Travel Trailer Towing Recommendations
We just purchased our first travel trailer. We are looking at purchasing a new tow vehicle. Would like recommendations on what tow vehicle is best what to avoid. We will be towing a bunkhouse GVWR is ...
Forum Discussion
OP
The specifics help ALOT.
My advice comes from towing about anything you can hook to a light duty vehicle over the last 30+ years, including many things you shouldn’t and some that could only be categorized as stupid human tricks! Also a mechanic and civil/mechanical engineer.
1. New Tahoe/Burb/Expedition are out of the question. Biggest issue is none of them have a solid rear axle. Therefore your options for beefing up the suspension (which you WILL want/need to do with most any half ton chassis vehicle) are very limited to none. And IfS is not really designed with heavy loading in mind as a primary function.
2. Wheelbase. Yes it’s important. No it’s not AS important as some make it to be. But at a minimum Expe EL or Suburban and go back a few years and find a solid axle one. Even then they will be coil sprung but you have options and a decent wheelbase. This would be a bare minimum get by option imo. And at 34’ long tail wagging the dog is real. Skip the baby size suvs. (I’d tow with one but you probably would t like it)
3. Next step up heavy crew cab 1/2 ton with 6’ bed. I’d do this all day long with the right mods and have the closest thing to a suv for comfort.
4. If you have the budget to buy a $80k suv now then you realistically have the budget for anything you want. I’d get a crew cab HD truck and call it a day. Best compromise of all your wants and needs and you don’t have to take more than 3 grandkids. Make your kids haul them. Ever try to clean out the 3rd row area after the crumb munchers spill **** everywhere?
5. A van is the best option for Hauling the booger eaters and still being able to tow albeit with an inferior drivetrain compared to about any other option. But sucks for everything else.
And who the F wants to drive a short bus around town and to the grocery store and park it in the winter because traction sux? Vans are for people with too many kids and/or not enough money.
6. If you’re wanting to spend a lot of money, have no warranty and have your cake and eat it too, buy a Duraburb. If you want the same thing with less power and a lot less money find a cherry condition low mile old Excursion V10 or a 3/4 ton suburban. At least you can have leather seats, comfort, 4wd and haul 6 curtain climbers.
So you have lots of options.
The specifics help ALOT.
My advice comes from towing about anything you can hook to a light duty vehicle over the last 30+ years, including many things you shouldn’t and some that could only be categorized as stupid human tricks! Also a mechanic and civil/mechanical engineer.
1. New Tahoe/Burb/Expedition are out of the question. Biggest issue is none of them have a solid rear axle. Therefore your options for beefing up the suspension (which you WILL want/need to do with most any half ton chassis vehicle) are very limited to none. And IfS is not really designed with heavy loading in mind as a primary function.
2. Wheelbase. Yes it’s important. No it’s not AS important as some make it to be. But at a minimum Expe EL or Suburban and go back a few years and find a solid axle one. Even then they will be coil sprung but you have options and a decent wheelbase. This would be a bare minimum get by option imo. And at 34’ long tail wagging the dog is real. Skip the baby size suvs. (I’d tow with one but you probably would t like it)
3. Next step up heavy crew cab 1/2 ton with 6’ bed. I’d do this all day long with the right mods and have the closest thing to a suv for comfort.
4. If you have the budget to buy a $80k suv now then you realistically have the budget for anything you want. I’d get a crew cab HD truck and call it a day. Best compromise of all your wants and needs and you don’t have to take more than 3 grandkids. Make your kids haul them. Ever try to clean out the 3rd row area after the crumb munchers spill **** everywhere?
5. A van is the best option for Hauling the booger eaters and still being able to tow albeit with an inferior drivetrain compared to about any other option. But sucks for everything else.
And who the F wants to drive a short bus around town and to the grocery store and park it in the winter because traction sux? Vans are for people with too many kids and/or not enough money.
6. If you’re wanting to spend a lot of money, have no warranty and have your cake and eat it too, buy a Duraburb. If you want the same thing with less power and a lot less money find a cherry condition low mile old Excursion V10 or a 3/4 ton suburban. At least you can have leather seats, comfort, 4wd and haul 6 curtain climbers.
So you have lots of options.
