Looking for new tow vehicle

[Frenchracer21]

Question for everyone. I have a 33ft sunset creek travel trailer that I pull with my 2013 f150. The camper`s dry weight is 6700 pounds but with 4 kids we most likely come in around 8200 with everything loaded. We are looking at getting a new vechicle that can tow this camper( have thought of switching campers but this has a double bunk and it's in great shape so we don't want to get rid of it). Looking for vechicles that can tow but allow for the most comfortable ride and most importantly a safe ride. We don't want our son in the middle of the bench seat in the truck so are exploring suvs and vans. We have it narrowed down to an expedition max, suburban/yukon, chevy express passenger van and Nissan nv nl 3500 van. Problem is the suburban would be at the highest rated tow capacity and I'd like some wiggle room and the rest ofthe choices we have narrowed down to I want real knowledgeable people that know what they can pull (dealers will tell you a car can pull but have no idea since they just want the sale). Are we going down the wrong roas and need to just stick to a pickup truck? Thank you in advance.

[Frenchracer21]

Thank you for all the help. We really appreciate it.

[John_Burke]

The van smooths out some, but it is a one ton chassis with ten ply tires. It is made to safely carry the load. As with every thing their is some give and take.
Space and load carrying ability or less space and load carrying ability for smoother ride. A choice only you can make for your situation.

[Frenchracer21]

We test drove the van and it wasn't too bad. It was pretty bumpy though. Does it ride better once you get the weight of the camper on the back.

As for the expedition or suburban. Expedition would be ideal but as someone said it is pricey and not sure we want to spend that on a car when we have 4 young kids (spilling drinks and food lol). I did do a quick search on Facebook market place and found an 2013 2500 suburban with only 69k miles on it.

[John_Burke]

The van in the add you posted is like the ones I buy. Mine current one is a 2019. They have been the same for 20 plus years. Just be sure t0 get the 6.0 motor.

[Bionic_Man]

Frenchracer21 wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
We use a 2019 Expedition MAX to tow our 7000 pound boat. It does a much better job than the 2011 Yukon Denali XL it replaced.

The ExMAX has over 9000 pounds of tow capacity, and if you can stay within payload, it will work well (ours has 1767 pounds).

Jeep has announced that it will FINALLY come to market with a Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer later this year. They will have "best in class" towing (over 10,000 pounds I believe), and should be on your list if you can wait a few months.

We've had the ExMAX for a couple years, over 20,000 miles, and it has yet to go back to the dealer other than oil changes. The transmission and EcoBoost do well, its fun to drive solo, and gets decent MPG solo. Non towing power is great, but the fuel economy towing isn't good (we've had several tanks in the 7 MPG range). Overall, my wife really likes the SUV (it is her DD), but I will look at the Jeeps when they finally reach a dealer lot.

As far as vans, as a tow vehicle I'm sure they are up to the task. But I personally (and my wife especially) have no desire to drive one daily. And if you live in an area with snow, make sure you take that into account. Around here, they really need snow tires (or studs) to make them safe in the winter.

What packages does your expedition have? I know they have the heavy duty tow package but ford's website said something about an fx4 off road package as well. Is that needed on yours?

We went fairly basic. XLT with the 202A package that got leather, adaptive cruise, and a few other niceties. Also the HD tow package. You can tell an Ex has that because it has that back up trailer assist knob on the right side.

As far as a 2500 Burb, they are ok, but I’d take the Expedition over it 10 times out of ten. We had a 2003 with the 8.1 to tow the boat back in around 2014/2015. It did a good job, but literally everything the Burb did, the Ex does better. But that comes at a financial cost as well. If you’re ok driving a 15 year old vehicle with almost certainly well over 100,000 miles on it (that someone else drove and who knows how they took care of it) try to search one out.

