Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

[alexr254]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

i tow a 1987 Imperial 260 Family Cruiser with a 1999 Land Rover Discovery.

Although this car is not really made for large towing, i have absolutely no issues.

here is a pic

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

We tow with a 2008 Nissan Xterra Off Road

I have been a passenger in an Xterra towing (19' Starcraft I/O) and those things are BEASTS! It seemed to have way more power than even my V8 Jeep GC.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

I tow 6,000 lbs with my 2008 GMC Envoy Denali.....has the 5.3L....and is 4 wheel drive. Tows great and the mileage is decent for a daily driver with a V8. Don't overlook a used Envoy with the V8, or even a newer Acadia. I picked mine up with 40,000 miles for less than 22k this year.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

This! Ohh wait, you said good fuel milage, V-10 never mind!

 

[cater]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

Towing the boat's and 32' fifth-wheel with the Tundra, I'll never go back to the Big 3.

 

[jkust]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

I tow 6,000 lbs with my 2008 GMC Envoy Denali.....has the 5.3L....and is 4 wheel drive. Tows great and the mileage is decent for a daily driver with a V8. Don't overlook a used Envoy with the V8, or even a newer Acadia. I picked mine up with 40,000 miles for less than 22k this year.

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I tow with the Buick Rainier version of the Denali with the 5.3 and I agree 100% except that the Acadia isn't near the tow vehicle as the Envoy. The acadia is a car and the Envoy is a truck. I drove a brand new 2011 2wd Acadia for two weeks and the highway mileage was worse than my 5.3 liter v8 with fulltime AWD unless I kept it right at 60mph which isn't practical. I had thought about maybe moving into an Acadia when I retire the minivan but the mileage was as bad as an Escalade negating any mileage benefit and hence any benefit of driving a crossover.. I have now had a 2011 Buick LaCrosse (a 4 door car) for 6 weeks with the same 3.6 liter that the Acadia has and get low 20's all highway. Even with the much lighter Lacrosse the mileage to me is still unacceptable for a daily driver in 2011. My point is that although the Acadia can technically tow up to 5200lbs, the Envoy, Rainier could tow circles around it and for thousands less. Envoy Denali, Buick Rainier, Chevy Trailblazer (2007 and newer) are the best v8 bang for the buck.

 

[1980Coronado]

I tow with the Buick Rainier version of the Denali with the 5.3 and I agree 100% except that the Acadia isn't near the tow vehicle as the Envoy. The acadia is a car and the Envoy is a truck. I drove a brand new 2011 2wd Acadia for two weeks and the highway mileage was worse than my 5.3 liter v8 with fulltime AWD unless I kept it right at 60mph which isn't practical. I had thought about maybe moving into an Acadia when I retire the minivan but the mileage was as bad as an Escalade negating any mileage benefit and hence any benefit of driving a crossover.. I have now had a 2011 Buick LaCrosse (a 4 door car) for 6 weeks with the same 3.6 liter that the Acadia has and get low 20's all highway. Even with the much lighter Lacrosse the mileage to me is still unacceptable for a daily driver in 2011. My point is that although the Acadia can technically tow up to 5200lbs, the Envoy, Rainier could tow circles around it and for thousands less. Envoy Denali, Buick Rainier, Chevy Trailblazer (2007 and newer) are the best v8 bang for the buck.

I agree......the Envoy is on a truck platform and is a more suitable tow vehicle for the heavy stuff. I also like the fact it's not auto AWD....you can select between Auto, 2 wheel, 4 hi and 4 low.

I towed my boat with an Acadia and it did just fine for the 50 mile trip....I was of course over capacity for that vehicle....having a tandem trailer helps. The original post said he was towing 4,500 so that's the only reason I mentioned the Acadia. It would handle that just fine IMO. I used a 2wd model, might be an issue on steep ramps.

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[Leardriver]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

Any truck will tow a light load like you have described.

The problem with questions like this is that it inspires responses based on emotion and brand loyalty rather than fact and research. I've driven all of the brands mentioned, and the Tundra is so far superior that it needs its own category. But, buy whatever you can find for the best deal.

 

[Jerryh3]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

I have a 2010 Tundra and it tows my boat just fine.

 

[whitecrystal1]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

Any truck will tow a light load like you have described.

The problem with questions like this is that it inspires responses based on emotion and brand loyalty rather than fact and research. I've driven all of the brands mentioned, and the Tundra is so far superior that it needs its own category. But, buy whatever you can find for the best deal.

Funniest thing I've heard all day HAHA!!

 

[1980Coronado]

Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

You people do realize not everybody wants to drive a pickup truck right? I mean you need a crew cab if you plan on traveling with more than two adults. My 15 year old basketball player aint gonna fit in an ext. Cab with me or my wife in the front. She's 6-2 and I'm 6-3....my son is 6-4 and still growing.....then you need a cover for your gear in the back.....unless you like wet clothes when traveling.....Not everyone that tows needs the vehicle to tow every weekend. Some of us actually need to put a family and luggage in there too!

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[master bowman]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

I drive a 2003 supercrew F150 with 5.4L. It is running about 265 hp. Interstate i get about 17 mpg and 14 in town. this is a completely stock vehicle. I love the crew cab, i go camping alot and this truck pulls my boat like a dream. Granted it is only a 14 foot aluminum fishing boat, i have had this truck hooked up to big flatbed trailers for pulling building construction materials. If you are looking at doing long pulls, definitely look at a diesel. I am a die hard ford guy. If you can find a 2003 or older f250 with the 7.3 diesel is your best bet. they get great gas mileage upto 22 highway and will pull anything. but for what you are doing, supercrew gets her done easily. I have a friend that has a lincoln mark lt and pulls 26 foot bumper pull camper and has no issues. i am kinda biased on vehicles, but ford is a good choice.

