Choosing a Tow Vehicle

[JC435]

We are going from a Class C to a Winnie TT 2201DS and need help in choosing a tow vehicle, preferably an SUV and not a truck. The approx. weight of the tt is 5200 lbs. so we're looking a something that can handle around 7200 lbs.

We've been told that axle ratio is important. Is it more important than the towing limit? In other words, say a tow vehicle is rated at 7000 lbs. with an axle ratio of 3.73 while another is rated at 10,000 with an axle ratio of 3.08. Which would be preferred?

We like the Tahoe/Yukon but with an axle ratio of 3.08, is that good enough, or should we try something else?

Thank you in advance for any help.

[krobbe]

If you are considering used, the 2001 to 2006 Suburban 2500 8.1L will pull that weight nicely with a 3.73 or 4.10. The 2007 to 2013 was only available with a 6.0L and 4.10 is recommended. Chevy stopped production of the 2500 after 2013. 😞

[usmc616]

Excursion

[lawrosa]

That TT your looking at is about 3800lbs dry. Says 7400lbs wet... IMO no way will you get 3000 lbs of gear in that little trailer. There is just not enough storage...

http://www.winnebagotowables.com/minnie-floorplans

The colorado in two door ext cap with V6 is rated at 7000 lbs tow and 1590 payload.. Simply amazing..

Im sure all the haters will respond in a negative tone..

http://www.chevrolet.com/trucks.html

Best of all the new ZR2 model will be out in 2016. With an available duramax diesal. 369 ft pounds of torgue at 1000 RPMs... Wow now thats nuts...

http://www.chevrolet.com/culture/article/colorado-zr2-off-road-truck.html

[Chucknbob]

Although a vehicle with a "towing package" may have a higher axle ratio, it is not necessarily what is most important. With newer vehicles having anywhere from 6-9 speeds in the transmission, they can easily tow with a fairly low axle ratio.

Just find a vehicle that is rated to what you need, and in my opinion a 7,000lb rating should do you just fine. Also make sure you have a good brake controller, and trailer sway control would be a plus.

You don't say if you want to go new or used, but a Grand Cherokee can handle up to 7,400 lbs plus has sway control, tranny coolers, and the other items you'll need. You can even have the dealer put in a MOPAR trailer brake controller that is designed to work with the entire system.

http://www.jeep.com/en/grand-cherokee/capability/

[Nvr2loud]

My GMC Acadia is rated to tow 5200 lbs, but it never can do that much....

Gross combined weight rating (GCWR) is 10,450 lbs
Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is 6459 lbs

With the Acadia fully loaded (1397 lbs max payload) with family, dog, and tongue weight it would weigh 6459 lbs (hopefully not more LOL)

GCWR 10,450 minus GVWR 6459 lbs equals 3991 lbs maximum trailer weight.

That is based on 5200 lb tow rating with a 6000 lb trailer.

Check out the Audi Q7 Diesel, it might have the tow rating you need.

BTW, my Acadia has a 1397 lb max payload and my Sierra has a 1420 lb max payload, not much difference!

[rbpru]

As stated, be sure to do the math on towing and payload. I am not sure what the max cargo capacity is for an SUV.

You would feel silly with an SUV that could pull 8000 lbs. provided it was just you and the DW in an empty SUV.

We have about 300 lbs. of tools and camping gear in our TV and we do not have children and toys.

[PAThwacker]

I tow a 5000lb gvw trailer on 15 to 22 percent grades in northeast PA/Catskills NY. I can kill the trans on some of those hills. 2305lb payload/7600lb rated towing.

[PAThwacker]

2001 to 2006 K2500 Suburban!

[APT]

You don't say if it is used or new. If used, I recommend something new enough to get a 6+ speed transmission. If given a choice between say a 2007 Tahoe with 3.73 or 2009 with 3.42, get the 2009 as it comes with a 6-spd and far better overall gearing than the axle ratio implies.

I would not consider anything with a naturally aspirated V6. Even a 2014+ V6 with over 300hp makes a lot less torque that V8's of even 10 years ago, under 3000rpm where most people prefer to drive. As you know from Class C ownership, RVs are not aerodynamic. It takes a lot of power to push/pull anything high walled through the air at 65mph.

Payload can be a problem for many vehicles which needs to support whomever is in your vehicle, cargo in the tow vehicle, and trailer TW. Tongue weight of 700-900 pounds is possible for that trailer.

If you are looking at new 2015s, I highly recommend the Ford Expedition with HD towing package. The 3.5L Ecoboost is strong, combined with great gearing.

[fla-gypsy]

Very few options in a SUV, many options in a CC pick up truck. As previously noted it is more about GVWR/payload than tow rating.

[handye9]

Most important ratings, for an SUV, are payload and GVWR. You will run out of available payload, before you get close to that mythical max tow rating.

Besides max tow, what the vehicle is rated to pull, it also has GVWR, gross vehicle weight rating, and payload, what the vehicle is rated to carry. With a travel trailer, ten to fifteen percent of it's loaded weight, is actually carried by the vehicle, not towed. That means the vehicle needs enough payload to carry everything and everybody, in or on it, plus trailer tongue weight.

Max tow rating is calculated considering a 150 lb driver, and, that driver is alone with no cargo. As you load people and cargo that tow rating drops, as does available payload, pound for pound.

Average camping load (dishes, pots and pans, bedding, camp chairs, BBQ, groceries, water, etc) is 800 to 1000 lbs.

If you buy a 5200 lb trailer, it will be over 6000 lbs loaded, and will have approximately 750 lbs of tongue weight.

[lawrosa]

Look at the new colorados...

Powerful V6... Its all you need IMO...

They now make a long bed version too... Very stable..

http://www.chevrolet.com/colorado-small-truck.html

[99Discovery]

Most SUVs are rated at or below 5k. In the world of crossovers, it usually quite less.

You choices are pretty much a Tahoe/Suburban (just over 8000lbs) and often overlooked is the Land Rover Range Rover L322 and/or the LR4 (both at 7700lbs), they can actually be had pretty reasonably on the used market (thanks to depreciation), if you don't mind the miles and can do your own maintenance.

Good luck.