Hi I'm looking for something that would have a towing capacity of about 7150 or a bit more. I have an 04 Durango and that is it's rating. It pulls my 30 lightweight TT fairly well but is getting long in the tooth. I'm thinking that another SUV would be our choice. Looking for something a few years old but with lots of life left in it. I've heard lots of good things about the Tahoes with the 5.3, 6 speed and 3.42 or 3.73 rear end. The Durango has never caused us major issues but isn't the greatest ride - noisy, fairly rough. Besides pulling we drive it daily so would be nice to have something decent. Would the Tahoe be any better? Would there be other choices to look at? Don't like the idea of anything much longer than those two - If I had deep pockets I would pick up a GL350 with the diesel but that isn't likely to happen - even one 5 years old with 61,000 KM is still just under 50K - yikes! Oh well back to reality. Any help would be greatly appreciated.Thanks

How about a 2500 Suburban? Bit bigger than a Tahoe and the 2500 series gives you a lot of room to grow if you choose. Better frame, springs, tires, wheels and axles not to mention the venerable 6.0L Gas motor to push it.

1/2 ton Tahoe sucks at towing try Durango HEMI, or Ford Expedition. Try Tahoe when they give it the new EcoTec 5.3L in the 15' models. Good luck.3/4 ton Tahoe might work too, the 6.0 is a little dated BUT the new EcoTec in the 15' models will have a little more power and much better MPG compared to the 6.0 .

Wheel base is what you need to be looking at. Tahoe has a too short wheelbase for towing and most certainly is not comfortably in the 7,500 lb towing range.Even if you jump up to the suburban the wheel base is longer and will get the job done.

In my opinion, Tahoe does not "suck at towing" as others have stated. I own a 2003 Tahoe and it pulls absolutely great as long as your aren't overloading it. I tow nearly every weekend a 5,000 pound boat with it, and it pulls great. The 5.3 for me has been the most reliable motor I have owned. However, I don't know how much your travel trailer weighs, but I tried pulling 7,000 pounds with my Tahoe and it was too much for it. Owners manual states it can pull up to 7,400 pounds, but that cannot be true. Keep it within range, and Tahoes are great vehicles. Short wheelbase has its postives and negatives, but I always liked I can actually find a parking spot with it, compared to my crew cab long bed truck.Good luck!

Don't just look at the wheelbase. The ratio of the rear over hang to the wheelbase of the Tahoe is the same as the ratio of the rear over hang to the wheelbase of the Suburban. This creates similar dynamics and the two vehicles will tow similarly. Our Envoy XL was far more stable towing than our Suburban was. This was due to the shorter overhang of the Envoy XL (wheelbases were within 1" of each other). I was pleased with how our 5.3L/4speed/3.42 Suburban towed our 5000GVWR HTT. It did tow our current trailer fine, but there is a major ride and handling improvement when going to a 3/4 or 1 ton vehicle when towing 7500#.

Durango, Tahoe or ??? | Good Sam Community

ktosv
Explorer
Dec 06, 2013
Don't just look at the wheelbase. The ratio of the rear over hang to the wheelbase of the Tahoe is the same as the ratio of the rear over hang to the wheelbase of the Suburban. This creates similar dynamics and the two vehicles will tow similarly. Our Envoy XL was far more stable towing than our Suburban was. This was due to the shorter overhang of the Envoy XL (wheelbases were within 1" of each other).

I was pleased with how our 5.3L/4speed/3.42 Suburban towed our 5000GVWR HTT. It did tow our current trailer fine, but there is a major ride and handling improvement when going to a 3/4 or 1 ton vehicle when towing 7500#.
jbres
Explorer
Dec 06, 2013
In my opinion, Tahoe does not "suck at towing" as others have stated. I own a 2003 Tahoe and it pulls absolutely great as long as your aren't overloading it. I tow nearly every weekend a 5,000 pound boat with it, and it pulls great. The 5.3 for me has been the most reliable motor I have owned.
However, I don't know how much your travel trailer weighs, but I tried pulling 7,000 pounds with my Tahoe and it was too much for it. Owners manual states it can pull up to 7,400 pounds, but that cannot be true.
Keep it within range, and Tahoes are great vehicles. Short wheelbase has its postives and negatives, but I always liked I can actually find a parking spot with it, compared to my crew cab long bed truck.
Good luck!
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
Dec 06, 2013
Wheel base is what you need to be looking at. Tahoe has a too short wheelbase for towing and most certainly is not comfortably in the 7,500 lb towing range.

Even if you jump up to the suburban the wheel base is longer and will get the job done.
OpenRangePullen
Explorer
Dec 05, 2013
1/2 ton Tahoe sucks at towing try Durango HEMI, or Ford Expedition. Try Tahoe when they give it the new EcoTec 5.3L in the 15' models. Good luck.
3/4 ton Tahoe might work too, the 6.0 is a little dated BUT the new EcoTec in the 15' models will have a little more power and much better MPG compared to the 6.0 .
donn0128
Explorer II
Dec 05, 2013
How about a 2500 Suburban? Bit bigger than a Tahoe and the 2500 series gives you a lot of room to grow if you choose. Better frame, springs, tires, wheels and axles not to mention the venerable 6.0L Gas motor to push it.

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