Big SUV or truck

[SilverEscape]

Looking for a tow vehicle for our new trailer. 5500# GVWR and tongue weight is around 650# loaded but may be more if we add bikes in our internal bike storage area.

I've got 4 options I'm considering:
1. Buy a 2014 F-150 with EcoBoost engine to replace our MDX
2. Buy a large SUV - Expedition, Sequoia, Armada, etc. to replace our MDX
3. Buy a cheap (8K or less), old truck to tow and keep using our MDX for daily driving
4. Rent a truck to tow for our 3-4 trips planned this summer and figure it all out next summer

Problems with the options:
1. Storage in truck difficult for groceries, stroller, kids day to day backpacks, dance bags, etc. And the expense of a new vehicle. And the truck is HUGE. Only a few inches on either side to get through garage door (hopefully the power fold mirrors are easy to use?) and probably a foot and half length to spare. So difficult for kids to walk around to get from house and into house, etc.
2. More expensive than the F-150 which has great employee pricing right now. Worse gas mileage than the F-150.
3. Potential maintenance costs and problems, likely can't get a super crew to hold the whole family (have rear facing car seats) so would need to take 2 vehicles every time
4. Expense of renting, having trouble finding a place that will rent trucks around me, and may involve taking 2 vehicles still as the one place I found so far doesn't have the super crews

Anyone been there, done that, or have any opinions?

[SilverEscape]

APT wrote:
Power running boards and 1100 pounds of payload (that does not include the driver) sounds a lot like a Platinum Supercrew. If you cut down on some of thoe luxuries, payload will go up. The Max trailer towing package adds about 300 pounds to payload all else equal.

Also, check out the GM twins as 2014 models have higher standard dealer lot payloads.

Yes it was a Platinum SuperCrew. I've looked at 2 now with the Max tow and they had 1488# and 1514# payload so I'll see if that's enough. I also looked at an FX4 without max tow, and it had the luxury package. It was also 11xx# so I'd rather stuck with the platinum and have the power running boards (because they are lower and wider not because they are power) and the auto 4x4.

I also checked out and XLT with some packages added to it. We lose things like memory seats (we find adjusting power seats back to the exact position they were in to be an exercise in futility. You never seem to get the exact same combination of height, recline, distance, etc. and are continually having to fiddle), leather which is great for the main vehicle where it seems we sometimes need to allow the kids to eat (while travelling for example). But that one had an 18xx# payload.

We checked out the GMC Sierra yesterday. I didn't like how the steering wheel was offset to the right. Noticed it right away and that's one of those things that will forever drive me bonkers. I also didn't like the headrests in the rear seats which did not seem to lock nicely in upper positions and were also tiny. As well as there is no rear, centre headrest which makes the seat really only usable for a kid on a car seat. Even most high back booster seats need head support behind them. As does a kid in a backless booster or an adult. The F-150's centre headrest was small, but would work in a pinch and was reasonably height adjustable as well so usable for most adults. I also thought the mirrors didn't look suitable for towing and there weren't other mirror options were available. So strap or clip on mirrors would be needed.

Another option, if I could find a place to rent a truck for our trips the next few weekends, would be to wait for the 2015 F-150. Lots of cool features and likely increased payload. But also adds $16K to the cost.

[APT]

Power running boards and 1100 pounds of payload (that does not include the driver) sounds a lot like a Platinum Supercrew. If you cut down on some of thoe luxuries, payload will go up. The Max trailer towing package adds about 300 pounds to payload all else equal.

Also, check out the GM twins as 2014 models have higher standard dealer lot payloads.

[SilverEscape]

Well I really did like the truck. We've driven it a few times now. The whole family fits with tons of room, it had a great stereo, lots of nice gadgets. And the power running boards were awesome as they are wide and go down lower than regular boards so my 2 year old could climb in by herself safely (no feet slipping off a board).

But ya the 1110# has put that out of the running. It was an upper trim level with all the creature comforts that apparently weigh a ton (or a half ton. Ha ha.). Ford has a Max Tow package as well and I believe it increases the payload by 350-380 pounds so maybe that might work for us. Otherwise we have to step down a trim level to a lighter truck. Or get a 6.5' box which will no longer fit in the garage.

