considering upgrading tow vehicle

[Melanie83103]

Hello - We have a small camper - the 16 foot Amerilite, which only weighs 2300 pounds. We are currently towing with our 2011 Nissan Quest minivan (which is a v6).

We have always felt that the minivan is really dragging when we are towing the camper. We only drive about 60 mph, but it still doesn't feel right. We do have a weight distribution hitch and sway bar too.

We are considering trading in the minivan on a smaller V8 SUV, like the Chevy Tahoe. Does anyone have any input on this? We chatted with another couple at a campground recently, and they said that upgrading to a V8 will make a big difference with towing. Anyone know if this is true? We are planning a cross country trip with summer, which would involve some mountain travel, and I'm worried that the minivan won't be able to handle it....

Thanks!!

Melanie

[Bill___Kate]

Go for a full sized one ton van. The kids are only going to get bigger, have more friends, and more stuff, and the trailer will get bigger sooner or later too. Great vehicle for hauling stuff and good towing capacity to boot. If you want new, you are limited to Chevy/GMC, but if you want a good value on one a couple of years old, there are plenty of Fords out there too ...

[Road_Ruler]

Melanie83103 wrote:
Hello - We have a small camper - the 16 foot Amerilite, which only weighs 2300 pounds. We are currently towing with our 2011 Nissan Quest minivan (which is a v6).

We have always felt that the minivan is really dragging when we are towing the camper. We only drive about 60 mph, but it still doesn't feel right. We do have a weight distribution hitch and sway bar too.

We are considering trading in the minivan on a smaller V8 SUV, like the Chevy Tahoe.
Melanie

Your 250HP Quest Mini Van with the WDH and sway bar should work fine!!!
Wondering if it is the CTV transmission that is giving you the lack of performance feel???

Anyway I am very familiar towing with the 3.5 engine you have in your Quest and it is very good.

PS... For years we towed our 23' Airstream with a 1993, "150 HP V6" Quest Mini Van. No issues. We now tow the same trailer with a Infiniti G35 3.5V6 (same engine as your Quest) and it has more power than we need. Note our 23' is twice the weight of your Amerilite.

PSII... Is the hitch etc set up right?? Most are not and it really diminishes the handling and feel.



PSIII The Ford Flex is an excellent suggestion as a new TV. Also consider the GM Acadia. Highly rated and would easily handle your lightweight.



PSIV There is no advantage to getting a pickup or Tahoe.

[APT]

Oh, I forgot about the Flex and Explorer Sport with the 3.5L Ecoboost. Those would be good options.

[carringb]

Ford about a Ford Flex?

Seats 7 confortable, seats fold to a completely flat floor, quiet, and available with a 365 twin turbo V6 with AWD, and can put out much more with some tuning.

[APT]

No problem on the third row. We wanted it for our 3 kids and traveling as well. My opinion of the Tahoe is 3rd row for people or luggage, not both. That's why I suggested the Suburban.

Are you looking at new vehicles or used? The 2015 Ford Expedition comes with 3.5L Ecoboost that will tow your current (and much larger) trailers with ease.

Dodge Durango 5.7L might be a good match for you too, not quite full sized but 3 rows and lots of power.

[mdamerell]

Melanie83103 wrote:
Hello - We have a small camper - the 16 foot Amerilite, which only weighs 2300 pounds. We are currently towing with our 2011 Nissan Quest minivan (which is a v6).
Thanks!!
Melanie

Is that 2,300#'s a dry weight? I tried looking up your trailer and I see 2,300# listed as a dry weight. I see a gross weight of around 3,300#. Since you are looking at a new (new to you) vehicle I'd use the gross weight and not the empty or dry weight. I'd guess the hitch weight around 500# (3,300 x 0.15 = 495#)

Just a thought but if you find one with a little more capacity than what you need now, if you find a bigger TT and want to upgrade, you'll have the vehicle to pull it. Pickups with covered bed are like having a huge trunk for all kinds of gear (camping or not).

Good Luck.

[Melanie83103]

Yes I need the third row, unfortunately. It will be my car - I'm a mom with two kids and I often have more than one extra kid in my car as well. I have considered a pickup but we need more seating....

[APT]

What you are learning is how much work it takes to pull any high profile trailer through the air at 60-65mph. That's why all gas engines pulling all high walled travel trailers get 8-10mpg. Your Amerilite is probably narrower and shorter than most travel trailers, thus the 11mpg :). Pulling with a V8 Tahoe would also get very close to the same 11mpg, but more comfortably I expect.

The V6 in your minivan makes good power, probably at least 250hp and 250ft-lb or torque. However, it does not make a lot extra at it's normal operating range, say under 2500rpm. Plenty for the van and your family, but not the reserve for another 3000 pounds and a lot more wind resistance. So when you need more power, it will rev, probably spending a lot more time in the 2500-4000rpm range. That uses the extra fuel too.

If you want to lower engine speeds, then you'll need something that makes more power where you want it to be. A V8 in a Tahoe for example will make more power at every engine speed, thus being able to tow at a little lower engine speeds. Today's modern turbocharged gas or diesel engines will do even better, providing up to double the amount of torque at 2000rpm you currently have.

Do you need 3 rows of seats? If yes, then go straight to the long wheelbase which for GM is the Suburban. That 3rd row is a penalty box in the Tahoe combined with only carrying a few grocery bags behind that. If you only need 2 rows of seats, I highly recommend a crew cab pickup. New they cost about $8-10k less than a comparably equipped SUV. They offer the worlds largest truck if you add some kind of bed cover. Their payloads and tow ratings are higher. Ford's 2.7L Ecoboost in the 2015 F-150 would be great for you.

If you want the least amount of fuel used, a diesel would be it. Fiat Chrysler America offers a good one in the Jeep Grand Cherokee as well as Ram 1500. The European imports also have some, MB, BMW, VW/Audi. All would get closer to 15mpg towing your RV and do so never exceeding 2500rpm. Statistically, diesel fuel costs more per gallon in most areas of the country over the last several years and the engine choice costs more to purchase up front than a gas engine. You'll have to decide if that would be valuable.

[Melanie83103]

Thanks for the info. Any idea what type of gas mileage I will get if we get a Tahoe or similar V8? The gas mileage goes waaaay down on our minivan while towing - from about 24 mpg highway to about 11 towing. Will I see a similar drop with a larger engine?

Thanks again!

Melanie

[Iraqvet05]

I can't speak for the Tahoe specifically but I towed a 3K lb boat with a Silverado 5.3 and had no trouble with that weight in the rolling hills of Missouri. If you are looking at the GM V8's, I'd suggest the 5.3 over the 4.8 and the 6 speed transmissions over the 4 speeds. Some of the newer V6s (naturally aspirated) are putting out great HP and torque numbers but sometimes there is no substitute for a larger displacement engine.

[bikendan]

Well, you've discovered why many of us recommend NOT using a minivan to tow a TT.
any ladder frame v-8 vehicle will be a huge improvement over your minivan. A Tahoe would be a good choice. Newer ones can get 20mpg on the highway, with the v-4 feature.