Choices of TV for a family of 6
The kids are 5-9 now, but growing fast ! TT is max (loaded) weight of 8500 lbs. SWMBO does not like vans. Is there a 6 passenger pickup any more or are we limited to Expedition/Suburban ?
Forum Discussion
Ford stopped making the Excursion in 2005, and GM stopped making the 2500 Suburban in 2012, or something like that.
Suffice it to say, there are no 8-lug SUVs being manufactured anymore. Newest one you can get is >5 years old, and if you're a Ford guy you are on a real unicorn hunt as you're looking for 13+ year old vehicle that hasn't been driven to death, isn't completely rusted out, etc.. I suppose they are still out there, if you're willing to wait any length of time, pay any price, travel any distance... Finding one close to home, before camping season 2018 really gets underway, that isn't grossly overpriced.
You are going to need an 8-lug tow vehicle for the size trailer you're going to get, no ifs ands or buts. 4 kids are going to want their own beds especially as they get older, and that means a bunkhouse travel trailer.
Your only choices are to squeeze into a crew cab truck, or get a full size van with 3-4 rows of seating. If you have to put up with "Mommmmmm! He's touching meeeee!" on a trip now, you will *NOT* like traveling in a crew cab truck. If you claim you don't then either you have unusually well-behaved children, or you're lying.
Really the only practical choice is a 350/3500 series van. I suppose you could probably sell your two youngest (I'm sure you're sorely tempted on some days, LOL), so your wife could have her "cool" SUV to tow a much smaller travel trailer that only needs to accommodate four.
Suffice it to say, there are no 8-lug SUVs being manufactured anymore. Newest one you can get is >5 years old, and if you're a Ford guy you are on a real unicorn hunt as you're looking for 13+ year old vehicle that hasn't been driven to death, isn't completely rusted out, etc.. I suppose they are still out there, if you're willing to wait any length of time, pay any price, travel any distance... Finding one close to home, before camping season 2018 really gets underway, that isn't grossly overpriced.
You are going to need an 8-lug tow vehicle for the size trailer you're going to get, no ifs ands or buts. 4 kids are going to want their own beds especially as they get older, and that means a bunkhouse travel trailer.
Your only choices are to squeeze into a crew cab truck, or get a full size van with 3-4 rows of seating. If you have to put up with "Mommmmmm! He's touching meeeee!" on a trip now, you will *NOT* like traveling in a crew cab truck. If you claim you don't then either you have unusually well-behaved children, or you're lying.
Really the only practical choice is a 350/3500 series van. I suppose you could probably sell your two youngest (I'm sure you're sorely tempted on some days, LOL), so your wife could have her "cool" SUV to tow a much smaller travel trailer that only needs to accommodate four.
