expedition or tahoe for 33' TT

[Ejraste]

I know that there will be opinions on both sides, but will Expedition/tahoe with max tow packages pull a 33' trailer(6000lbs dry) safely? The expedition max towing capacity is 9300 and tahoe is 8500lbs.

[valhalla360]

mkirsch wrote:
Yet, any regular cab pickup truck which have comparable wheelbases to these SUVs, are PERFECTLY FINE to tow the same trailer?

This is where the wheelbase argument breaks down.

A low payload regular cab short bed certainly wouldn't be my preferred choice.

Reality is there are very few regular cab short bed 1/2 ton pickups on the road today...so your argument is a bit of a red herring.

[valhalla360]

Ejraste wrote:

carringb wrote:
What’s the trailer loaded weight? Length alone doesn’t mean much.

Chances are neither have anywhere near enough payload for that large of a trailer plus passengers. But some long TTs are surprisingly light. Real issue is tongue weight eating into payload.

Loaded weight of travel trailer around 7000-7200lbs. Payload of both seem to be around 1750lbs or real close.

If the payload is 1750, you are likely going to be around 7500-7750 with 1000lb hitch weight.

With that much length, you don't want to skimp on hitch weight.

What are the models you are looking at? That might give us a better feel for what you are really looking at.

[mkirsch]

Yet, any regular cab pickup truck which have comparable wheelbases to these SUVs, are PERFECTLY FINE to tow the same trailer?

This is where the wheelbase argument breaks down.

[Bionic_Man]

I use an ExpeditionMAX to tow my 7000 pound boat. It does a much better job towing than the YukonXL Denali it replaced, but still not nearly as good as my RAM, but that really isn’t a fair comparison.

Stability with the Ex is fine. Power is really really good. The only issue I have is that it gets very hot (engine and tranny) towing I70 through the mountains in Colorado. If I were towing all the time in the mountains I’d be worried, but very few people do that.

Given those two choices, I’d go with the Expedition hands down. Huge advantage there is the engine - personally I’d never tow that much weight with a 5.3, and last I checked you can’t get the 6.2 except in the upper trim levels. That said, the 3.0 in a Tahoe would be intriguing.

As far as “tail wagging the dog” on a long trailer, I believe all modern tow vehicles use the trailer brakes to eliminate sway. I know I’ve never felt it with my boat.

[Cummins12V98]

" Length alone doesn’t mean much."

Add a little side wind and you will have your hands full.

[TXiceman]

First forget dry weight and use the trailers GVWR and 12% of this for an estimated tongue weight. Now check your loaded truck weight and see if you are within ratings. Even if you are OK on both GCWR and rear axle GAWR on the truck, that is a long trailer to pull with a short wheelbase and high center of gravity truck.

They will probably pull the trailer, but not comfortably. Longer trips will be tiring.

Ken

[n0arp]

I'd go with the Expedition, because I perceive that to be the longer wheelbase. If that's not correct, then the Tahoe. Both of those are likely going to be mismatched for that TT, but the longer wheelbase will at least make it a little safer.

Don't go by the published towing capacities - they don't account for wind resistance and other factors that you have with a travel trailer, which is effectively a large sail when pulled down the road. They're more for a flatbed or a boat.

[Ejraste]

carringb wrote:
What’s the trailer loaded weight? Length alone doesn’t mean much.

Chances are neither have anywhere near enough payload for that large of a trailer plus passengers. But some long TTs are surprisingly light. Real issue is tongue weight eating into payload.

Loaded weight of travel trailer around 7000-7200lbs. Payload of both seem to be around 1750lbs or real close.

[carringb]

What’s the trailer loaded weight? Length alone doesn’t mean much.

Chances are neither have anywhere near enough payload for that large of a trailer plus passengers. But some long TTs are surprisingly light. Real issue is tongue weight eating into payload.

[Cummins12V98]

No way would I do either with the soft tires that come with those rigs. IMHO that's a lot of tail for those dogs.

[Lwiddis]

Both will "pull" it fine but don't do it. That's toooooo long a trailer for a Tahoe and I've owned three of them....'01, '07 and '15. Wheelbase is too short. Next, "pulling" is easy. Will the Tahoe at about 1,500 to 1,700 pounds of payload carry the weight of most 33 foot TTs? About 800 to 1,000 pounds of tongue weight. Plus whatever you carry in that SUV. Last, no one should care about "dry" weight. No one goes camping "dry." Loaded that 33 footer will be 7,500 pounds...at least. NOPE!