Forum Discussion

davehultin's avatar
davehultin
Explorer III
Jun 26, 2022

Unique situation: What tow vehicle checks all the boxes?

Today I thought I might found my next tow vehicle, but it didn't check all the boxes. I'm looking for something that can tow 9000 lbs or better. Sounds like a pickup, right? But my wife has a business that requires the occassional use of the tow vehicle's cargo space. She likes to be able to drop the third row seats (in my 2010 Ford Expedition, Eddie Bauer edition) and collapse the seconde row seats into cargo mode. It opens up a LOT of room which is just perfect for her!

I thought I found a great fit for the next tow vehicle: A Nissan NV passenger van!
- Tow capacity: Over 9000 pounds - check!
- Cargo space: Lots of it! - check!
- Seats removable and/or collapsable? Removable, but not collapsable. - No check. :-( That was a deal-killer.

Some of the 6.0 liter SUVs get up to around 8600 pounds towing capacity so we might be able to make that work, but honestly I don't want to cut the weight limits that close.

Any suggestions for tow vehicles that will check all the boxes on the list? 9000+ lbs towing capacity + cargo space + seats that can collapse?
Tow Vehicles
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Jun 26, 2022
    You did not mention the total cargo weight capacity, that is usually the killer on these fake SUV models. If you are towing 9000# get a pickup with a crew cab. A vehicle made to do towing
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Jun 26, 2022
    Pickup with a hard solid tonneau cover (not roll or fold) and bedrug. Makes the bed like a huge carpeted trunk.
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Jun 26, 2022
    BB_TX wrote:
    Pickup with a hard solid tonneau cover (not roll or fold) and bedrug. Makes the bed like a huge carpeted trunk.


    And when you buy a bed rug, go to Rural King or Tractor Supply and buy a Stall Mat and save yourself hundreds of bucks.
  • Desert_Captain's avatar
    Desert_Captain
    Explorer III
    Jun 26, 2022
    Very few vehicles can safely, much less actually tow their so called rated tow capacity. They simply run out of payload long before reaching that mythical tow capacity. A 9,000# trailer will need to have a tongue weight of 1,170# {13 percent of total weight} plus another 100# for the weight distribution hitch. That 1,270 # comes right off of your payload before you load anything or anyone beyond the driver.

    IMHO: Get a truck with at least 2,000# of payload if you want to safely tow a 9,000# trailer.

    :C
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Jun 26, 2022
    JRscooby wrote:
    How about a van?


    You mean like the van idea he ALREADY mentioned and discounted as meeting his “needs?”
    And over 9000lb capable towing cap is not a reality or at least an effort in relative futility compared to the plethora of other vehicles better suited for towing 5 tons.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Jun 26, 2022
    OP, your unique and rather eclectic “requirements” basically aren’t possible if you’re also going by the numbers.
    You’ve obviously researched trucks, suvs and vans already.
    What late model, “magic” vehicle do you think the members here are going to invent out of thin air for your “needs?”

    The last vehicles that checked your boxes are 10+ year old Suburban 2500s and 20 year old Ford excursions. although both s uck at towing a 5 ton high profile trailer compared to an average late model 1/2 ton pickup or suv, for power.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Jun 26, 2022
    agesilaus wrote:
    BB_TX wrote:
    Pickup with a hard solid tonneau cover (not roll or fold) and bedrug. Makes the bed like a huge carpeted trunk.


    And when you buy a bed rug, go to Rural King or Tractor Supply and buy a Stall Mat and save yourself hundreds of bucks.


    Lol stall mat vs bed rug? How are those even remotely the same?
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Jun 26, 2022
    Grit dog wrote:
    agesilaus wrote:
    BB_TX wrote:
    Pickup with a hard solid tonneau cover (not roll or fold) and bedrug. Makes the bed like a huge carpeted trunk.


    And when you buy a bed rug, go to Rural King or Tractor Supply and buy a Stall Mat and save yourself hundreds of bucks.


    Lol stall mat vs bed rug? How are those even remotely the same?


    Hmm, I have a stall mat in my 6"4" bed. It's maybe an inch thick, hard surfaced. Admittedly it does not fill around the wheel wells and is 4" short. But at $55 vs $250 I can live with that. It does a great job of cushioning the bed to save my knees. And the high friction surface keeps stuff from sliding easily.

    What more does a real truck bed mat do anyway?

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