Family of six looking for tow vehicle

Wes Tausend wrote:
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Cyndi,

Welcome.

I think you've found a great vehicle that will suit your tow vehicle(TV) needs just fine. The Expedition you linked is made for doing what you intend. Don't let some folks here discourage you with woeful tales of absolutely needing a bigger truck and huge camper, costing way more money than your budget may include.

It sounds to me like you have already carefully thought this out, part of which included checking with a camping forum (here) for more opinions. You need to know that the enthusiastic RV folks here naturally tend to overdo it sometimes. Forgive us. In some cases they are correct when new members have totally unrealistic expectations such as using a small Ford Explorer, or tiny Escape for huge campers.

You've already stated that the intention is to pull a medium-sized camper (maybe 24-26 feet?) and the Expy should easily do this and haul the family too.

Need more sleeping room? You can add an awning screen-room/wall-tent to the side of a moderate camper and sleep another 10 people if you like (and, as you said, some kids don't mind a canvas roof). They would not have to walk outside in the night/rain to run to the camper restroom for instance, since such a fabric room directly adjoins the camper. A common 16 foot awning makes into a huge 8 by 16 foot room and the screen is handy if the bugs are crazy.

Another bonus advantage to the 2-wheel drive 1/2 ton SUV you've chosen is that it will get reasonable fuel economy when just traveling without the camper. The towing mileage will almost be exactly the same when pulling a camper with any other gas truck, or SUV, but not quite as good as with a diesel. But diesels often cost so much more that the slightly improved diesel fuel mileage never pays for itself unless one drives a lot of miles like commercial trucks.

One of the advantages of 2 wheel drive, vs 4-wheel drive, is better fuel economy, and unless you plan to be offroad a lot, you will very seldom ever use the added traction of 4 wheel drive. Besides, an under-$200 investment of rear tire chains will give you more traction than plain-tired 4 wheel drive if you should happen to camp off pavement and have to leave in snow, or mud after a heavy rain. It is not unusual for a 2 wheel drive with chains to pull a 4 wheel drive out since not many think they need tire chains with 4 wheel drive.

I know from experience that it is often one spouse that carries the inspiration more than the other, to "go for it", to camp, and enjoy the close natural family bonding that the outdoor experience creates. I wish you the best of luck to work together to achieve this remarkable tradition. You won't be sorry.

Wes
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I have to disagree with you on this one. An expedition going to be enough vehicle for 6 people and a 25' trailer. Expedition has 1600 lbs payload just people will eat up 900 lbs now they are at 700 lbs remaining take away 650lbs for tongue weight on a 5000 lb trailer and you have 50 lbs of payload. That gives you 8 gallons of gas before you're over your gvwr.

I'm not even going to touch the 4wd comments as they are irreverent. The vehicle most are recommending are the 1 ton vans that are only 2wd.

I'm not saying you couldn't get away with it but it probably won't be fun to drive