[Frenchracer21]

KD4UPL wrote:
Do you really mean NEW vehicle or just new to you? If you don't mind used then a Suburban 2500 would be a great choice for that weight camper. My 2009 2500 Sub pulls my 6,500 pound boat easily with anywhere from 5 to 9 people in the Suburban. I can set the cruise control on the interstate speed limit and it goes right over the mountains of VA and WV.
A 2500 Suburban is a lot more vehicle than it's 1500 series counterpart. I think many people don't even know the 2500 exists, if they had they would have bought them, GM would have sold more, and maybe still be making them.

We are open to anything. Brand new or new to us. We obviously have a set price that we will not go (can't spend all this money to tow if you can't afford to use the camper lol). We are also trying to find the best deal with low miles as this car will be used hopefully for the next 5-10 years.

[KD4UPL]

Do you really mean NEW vehicle or just new to you? If you don't mind used then a Suburban 2500 would be a great choice for that weight camper. My 2009 2500 Sub pulls my 6,500 pound boat easily with anywhere from 5 to 9 people in the Suburban. I can set the cruise control on the interstate speed limit and it goes right over the mountains of VA and WV.
A 2500 Suburban is a lot more vehicle than it's 1500 series counterpart. I think many people don't even know the 2500 exists, if they had they would have bought them, GM would have sold more, and maybe still be making them.

[theoldwizard1]

wowens79 wrote:
I really wish Ford would bring back the Excursion for families like this. It seems it would be the perfect vehicle in this situation. My son and I saw one the other days and were talking about what a shame it was they quite making them.

Excursion would be great, but so would a real E250/E350 Club Wagon.

Or put a frame under a Transit and a V8 engine !

[Frenchracer21]

Bionic Man wrote:
We use a 2019 Expedition MAX to tow our 7000 pound boat. It does a much better job than the 2011 Yukon Denali XL it replaced.

The ExMAX has over 9000 pounds of tow capacity, and if you can stay within payload, it will work well (ours has 1767 pounds).

Jeep has announced that it will FINALLY come to market with a Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer later this year. They will have "best in class" towing (over 10,000 pounds I believe), and should be on your list if you can wait a few months.

We've had the ExMAX for a couple years, over 20,000 miles, and it has yet to go back to the dealer other than oil changes. The transmission and EcoBoost do well, its fun to drive solo, and gets decent MPG solo. Non towing power is great, but the fuel economy towing isn't good (we've had several tanks in the 7 MPG range). Overall, my wife really likes the SUV (it is her DD), but I will look at the Jeeps when they finally reach a dealer lot.

As far as vans, as a tow vehicle I'm sure they are up to the task. But I personally (and my wife especially) have no desire to drive one daily. And if you live in an area with snow, make sure you take that into account. Around here, they really need snow tires (or studs) to make them safe in the winter.

What packages does your expedition have? I know they have the heavy duty tow package but ford's website said something about an fx4 off road package as well. Is that needed on yours?

[Seon]

I sold my Yukon XL and replaced it with a Ford e250 super duty van. Tows great with my 23.5 boat or 28' travel trailer. I do have a Hensley hitch which makes towing each great.



Am currently hooked up to my trailer and headed out in a few to camp this weekend. Will post pics later.

[time2roll]

I rented an Expedition Max last month. Not for towing but it drives very comfortable and should tow very nicely. Tons of room. Great ride and power.

[Bionic_Man]

We use a 2019 Expedition MAX to tow our 7000 pound boat. It does a much better job than the 2011 Yukon Denali XL it replaced.

The ExMAX has over 9000 pounds of tow capacity, and if you can stay within payload, it will work well (ours has 1767 pounds).

Jeep has announced that it will FINALLY come to market with a Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer later this year. They will have "best in class" towing (over 10,000 pounds I believe), and should be on your list if you can wait a few months.

We've had the ExMAX for a couple years, over 20,000 miles, and it has yet to go back to the dealer other than oil changes. The transmission and EcoBoost do well, its fun to drive solo, and gets decent MPG solo. Non towing power is great, but the fuel economy towing isn't good (we've had several tanks in the 7 MPG range). Overall, my wife really likes the SUV (it is her DD), but I will look at the Jeeps when they finally reach a dealer lot.

