Picking a Tow Vehicle for Large Family

[MolinuWanderer]

We are looking at taking our four children on the road for a 6-12 month trip while we road school/travel nurse. We also have a dog, plus all our gear, so your typical 3/4 ton pickup just doesn't fit our needs.

We will likely be pulling a TT with a bunkhouse set up, maybe 29-36 feet roughly. The trailers we have looked at have GVWR of 5500-8000 lbs, roughly.

We are currently considering a few different vehicles, after reviewing to capacities, etc. We are looking for a vehicle with the tow package, and will be getting a weight distribution hitch. Here are the options of what we he looked at (approx years 2005-2010, can't afford new!)

Ford Excursion
Chevy Suburban 2500
GMC Yukon XL
Ford E350, 12 or 15 passenger set up

Any opinions on real life travel with these vehicles? Things to look out for or consider? Looking for personal experience with traveling with a large(r) family and towing a trailer. We are looking at touring most of the USA. We will be in mountainous terrain at times (crossing the Rockies, etc), but are planning on avoiding those areas, and snow and traveling in winter weather at all costs!

Thanks for any insight you have.

[BenK]

Wanted a full sized, 1 ton van...but no OEM offered a 4x4 version

Bryan's is of GREAT interest to me and will be my next...that will be a long time
as I keep mine for a looooooong time

[MolinuWanderer]

And while that superduty is a beauty...not realistic on our budget LOL. We are wanting to vehicle shop under $10-12k max. Part of the whole goal we have is to not have any payments. I think the van options are looking better and better. Thanks for steering me away from an excursion!

[MolinuWanderer]

For us, having a vehicle towed behind a MH is not an option. Kids are aged 1, 3, 5, and 9- so we deal with car seats nearly all around. Not legal, and dangerous to having kids out and about, unrestrained. So yes- having a vehicle that can seat each person is imperative!

We will be gone 6-12 months, leaving in January from FL. We plan to hang on the lower 48, headed west to CA through March. Spend spring on the West Coast. Don't even attempt to cross the rockies until May-June, and travel across the northern US from Jun-Aug or Sept, then make our way down the eastern side of the US from Sept on, back to FL. No driving in snow- purposely planning for that.

The E350's tow capacity from even 2010-2012 that I saw were 11-12k pounds. Smaller passengers, 70 lb dog, so I think we should get away with it then! The reason we were considering a 15 passenger would be to remove that last row and have more cargo space. I didn't think about the longer overhang affecting the tow handling. The more you know! Thanks for the insight, all.

[mdamerell]

F450 Super Duty Six Door

[carringb]

Ford Transit 2500, Long wheelbase, mid-roof with the EcoBoost would make an ideal family hauler and have power to spare.

[Slowmover]

One ton van. Short rear overhang. Pro Pride hitch. Bilstein shocks plus larger front anti roll bar and a new rear anti roll bar installed. Michelin LTX or Bridgestone Duravis tires on TV.

Excursion worst TV of past quarter century. Serious deficiencies in handling and brakng. See test results for your self. Better choices out there. Steering control really matters.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

I would go a different route.

I would buy a small car to follow the tow rig. It's just too tough IMHO to get all of those people in a TV.

The "people haulers" they make now days are not very good TV's. And the TV's they make now days don't make very good people haulers. (for that many people)

I would buy a used pickup and a small car to do this.

For 4 or even 5 people my answer would be completely different.

[Bionic_Man]

I like the idea of the van, except when I see that you are looking to do this for 12 months. A full size van towing a TT with the potentail of snow would scare me. If you will be traveling in the south during the winter months, go with the van. If you think you will be traveling in the snow, I would try to find a 2500 Burb or Excursion.

[jerem0621]

Nissan NV passenger van may be an option...2,600 lbs of payload, 8,700 lbs tow rating with the Class IV package.

This would be a GREAT TV to use with a larger family and a lightweight TT such as the Apex line from coachman or the Tracer Air line from primetime.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[valhalla360]

As the youngest of 10 and having grown up camping, the full size van would be my suggestion...except, do the new ones have the tow capacity? Not sure as the manufacturers all seem to be moving away from the body on frame designs with the big engines. Great for fuel economy if you are doing delivery. Not so great if you want a towing machine.

One positive you have is wtih 6-12months, you don't need to be putting in long driving days.

[Lantley]

I once towed a 39" 10K loaded TT wirth a diesel and V-10 Excusion. It was a great combo. However
Excursions are no longer made. 2500 Suburban have also been watered down and no longer rated to tow a heavy trailer.
There are Excursions and capable 2500 burbs available on the used market but as time goes on those trucks are getting older. Finding a decent used 3/4 ton SUV is hit or miss.
In today's market I would look closely at 3/4 ton passenger vans.
While I prefer towing a large trailer with a diesel. Diesel vans are hard to find.
I would focus on E350 and Chevy 2500 vans even if I had to compromise and settle for a gas engine.

[blt2ski]

Look for payload, payload, and payload. My family of 6 weighed in at 1200-1300 when they were teens. Add in another 1200 or so for hitch at, 100-150 lb for the dog and crate. You need a rig with 2500-3000 lbs of payload. The ONLY options you have entered is the E350 van. Or if you can find a GM 3500 with a BB gas, then that will work too.

I personally would not get a 15 passenger E350, 12 yes. The gm van I would get a 15. Because it has a lo.get wheel base, and not as much rear overhang which if you are not carefully of can or may create some handling issues.

Unless a crew cab pickup is an option, you are stuck with.van.options. been there do.e this!

Marty

[ib516]

A full sized v10 e350 van would be my suggestion.

[mtofell1]

The options definitely get thin once you get that 6th person for the TV. My wife really isn't too big on long drives so my camping usually involves me and some combination of the 4 kids so the HD truck is okay.

I have noticed in driving around that some of the newer vans look pretty useful. Many are on 2500 platforms.... I can't think of the manufacturers right off but I'm thinking some are Dodge/Ram or even Nissan. Keep in mind also that while a newer vehicle costs more the fuel economy is worlds better than some of the things on your list.