Tow Vehicle

7100 pounds dry may be within all the limits of my 2011 2500 Suburban. At 8000-8500 pounds loaded, that is pushing the 1000 pound receiver limit. No way any other 2007+ SUV has the payload for 7+ people and 1000 pounds of TW. If you want newer/lower mileages, then you have to stick with 3/4 and 1 ton vans. If your trips are under 4 hours each way, then another crew cab pickup and second higher FE vehicle may be your best options.

I don't have to have the latest vehicles, but the truck won't hold us all and I hate putting more miles on two vehicles everywhere we go. The van idea is an option, but are you all saying that I am right and none of the newer SUV's are capable of pulling the trailer? So are all those people in the campgrounds pulling trailers that are too big for their rigs? Sounds dangerous. I like the idea of the new Suburban, but it is out of my price range.

I love my van! They make great tow vehicles. If you get a 1-ton is has ample carrying capacity and the big motors have plenty of pulling power too.

Excursions are nice but getting old and you'd have to swap springs to have enough payload for a full passenger load and trailer.

KD4UPL wrote:

I know some people like to always have newer vehicles and maybe you're one of them. But, there's no reason you can't get over 200,000 out of a modern properly maintained vehicle. Our 3 vehicles have 156,000, 184,000 and 205,000 on them and i have no intention of getting rid of any of them. They all run great.

If it was up to me, and it wasn't, I would still be driving my 1971 International Travelall.
It was a beast. :)

GM used to make a 2500 Suburban. They shopped a few years ago, quite possibly around 2012 which may explain the numbers your getting.
There is a rumor that they may be bringing back the 2500 Suburban, I've seen some of the spy photos and it does have 8 lug axles. If you can wait a while and see if that happens then a new 2500 Sub should do the trick.
Otherwise there really aren't any SUV options. You could possible find a used Ford Excursion but the V8 was too weak, the 6.0 diesel too problematic, and the V10 spit out spark plugs. The V10 would still be my pick if you go that route.
The problem is that either way, 8 people in a vehicle will just about eat up all the payload capacity before you even hitch a trailer. As suggested, a 3500 series van may work. Chevy used to put the Duramax in vans. If you can find one of those I think it would be your best bet.
I know some people like to always have newer vehicles and maybe you're one of them. But, there's no reason you can't get over 200,000 out of a modern properly maintained vehicle. Our 3 vehicles have 156,000, 184,000 and 205,000 on them and i have no intention of getting rid of any of them. They all run great.

Look past the SUV style and go back to the original passenger vans. Go for the 8-15 passenger E350 Vans either Ford or GM's version. They'll have the towing power and the passenger capability. Come in either diesel or gas.