Travel Trailer Towing Recommendations

OP didn’t say NEEDED an SUV, only that they were looking at larger ones to accommodate more passengers than a PU. The OP needs to decide where they will compromise.

BenK wrote:
Need vs want...but IMHO there is another way to view that...

When you need something at a spot in time...either you have it or not...no time to go to the store or readjust, etc

Personal risk management decisions

Like WDH setup...most times, it is not needed...but for that Mr Murphy moment...either you have it spot on...or not...

Yup just like a wdh….(where the head bonk emoji when you need it?). All the non wdh trailers I see upside down scattered in the ditches has me re-thinking my ways….(that was sarcasm for those lesss astute).

parker.rowe wrote:
OP did say "seat as many grandchildren as possible"...not that he NEEDED to fit all 10 kids all the time.

Also, they haven't chimed in since page 2. :)

Probably bought a suburban or Tahoe and enjoying the heated/cooled leather seats, adaptive cruise, auto climate control, passive and active accident avoidance features AND the convenience of 4wd when the need arises. All features that are basically non existent in a short bus!

BCSnob wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
"Need" 4wd? Idk, sometimes it's needed sometimes it's a luxury, sometimes its of no use (hence most 4wd vehicles have this little lever or switch to turn it off). I could live without alot of luxuries. We all could, but if you have the means?

The best of both (if you have the means), 12-15 passenger capacity and 4x4 upfitted ($13k) putting it in the price range of a luxury SUV. Of course you don’t need the passenger capacity (like the OP); the OP may not need 4wd (like you) if they won’t be winter camping.

Or leave their house in the winter either?
Y’all are getting so far in the weeds on the van thing it ain’t even funny. Heck only one of Van Lives Matter members in this thread even owns a van (presumably, since the rest of y’all appear to be recollecting days gone by…)
I’ve run them 4x4 vans. They’re cool. And yes used them to haul a bunch of people typically. N Slope oilfield work.
Best of both worlds? Not hardly. Unless one’s propensity for a modern luxury vehicle is very low. (Again I appear to be the only one that still remembers the OP “wants” a luxury suv. But I’m young enough my CRS hasn’t really kicked in yet…)

OP did say "seat as many grandchildren as possible"...not that he NEEDED to fit all 10 kids all the time.

Also, they haven't chimed in since page 2. :)

Need vs want...but IMHO there is another way to view that...

When you need something at a spot in time...either you have it or not...no time to go to the store or readjust, etc

Personal risk management decisions

Like WDH setup...most times, it is not needed...but for that Mr Murphy moment...either you have it spot on...or not...

Grit dog wrote:
"Need" 4wd? Idk, sometimes it's needed sometimes it's a luxury, sometimes its of no use (hence most 4wd vehicles have this little lever or switch to turn it off). I could live without alot of luxuries. We all could, but if you have the means?

The best of both (if you have the means), 12-15 passenger capacity and 4x4 upfitted ($13k) putting it in the price range of a luxury SUV. Of course you don’t need the passenger capacity (like the OP); the OP may not need 4wd (like you) if they won’t be winter camping.

Geo*Boy wrote:

BCSnob wrote:
Curious, what percentage of the time do people need to use 4wd in the winter to get around on the roads?

How well would someone from WA know the winter road conditions (ability of WI Dot to plow) in WI or any where in the Great Lakes region?

I drove a 3/4 ton company van back in the 90’s, through upstate NYS winters and never had a problem.

I’ve used a lot of outhouses and wiped with leaves or my t shirt pocket before too. But I’d prefer a nice flush toilet and some Charmin.
Same difference…

BCSnob wrote:
Curious, what percentage of the time do people need to use 4wd in the winter to get around on the roads?

How well would someone from WA know the winter road conditions (ability of WI Dot to plow) in WI or any where in the Great Lakes region?

I drove a 3/4 ton company van back in the 90’s, through upstate NYS winters and never had a problem.

Even more of an odd ball if it has the F60 snowplow option

That begets a 1 ton front torsion bar setup and the rear is the same as the 1 ton dually of that year...why tongue'n cheek refer to my Suburban as a K3500

valhalla360 wrote:

bikendan wrote:
Exactly. For that reason and stricter federal fuel efficiency requirements, is why you don't see 3/4 ton SUVs.

Actually, 3/4 and heavier trucks are under different efficiency rules. That's why you won't see an MPG number on the window sticker.

But 3/4 ton SUVs were always an oddball item.

Back in the day, if you had 6 or more passengers, the choice was a van or people would load them in the back of the pickup with a cap on it (yeah, it was a different time). Back in the day, it wasn't unusual to see 60% of the trailers in a campground being pulled by a van.

Fast forward 30-50yrs and families have fewer members and a legitimate 6 passenger pickup is commonplace. The result is probably 75-90% of trailers are pulled by pickups.

It's also changed 5th wheels from being focused on older retired couples to a family RV option.