree, Gator had some unique "issues" with his van, but the general sentiment is the same. If you want basic bare bones transportation that can haul your best attempt at producing an entire soccer team from your own loins and get a trailer down the road, all at the lowest reasonable cost per mile for a vehicle, then a Van is your only option (and likely will continue to be because new SUVs are 'spensive).

But, "Suburbans actually had a higher payload than an Excursion, thus actually making it the better tow vehicle" is a pretty broad brush and almost wholly inaccurate statement.
Just because some people live and die by the almighty "door sticker" does not mean that they are right, nor does it a tow vehicle make.
One could go on for pages as to what makes a particular vehicle a better tow vehicle than another and the number of considerations (not including the highly variable considerations that come with comparing a 10-30 year old vehicle to a 15-20 year old vehicle) is lengthy.

For instance a 6.0 Powerstroke, torqshift Excursion will pull better than a 6.0 LS, 6L80E Suburban with the same gearing. The Burb will have better grade braking, but you can add an exhaust brake to a Stroke.
Torqshift trans is better than the 6L80, even lacking 1 forward gear comparatively.
Frame, chassis, axles, brakes, all the stuff that is germane to payload capability, (notice I didn't say rating, as thats just a math calculation that is really not even loosely based on the vehicle's actual capability when talking class 2 vehicles) are not even remotely taxed near their real world ratings or limits in a class 2 SUV configuration. So because the Explursion was a few lbs fatter than a Burb means basically nothing.