Looking for tow vehicle advice

[dvtran]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

Stay away from a Dodge Ram '08 and earlier. You will be replacing rotors every 20000km. For a full size truck, they seem to have a mid size braking system. I pull my 18.5 Bayliner with an 07 Ram Hemi. It's great untill you hit the brakes. The only other truck I have towed with is a one ton super duty ford with a power stroke Diesel. What a mistake that was. Now I want a new truck.

 

[Leardriver]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

What is your budget? The Tundra is a towing beast with a great ride, and the Sequoia with the same 5.7 drive train gives you the SUV version.

 

[TRValeri]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

I went to look at the Chevy Tahoe and the Dodge Durango today. Coming from an ACura TL, they're a massive beast. While at the Dodge dealership I took a look at the Jeep Cherokee. The Jeep Cherokee is slightly smaller than the Tahoe and Durango, yet equipped with a V-8 still offers towing capacity up to 7,400 pounds. I think it can make the pull the 6,000 pounds up to 5,000 feet and should be ok on the trip down. I have a tandem axle trailer with surge brakes, so I should be able to stop ok. Any of you have experience or an opinion about the new Jeep Cherokee?

 

[bgc]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

I would steer clear of the Chrysler/Dodge products. The Tundra,King Ranch, and Tahoe IMO.

FWIW I went from a Lexus 430 UL to a F350 Lariat Crew Dually....... The ride is the worst thing I have been in since my 1984 Chevette. The stereo is appalling. It breaks down on a regular basis (just like my S500 did, another POS). The only redeeming quality of this POS is it will get the boat out of a slimy, wet, crowded ramp every time (when its running).....

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

remember, all vehicles are man-made. that means they will all fail at one point or another. I dont like any of the offerings from any of the companies. however its the OP's money. since he seams partial to the Dodge/Jeep products, thats fine. while I can not attest to the latest generation of Durangos or Jeeps I have owned a gen 1 durango - driven it every day like I stole it - put 193K miles on it before I sold it. was a great vehicle that should have died a long time ago. Currently driving a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500 Turbo Diesel with 245K miles on it. it will last another 200k without a problem.

the key to long life and issue free vehicles is maintenance - maintenance - maintenance

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

I would steer clear of the Chrysler/Dodge products.

Why? - their trucks and SUVs are some of the best vehicles on the market right now. You have some particular problems with Dodges stuff?

 

[bgc]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

http://autos.jdpower.com/ratings/dependability.htm?study=909201235&catStudy=909201236

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

http://autos.jdpower.com/ratings/dependability.htm?study=909201235&catStudy=909201236

LOL - JD Powers ,even funnier is their boat ratings. So I'm guessing you don't actually own or drive a dodge or jeep?

 

[lncoop]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

I'm not trying to push you into an Expedition (well, maybe a little), but you should at least consider one. Unless you're one of those people that has to buy a brand spankin' new vehicle they really are a good value, and one would definitely meet your towing needs. I picked up a one owner Eddie Bauer 4x4 with fifty thousand miles for $14.5k. Leather, rear entertainment, heated and cooled memory seats, adjustable pedals, power fold third row, nice ride, everything one would expect in a top of the line SUV, but for considerably less than one would expect to pay. They're not perfect, but I'd encourage you to at least drive one that's a year or two old.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

I personally would go with a good top end half ton in crew cab configuration either by Ford or Chevy. Have had too many issues with Chrysler products personally. Another option is for both of you to keep what you currently drive and just buy a good used half ton just to tow the boat.

 

[jkust]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

I picked up a one owner Eddie Bauer 4x4 with fifty thousand miles for $14.5k. .

That sounds like a good deal. What year is yours? I'm way more fru fru so I'd like the Navigator over the Expy but the Escalade over the Navigator. As for Chrysler products they do seem to have had a long standing black eye especially where mileage is concerned. I'm at a loss how the new Durango with a car body can have such a high tow rating. Sure the engine allow for it but even certain equivalent body on frame suv's with 400hp and 400tq only tow 6500lbs.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

I'm at a loss how the new Durango with a car body can have such a high tow rating. Sure the engine allow for it but even certain equivalent body on frame suv's with 400hp and 400tq only tow 6500lbs.

Because the unibody is built on some pretty hefty integrated frame rails

 

[Shark_bait99]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

I was pullin my 5k lb boat with the wife's x5 and she had plenty of power (4.4l v8). that's not the issue. The tiny turning radius made maneuvering my 25ft cuddy simple too. But... She just did not like pulling that kind of weight. Vehicles not built on a 1/2 ton truck chassis will put too much pressure on the frame IMO.

I basically stole an 04 ram, just for pulling the boat instead of replacing the x5 or my car. The power increase is minimal with the 5.7 hemi magnum with a kn intake, maneuvering is a bi***, but it does not seem to strain the vehicles as much.

