So I'm searching for a vehicle that can tow our 10K lb trailer and still give us room to carry 6 total passengers, 4 of them under 12 which means they can't ride in the front with an airbag turned on. At first I thought I could get a crew cab would work. However, I have since learned that new crew cab trucks can't have their front airbag disabled. Super Cab and Regular cab have a switch but not crew. There is a pressure switch that will turn off the airbag if no one is in the front seat, but if a passenger is in the right seat then the airbag is on. I think I would love a truck, but don't think I have an option of one, unless I buy one that is old enough not to have airbags.It looks like nothing other than a van or excursion has the seating capacity and towing capacity that I need. I would prefer a diesel vehicle, as that is what I have had and love. But I would be open to a gas vehicle.For those of you out there who tow larger trailers with a lot of passengers, I'm open to your suggestions.

My understanding is the passenger seat pressure switches gauge if the load is under 75 lbs. and only turn on the airbag if the passenger is over 75 lbs. That is at least as I understand it. This may make a crew cab an option, especially if the 4 light passengers are int he back with one in the middle front seat where no airbag will be aimed.If you are towing a trailer I would bet that the new vans have a one ton option that can haul your load whether in a Mercedes diesel, Ram, or transit from Ford.

Mercedes, Ram Van and 2015+ Ford have almost no towing capacity as it relates to what I need.As for the passenger switch, yes, if the person in the front seat is 75lbs or less its off. However if my wife sits in the passenger seat and daughter is in the middle, then the switch will be on, and thats no good.

Where does the pass air bag deploy? Is it just for the RF pass or does it cover both front mid and RF passengers? With the 4 little ones, may have to adjust who sits in front middle if you get a CC. Our '15 F350 CC, the front mid seat has a shoulder belt and headrest. Based on your criteria, go w/ a CC diesel (your choice of brand) then decide of the 4 who sits up front in middle. My $.02Just curious: Is it the law than no one under 12 sits up front w/ air bag? Our kids are older, so I don't recall what or how the law reads.

I'm missing something here. How are there enough seat belts in a truck crew cab truck for 6 passengers? Or are you including the driver as a passenger?

A six-door crewcab would do the trick. :)A less expensive option would be to have a Cowtown Sleeper installed. A few thousand dollars will get you three extra seatbelts for the kiddos.

Towing over 10K lbs with 6 passengers... | Good Sam Community

xplodn
Explorer
Apr 11, 2015
I went with the Excursion for towing basically exclusively. I wasn't too worried about mileage as I went through the whole truck and will fix just about anything short of major failure on the road. At 8mpg it makes sense to not drove it around the city.

I have put 14k miles on it in nearly 2 years, 90% towing, 5% roadtrips with full seats and maybe 5% city. Thats what the commuter is for.
blt2ski
Moderator
Apr 11, 2015
NinerBikes wrote:
Drive two vehicles... buying a rig for a 1x trip with special requirements is crazy.

Where did the OP say he was doing a one time trip? If like me, I made probably over 100 trips with my family of 6 in my trucks towing out trailer. A trip here and there were done with two rigs, but one can not always do a 2-3K mile trip around the western states in my case with two rigs. So finding a rig that will haul the family and the trailer is a must.

Marty
bmanning
Explorer
Apr 11, 2015
NinerBikes wrote:
Drive two vehicles... buying a rig for a 1x trip with special requirements is crazy.

Winner winner, chicken dinner.

Do what makes ya happy but going this route opens up all the possibilities.
NinerBikes
Explorer
Apr 10, 2015
Drive two vehicles... buying a rig for a 1x trip with special requirements is crazy.
Tystevens
Explorer
Apr 10, 2015
Powerdude wrote:
Unless you're planning on colliding with a semi, chances are a large crew cab will be perfectly safe in just about any collision, even without airbags.

Maybe I'm old school, but it seems people have become obsessed with safety.

I have 4 kids under 10 as well, and I'm planning on buying a crew cab truck. Yes, the airbag situation isn't ideal, but if you're relying on an airbag to save your sorry behind, you're in a world of trouble already. Best to not get into an accident and drive defensively, especially if you have your genetic legacy with you.

The used Excursion thing is a good idea, but they tend to have lots of miles on them.

To each his own.

It isn't the airbag 'saving' you that is the issue, I don't think, as much as the impact of the airbag harming a smaller kid. Those things blow out with quite a bit of force. That is the danger, and that is why they all recommend that you not put a rear facing carseat in an airbag seat.

Yeah, my Ford's front center seat locks upright w/ a bit of a headrest (high enough for a smaller person, at least) and has a shoulder belt. My '06 Chevy did not have a shoulder belt nor did the back lock up or go very high.
Powerdude
Explorer
Apr 10, 2015
Unless you're planning on colliding with a semi, chances are a large crew cab will be perfectly safe in just about any collision, even without airbags.

Maybe I'm old school, but it seems people have become obsessed with safety.

I have 4 kids under 10 as well, and I'm planning on buying a crew cab truck. Yes, the airbag situation isn't ideal, but if you're relying on an airbag to save your sorry behind, you're in a world of trouble already. Best to not get into an accident and drive defensively, especially if you have your genetic legacy with you.

The used Excursion thing is a good idea, but they tend to have lots of miles on them.

To each his own.
Lantley
Nomad
Apr 10, 2015
The LeRoys wrote:
To clarify, there are 6 people total. 1 Driver and 5 passengers. 4 of the passengers are under 10.

Excursions are always out there, but finding one with low miles or in good condition is proving to be a challenge.

My prior combo was a PSD Excursion and a 36' TT. I still miss the passenger space of my X.
However 4 kids under 10 could easily fit in the rear seat of a crew cab.
If the seat belt is a concern just double buckle.
Maybe I'm just old school and living on the edge
Atlee
Explorer II
Apr 10, 2015
Ford Supercabs do have seat belts for 6 people, and the middle seat in the front also has a head rest. My truck does.

ACZL wrote:
Paul Clancy wrote:
I'm missing something here. How are there enough seat belts in a truck crew cab truck for 6 passengers? Or are you including the driver as a passenger?

Crew cabs have 6 seat belts as long as front seats are not buckets. Newer trucks now have headrests for center seat passengers. Even ext cabs that have bench seats in front have seat belts and I'm sure headrests (haven't been in one recently so I'm guessing they do).
carringb
Explorer
Apr 09, 2015
I know you wanted a diesel, but the Express diesel Wagon might as well be a Unicorn (besides being a little low on the tow rating) and the Ford diesel is the infamous 6.0L. Besides barely breaking even on fuel costs (at least around here most of the time) you also have to factor in the possibility of expensive repairs. The 6.0 is pretty popular among the SportsMobile crowd, and many of those guys wish they had the V10.
Tystevens
Explorer
Apr 09, 2015
I'm not sure about the airbag coverage, ie, if it is standard across the board or not. My owners manual doesn't say anything specifically about that. It just states that children under 12 should be in the rear seat (as a general safety principal, I suppose) and not to put a rear facing carseat "in front of an airbag." Doesn't make any mention of the middle position falling in to that category or not.

But there is also the question of whether or not it is workable, safety issues aside. For us, it isn't workable for more than a short drive, just because it is kind of a pain to jam 3 people in the front. There is limited foot room in the middle spot. I'd load the family up and take a long drive to see if it is something you want to even deal with, personally.

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