TV Dilemma

I really like our Express van. It offers lots of flexibility and with the 6 speed tranny tows awesome and gets decent gas mileage. As mentioned, if you can get away with the lack of features compared to a Suburban it will do the job probably as well.

I was concerned with how ours was going to do in winter but it had no problems.

The rating of any receiver does not need to match the vehicle ratings. The owners manual states the following Maximum Tongue weights:

1500 Weight Carrying: 600 pounds
2500 Weight Carrying: 1000 pounds
1500 Weight Distributing: 1100 pounds
2500 Weight Distributing: 1500 pounds

Unfortunately, the integrated receiver has a lower limit for the 3/4 ton, same as the half ton. Here is mine:



If I ever upgrade my TT, I will probably make a trip to CanAm in London, Ontario to reinforce it. I have towed my TT without WD on a very bouncy road between storage and my home which handles very well, something I would never have done with my prior half ton pickup.

If you liked the half ton, the 3/4 ton is identical inside except for the integrated brake controller. The ride is not quite as good unloaded, but better than any 3/4 ton pickup.

Are you looking at new? More equipment or less? I'm partial to red, so this one looks nice. I highly recommend the backup camera, 2nd row captain chairs, and OEM towing mirrors. Many dealers list the 1500's and 2500 incorrectly. You can tell by the wheels, lug nut specifically, but many of the half tons come with the optional 20" wheels.

Where in Michigan are you? Here is one near me, gently used. And another new one.

Tongue rating on 2007+ suburbans is limited to 1000 Lbs. This is due to the hitch being integrated into the frame on these trucks.... crumple zones, etc. To me it's a limitation that could/should have been corrected by now on the 2500's. Anyway, as long as your tongue weight doesn't exceed 1000lbs, it's a good option. Otherwise you have to either go pre-2007 Suburban; a used excursion, CC pickup, 1 ton van, etc. Good luck!

We just went to look at a 2012 yukon xl last night. It was listed as a 3/4 ton on the dealer website, but was actually only a 1/2 ton. I was looking at the hitch plate and it showed a tongue rating of 1000lbs and trailer rating of 10,000 lbs. thinking this can't be right, I walked across the parking lot to look at a 2013 hitch and it said the same thing.
These were both factory hitches but don't match up to what the trailer guides for gmc publish.
Which numbers should i believe, the guide or the hitch? Either way i am not getting a 1/2 ton yukon xl with a 5.3. I just want to know in case I come across a 3/4 ton and those numbers are different also.

6 members of my family often pile into my crew cab. My kids have the option of driving separate or climb in. They always squeeze in.

We love our 2500 Burb. It is designed to do exactly what your family wants. I looked for about a year (I was being picky on colors, equipment, etc) used 2004-2006 3/4 ton Burb/Yukon XL with the 8.1L. Used 2008+ were just as difficult to find and not worth the discounts over a new one. So, we bought a leftover 2011 in Oct 2011 when 2012's were on the lots.

Used 1-ton vans are far less $, like half for same year/condition. They just come with less equipment "loaded" than the base LS Suburban and are only 2WD. If that's ok with you, they make great family TVs.

If you are over GCWR by 100 pounds, you are probably over the receiver rating at 900-ish pounds and payload by about 500 pounds.

I only asked because we have 5 of the 6.0psd in our work fleet and haven't had any problems with them and they get abused.

Now that I have some options, I can start to convince the DW.

JJensen79 wrote:
I have to ask why the 7.3 excursion vs the 6.0?

Just search Ford 6.0 on this forum or the Internet and you'll understand. The PSD 6.0 has a documented history of issues.

I have to ask why the Excursion Diesel at all? For anyone concerned with payload that is not the TV you want. With a GVWR of 8600lbs and a weight of over 7000lbs, your payload is about the same as an Expy, maybe worse.

JJensen79 wrote:
I have to ask why the 7.3 excursion vs the 6.0?

Did you have to ask this?!?!?!?!

Please do a search, there are MANY reasons to get a 7.3, Altho HP is down, reliability in the 6.0 is way down, then 6.4, a bit better, but still not as good as it should be. assuming they ford put 6.4's in the X.

Hopefully this question will allow things to stay civil. The V10 would be a better option than a 6.0.

Marty

I have to ask why the 7.3 excursion vs the 6.0?