Who's up for a puzzle?Pick my next TV. Any honest opinion is welcome, just give me your reason behind your thoughts so I can process. Will post pics at completion sometime in the next 3 to 6 months. Will offer any additional info requested.I've been reading posts and researching TT and TV for almost a year so I know a little about a lot, and everything about nothing. Here are the known pieces of the puzzle;Jayflight 264 BHW listed at 4400lbs with 1200 Equalizer hitch.Home base is central KY. Will visit ST parks mostly but will be doing a week a couple states away each year, and WILL be doing two weeks to CA, CO, LA ...basically nationwide, each year as well.Here is the hard part, I can't buy a 40,30,20K dollar vehicle to replace my little Explorer. I also must daily drive this TV 40 miles to work. I'm traveling with my wife, and three daughters, 13, 11, 8yrs old. My wife and I Adventure Race a few times a year and pack Mnt bikes, tandem kayak on the Explorer roof. We don't need a truck bed, we have a utility trailer already, we want SUV room instead, probably some sort of Suburban.Would like 4x4 just for the occasional snow ice season. I don't think I need an 8liter Allison Trans 2500 either, but can be convinced otherwise.I'm leaning towards a 10th gen 2000-2006 Suburban 1500. Can I get a 6liter in 1500 trim? I'm not scared of a rougher ride in a 2500, I think gas mileage will bug me more. I want to stay at/under $10K with about 100K miles on the OD. Possible? Got any ideas for me? Best rear end ratio for my plans?Looking at a 05 Suburban Z71 4WD in Ohio with 75K miles, asking 10,967 online. Will it get 14/18 MPG typically, and 8ish towing?Sorry to dump my problems, I'm just at wits' end with facts figures and endless research.

With that TT you may be able to slip into a mid-sized SUV such as the Durango. They are very capable for their size. I believe some of the newish ones have up to 8K or so. Otherwise, a full size truck is going to give you MPG headaches for sure. MPGs have improved so much in the last few years that's it a tough spot to be in. You can pay for a new truck and get great MPGs or spend less on something older and get much less. Pay me now or pay me later :)

I would do a cars.com search for your zip code. Filter it by SUV's 5-10k and (10k-15k as you might find a few around 12-13 that you might be able to haggle down to your price range) I did this for my area and found a few Durango, Yukon/Tahoes available as well as some Ford Excursions, Expedition and even a Toyota Sequoia. At the 10k price range I wouldn't be as picky on the particular make/model as I would be on condition, vehicle history and maintenance records etc...

Get the Suburban, just check it well for any sign of Ohio salt caused rust.

1500 Suburbans can already be at their max capacity with just your family on board. Get a 2500 series if you want to tow any more than a tent trailer. You might also check out E250/350 series Ford vans.

Thanks mtofell1, I worried about a non-truck Dodge due to transmission history (I've had a Caravan and Intrepid with multiple transmissions). Found an '06 SXT V8 4WD 107K miles close to me with a 3.55 rear gear for $8K, states 14/18 MPG... Does have the third row seating.I hear you loud and clear mrkoje. With my price being #1 handicap, I'm further complicating the purchase with a 100K mile limit. Being pretty wide open after that is what boggles my mind. If a Yukon and a Suburban get the same MPG, why not go more stable/more room and go 'burbon? I'll look closer at the Sequoia but I think the Toyota badge may price me out of a good deal.Lynnmor, I've looked at nearly every Yukon/Tahoe/Suburban I've driven past these last few months and I see a good amount of bumper rust and lower rear quarter cancer. Neither scare me too bad since this is a 2 to 4 yr vehicle only. I know as my girls get older it's going to be the wife and I mostly on these trips. I was wheelbase scared first driving the little Explorer with 29' of trailer but I've had zero tail wagging. Perhaps a Suburban isn't required for my TT size/weight.Your scaring me donn0128, I thought the 1500 Tahoe/Suburban TV was a pretty good option towing lighter trailers. One of the reasons I went with a basic Jayflight is it weights equal to most hybrids with similar sleeping arrangements. Just 'autotrader' searched E250 Ford vans and they are all cargo walled (no rear windows). My TV will need to be a fully functional family (plus a friend or two sometimes) hauler around town and on trips.Thank you all for the quick responses, I'll be checking back often for good opinions and will help fill in the puzzle with answers to your questions about my needs for this next TV.

Experienced opinion please | Good Sam Community

RavensFan24
Explorer
Aug 31, 2015
You'd be better off with a Tahoe than a suburban unless you go with the suburban 2500. With your weight trailer, the Tahoe should do everything you need. Suburbans were meant to be people haulers. They have less towing capacity than a Tahoe by a couple hundred pounds. The Expedition has one of the highest tow rating amongst the standard SUVs at around, but I prefer Chevy to Ford.