As far as vans, as a tow vehicle I'm sure they are up to the task. But I personally (and my wife especially) have no desire to drive one daily. And if you live in an area with snow, make sure you take that into account. Around here, they really need snow tires (or studs) to make them safe in the winter.

[BurbMan]

Clicky on Van Ad

The key here on this 3500 van is the 9800 GVWR, that's what you need to handle the tongue weight of the TT and the passengers. My 2500 Suburban had an 8600 GVWR, and we ran slightly over with 2 kids and towing about the same size/weight TT.



The newer Expedition XL and Suburban have higher tow ratings, but they don't have the GVWR you need to handle both the passenger load and the tongue weight of that trailer. Conservatively, if the TT is 8500 lbs and has 12% tongue weight, that's 1,020 lbs. that the truck needs to carry in addition to 6 passengers + friends and cargo. The problem with kids is that they get bigger every year....LOL...

I would say the 3500 van is the way to go, and the LT gets you the nice trim level for vacation travel. I would suggest you go drive one before you say no to the idea...take the family and make sure everyone is gonna be happy riding in it.

[Frenchracer21]

John Burke wrote:
I have towed for over 20 years with a 3500 Express. Last camper was a Jayco Eagle 39 Ft ball to bumper and about 11500Lbs loaded. That van was the short wheel base with a 6.0 and 6 speed transmission. We pulled that one for about 35,000 miles.
I buy the used rental vans and they have had any ware from 14,000 to 21,000 miles. Still have warranty and have no problems with any of them.
The other 4 van's were the long wheel base 6.0, 6 speed. Like those a lot better, 20 more inch's of cargo space. Short wheel base has a little more cargo rating but it does not matter, get the long one. I pull out the 2nd long bench seat and then able to put my cargo father forward for weight distribution. Still able to seat my wife, 4 grandkids(with only two kids per seat) and two big dogs in the way back, comfortably.
Pulls the campers like a dream with a 4 point Equalizer hitch. With the biggest camper our average MPG was 9.5. That is not just only on flat ground. With the smaller, lighter ones 12-13 was normal MPG. No engine, transmission or tire problems and they got retired with a minimum of 150,000 miles.
Here in the mid west it is easy. The rental company's get rid of them after about a year. I just picked up one last October with 19,500 miles for 21,900. It is loaded. I prefer the Chevrolet because they are a lot more common keeping the price reasonable, parts are available and there Chevrolet dealers every ware if needed.

Our friends havea chevy van and love it. My wife likes it as well but I'm not 100% sold on it. Here is one I found near me granted it is new but this is what you are referring to correct?

https://www.applechevrolet.com/new/Chevrolet/2020-Chevrolet-Express+Passenger+3500-d909de0d0a0d0cc75f74903325b78f3e.htm

[John_Burke]

I have towed for over 20 years with a 3500 Express. Last camper was a Jayco Eagle 39 Ft ball to bumper and about 11500Lbs loaded. That van was the short wheel base with a 6.0 and 6 speed transmission. We pulled that one for about 35,000 miles.
I buy the used rental vans and they have had any ware from 14,000 to 21,000 miles. Still have warranty and have no problems with any of them.
The other 4 van's were the long wheel base 6.0, 6 speed. Like those a lot better, 20 more inch's of cargo space. Short wheel base has a little more cargo rating but it does not matter, get the long one. I pull out the 2nd long bench seat and then able to put my cargo father forward for weight distribution. Still able to seat my wife, 4 grandkids(with only two kids per seat) and two big dogs in the way back, comfortably.
Pulls the campers like a dream with a 4 point Equalizer hitch. With the biggest camper our average MPG was 9.5. That is not just only on flat ground. With the smaller, lighter ones 12-13 was normal MPG. No engine, transmission or tire problems and they got retired with a minimum of 150,000 miles.
Here in the mid west it is easy. The rental company's get rid of them after about a year. I just picked up one last October with 19,500 miles for 21,900. It is loaded. I prefer the Chevrolet because they are a lot more common keeping the price reasonable, parts are available and there Chevrolet dealers every ware if needed.