Would you rather have a truck or an SUV as a tow vehicle?

HiTempguy wrote: ...a lot of people on here sound like they typically tow miatas and mgb's on super light trailers.

Which also happens to be the expressed intent of the OP...The one-size-fits-all (XL) recommendations for a truck that can tow 9k lb even though it would be used the vast majority of the time completely unladen, in addition to a 2k lb trailer that can carry another 5k, seems like it might be a wee-bit of overkill to me. Specifically if he were to ultimately end up occasionally putting nothing more than a 1.5k lb (or even 2k lb) car on it. But that's just my opinion based on what little information I know of the OP's individual specific situation.

Having towed with "not enough" and "just barely enough" truck more times than I can count..

"More than enough" is the best way to tow.

There's a lot to be said for having enough capacity and power on tap to get you out of trouble.

The truck I have now handles anything I need. Case in point, I hauled a borrowed enclosed trailer yesterday that was "fine"

Right, "fine" meant a dead short in the trailer charge circuit and barely working, intermittant brakes.

My big, long truck had enough brake to handle that thing, fully loaded with no brakes.

A smaller truck would have been a white-knuckle event.

Shawn

mad_machine wrote: depends on where you tow. Not all of us tow into gravel pits

It was the gravel driveway of the owner of the trailer I was borrowing.

I hasten to point out that there was no car on the trailer yet.

codrus wrote: A) 2500 Suburban not available with a diesel if you want a vehicle less than 20 years old.

That isn't true. I know because I own one. I believe you could buy a 2500 with the TD until 1999.

Trans_Maro wrote: Having towed with "not enough" and "just barely enough" truck more times than I can count.. "More than enough" is the best way to tow. There's a lot to be said for having enough capacity and power on tap to get you out of trouble. The truck I have now handles anything I need. Case in point, I hauled a borrowed enclosed trailer yesterday that was "fine" Right, "fine" meant a dead short in the trailer charge circuit and barely working, intermittant brakes. My big, long truck had enough brake to handle that thing, fully loaded with no brakes. A smaller truck would have been a white-knuckle event. Shawn

That's kind of my idea as well. Just because a Miata is all I would be towing soon, doesn't mean that might change in the future. Plus even to my own chagrin, the full-size trucks are just more comfortable and nicer to ride in then more "mid-sized" stuff.

Swank Force One wrote: Swmbo votes suv and I agree.

I worked out a great deal on 7.3 powerstroke 4 door F-250 and SWMBO wiped out the deal in one sentence: "but its not cool like a SUV" I told her that she just cost me $18k. Yes, we got the SUV.

z31maniac wrote:

e_pie wrote: Diesel 4X4 Ford van.

I love GRM. "I'm not interested in Vans" "Hey, you should buy a van!"

I generally hate vans too, but the 4x4 diesel econolines are neat.

For me, the answer was Chevy 2500HD Duramax Crew Cab with LT trim. Nice inside like a 'burban, fold down rear seats for cargo/pets, big box for engines and fifth wheels... or a nice cover/cap. Power in the back so the kids can run a PS3 when they come along. Pulls with enough poise to set the cruise and cabin temp at 68 respectively, satellite radio for tunes that never go out of range and forget about the trailer until you need fuel (which will be further than everyone you caravan with who bought a gas truck).

They might come for my guns... but they will have to pry my truck out from under my cold dead ass :)

Knurled wrote:

mad_machine wrote: depends on where you tow. Not all of us tow into gravel pits

It was the gravel driveway of the owner of the trailer I was borrowing. I hasten to point out that there was no car on the trailer yet.

I pull my trailer out of my gravel drive, or even wet grass, with my 1wd truck (open diff) and I've never spun a wheel. Loaded, unloaded.... I even had Dad's tractor on his trailer (~ 7500lbs) and never spun a wheel. I think you're doing it wrong or you need to learn how to operate the throttle a little easier.