I've had the SUV debate with myself over and over. My only choice to move up would be the Suburban 2500, but they are def a rare breed and you prob wouldn't want that as your daily driver for work. If I were you I'd go with a Tahoe, but even a 2010 Tahoe will run you mid to high $20s unless it has crazy high mileage.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Aug 31, 2015
If you can't spend $20,30,40k you will be searching a long time to find the perfect late model SUV as a 10 year old or older one will end up costing you in deferred maintenance IMO.
APT
Explorer
Aug 31, 2015
You can get the 6.0L in 2000-2006 hallf ton GM SUVs, Yukon Denali for example. I think it was a very rare Chevy LTZ option as well. The 5.3L and 6.0L seem to use the same amount of fuel in GMT800s. I'd get the extra power.

Are you open to full sized vans too? You'll find a lot newer vehicle at any given price point.
RedRocket204
Explorer
Aug 31, 2015
Nonesuch wrote:
One of the reasons I went with a basic Jayflight is it weights equal to most hybrids with similar sleeping arrangements.

Jayco - Jay Flight SLX 2015 264BHW wrote:
Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs) 4,425
Dry Hitch Weight (lbs) 510
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs) 6,500
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs) 2,075

Exterior Length 29' 1"

Do not forget that the weight you mention in your OP is a weight that will not be anywhere near accurate. Expect that TT to be 5500 - 6000 lbs ready to camp and that will be based upon the frequently mentioned, "we pack light". Add to that the toys you have mentioned you want to bring along which sounds like will need to be subtracted from the TV's payload too.
donn0128
Explorer II
Aug 31, 2015
Think of it this way, 1500 Suburban is roughly equal to a 1500 short bed pickup with about 800 pounds of added sheet metal and seats. That reduces the pickups real payload from maybe 1200 pounds to 4-500 pounds. Subtract weight of all the bodies you plan to carry, even consertatively at 400 pounds, and your available payload for hitch is...... wait for it..... nothing!
There are tons of E250/350 passanger vans out there, you just need to search a little. Check Ebay for starters.
OH and forget those wonderful dry or shipping weights everybody loves to throw at you. No one has ever gone camping with a completely empty trailer. Instead to be on the safe side, look at GVWR trailer numbers, and use 12% of the GVWR as tongue weight. May not be perfect, but a happy surprise is sure better than a sad one.
Nonesuch
Explorer
Aug 31, 2015
Thanks mtofell1, I worried about a non-truck Dodge due to transmission history (I've had a Caravan and Intrepid with multiple transmissions). Found an '06 SXT V8 4WD 107K miles close to me with a 3.55 rear gear for $8K, states 14/18 MPG... Does have the third row seating.

I hear you loud and clear mrkoje. With my price being #1 handicap, I'm further complicating the purchase with a 100K mile limit. Being pretty wide open after that is what boggles my mind. If a Yukon and a Suburban get the same MPG, why not go more stable/more room and go 'burbon? I'll look closer at the Sequoia but I think the Toyota badge may price me out of a good deal.

Lynnmor, I've looked at nearly every Yukon/Tahoe/Suburban I've driven past these last few months and I see a good amount of bumper rust and lower rear quarter cancer. Neither scare me too bad since this is a 2 to 4 yr vehicle only. I know as my girls get older it's going to be the wife and I mostly on these trips. I was wheelbase scared first driving the little Explorer with 29' of trailer but I've had zero tail wagging. Perhaps a Suburban isn't required for my TT size/weight.

Your scaring me donn0128, I thought the 1500 Tahoe/Suburban TV was a pretty good option towing lighter trailers. One of the reasons I went with a basic Jayflight is it weights equal to most hybrids with similar sleeping arrangements. Just 'autotrader' searched E250 Ford vans and they are all cargo walled (no rear windows). My TV will need to be a fully functional family (plus a friend or two sometimes) hauler around town and on trips.

Thank you all for the quick responses, I'll be checking back often for good opinions and will help fill in the puzzle with answers to your questions about my needs for this next TV.
donn0128
Explorer II
Aug 31, 2015
1500 Suburbans can already be at their max capacity with just your family on board. Get a 2500 series if you want to tow any more than a tent trailer. You might also check out E250/350 series Ford vans.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Aug 31, 2015
Get the Suburban, just check it well for any sign of Ohio salt caused rust.
mrkoje
Explorer
Aug 31, 2015
I would do a cars.com search for your zip code. Filter it by SUV's 5-10k and (10k-15k as you might find a few around 12-13 that you might be able to haggle down to your price range)

I did this for my area and found a few Durango, Yukon/Tahoes available as well as some Ford Excursions, Expedition and even a Toyota Sequoia.

At the 10k price range I wouldn't be as picky on the particular make/model as I would be on condition, vehicle history and maintenance records etc...
mtofell1
Explorer
Aug 31, 2015
With that TT you may be able to slip into a mid-sized SUV such as the Durango. They are very capable for their size. I believe some of the newish ones have up to 8K or so.

Otherwise, a full size truck is going to give you MPG headaches for sure. MPGs have improved so much in the last few years that's it a tough spot to be in. You can pay for a new truck and get great MPGs or spend less on something older and get much less. Pay me now or pay me later :)

Forum Discussion

Experienced opinion please

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

opinions please

Opinions Please

Owners opinions, please.

Opinions please

Opinions Sought from Experienced Full-Timers