Pick something based on a 1/2 ton truck frame. I think smaller trucks like old durangos, Dakotas, or SUVs will have the same problem I had with the x5. A boat that big needs a 1/2 ton frame.

Now yukons, escalades and the like are based on a 1/2 ton truck chassis, so can handle the weight, but you have to be careful with the gross weight. The extra weight of the enclosed bed and extra seating is going to reduce your payload. Add tongue weight any you can easily exceed the gvwr with a full load of people and gear. My ram is cutting it close with 6 people and some gear in the bed, but can do it. Not sure you would get away with it with the esco or navigator.

My suggestion would be to take your time and get a good deal on an older 1/2 ton truck

 

[hidef]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

The Durango/Cherokee are both good vehicles they share the same platform and are built on the same line and will easily haul your boat. So won't a Denali/Escalade/Tahoe any of those with the 5.3 liter or the bigger 6 liter will pull like a mother. As for the pickup trucks any of the 1/2 tons will do the job and if you option them up they can be pretty fancy inside. I am not brand loyal to anyone manufacture because truth be told when it comes to new vehicles there really are no bad ones. The quality has improved among all the manufactures. Buy the vehicle you like because at the end of the day you are going to be the one behind the wheel driving it.

 

[Struc]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

I towed my 20' Sea Ray Bowrider with my 01 Durango SLT+ w/4.7l engine and towing package, and it was an easy tow. Granted, it's not a 6000# boat, but probably near 4000# with trailer and loaded. If you get a Durango with the bigger engine and towing package, I think you'll be fine.

Coming back from vacation, my Durango was totaled by a deer, so I'm looking at others now. I started looking into other vehicles, and kept going to back to the Durango. Price, towing capacity, reliability (owned my 01 since new), and comfort are all reasons for my decision to go back to another Durango.

Mine was on pretty much only towing duty, and as my kids got their licenses, they would drive it until they got their own vehicle. This new one I buy will be on the same limited use duty, which is why price is a major factor in my decision too. I'm finding good condition 1st generation 2001-2003 Durango's in the $4k-$6k range, 2nd gen 2004-06 in the $6k-$10k range. All I've looked at are in the 100k-125k miles range.

Craigslist and Ebay are your friend.

Or, of course, there is always the brand new Durango Citadel's if you've got money to throw at it.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

That sounds like a good deal. What year is yours? I'm way more fru fru so I'd like the Navigator over the Expy but the Escalade over the Navigator. As for Chrysler products they do seem to have had a long standing black eye especially where mileage is concerned. I'm at a loss how the new Durango with a car body can have such a high tow rating. Sure the engine allow for it but even certain equivalent body on frame suv's with 400hp and 400tq only tow 6500lbs.

05. It's been a good truck. It's only got 85k on the clock but I'm getting ready to go ahead and do the plugs in hopes of avoiding the dreaded break off. Other than that the only thing I've had to do is replace the throttle body. Apparently that's the other issue endemic to that vintage Expy. Since I started driving in 1987 this is the first vehicle I've ever had without an open bed. I was apprehensive at first, but so far knock on wood it hasn't been an issue. We all really like it, and it sure is nice being able to tote more peeps while towing the boat. And, it's pretty fru fru, at least to me. I had to throw in some Husky liners to truck it up a little.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

I'd advocate for a Yukon Denali, luxuary, great towing platform + the 6.2L engine which will make towing much easier then the 5.3L. They are in plenty and used can be had with low miles for a good price. Gas mileage is low (12ish?) due to the big V8 and AWD

My experience with the Tahoe is it is a great truck, only issue we ever had was with the 4x4 push button. Expedition/ Navigator is good but the 5.4L sparkplug issue is still unresolved.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

Expedition/ Navigator is good but the 5.4L sparkplug issue is still unresolved.

Are you sure about that? Pretty confident they resolved it a couple years ago.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

Are you sure about that? Pretty confident they resolved it a couple years ago.

I thought they resolved it a year or so after it started happening? I had a 2002 F150 that had the plug "issue" - basically the issue was that the factory had used plugs that were not fully threaded and some of the plugs were ripping the threads out of the aluminum heads and blowing out of the block. The fix was to install plugs that were fully threaded.

Mine had 150K or so when I got rid of it with no issues. The 2 valve 5.4L was underpowered but reliable.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Looking for tow vehicle advice

I thought they resolved it a year or so after it started happening? I had a 2002 F150 that had the plug "issue" - basically the issue was that the factory had used plugs that were not fully threaded and some of the plugs were ripping the threads out of the aluminum heads and blowing out of the block. The fix was to install plugs that were fully threaded.

Mine had 150K or so when I got rid of it with no issues. The 2 valve 5.4L was underpowered but reliable.

The plug issue that's endemic to the 05-06 models (maybe a couple more years, but don't think so) is the plugs breaking off in the block when you try to change them. They're supposed to be 100k mile plugs, but consensus is one shouldn't wait that long for that reason. I'm pretty sure they did resolve that issue as well though.