Kinda sounds like a grade-school riddle, right? We recently purchased a trailer with a GVWR of 7700 pounds, and are looking for our next tow vehicle. (No rush yet, we won't need it until spring.)We had been thinking pickup, and looked at a really nice extended cab GMS Sierra that could do the job, but my wife is favoring a vehicle with three rows.Friends of ours use a Toyota Sequoia which has three rows for seating and is rated for 9000 pounds. That would work well for us, but there aren't any (used) in our market. Any other vehicles like that I could search for?

Chevy 3500 Express VAN (or the Ford equivalent);I've had vans for 20+ years as tow vehicles. Lots of seats orremove the seats and have a ton of LOCKABLE space to carry allthe toys.Mine tows like a dream.

Ford Expedition ELFord Transit Wagon

Pull is fine but be sure it has the payload capacity to carry the tongue weight and passengers. The SUV's listed do not the last time I checked

The 6.0 gas engine 3500 Express works great. A 2500 Suburban/Yukon XL, but those are expensive and getting older.You can get a 2015 3500 Express that was a rental vehicle with 15k miles (or less) for upper $20k (and has 2-3 years of warranty). I just saw a 2011 Suburban with 100k miles go for $26k.

davehultin wrote:Friends of ours use a Toyota Sequoia which has three rows for seating and is rated for 9000 pounds.A Sequioia cannot tow 9,000 pounds if the seats are full. It cannot even tow most 9,000# TTs even with the seats empty due to payload and hitch limitations. Its fine for a boat, or other trailers with less tongue weight. Nearly all 1/2-ton SUVs are payload limited.

What has 3 rows and can pull 9K? | Good Sam Community

48 Replies

All_I_could_aff
Explorer
Mar 19, 2017
2001 suburban was either 5.3, 6.0, or 8.1
BenK
Explorer
Mar 19, 2017
It is all in the specifications and here is the link to your TV:
Ford 2013 F150

First, decide if you believe in the OEM's ratings/specifications/limits/etc or not

If not, then academic this

If yes, then read up and learn how all OEM ratings/limits/specifications/etc work. It is a system and note that most only take one spec to then think it applies to all conditions and models....it does NOT

The GCWR is listed in that Ford.com site above

Find it for 'your' TV

Then take the MTWR (max tow weight rating) for 'your' TV and subtract it from the GCWR.

The will/should be close to the Curb for your TV, plus the tow option, WD Hitch system and one 150 lb driver. Fluids can range from 1/4 to 1/2 to full

The actuary tables list the 'average' American at 150 lbs and is based on old, old tables. Coast Guard has increased theirs to 180 lbs for their rating of the number of passengers that vessel is rated to carry...updated because if that vessel rating is exceeded...folks drown and die...while a TV will just break down and coast to the side of the road in most situations...

Then load up your TV as if ready to tow and weigh it, axle by axle

That total TV weight subtracted from the GCWR will NOT be the curb weight of your TV...

Since most TV's have options, driver more than 150 Lbs, has passengers, cargo, pets, etc...they typically weigh more than their listed curb...meaning the for ever pound more than the listed curb...it takes pound for pound away from the listed MTWR

That is covered with these weasel words in fine print at the bottom of all the ratings/limits/etc charts: "Maximum capability when properly equipped"....meaning a curb (stripper model), one 150 lb driver, tow option, WD hitch system...

SpeakEasy wrote:
camp-n-family wrote:
Don't forget as well that tow ratings reduce pound for pound with weight added to the vehicle. New ratings include 150lbs each for driver and 1 front passenger. Anything else added reduces the tow rating.

Wait. What???

Someone please explain or fact-check this statement.

So you're saying that a vehicle that has a 1700 lb payload capacity and 7000 lb towing capacity ACTUALLY has only a 5300 lb towing capacity if payload is maxed out (7000 minus 1700 = 5300)? That's how I am interpreting what you're saying, but it seems odd at best. Please clarify your meaning.