Maybe I should go see how big an F-250 is...LOL.

ETA: okay the smallest box is 6.75' on am F-250. Definitely not going in our garage.

[Campfire_Time]

We've owned 3 Suburbans over the years, a GMC Safari van, and a mid-size SUV (Trailblazer). The PU in my sig is the first PU we've ever owned. I'm asking my self now why did I wait so long?! We love it. My wife is short also, which is in part why we don't have a cap. She couldn't reach the window/hatch when it was open. We sold it and got a Extang Solid fold cover. We keep a cargo bar near the back and use it like a trunk in day to day driving (similar to APT's board). Unless you live 100 miles from Costco, we've never had problems with groceries. The back seats on crew Cab trucks also fold up for hauling things inside the truck cab. For smaller things when camping we can put them in the back and they are secure and no one sees what's back there. If you have something that you don't want damaged, you secure it with bungee cords or a ratcheting tie strap. The cover we have is removable to carry bikes or other large loads.

PU vs SUV. PU generally has a higher payload and higher overall capacities. SUV has more seating. Pick what's best for you. I will never go back to an SUV. A PU is cheaper than a similarly equipped SUV, gets about the same if not better mileage, and is far more versatile. Though the latter is dependent on how you use it.

1110# payload on truck? Seems very low for a newer truck. That's the kind of payload you'll see in most SUVs because they are heavier to begin with. Our 1/2 ton PU has over 1600# of payload.

Mileage will be worse. But probably not as bad as you think. I know the Ecoboost does pretty good, but with our Sierra we're getting 15-16 in city driving and 20 on the freeway. Towing a trailer is NOT cheap. So if you're concerned about mileage, maybe this isn't for you. When comparing it to staying in motels, its a wash. You RV because you love the life style not because you're looking to save money.

Maintaining 2 vehicles just so one is for towing may cost you as much if not more than just owning the right size truck. Insurance alone may make it a wash. Not to mention that the worst thing you can do to any vehicle is just leave it sit for long periods of time.

I'd get a 1/2 ton. That trailer can be easily towed by any late model 1/2 ton with a 5.x liter engine or larger. Some will argue that a 3/4 ton doesn't cost much more upfront, and that's true. But it's like free puppies. They aren't free for the life of the puppy. When it comes time for maintenance and repairs, the 3/4 ton will cost more. However, if you are truly planning on the Sea-Doo, then yes, you need a 3/4 ton!

[SilverEscape]

And I've discovered that trucks aren't necessarily the problem solver I thought they would be. The model we looked at last night only had an 1110# payload including a 150# driver. We'll use up 1050# of that with tongue weight and people alone. Adding our bikes to the be would be out and adding bikes to the cargo space in trailer will add to tongue weight and reduce CCC in the truck even more. And so much for carrying a small 405# Sea-Doo! (Not that we have one but my teenager would love one)

So I have to do some more looking and look into how much payload the max tow package on the F-150 would give us as well as potentially moving down a trim level with options that weigh less. And looking at other brands as well.

[SilverEscape]

the_happiestcamper wrote:

SilverEscape wrote:
I've got an $800 stroller that I don't want scratched up.

$800 stroller? And you're worried about the cost of fuel and that an SUV costs more than a pickup?

Hey, I don't have any other baby gear. We skip almost everything else that people would buy and I make a splurge on a stroller. It doesn't mean I have 15K more sitting around to buy an SUV over a truck. And selling the stroller isn't going to get me that 15K. 😉 As for fuel costs, that's never ending. The stroller was a one time cost and can be resold next year for $400. I can't resell fumes. And using less fuel is a simple way to help the environment just a little, as is going for walks with my $800 stroller. 🙂

And I'm not concerned about mileage while I'm towing. I'm concerned about it for the 8-9 months of the year that this vehicle won't be towing a travel trailer. 😉

[the_happiestcam]

SilverEscape wrote:
I've got an $800 stroller that I don't want scratched up.

$800 stroller? And you're worried about the cost of fuel and that an SUV costs more than a pickup?

