Need Suggestions on getting a tow vehicle

[EvilUncleEarnie]

Presently I own a 2000 Suzuki Vitara 2 liter 4 cyl. and love it. It still gets great gas mileage, and runs great. Unfortunately, we just bought a 1995 Jayco popup camper and the car cannot tow it. The trailer weighs a little over 2000 pounds. I really hate to get rid of my Suzuki but I also own a 4wd 1998 Chevy Tracker that I love and want to keep for off roading.

So, I need to get a tow vehicle. The problem is, I have talked to dealerships and the sales people seem to want to push me to get a monster size tow vehicle. I do not want something huge that gets terrible gas mileage.

I looked at used vehicles but most of the salespeople are clueless about towing capacity of vehicles and those that do all want to steer me to the big high buck vehicles with big motors.

The vehicle I need should have the following:

Room for 4 to 5 people (when not hauling stuff in the back.. i.e. the seats lift up for passengers)

Get at least 25 mpg highway when not towing. I looked at crew cab trucks and the ones that can pull the trailer get lousy gas mileage, and the ones that do get good gas mileage have a 4 cyl that won't tow my trailer.

Have room in the back to carry a medium dog crate, coolers and everything else that I do not want to put in the trailer.

Hopefully cost around $10K for a used vehicle or $15 to 20K for a new vehicle.

I hope someone can give me some suggestions...

[DaveF-250SD]

Look for a good deal on a Peterbilt 379. Just kidding. A mini van with a 3,500 lb. towing capacity should do everything you need. Perhaps a Dodge Grand Caravan.

[bikendan]

unless it's real heavy popup, it should be able to tow it.

[mad_trapper]

When you add in your passengers and gear, I'd say no.

[EvilUncleEarnie]

My neighbor who attends vehicle auctions and fixes them up and sells them for a living, just brought home a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe. In looking up the stats it should be able to haul my trailer with few problems.

I checked the stats on it and they are as follows:

2005 Hyundai Santa Fe 3.5L
SUV
MPG: Up to 19 city, 25 highway
Towing capacity: 2,700 to 3,300 lbs
Fuel tank capacity: 19 gal
Wheel size: 16" diameter, 6.5" width

Any complaint or good things about this car?

[silverfz]

As some one who towed a 3000 lbs popup . TT he only way I averaged that was my ford explorer gave 19mpg not towing and 17 towing. My daily driver is a 2005 fz1. You can decent one foe 2k. The bike avges 40 -48 mpg depending on how many times I went into zoom mode.

[mad_trapper]

Only one I'd consider per your needs is the Cherokee. Think I'd rather get an Explorer or new style Durango instead.
I was in your shoes recently looking for the right suv. Bought a v6 Ram 1500 instead, gettin 21mpg. Couldn't be happier.

[EvilUncleEarnie]

I came across this... Some of these looks promising.. just have to find used ones..

https://www.cars.com/articles/top-10-best-compact-suvs-for-towing-1420680544464/

[wcjeep]

Avoid anything with the ZF 9spd transmission. Older Toyota Highlander probably hits most of your requests. Check Edmunds.com for specific years. I'd rather tow your combo with 5k capacity than 3500lb capacity.

[brulaz]

EvilUncleEarnie wrote:

...
In reading similar posts on other RV sites, it seems like everyone is suggesting half ton trucks.
...

For a 2000+ lb pop-up trailer?
Good grief, that's ridiculous.

[hone_eagle]

Get a dedicated TV and dedicated DD, Then the mileage not towing will be infinite.
The DD could be a hybrid of some sort.
We use a smart car as a DD and the combined average with the Volvo is around 25 mpg.

[EvilUncleEarnie]

Forgot to say that the vehicle I get will be mostly a daily driver. We only go camping a couple times a year.

In reading similar posts on other RV sites, it seems like everyone is suggesting half ton trucks. Not sure I want to go that big. I had a Chevy half ton for quite a few years and that is why I went with something a lot smaller. Trying to park the thing in some places sucked.

[mad_trapper]

GeoBoy wrote:

mad trapper wrote:
An older Honda Pilot maybe for that price. Doubt you'll get the 25mpg. My 2013 Pilot averaged 16mpg, could tow 4500 lbs and was 32k new.

You couldn't get a Honda Pilot to get 25 mpg. if you pushed it off a cliff. This comment is from personal experience and yes I traded mine, and one of the reasons was POOR mileage, but there are many more reasons not to get a Pilot.

My Pilot couldn't get out of it's own way, couldn't imagine what it would've towed like. Terrible in the snow too. I get better gas mileage with my Ram.

[rhagfo]

Look at VW TDI vehicles and diesel jeep SUVs about the other way to get that mileage no. Towing.

[IdaD]

Our Pilot has been flawless for approaching 6 years and 65,000 miles, but it has a bit of a drinking problem. Aside from mileage Pilots are great, but you're not getting 20+ in them on a regular basis.

A minivan might be your best bet, or a 4 cyl cute-ute.