HiTempguy wrote: Finding a trailer that weighs under 2000lbs is difficult (unless you go single axle), and I'd say the average persons car (race car or otherwise) NOT including spares is close to 3000lbs. Add 400lbs worth of human flesh, SPARE PARTS/TIRES (another couple hundred pounds easy) and if you are in to the whole "towing legally/within the towing capacity of the vehicle" you've basically gone over it/hit the max.

I've had a 700lb aluminum twin axle trailer that has a 3000lb capacity for over 10 years now. Those who were at the '02-'04 Challenge saw it. Sadly, it's no longer made, since the guy making them didn't charge enough for them (IMHO- I would have paid up to $1000 more for what I got).

With that, I do ONLY tow my Alfas, which are up to 2400lb. I've towed my Miata once, but it's the same thing. So all I need is 3500lb pulling capability. I'm never planning on getting a heavy car. So I'm not going to buy for that. If that happens, I know plenty of people who can help. Much like I try to help people who need a small trailer.

Note- the tow limits are defined by a hill in Nevada, on a hot day, and how well a vehicle cools. So even if you are at the rated limit, if it's flat, I doubt it will be a problem. Heck, our Edge has better brakes, 70hp more, more durable trans, yet's capcity is 2000lb less than the Rangers we used prior. It's fine.

It IS all about how you use it. If I were towing all the time, every weekend for decent distances, a diesel truck would probably be a good idea. But the days of towing to Florida once a year passed 6 years ago. So the idea of using a DD that got decent mileage and was a whole lot nicer to live with than a pick up lead the battle.

Our solution isn't the best solution. But it is the best current compomise for US.

z31maniac wrote: That's kind of my idea as well. Just because a Miata is all I would be towing soon, doesn't mean that might change in the future. Plus even to my own chagrin, the full-size trucks are just more comfortable and nicer to ride in then more "mid-sized" stuff.

I have yet to find that magical truck that rides anywhere near modern CUV's that can tow. Nor can it match the fuel economy when not towing. (nor can it fit in my garage, or stand in as my wife's DD)

But everyones needs are different. One needs to make their own weighting matrix to decide what will work.

alfadriver wrote: Our solution isn't the best solution. But it is the best current compomise for US.

Bingo. Everyone has to make that determination for themselves. The wife and I enjoy driving our 2wd CC. It just happens to tow well as a bonus. My trailer is ~1800lbs and most cars I've hauled have been in the 2k-3k range and it handles them easily, even without trailer brakes hooked up (that is changing this year). BUT... that may not work for others.

As I mentioned earlier, if Ford really succeeds in 26mpg in the next gen F150, that could very well be the answer.

My Mustang GT avg'd 16 on a tank, and never got above 22-23 on the highway even at 65.

Bobzilla wrote:

alfadriver wrote: Our solution isn't the best solution. But it is the best current compomise for US.

Bingo. Everyone has to make that determination for themselves. .

I'm well aware of this gents, but it helps to get an outside perspective.

whenry wrote: "but its not cool like a SUV"

"There is nothing 'cool' about an SUV" would have been my response. Not unless she really likes the idea of looking like a soccer mom...

Ian F wrote:

whenry wrote: "but its not cool like a SUV"

"There is nothing 'cool' about an SUV" would have been my response. Not unless she really likes the idea of looking like a soccer mom...

Yes, because pick-up make you so much cooler. Choose your favorite stereotype below:

etc...

Let's not involve looks into a serious discussion.

alfadriver wrote: I have yet to find that magical truck that rides anywhere near modern CUV's that can tow.

Take any Chevy HD, add Bilsteins ($270 for 4), when the factory tires go bad put Pirelli Scorpions on it and leave 250lbs in the bed to keep the rear from getting "hoppy". Like magic... it rides as well as any Escalade or Expedition I've been in.

It works on Ford trucks too except the front end of those things always feels like a bucket of loose pipes connected indirectly to the steering with socket swivels no matter what you do to them.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

alfadriver wrote: I have yet to find that magical truck that rides anywhere near modern CUV's that can tow.

