Luxury Diesel SUV as tow vehicle

[ve2tcx]

Hi, I'm looking at people who have experienced towing with a diesel SUV. I'm planning to replace my current vehicle (2009 Toyota Highlander V6 AWD) in a year or so and I'm interested by the following:

2-3 years old (with less that 60000 miles), these SUV are around 35k (in Canada)

BMW X5 xDrive35d
Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec
Volkswagen Touareg TDI

These 3 SUV averages 250HP and 400+ Lb-ft of torque

I have a 18' travel trailer weighting 4600 pounds loaded for now. I'd like to get a 23' with bunks (about 6000 pounds loaded) in the future.

I do not want a bigger SUV than the ones listed (nor a pickup truck), as it won't fit in my garage!

My 270HP, 250 pound-ft of torque Toyota does the job well right now, but it would be nice to get more power and torque if I want to upgrade my travel trailer.

Thanks!

[bovellois]

x3 for the Jeep. a comparison between the Jeep and the VW was featured in dieselpowermag

[Hammerhead]

The 2014 Grand Cherokee has a maximum tongue weight of 720 lbs according to the owner's manual. The same rating is listed in my 2008 owner's manual. 2WD models have an extra 20 lbs of tongue weight rating.

That is 12% of 6,000 lbs, but doesn't leave much room for payload (including passengers) before reaching GVWR of the Jeep

I'm guessing the original poster isn't interested in the 2014s since he's looking for slightly used SUVs.

[smyke]

Here is a fun thread in regards to Touareg's towing capabilities.
Thats where I actually saw skyfree's setup originally. 😉

One thing regarding the TW rating on the Touareg: some hitches/manuals apparently list 770lbs TW and some only 618lbs. Several members of that other forum had contacted VW and were mailed an updated sticker reflecting higher numbers.
Very strange but I thought I would point that out.

[sky_free]

The Touareg won the recent Car And Driver diesel SUV comparison test over the other vehicles you list as well as the Jeep and Porche Cayenne. I tow approx 4,500 lbs with it. I think my tongue weight is in the 600 lb range with my 2 heavy 6v batteries and full propane, but I don't know for sure. I tow with a full water tank too because we never camp where there are hookups and I don't like having to search for water. I believe that using a WDH is not optional. Without it the steering is very light and the rear suspension is overloaded. I average about 14.5 MPG towing.

APT wondered about GVWR being exceeded with a lot of weight on the bumper. That would definitely be true, but we have the stripped Sport+Nav version, and the 2 people + 2 dogs weigh about 360 lbs. We carry NOTHING in the vehicle with us. Everything is in the trailer.

For our situation, it is an ideal TV, but if I had 1,500 lbs more to move I wouldn't personally want to use the Touareg. The hitch is only rated to 616 lbs, and you will need to distribute more weight with a beefier WDH. Yes, I know a lot of people do it, but it is going to be hard on the vehicle. Get the right tool for the job and if you must have that bigger trailer maybe you should get a truck and park it outside.

BTW, VW has conflicting information regarding the use of a WDH on the Touareg. The hitch clearly mentions using one, and the manual suggests that you should not. Some have made modifications to the hitch gear by welding stuff onto it, but the bottom line for me is that it works great and I haven't had any problems with it. I've even had the bumper cover off after someone hit me and there were no indications of stress.

[APT]

There are a few members happily towing with diesel SUVs, Touareg, and older Liberty and Grand Cherokee. First I've heard of a Q7, but it's very close to the Touareg. They all report great towing experiences with the 400+ lb-ft of torque at 2000rpm with better than any gas engine fuel economy.

However, you really need to check the receiver ratings. I am not aware of any that are rated for more than 740 pounds. 6000 pounds loaded TT is going to be really close, in the 700-800 pound range. The Touareg specifically does not recommend using a weight distributing hitch, but many people do. Do some research on those.

Also, check the payload on all those as you shop. You said luxury, so that means lots of equipment/features/options. That takes away from the already low payload of these mid-sized SUVs. I asked Touareg owners and only got one response. If you only have 1100 pounds to start, then 700+ pounds of trailer tongue weight, you only have 400 left for family and anything else in the SUV.

Air suspension is common on these luxury SUVs. I don't it for RVing. It complicates weight distribution hitch adjustment and masks overloaded conditions.

What's wrong with a diesel pickup? They will have more seating space than any mid-sized SUV. A $400 bed cover provides quick, easy access to a much larger cargo are, if not climate controlled. You can get a lot of the same luxuries in high end pickups these days.

[RobertRyan]

ve2tcx wrote:
Hi, I'm looking at people who have experienced towing with a diesel SUV. I'm planning to replace my current vehicle (2009 Toyota Highlander V6 AWD) in a year or so and I'm interested by the following
BMW X5 xDrive35d
Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec
Volkswagen Touareg TDI

We use these plus other Diesel SUV's for towing. Most sort after here is the 4.5 V8, Diesel Landcruiser(which is only available in Australia, and is great towing Off Road)
That being said the new to you CRD 3 Litre diesel Jeep would be a good choice for towing the RV you have in mind.It would cheaper than the above.

[ChooChooMan74]

Golden_HVAC wrote:
Get a Excursion and expand the garage, or build another garage!

You really do want the tow vehicle to outweigh the trailer - if possible.

Fred.

So an 8000lb dually towing a 15000lb trailer is not good?

[Golden_HVAC]

Get a Excursion and expand the garage, or build another garage!

You really do want the tow vehicle to outweigh the trailer - if possible.

Fred.

[Chuck_Gail]

Just be SURE you find out the VEHICLE tongue weight spec. You need 13% to 15% of the FULLY LOADED TT weight on the tongue. When we looked at the vehicles you list several years ago, NONE had a tongue weight spec allowing us to tow a 7800# TT.

Note I did NOT say the spec on the TV receiver, but on the vehicle itself.

Horsepower is not the issue, a Jonnie one pop (an old tractor) could tow near anything with near zero horsepower.

[ChooChooMan74]

I know it isn't luxury, but I tow with the Jeep Liberty Diesel.

[campingcanuck]

We tow with a 2011 Audi Q7 TDI and have had no issues. You can pm me if you want more info. We recently upgraded our htt to a 21 foot TT with bunks and rear slide.

[carringb]

All of the SUVs you listed will are not rated for the tongue weight of a 6000 pound trailer (at 15% = 900 pounds). Jeep says they offer a Class IV receiver but they don't list the tongue weight rating that I can find.

[RetSgt7114]

X 2 on the Jeep

[sch911]

You should also consider the new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Diesel. Yes, it does have that level of TT capacity. A potential alternative choice over the three Deutsche vehicles mentioned.... Oh, and you can actually go off road with it too!