Travel Trailer Towing Recommendations

bikendan wrote:
Exactly. For that reason and stricter federal fuel efficiency requirements, is why you don't see 3/4 ton SUVs.

Actually, 3/4 and heavier trucks are under different efficiency rules. That's why you won't see an MPG number on the window sticker.

But 3/4 ton SUVs were always an oddball item.

Back in the day, if you had 6 or more passengers, the choice was a van or people would load them in the back of the pickup with a cap on it (yeah, it was a different time). Back in the day, it wasn't unusual to see 60% of the trailers in a campground being pulled by a van.

Fast forward 30-50yrs and families have fewer members and a legitimate 6 passenger pickup is commonplace. The result is probably 75-90% of trailers are pulled by pickups.

It's also changed 5th wheels from being focused on older retired couples to a family RV option.

The OP already has the trailer :

Retired Enjoy Life wrote:
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 7,500 lbs.
TIA for your recommendations.

Repeat recommendation of a full sized van :

BenK wrote:
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

bikendan wrote:

mkirsch wrote:

willald wrote:
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?

Why would it get any better? It's such an uncommon requirement that the manufacturers see no market for a vehicle that meets those needs.

Exactly. For that reason and stricter federal fuel efficiency requirements, is why you don't see 3/4 ton SUVs.

All good points and a good discussion. Looking back, 3/4 ton suvs were around before crew cab trucks even existed and still popular when crew cabs became more mainstream. Although 4 door SUVs were never "that" popular, as ONLY GM made them for years (and still does, just not for civilian use unfortunately). Ford and Dodge never made a 4 door 1/2 ton suv until the Expedition came along. Dodge just now released the new Waggoneer, but not a 3/4 ton. Jeep made the Grand Waggoneer for a while, 1/2 ton only. And Ford made a 3/4 ton Excursion for like 6 or 7 years and stopped.

Proof that they were never a "huge" slice of the market and still aren't. And crew cab trucks have sliced that market even thinner.

Although I think now, 1 mfg could capitalize on a HD suv as what's left out there are now very rare and old and mostly high miles or beat up. Existing stock has been done used up...
But I'm no automotive financial analyst...

mkirsch wrote:

willald wrote:
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?

Why would it get any better? It's such an uncommon requirement that the manufacturers see no market for a vehicle that meets those needs.

Exactly. For that reason and stricter federal fuel efficiency requirements, is why you don't see 3/4 ton SUVs.

MFL wrote:
I gotta say...didn't read all 9 pages!

Jerry

You should. It's entertaining!

BCSnob wrote:
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?

There ya go making assumptions...lol. If it helps you sleep at night not wondering how someone who lives in WA (where it also snows, lol) would know what snow conditions in WI are like, I am not "from" WA, I am "from" the upper midwest and I've "lived" in the western mountains or nearby from AZ to AK since coming from the midwest, save for a year back in N WI. And while most of y'all are arguing the finer points of a wdh for your camper, all winter, I try to find the biggest snow strom and drive into it, with a 28' trailer in tow, so I can go try not to get too stuck on the side of a mountain somewhere with something with 1 wheel drive (but it's a big wheel with big treads, lol).
And snow is snow, except it's different based on moisture content and temperature. I'd actually take my chances in an average WI winter with no 4wd than in Western WA....because the snow is slippery-er here.

"Need" 4wd? Idk, sometimes it's needed sometimes it's a luxury, sometimes its of no use (hence most 4wd vehicles have this little lever or switch to turn it off). I could live without alot of luxuries. We all could, but if you have the means?

MFL wrote:
I gotta say...didn't read all 9 pages! However, seems pretty simple to me! No one has just one vehicle anymore. Let the Op get their SUV, load kiddos till full. Let Granny drive this one, hook Gramps old truck to camper, load remaining kids, and get on the road! When passenger list is light, use whatever vehicle works best.

Jerry

True, most folks have multiple vehicles. However, I'm betting the OP, like many, does not want to have to drive two separate vehicles when going camping. Takes a lot of the fun out, when can't all ride together.

Then again.....If one was going to be taking 10 grand children on long road trips when going camping....Maybe separate vehicles could be a very, very good thing. :)

I gotta say...didn't read all 9 pages! However, seems pretty simple to me! No one has just one vehicle anymore. Let the Op get their SUV, load kiddos till full. Let Granny drive this one, hook Gramps old truck to camper, load remaining kids, and get on the road! When passenger list is light, use whatever vehicle works best.

Jerry

Grit dog wrote:
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...

Not really.

You are focused on nice to have items and not the mission critical items.

A big SUV is still not as nimble as a compact car (I've driven Dad's full size van enough that it really doesn't make a difference even going thru the drivethru) and still gets sucky gas mileage (particularly the bit 3row models that have any tow capability.

Grew up one state over. Only had one 4x4 and never actually used it on the road. Driving into work, it was usually the 4x4s in the ditch. You can get by just fine with a 2WD.

willald wrote:
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?

Why would it get any better? It's such an uncommon requirement that the manufacturers see no market for a vehicle that meets those needs.