Take any Chevy HD, add Bilsteins ($270 for 4), when the factory tires go bad put Pirelli Scorpions on it and leave 250lbs in the bed to keep the rear from getting "hoppy". Like magic... it rides as well as any Escalade or Expedition I've been in. It works on Ford trucks too except the front end of those things always feels like a bucket of loose pipes connected indirectly to the steering with socket swivels no matter what you do to them.

And I'm pretty sure that my Edge will continue to have a better ride than that. And take less space. And my wife will enjoy driving it to work more.

It certainly drives and rides light years better than and Expedition. Having spent a week working with both on a trip 7 years ago... I would never willingly choose an Expedition. Or an Excursion, or a previous Explorer.

I hate trucks. I've driven on since I first got my license at 14, and would still avoid one if I can.

Ian F wrote:

whenry wrote: "but its not cool like a SUV"

"There is nothing 'cool' about an SUV" would have been my response. Not unless she really likes the idea of looking like a soccer mom...

+1 gajillion, this statement would only have made sense before the invention of the Ford Explorer.

Also, +1 for not getting the smallest vehicle that can theoretically handle the trailer/car combo you're looking at. Most vehicles towing at or beyond capacity seem ok on a flat, straight stretch of interstate with no crosswind, but add some hills, some urban stop-and-go, some nasty crosswinds, and the difference between towing with a vehicle that is "good enough" vs. more than enough is pretty apparent. I have towed with a number of vehicles, and I have never found anything smaller than a full-size truck or full-size truck-based SUV that I was comfortable towing a race car with. The safety margin is worth a few MPG's or a couple grand on craigslist.

As for the OP's question. If you are going REALLY HEAVY you have to go pick-up, probably DRW. BUT, it sounds like any Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon/1500/2500/3500 will fit the bill for what you're talking about.

The choice boils down to this: do you value the ability to carry 8 passengers (vs. 5) more highly than the ability to carry big, bulky, or messy items in the back?

If the answer is "yes" then get an SUV, if the answer is "no" then go for a truck. Neither is inherently better than the other.

Go 2wd GM and it's a better ride AND drive (they actually control body roll). I actually enjoyed it through the mountains out west.

But... I love trucks. I've been around them all my life and I'm lost when I don't have one. Never had (nor wanted) a 4wd, so that probably skews my feelings a little.

I'm actually pretty impressed with the ride of my 2010 Dodge 2500. I have airbags in the back for when it's loaded up so it's got the spring rate it needs when it needs it. Great cross-country vehicle, especially with a load. Surprisingly quiet, too, much more refined than my father-in-law's 2006.

I figured out a while back that it's spent something like 80% of its life with a load, usually a two-car trailer. I've never wished it was an SUV, as I don't like throwing used tires, engine hoists, a half-dozen jerry cans, busted up axles with leaky CV joints or construction debris inside a vehicle - that's a survey of the last few weeks.

I used to tow with my wife's Grand Cherokee, equipped with all the towing options. Worked fine for an open trailer with a light car like my Locost or a Miata. Then I got a truck, and the Jeep is now used as the manufacturer intended, for driving to work

z31maniac wrote: No vans, as this would end up being my DD and I dislike vans.

not picking on you, but why the van dislike?

fanfoy wrote: Let's not involve looks into a serious discussion.

If the OP was only concerned about utility and not looks, then he'd consider a van. Personally, having experienced all of the options in the past, my next "truck" will be another van. A van will best suite my needs. I will gladly pay some other poor SOB to wrench on it. Other than my TDI and oil changes, I'm done with wrenching on the daily drivers anyway so how hard it is to work on is irrelevant...

I have been doing some serious looks into vans. I am amazed at how much cheaper they are than equivilant Trucks and SUVs.. for a vehicle with more interior space and just the same ability to haul stuff.

I would rock this van: