Travel Trailer Towing Recommendations

Curious, what percentage of the time do people need to use 4wd in the winter to get around on the roads?

How well would someone from WA know the winter road conditions (ability of WI Dot to plow) in WI or any where in the Great Lakes region?

Grit dog wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
...
The strange behavior is making a recommendation that doesn't accommodate the OPs needs.

That's what I am saying too! See, we agree!....

I'm not sure you are, Grit dog.

You illustrated with your long, elaborate post that the SUV is overall a better vehicle than a van, when you look at everything. And, if you ignore the 10 people requirement the OP has, I don't think anybody would disagree with your points there.

However, as already said, no SUV can (safely) carry 10 people. Sooo, it really doesn't matter how many more 'points' the SUV has over the van, because it will not meet the OP's needs. The van will, albeit at a cost in many other areas you mentioned.

This has been a challenge for a very long time, and hasn't got any better over the years. How does one safely bring a large family (too large for a pickup) and tow an RV trailer?

Back when I was in that boat years ago, I had one of the few 3/4 ton SUVs (Ford Excursion) to do the job. Loved that truck, it was great. It worked great for what we needed at the time. Unfortunately, they are no longer being built. Neither are the other options that used to handle this well (3/4 ton Suburban, Ford E350 passenger vans). I guess now, the 1 ton GM van is the only realistic (new) option.

If I was in this position, needing to bring that many people and tow an RV trailer....I think I'd be looking for a used, older E350 Ford Van with a V10, and would just plan on spending the $$ to fix up whatever needed fixing up with it.

valhalla360 wrote:

More of a pickup guy myself but if I needed to move 10 people on a regular basis, the days of putting a cap on the bed of the truck and piling the kids in the back are long gone...at least in the USA.

The strange behavior is making a recommendation that doesn't accommodate the OPs needs.

That's what I am saying too! See, we agree!

Everything is a compromise, right?
Got a couple old folks with 10 grandkids (that apparently they have aspirations of taking all of them to the mountains with a big arse camper without any of their parents....best of luck to them, they must be saints or have a death wish lol...)

For that ONE activity, YES, a big ole 1 ton passenger van is the BEST solution out there. Hands down, no question about it. (Makes it easy to say when it is the ONLY option, lol)

Now, here's where I'm coming from. OP never alluded to this being a dedicated grandkids hauler only. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and first say that very few people would go buy a brand new full size SUV for the better part of $100k to park it and ONLY use it to haul the trailer and only with almost a full soccer team of grandkids. In fact I'd bet the 10kids with memaw and pepaw only happens once, or maybe twice, more like never than 3x though...
So now lets look at the use of this SUV (or glorified cargo van) for the REST of the year, year after year....
1. That's real likely to be over 300days without the soccer team in tow. 1 point suv
2. Normal day to day, drive thru the Starbucks, get some grocery's, church choir practice on Tuesday nights and fish fry on Fri nights at the supper club (they are in Wisconsin after all). 1 point suv
3. And this is a big one. Winter time in Cheeseland, yup we've all driven a 1 wheel wonder, put snow tires on the back with sand bags or firewood in the back to make it thru the snow, uphill both ways, back in the day...(good for me, good for you, builds character, but the 20th century was over like 22 years ago....you didn't send this message via a postcard, maybe they also enjoy some of the conveniences of the 21st century too, like luxury 4wds/awds which are literally so popular they're probably the largest selling part of the car market). 1 BIG point suv.
4. Amenities, comfort and safety features, pick whatever is important to you. But show me a big passenger van with anywhere near the comforts and newer safety features of even a modestly equipped new full size suv and I'll eat my shorts. Another big point SUV
5. Looks. Totally subjective, but if one is at all worried about this, can't say a cargo van looks cooler than a new suv. No point given, but realistically 1 point suv.
6. Fuel mileage (the other 300+ days NOT towing). New SUV will smoke a big bus hands down, city and highway. Maybe a teeny weeny concern with the Brandon prices on fuel...lol 1 point SUV
7. Cost. Van, hands down cheaper. Not even a question. 1 point van
But to be fair, guy could buy a couple year old low mile suv and an older low mile van for about the same price as a new SUV and have both if hauling the soccer team is a large priority.

So for anyone who wants and can afford a new suv, it's like 6 points suv to 2 points van. And the van is still a....van.


On the upside, maybe could start a side hustle hauling old folks to the mall and church and dr appointments if one is inclined enough and has the time and ability to insure it and get a chauffer's license...

Grit dog wrote:
^Exactly. And the OP clearly was interested in a new luxury suv, not a van.
Idk why the van people always seem to get spun up and feel the need to defend their position to the end…strange behavior yet funny at the same time!

More of a pickup guy myself but if I needed to move 10 people on a regular basis, the days of putting a cap on the bed of the truck and piling the kids in the back are long gone...at least in the USA.

The strange behavior is making a recommendation that doesn't accommodate the OPs needs.

Sometimes one’s desire for a vehicle and one’s needs are mutually exclusive (example young father’s desire for sports car vs need for seating more passengers). The OP will need to decide where to compromise. Options were provided on meeting his desires and on meeting his needs. Without us van people the OP would be unaware of his options to transport more than 8 and tow his trailer.

Two or three vehicles.

^Exactly. And the OP clearly was interested in a new luxury suv, not a van.
Idk why the van people always seem to get spun up and feel the need to defend their position to the end…strange behavior yet funny at the same time!

Got it, commuters traveling in van pools are cargo not people/passengers. Clearly no biases. For us, PUs and SUVs are a waste of money; vastly insufficient interior climate controlled volume. But unlike some, I can see that our needs and preferences may be different than others and for those others PUs and SUVs are useful.

Perhaps this tread would have been more useful had the approach been to recommend vehicles that would fit with the desired traveling companions as opposed to pushing vehicles that would require excluding family members from the traveling plans.

BCSnob wrote:
The OP wants to travel with 6 adults plus 4 grandchildren; name a 10 passenger PU.

And the OP likely thinks y’all are nuckin futz for recommending a cargo van when he wants a nice SUV.
We all get it. There ain’t a legit 10 passenger SUV, or even a 9 passenger that is well suited for his purported intended purpose.
For those late to the party, like ppine, thank you for your valuable contribution…

The OP wants to travel with 6 adults plus 4 grandchildren; name a 10 passenger PU.