 

[whitecrystal1]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

You people do realize not everybody wants to drive a pickup truck right? I mean you need a crew cab if you plan on traveling with more than two adults. My 15 year old basketball player aint gonna fit in an ext. Cab with me or my wife in the front. She's 6-2 and I'm 6-3....my son is 6-4 and still growing.....then you need a cover for your gear in the back.....unless you like wet clothes when traveling.....Not everyone that tows needs the vehicle to tow every weekend. Some of us actually need to put a family and luggage in there too!

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Maybe you don't want a truck, maybe the OP doesn't either but if you read his post maybe you'll see that he clearly is asking for opinions on the best truck for towing. AND even states that his is thinking about a quad cab 4x4 at that....

I know this will likely start a long discussion. Time has come to replace the current vehicle. Sold current one to my daughter. I would like to hear about forum user experience with Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Tundra, F150, Silverado any others. I am pulling 2500-3000 pound boat, 4500 pound trailer. Won't be buying new. Likely a quad cab and 4X4. Please share your experiences both good and bad. I don't want to make a mistake and will likely own this until retirement. I don't want any more vehicle than I need and I definitely want the most frugal mileage I can get.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Wade

 

[1980Coronado]

Maybe you don't want a truck, maybe the OP doesn't either but if you read his post maybe you'll see that he clearly is asking for opinions on the best truck for towing. AND even states that his is thinking about a quad cab 4x4 at that....

I did read the post....was simply pointing out that he doesn't need a pickup to tow 4500 lbs and that a better mileage and much lower cost vehicle might be better. However, if ya need a pickup because of your line of work, that's different. IMO pickup trucks cost way too much even 3 years old to warrant purchasing one to tow 4500 lbs.....unless you need a pickup for work, I'd never buy one as a daily driver. If I need a pickup I can rent one.

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[642mx]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

Funniest thing I've heard all day HAHA!!

Guess you never owned or driven one, huh?

 

[1980Coronado]

Guess you never owned or driven one, huh?

Have owned....My BIL works a the GM truck plant....can get one at his discount....still don't want to spend that much on a Truck.....also married the farmers daughter.......plenty of pickups to choose from if I need. I just never need. If I had a 10,000 lb boat, I'd rent a truck to pull it the two times a year I need it. They cost too much to justify owning.

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[master bowman]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

I did read the post....was simply pointing out that he doesn't need a pickup to tow 4500 lbs and that a better mileage and much lower cost vehicle might be better. However, if ya need a pickup because of your line of work, that's different. IMO pickup trucks cost way too much even 3 years old to warrant purchasing one to tow 4500 lbs.....unless you need a pickup for work, I'd never buy one as a daily driver. If I need a pickup I can rent one.

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Most SUV's that have the tow packages are based off a truck frame(heavier duty for towing/off road capabilities), have same gearing(again for towing), and similar engine options(again to suit the needs of driver). I had an 03 ford explorer witht he 4L and it didnt get any better fuel mileage than my F150 with the 5.4 v8.

I think to say that an suv would be any better for fuel mileage, especially when towing, depends heavily on what you are towing. if someone has an suv that gets 25 mpg highway, and is not designed to tow, will get worse fuel mileage than a truck / suv that is. SUV and truck prices are relevant to what options it has. To buy a suv with similar towing capacaties as a truck will probably cost a similar amount. You can get a truck with fewer options that will be just as enjoyable to drive and still tow.

For the application, what it is going to come down to, is a few simple questions for the driver. What is your use, what fits the driver, and what the driver likes. When choosing the vehicle you like do a little research in an area where you wont get opinions. Look for facts. Maybe spending a little more to attain the proper vehicle could save money in the long run because you wont be pushing a smaller engined, lighter suspensioned vehicle so much.

I hope this is helpful

 

[whitecrystal1]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

Guess you never owned or driven one, huh?

Not a Tundra, but I have owned 3 Toyota's in my time and my opinion is that they aren't any better or worse than anything else I've owned. Personally, I prefer to buy and drive an American vehiclue, parts are cheaper and I can work on them

 

[642mx]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

Not a Tundra, but I have owned 3 Toyota's in my time and my opinion is that they aren't any better or worse than anything else I've owned. Personally, I prefer to buy and drive an American vehiclue, parts are cheaper and I can work on them

Then you really shouldn't laugh at the other iboater who said the Tundra is in a class of it own. Drive one and see, its has more North American content than your GM (Tundra 80%, Silverado 61%), plus they are all built here in Texas. And the costs of parts is a moot point, I've had 2 Tundra's... never bought anything other than normal maintenance items for both. Maybe you should take one for a spin next time you need a truck?...

 

[PeteyDaMan]

Re: Best tow vehicle - Opinions and recommendations please

Love my 99 RAM 1500, it's never let me down. 120K miles, starts every time, runs strong and tows like a beast.
I have always owned american vehicles with and lean more towards dodge vehicles.
My wife bought an 07 Honda CRV (not a tow vehicle, I know) after reading all the reviews and how strong it hold it's value, etc.
I have never liked the ride nor build quality of that vehicle. Lots of road noise, uncomfortable, parts are super expensive.
I'll always buy american vehicles