Travel Trailer Towing Recommendations

Little late now, but if I had the same criteria as the OP I would have opted for a MH and an SUV dinghy.

Grit dog wrote:
Well, the experts have spoken. OP should be thrilled with a big ole 22' long 15 passenger van with 7' of overhang past the rear axle.
Sounds like the perfect luxury hauler!

Wasn’t a crew cab short box one of the vehicles you recommended? The express extended van is a whopping 5” longer than the Silverado crew cab short box.

Marty, our cargo van was ordered with rear heat/AC.

Have a 1996 8.6K GVWR, K3500, 7.4L Suburban, but wanted a full sized 4x4 van, which wasn’t available back then…so settled for the 8 seat Suburban. Only half ton Suburbans are available to day, except for the armored 1 ton version, but only for VIP’s and the President and it’s tow rating is something like 3K

Today, if I was you, I’d get a 2022 GM/GMC full sized van, with 12 seating, 2.8L/4 cylinder Turbo Duramax, 8 speed, 31 gallon fuel tank, 9.9K GVWR & 15K GCWR. Rear wheel drive only. Gasser would be the 6.6L V8

You can take out a row of seats if not needed and that would increase cargo capacity and/or towing capacity


Link to GM/GMC site with specs. Listed at $42K MSRP base model
https://www.gmc.com/vans/savana/passenger/build-and-price/features/trims/table?section=Highlights§ion=Mechanical§ion=Dimensions&styleOne=423009&styleTwo=423021
IPad based post won’t allow clicks, so here are the raw links = https://www.gmc.com/vans/savana/passenger/build-and-price/features/trims/select/1?section=Highlights§ion=Mechanical&styleOne=423009

https://www.gmc.com/vans/savana/passenger/build-and-price/features/trims/table?section=Highlights§ion=Mechanical§ion=Dimensions&styleOne=423009&styleTwo=423021

The only potential issue would be GCWR if you load up both the TV & trailer, but that is something you can manage, which will take several trips to the scales

Grit dog wrote:
Well, the experts have spoken. OP should be thrilled with a big ole 22' long 15 passenger van with 7' of overhang past the rear axle.
Sounds like the perfect luxury hauler!

The ONLY vans I know that have 7' of rear overhang, that are 22' long are made by a company named Ford! GM, Dodge, MB ALL have 15 passenger vans with a 155+- WB. Overhang is around 4-5' ie typical pickup amount.

Most have front and rear AC assuming passenger models. Cargo front only.

As noted, much roomier than SUVs, crew cab pickups. Today's models vs 20 yrs ago don't generally speaking have the same power as pickups. From a chassis standpoint, pretty much on par to pickups, assuming the same gvwr, axle rating etc.

Marty

$20 says the OP won't be asking for advice here anymore...
I wouldn't.

BCSnob wrote:
I think the OP needs to decide which is of greater importance to them, owning an SUV or traveling with 6 adults plus 4 (or more) grandchildren in the same vehicle. Until someone identifies a 10 passenger SUV, the two are mutually exclusive.


How about an “out of the box” idea?
I know someone who uses a minibus to tow their TT to events. This one should have no issues pulling the OPs TT and transport 6 adults and 4+ grandchildren.

Ford F-550 Super Duty 4x4 DRW 14 Passenger Minibus

“Grandpa’s Party Bus”

No pickup, SUV or van should be towing a TT with 10 bodies in the TV. The bus suggestion makes sense. OR TWO or THREE VEHICLES on each trip!

Krusty wrote:
The Transit is now available with all-wheel drive if traction is an issue. That Wagoneer looks like it may be a good choice too

The Transit is not an option for any real towing, with the max tow rating for a passenger van at under 5000 lbs. It's too bad, what with factory AWD available and pretty good payload. It's good to see that Stellantis or whatever they are calling themselves this week finally has a full size SUV to compete with Ford and GM, but on paper the Wagoneer is no more capable in terms of GVWR or GCWR.

Well, the experts have spoken. OP should be thrilled with a big ole 22' long 15 passenger van with 7' of overhang past the rear axle.
Sounds like the perfect luxury hauler!

BCSnob wrote:
Just drove our van this weekend; not 50 years ago.
As someone who has a cargo van, passenger vans are not simply cargo vans with seats and I personally would prefer a van over a 3 row SUV when traveling long distances with more than 6 people (more leg room and elbow room).

Maybe I'm not familiar with vans, but any van with enough @ss to haul a full load of humans and a big trailer sure sounds like a 1 ton (aka, rides like a brick on wheels the other 300+ days a year when not playing Partridge Family.

BCSnob wrote:
Review the number of people the OP would like to transport; 6 people plus 4 or more grandkids (in a 3 row SUV on a long trip :E).

This sounds like a nightmare...and children who should drive their own children! 10 people, 1 vehicle, road trip? With a big trailer? Hope gramps has nerves of steel!