Travel Trailer Towing Recommendations

Grit dog wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
Yep, the salesman telling you that you can pull what he's trying to sell, surely knows better than the engineer setting the ratings. :S

Fact is most pickups never do any heavy hauling or towing...the proverbial grocery getter. That's how they survive.

If you are over by 100lbs, will the axle instantly snap in half...probably not but it's not a good situation.

I don’t listen to salesman. Would have to buy something from a dealer first…lol.
But again, out comes the vague supposition.
Of course if you never haul anything, your axle and springs should figuratively last forever…
But the couple dozen half tons I’ve put a lot of hard miles on, the thousands that my employers have used in heavy construction and the millions that have survived hard work everywhere else might just maybe say different.
But I’m sure you have some experience to back up your claim? Lol

Sorry for the miscommunication...I was including you with the salesmen saying the engineers don't know what they are doing.

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.

valhalla360 wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

You called?
It's fun to see the "you can't haul 4 fat people without exceeding the payload" comments which are (and I use this word cautiously) NEVER backed up by actual reasons why it's a bad idea. Just general supposition.
Just "because that's what the sticker says". Do you ever wonder how the rest of the world survives every day doing work with their half ton trucks? Or is your view so myopic that you literally have trouble even seeing your rear view mirrors?

Yep, the salesman telling you that you can pull what he's trying to sell, surely knows better than the engineer setting the ratings. :S

Fact is most pickups never do any heavy hauling or towing...the proverbial grocery getter. That's how they survive.

If you are over by 100lbs, will the axle instantly snap in half...probably not but it's not a good situation.

I don’t listen to salesman. Would have to buy something from a dealer first…lol.
But again, out comes the vague supposition.
Of course if you never haul anything, your axle and springs should figuratively last forever…
But the couple dozen half tons I’ve put a lot of hard miles on, the thousands that my employers have used in heavy construction and the millions that have survived hard work everywhere else might just maybe say different.
But I’m sure you have some experience to back up your claim? Lol

A 3500 16 passenger 155" WB would be the real cats meow from a people hauler, payload option.
Finding these vans will not be fun!

Marty

Glad two others said a 25 series van. Another excellent option for larger families. I didn't go that way due to using truck in landscape biz, along with using the trailer as a ski hut in the winter. 4wd and chains on truck and trailer were common needs getting in and out of a parking lot.

Don't quite me, I also believe Ford has an 8300 gvwr 150. Few and far between, but with an eco boost, also a good option.

Marty

Based on your descriptions, I second the one-ton Chevy Express as the dedicated tow vehicle. It would double as a grandkid bus. I have had an Express for the last 6 years. With the exception of not having 4wd, it makes a great tow vehicle, move to college, go on a brewery tour, and Saturday evening vehicle.

Fuel economy is not that bad in comparison to a 1500, and as good as a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup.

Retired Enjoy Life wrote:
More specifics as requested.
The TT is a 2022 Jayco Jay Flight SLX 8 284BHS.
The sticker on the TT has the following weight information.

........

We have 4 children and 10 grandchildren with more on the way. So we are looking for a tow vehicle that will also be used on a daily basis and be able to accommodate seating as many grandchildren as possible. The minimum would be 6 people which could be accomplished with a truck. However, if we take more than 4 grandchildren a truck would not accommodate that. Hence why we are looking at a larger SUV. Traveling long distances with grandchildren crunched together would not be a pleasant experience. We would take them on long trips which could include traveling through mountains.

........

3/4 or 1 ton body on frame van with bench seats is the best answer. Something like the Chevy full size. The 3/4ton gets you around 2600lb payload and a 9600lb tow rating (make sure you check the details when ordering as it may require a tow package or other options to get the max ratings). If you need more payload the 1 ton version has a payload upwards of 3100lb.

Won't get great MPG but neither will the SUVs you listed.

I'm the youngest of 10 and that's what we always had.