[Golden_HVAC]

If you are only talking about towing a few hundred miles a year, then a gas vehicle will save a lot of money on cost to buy it, insure it, change the oil, and other maintenance items.

You can also look at 2011 and later Ecoboosts, but as you said Employee pricing is pretty good. The new aluminum truck beds should have a great resale value, but most Ford dealers are not going to offer A plan pricing on the 15 trucks until they run out of 14's.

I would be suggesting a low mile truck, such as the F-250 with a V10 or 5.4L v8. Both will offer plenty of power, you rarely need to drive it, so MPG is not a issue. It will carry all the bikes that you need in the back, so a shell will keep it all secure.

You can also look at gas Excursions. They are wider and longer, offer up to 8 seating. Look for a low mileage one, if you can find it. Do not get a 6 liter diesel, they are cheap for a reason that has been well discussed many times before.

Check the towing capacity on the Flex too. I think you can get the same 3.5L Ecoboost, and should have seating for 8.

Fred.

[SilverEscape]

The dealer here gets the stripper pole on all the trucks they bring in. 😉 I tried it tonight and it wasn't bad. All the kids fit in the cab super easy, and my teenager even drove it around the block and said she'd be okay driving it, just not parking it. Ha ha.

[APT]

SilverEscape wrote:

Aren't those even bigger? We want something that can fit in the garage and has at least the gas mileage of our MDX.

If you purchase an older 3/4 ton crew cab, it would not be the primary daily driver and not need to be stored in the garage. They are the same size/length as their half ton with same cab/bed lengths. Half tons have just offered a crew cab 5.5' bed options about 1' shorter than the shortest 3/4 ton crew cab.

As for a bed cover, I don't know how I'd get******out of the bed, especially in a bigger truck. The tailgate is already heavy (I liked how the Tundra didn't allow the tailgate to just drop!) and I'm supposed to climb under the cover with heels and a skirt? Or lift the cover off somehow? I'm a tiny woman, I'd need a step stool to get anything out from the sides.

All of today's pickups offer standard torsion assist tailgates like the Tundra you mentioned. They also all have methods to control the cargo such that smaller items stay nearer the tailgate, perfect for height challenged people (even in skirts). A simple 2"x10' piece of lumber for under $10CAD will do in the factory provided truck bed slots. Something like this:



If you are short, you probably want side entry steps or nerf bars anyway. They can also be used to stand on to access the front of the cab. And Ford also offers the tailgate step and stripper pole...I mean grab handle like this:

And doesn't stuff roll around? I've got an $800 stroller that I don't want scratched up. 😉

I had a pickup with 5.5' bed and rollup bed cover) for 8 years before getting our Suburban. The Suburban offers 3' front to back space behind the 3rd row and 5' behind the 2nd row compared to the 5.5' length of our last pickup. Stuff rolls around in our Suburban the same way except there is no cargo management system available. Pickups are designed today for families. They do it all. Carry 4-5 people while towing or hauling a bed full of stuff in Suburbia, North America. It works when it needs to and provides luxury for occupants too.

I am convinced there are people that will always favor pickups and others people that always favor SUVs. Neither side will convince the other that their way is wrong. I'm a truck person and miss mine despite thoroughly enjoying the 3 rows of or Suburban for kid separation while traveling. But I accepted many other compromises by losing my truck bed for camping and otherwise while paying $8k more!

You're an SUV person. Get your new Expy and enjoy.

[Tystevens]

I would pick option 1 or 2.

Unless you have some additional need/want for a pickup around the house, it will cost quite a bit more to buy an older pickup (still north of $15k, probably, to be in decent shape), plus maintenance, insurance, all of that fun stuff.

I don't know if either option will surpass your MDX in fuel economy, but they will get close. My Ecoboost F150 gets 21-15 (freeway/city); our 2010 Suburban gets 13-19 under the same conditions. MDX is a nice vehicle, but you'll find a nicely equipped full size SUV just as luxurious -- our '10 Suburban has just about everything you'd want or need (leather, captains chairs, heated front and middle, power fold middle, 3-zone climate, etc). For what it is worth, you'll find a Suburban or Expy a bit more spacious and comfortable for a family on the inside, I think.

