Forum Discussion

BenK's avatar
BenK
Explorer
Aug 22, 2014

Who will be the first to offer a +8K GVWR SUV

Since GM and Ford left the +8K GVWR market...it is WIDE open for the
first one to take the 'King of the Hill' crown away from them both

Me thinks their Marketing ID person(s) are clueless on RV'ing heavy
and only focusing on the vast majority sales...but...they forget the
age old 'King of the Hill' bragging rights that then pull in buyers
for all of their line up

How many threads of late that has folks talking about looking for
a +8 GVWR full sized SUV these days...their only choice is to buy used
or full sized vans

Detroit lost me to foreign badged 'cars' back in the late 60's.

Tried HARD a few times since then, but each time re-affirmation of my
decision to leave'm

Have owned several foreign badged trucks and always came back to Detroit
full sized trucks and SUVs

I'd seriously consider jumping when my Sub dies or can't/won't fix
it anymore...if...there was a decent +8K GVWR gasser. Big Block would
have me seriously consider jumping before my Sub dies... For sure
if a +8K GVWR with a large V8 with GDICI (Gasoline, Direct Injection,
Compression Ignition)

Who do you think will come out with a +8K GVWR full sized SUV ?
Tow Vehicles

9 Replies

  • BenK's avatar
    BenK
    Explorer
    Aug 23, 2014
    IMHO...many of the, then newbie SUV owners were more into fashion statement
    than anything else

    So with the higher power to weight ratio, married with the higher eyeball to
    see over the vehicles in front...they "could" tailgate more effectively. Or
    dive into a spot because of the higher eyeball's ability to see a spot up ahead
    that then took advantage of the power to goose it there

    Folks blame the in-animate object because they are too PC to blame the person.
    Much like folks blaming the gun and not as much the person who made the gun do it...

    If I was the marketing ID person making +$500K/year...I'd have the design team
    re-introduce the +8K GVWR Sub and even the fake Sub...AKA Yukon XL.

    Sales pitch against the other badges:

    This is the biggest XYA (GVWR, MTWR, GCWR, etc) on the market and is the "King
    of the Hill" as far as SUV towing & seat belts goes.

    But, since you only want to tow a 10,000 pound trailer...the little brother 1500
    is a better choice for you. Know that it is the exact same body as the 2500 and
    that the legendary +75 year history (the longest uninterrupted model line up
    in automotive history) provides the confidence of the legend and stoutness of
    this family line

    There is no other in comparison. This is the top of the mountain of all SUV's
    and I will assure you that the 1500 will serve you well and provide that smile
    on your face for miles and miles



    Or a foreign badge:


    This the natural progression of our full sized SUV line up and is now
    the "king of the Hill" of all SUV towing and number of seat belts

    Our legendary XYZ half ton will continue to top seller, but for those
    who demand the best both in towing capacity and above all safety towing
    several tons

    etc, etc, etc
  • mtofell1's avatar
    mtofell1
    Explorer
    Aug 23, 2014
    talonhead wrote:
    Ford caved to "Green" pressure.


    This is my thought, too. Pickups have largely escaped the frowns of the "green police" since they can be used to haul the granola to the hippie mart (not that an SUV couldn't, it's just a different perception).

    There are still instances of vandalism targeting SUVs around my area every so often. Everything people hate about SUVs is only magnified with the big ones.
  • Bamaman11's avatar
    Bamaman11
    Explorer
    Aug 23, 2014
    SUV's must be built with extra heavy frames to keep the bodies from flexing of any kind. Therefore, every SUV weighs a lot.

    By the time you put the wife, 2.3 children and all their stuff in the rear, they're taxing the engine, suspension and tire capabilities of the vehicle.

    There's simply nothing left to account for trailer tongue weight and towing the weight of a heavy recreational vehicle. All the weight really would require a "big dually" van, and there's no room in the retail market for such a monster truck.

    Nobody will ever make such a vehicle in mass in the future. Most people will use a 3/4 ton or 1 ton diesel crewcab pickup truck which will deal with all the weights.
  • talonhead's avatar
    talonhead
    Explorer
    Aug 23, 2014
    gbopp wrote:
    I think 'vast majority sales' is your answer. They're in business to make money.

    Maybe I'm wrong but, I thought Ford dropped the Excursion because of low sales and fuel consumption.

    If something only sells in small quantities, I don't think the manufacturers will spend the money to develop and build it. JMO

    No at all, Ford caved to "Green" pressure. The Excursion was a cash cow for Ford. They could still be selling them if they were being made. There just isn't a HD SUV being made anymore.
  • Wishin's avatar
    Wishin
    Explorer
    Aug 23, 2014
    I think the best chance we have, is GM putting a Max Tow package on the Suburban. Still won't be 8 bolt axles.

    I'm trying to decide what my next car will be. I have my Cruze Eco for daily driving, my wife still drives our '96 Roadmaster wagon and we have the Suburban which we stored last winter after buying it from down south. I'm tempted to buy my wife a car in a year or two and use the Suburban in the winter when we need a larger vehicle, but it is nearly impossible to replace. I might get another 3 row suv or minivan and keep the Suburban stored winters forever to keep it nice long term. I'll have it another 10 years for sure. Even the 2007+ 2500 Suburbans don't really appeal to me with the wimpy integrated hitch and less comfortable rear seats with too low of head rests.

    I think too many of the people towing trailers with Suburbans are just driving overloaded and have no clue, so they don't even know what they are missing or that they really need a 2500.
  • intheburbs's avatar
    intheburbs
    Explorer
    Aug 23, 2014
    According to my build sheet, GM built 5,867 2500 Suburbans in 2008. That's a pittance. I'm grateful they made them until 2013.

    I'm seriously contemplating grabbing an '06 2500 4X4 with the 8100 motor and around 100k miles. I'll just put it in storage and drive it once a month to keep it fresh. They'll be impossible to find in another 5-6 years. I don't see any OEM stepping up to build one in the foreseeable future.
  • K_Charles's avatar
    K_Charles
    Explorer
    Aug 22, 2014
    I think the SUV gets stuck in with the cars and drops there fleet MPG. that would cost them money.
    Our X has 170,??? miles and that still make all the parts so I think it should last us a long time. In 2029 I might put antique plates on it.
  • RoyJ's avatar
    RoyJ
    Explorer
    Aug 22, 2014
    While I'd love to see one myself, I highly doubt anybody will venture into the market anytime soon. You can blame it on 2 things:

    - Economy and fuel prices of today vs the 1990's
    - Availability and acceptance of the crew cab pickup as a family vehicle.

    I'm sure GM and Ford does marketing survey on existing Expedition and Tahoe/Yukon/Burb owners, and I'm willing to bet the most common feedback is better fuel economy, better ride, easier folding seats, etc.

    The "I want a sturdier rear axle and more payload / towing capacity" crowd is probably very small. They (OEMs) also have to be careful not to cannibalize their own 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickup sales.

    Not only that, the tow capable HD van market has also shrunk considerably. These days, the 3500 GMC may be your only choice. None of the new Euro vans are powerful enough for serious towing. Again, market and demand. If the demand is there, I'm sure they'll make it.
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Aug 22, 2014
    I think 'vast majority sales' is your answer. They're in business to make money.

    Maybe I'm wrong but, I thought Ford dropped the Excursion because of low sales and fuel consumption.

    If something only sells in small quantities, I don't think the manufacturers will spend the money to develop and build it. JMO

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