Grit dog wrote:

You called?
It's fun to see the "you can't haul 4 fat people without exceeding the payload" comments which are (and I use this word cautiously) NEVER backed up by actual reasons why it's a bad idea. Just general supposition.
Just "because that's what the sticker says". Do you ever wonder how the rest of the world survives every day doing work with their half ton trucks? Or is your view so myopic that you literally have trouble even seeing your rear view mirrors?

Yep, the salesman telling you that you can pull what he's trying to sell, surely knows better than the engineer setting the ratings. :S

Fact is most pickups never do any heavy hauling or towing...the proverbial grocery getter. That's how they survive.

If you are over by 100lbs, will the axle instantly snap in half...probably not but it's not a good situation.

OP,
With what you just posted, having been their, done that, get an 8 lug 2500 crew cab short box truck.

You WILL have issues with payload if you out 6-8 of you in a 15 series suc/crew cab truck!

If it were just you and spouse, 2-3 smaller grandkids, a 15 series "might" work. My family of 6 was 700-800 lbs wi youngest being 2 months, to as much as 1200 with 4 adult sized teens in truck. Add in 750-1000 lbs of HW. Maybe a bike or three.... A 1500 is overloaded.


Marty

More specifics as requested.
The TT is a 2022 Jayco Jay Flight SLX 8 284BHS.
The sticker on the TT has the following weight information.
PNBV KG/GVWR
3401 7500
PNBE KG/GAWR
1587 /3500 FRONT/DEVANT
/ INT/ CENTRAL
1587 /3500 REAR/ARRIERE
The weight of the cargo should not exceed 580 kg or 1280 lbs.

Specifications from the Jayco website for this vehicle:
Dry Hitch Weight 735 lbs.
Unloaded Vehicle Weight 6,060 lbs.
Cargo Carrying Capacity 1,440 lbs.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 7,500 lbs.
Measurements:
Exterior Length (overall) 33’7”
Exterior Height 10’4”
Exterior Height (with A/C) 11’ 0”
Exterior Width 8’0”

We have 4 children and 10 grandchildren with more on the way. So we are looking for a tow vehicle that will also be used on a daily basis and be able to accommodate seating as many grandchildren as possible. The minimum would be 6 people which could be accomplished with a truck. However, if we take more than 4 grandchildren a truck would not accommodate that. Hence why we are looking at a larger SUV. Traveling long distances with grandchildren crunched together would not be a pleasant experience. We would take them on long trips which could include traveling through mountains.

The tow vehicle would be a new 2022 or perhaps a year old if we go with a used vehicle. It would have a factory installed maximum tow package and a weight distributing hitch.

2022 Chevy Tahoe specifications:
4 WD
GVWR 7500 lbs.
Engine 5.3L Eco Tec3 V8
Transmission 10 speed automatic
Factory max tow package 8,400 lbs.
Wheel base 120.9 inches
Horsepower 355
Torque 383
Rear axle ratio 3.23

2022 Chevy Suburban specifications:
4 WD
GVWR 7,700 lbs.
Engine 5.3L V8
Transmission 10 speed automatic
Factory Max tow package 8,300 lbs.
Wheel base 134.1 inches
Horsepower 355 @5,600 rpm
Torque 383 @ 4100 rpm
Rear Axle Ratio 3.23

2022 GMC Yukon specifications:
4WD
GVWR 7,400 lbs.
Engine 5.3L V8
Transmission 10 speed automatic
Factory Max tow package 8,200 lbs.
Wheel base 120.9 inches
Horsepower 355 hp@5,600 rpm
Torque 383 @ 4,100 rpm
Rear axle ratio 3.23

2022 Ford Expedition XL STX with stealth performance package specifications
4WD
GVWR 7,450 lbs.
GCWR 15,500 lbs
Engine 3.5L Eco Boost V6 (High output)
Transmission 10 speed automatic
Factory Max tow package 9,200 lbs.
Wheel base 122 inches
Horsepower 440hp
Torque 510
Rear axle ratio hopefully this info will assist with responses. Thanks