Towing question

First, to the OP (original poster):
No one yet politely offered a direct opinion about using a Tahoe or Durango. Either of these would work, although a longer wheelbase is always prefered for better straight line tracking. But considering the moderate size of camper you are proposing, I just can't see a major snag. If either of these shorter SUVs will better meet your other vehicle needs (parking, or cost, for instance), then by all means, go for it. In my opinion, the medium campers do handle much better on the highway than 29-32+ footers. It's not the camper weight, but the extended sway momentum of longer rigs that can be troublesome in wind.

clubhouse wrote:

Wes Tausend wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:
This should be reported to an admin due to the gross misinformation it contains. I hope no one reading this even considers this advice. You sir, have your head in the sand.

Well, sir. Let me be the first to invite you to demonstrate which info is incorrect and why. I expect logical explanations. You might surprise youself when you really think about why the ratings are what they are. How do you think the ratings are obtained? ;)

I have pretty thick skin so go ahead. Anybody. Maybe I'll learn something. I usually do.

Everybody have a great holiday! :B

P.S.
I wouldn't mind if somebody shrunk the pictures so this page was easier to read.

Wes
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I am not an engineer, nor do I pretend to be one. I am also not a card carrying member of the "Weight Police". You will never hear me warn someone of that exceeding weights will void warranties, instantly put them at fault in an accident with no support from your insurance company, or will cause there vehicle to simply to come apart at the seams should you exceed one of the many weight ratings.

I do however believe there are reasons beyond smooth rides and legal issue like FORD/FIRESTONE for the weight limits.

IMO one of the most important issues, and you alluded to it too, is driver skill and experience. Every day on the road (and I drive 40k-50k miles a year) I am amazed by the number of poor drivers I come across. Distracted drivers, careless drivers, selfish drivers -- the list goes on and on. I too wasn't as astute of a driver 20 years ago that I am today; experience can provide a lot of insight and practice develops skill.

I for one am of the opinion if someone is coming to a website like this and asking if a certain combination is safe, will be OK, or need any other type of validation from anonymous screen names that their combination is road worthy I immediately question their towing experience. In that situation I find advice like you provided to be reckless and dangerous. If folk’s create TV/TT combinations that met each and every weight limit chances are they will end up with a much more stable manageable combination, ultimately present less risk on the roads to me and my family, and generally will have a more positive towing experience. But let’s face it; my primary concern is for my family and friends out on the same roads with some of the proposed combinations and inexperienced drivers/towers.

So Wes, you very well could be right about a TV actual capability
versus published capability. But ask yourself, do you really want to put folks with limited experience towing on the road with marginal setups that require above average skill and experience they don’t have.

Fortunately MFOX has reached the conclusion that the Explorer isn’t right for their situation and I couldn’t agree more. Yet comments like yours will live on and eventually some newbie will be searching for validation they can pull a 35’ 9500 TT with ½ ton SUV loaded with 5 passengers and you just provided what they need to justify the decision.

Let’s please remember what we post on the internet will live forever.

clubhouse,

Thanks for responding and being so candid. For the most part I agree with you.

Believe me, MFOX was already nervous or they wouldn't have asked. If some of the far out "over-truck-it" advice will also live on the internet forever, all one can hope to do is balance the overall perspective.

Not everyone should buy a heavy fuel hog to tow, nor can they afford to do so. I mean to point out there is no absolute critical need. There is not a rash of crashes by supposedly undersized trucks. As a matter of fact, I'll bet more trailering accidents involve the larger trucks, the even heavier RVs and the overconfident drivers. So I wholeheartedly agree that experience, and caution is helpful. Prudence and compromise can make up for a lot of mechanical shortcomings.

The thing is, folks like MFOX can tow the suggested TT with the Explorer. Somebody already did, probably the most useful post in this thread. Pulling with the Explorer just wouldn't be as easy, and I wouldn't heartily recommend it either. Yet there is no sharp definative real danger lines to be crossed as is often implied in these forums regarding sacred OEM capacities. The driver, like all towing drivers, must just realise that they give up some proportional measure of stability control when they tow anything at all, and from there it is a steady march downhill. We who tow are all a potential increased hazard to those not towing, those ordinary passengers whom we share the road with.

Wes
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