-Speak
hone_eagle
Explorer
Mar 19, 2017
SpeakEasy wrote:
camp-n-family wrote:
Don't forget as well that tow ratings reduce pound for pound with weight added to the vehicle. New ratings include 150lbs each for driver and 1 front passenger. Anything else added reduces the tow rating.

Wait. What???

Someone please explain or fact-check this statement.

So you're saying that a vehicle that has a 1700 lb payload capacity and 7000 lb towing capacity ACTUALLY has only a 5300 lb towing capacity if payload is maxed out (7000 minus 1700 = 5300)? That's how I am interpreting what you're saying, but it seems odd at best. Please clarify your meaning.

of course its true , people are payload too. every pound is payload they only give you 1 freebee
150# person and the hitch the rest you have to count.

-Speak
spud1957
Explorer
Mar 19, 2017
Trailer ratings/GCWR are based on curb weight of the tow vehicle, driver, passenger each weighing 150lbs and 70lbs hitch equipment (SAE J2807).

Any weights added to the tow vehicle above that, reduce the trailer weight pound for pound.

Technically.
SpeakEasy
Explorer
Mar 19, 2017
camp-n-family wrote:
Don't forget as well that tow ratings reduce pound for pound with weight added to the vehicle. New ratings include 150lbs each for driver and 1 front passenger. Anything else added reduces the tow rating.

Wait. What???

Someone please explain or fact-check this statement.

So you're saying that a vehicle that has a 1700 lb payload capacity and 7000 lb towing capacity ACTUALLY has only a 5300 lb towing capacity if payload is maxed out (7000 minus 1700 = 5300)? That's how I am interpreting what you're saying, but it seems odd at best. Please clarify your meaning.

-Speak
jesseannie
Explorer
Mar 19, 2017
Ford excursion
captnjack
Explorer
Mar 19, 2017
likestrucks wrote:
Go pick up a 2016 Suburban 3500HD from GM Fleet Services. Has a Payload of 4400 lbs. Have found mixed specs on the tow rating with some sites saying as low 3000 which doesn't make sense, but I don't see why it wouldn't tow 10000 pounds. We used to tow a 10000 lbs TT with a 2001 Suburban 2500 with a 6.0 and 4.10.

Edit - Looks like its a Gov and maybe commercial fleet only option to buy. So probably wouldn't be able to get your hands on one of these until they are all used up and sold as surplus.

2001 Suburban with a 6.0? Wasn't it 5.7 or 8.1 only?
davehultin
Explorer III
Mar 18, 2017
I've been away from this forum for quite a while, but now we're getting back into summer camping planning mode again, so back to the forum! Just to close the loop on this thread, we ended up finding a 2010 Expedition with the heavy-duty towing package, so it fits the towing capacity! We got a heckuva deal on the trade, too.

I'm getting excited to see how it does pulling the camper in a few months. So far it's been a good start as a non-towing vehicle. The only issue is that it acts like there's a hole in the gas tank, just can't keep that thing filled up as easy! I just have to remind myself I got it for pulling, not for good mileage.
kokotg
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
Another vote for a van. We have a Ford e350 v10 that tows 10,000 pounds. We looked all over the place to find the v10 and ended up driving 4 hours to get it...but it's been great for us. Hoping to have it for many years to come.
likestrucks
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
Go pick up a 2016 Suburban 3500HD from GM Fleet Services. Has a Payload of 4400 lbs. Have found mixed specs on the tow rating with some sites saying as low 3000 which doesn't make sense, but I don't see why it wouldn't tow 10000 pounds. We used to tow a 10000 lbs TT with a 2001 Suburban 2500 with a 6.0 and 4.10.

Edit - Looks like its a Gov and maybe commercial fleet only option to buy. So probably wouldn't be able to get your hands on one of these until they are all used up and sold as surplus.

Forum Discussion

What has 3 rows and can pull 9K?

48 Replies

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Is MB GLE450 sufficient for pulling Bullett Crossfire 2220ML

Four (4) Row Radiators? Gimmick or Blessing?

3 row seating dinghy

Three in a row

Which 3-row SUV should I get to pull a travel trailer?