To me, it comes down to do you want a little more interior room or a pickup bed? You can throw a topper or shell on the back and have plenty of covered cargo room in the pickup, but it isn't quite the same as the back of the SUV for small personal items IMO. My wife wouldn't trade her Sub for a truck even if we only had 3 kids (we have 4); I like the extra space and the versatility of the truck.

My personal choice, if you can swing new, would be to wait a few months for a '15 Ecoboost Expedition.

[SilverEscape]

wintersun wrote:


A SUV will make a poorer tow vehicle than a pickup as you start out with a heavier vehicle and yet with the engine and transmission and frame and other components the Gross Combined Weight Rating is the same or less with the SUV.

Thanks.

wintersun wrote:

If you have a large brood then a 3/4 ton passenger van may be better than either a pickup or a SUV as your tow vehicle.

Three kids. And one is 17 so unless we're travelling, she isn't usually with us because we have another car that her and I share to get to school/work.

[wintersun]

the bear II wrote:
My favorite tow vehicle is a Crew Cab Dually with a camper shell. It will pull or haul anything. The backseat can be used for people and or stuff. Campershell provides a secure place for bikes and toys plus other stuff.

A chevy with duramax diesel and allison 2007 or newer with under 100K miles is the ticket.

2nd Favorite was a chevy 2500 long bed 4X4 with a campershell. The campershell was about a foot higher than the truck cab had a cargo door which could be removed to load dirt bikes and provides easy access to the stuff inside. Very flexible for carrying whatever I needed.

Did you miss the part in the original post about having a 5,000 lb. trailer? If he was planning to tow a 18,000 lb. 5th wheel trailer the recommendation of a DRW diesel pickup would be reasonable. To tow a 5.000 lb. trailer it is far from reasonable and more in the realm of insane.

A SUV will make a poorer tow vehicle than a pickup as you start out with a heavier vehicle and yet with the engine and transmission and frame and other components the Gross Combined Weight Rating is the same or less with the SUV.

If you have a large brood then a 3/4 ton passenger van may be better than either a pickup or a SUV as your tow vehicle.

[SilverEscape]

Ya the U-Haul is what I can get here. There are several issues though, one being that we'd have to take 2 vehicles as it's just a standard cab. And the more serious issue is that the trucks they have will tow up to 5500# and I'm not certain if that also means 550# tongue weight, but if so, we're over that so may as well just tow with our MDX if that's the case. 😉

Also, when I last looked, they were sold out for September long likely because it's end of month and people are moving (have a big university here so some students still arriving).

Enterprise apparently rents trucks too that someone said you could tow with but it seems our location doesn't rent them. We just have an airport location for business type clients.

[JnJnKatiebug]

agesilaus wrote:
I've never heard of a vehicle rental place that didn't forbid towing of any sort. If you find one that rents trucks, the trucks won't come with a tow package.

As for truck stowage: APT above is correct get a tonneau cover or a topper.

From the U-Haul Website.

U-Haul is home of the $19.95 pickup truck rental! (Extended miles, week long and month long rental rates also available) Rent a pickup truck for any of your personal or business needs, our pickup trucks are also great for local deliveries. Pickup truck rentals are commonly used for home improvement projects, self-deliveries and other small loads. Rent a U-Haul pickup truck starting at just 19.95! (Extended miles, week and month long rates also available)

U-Haul pickup truck rentals are perfect for:

Home improvement
Deliveries
Small loads
Tow your boat

Trailers

Most U-Haul trucks are fully equipped to tow a trailer. If you plan to tow a U-Haul trailer, you will be provided with the appropriate equipment and instructions. Read the U-Haul Trailer User Instructions thoroughly. Follow the instructions on how to properly load and operate your truck/trailer combination.

If you plan to tow your own trailer, check with a U-Haul representative to determine the maximum trailer weight you can tow. Make sure your trailer is properly loaded, that the coupler and safety chains are attached and that the trailer lights are working properly. See your trailer owner's manual for more information.