We are thinking of getting a SUV... On the short list, we have a Ford Explorer and a Chevy Envoy... Hubby likes one, I like the other. Right now, we have a pup and it weighs 3500lbs, but in the future (a couple years probably) we thought we may upgrade to a TT and want to be "thinking ahead" for towing it.
Could you give me your thoughts? What do you drive? Do you like it and why?
As a side note...we REALLY don't want to go V8 or diesel for the obvious reasons. My van gets about 21mpg HWY right now and although that's not good, we are content with it. However, getting 8-11 is out of the question!
Thanks for your help!
** I posted this on the TT site as well in the hopes of getting more traffic about the topic, please remove if necessary.
If I were thinking as you are, I would have to look at the towing capacity of each vehicle and make my decision from there. If I were simply looking at a new SUV that would tow a pup, then I would choose the Explorer. Not that the envoy isn't a good vehicle, it is because I've had bad experiences with GM products.
If you plan on towing a tt then plan on a V8.
Life is not a problem to be solved, it is an adventure to be lived.
planter8 wrote: pretty much any sizable TT will not be able to be towed by either. Maybe a larger SUV such as an Expedition? (with the V8)
An Explorer with a V8 engine can tow 7,300 lbs. That is a decent sized trailer to me!
Most any midsized SUV will tow a popup just fine, there is no wind resistance to slow you down.
Many people here also tow full sized travel trailers with Trailblazers, Explorers, Xterras, etc. Some only have V6 engines.
Its all what you are comfortable with. You won't win any land speed races towing a full size trailer with a mid size SUV, but you will win the race of the least money spent at the gas pump, which I believe is the more important race today.
Trail Blazer is rated for around 6,000 lb. maximum and Explorer rated for around 7,000. Both would require specific configuration and equipment to achieve these ratings. just make sure what you get is well within the capabilities of any vehicle you decide on since you're buying a TV for a trailer you don't yet have. Consider ONLY the GVWR of the future trailer unless you plan on towing it around empty. kind of risky business in lots of cases.
I can't speak from experience regarding an Explorer towing a TT, but our Explorer is a perfect fit for our towing situation. We've got the V6 and use a Weight Distribution Hitch, and it pulls nicely. Depending on terrain, we average about 13 MPG while towing (empty holding tanks) our Niagara, and get about 18 MPG while not towing (freeway/city mix of commuting). Based on how my rig "feels" while towing, I wouldn't be comfortable towing anything considerably larger without a V8. In other words, if it were ME upgrading to a TT, I'd be upgrading my TV too. A hybrid or Ultra Lite maybe, but not up towards the 7300lbs Explorer max.
What we DO like about our Exporer: It's big enough for our family (me, wife, 2 kids ages 4 & 3) and our stuff during camping outings whether it be weekends or week long trips. Like I said, it pulls nicely and feels planted to the road with our setup.
2007 Fleetwood Niagara
2005 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD
Reese WDH | Sway | Brake Controller
ltlbear01 wrote: As a side note...we REALLY don't want to go V8 or diesel for the obvious reasons. My van gets about 21mpg HWY right now and although that's not good, we are content with it. However, getting 8-11 is out of the question!
For what it is worth, my 3/4 ton Chevy Duramax is getting just about the same mileage as your van. Towing, any gas engine you get will not get as good fuel mileage as what my Duramax does.
Just throwing my $0.02 in.
Straight Board -
2008 Chevy 4X4 Z71 Crew Cab K2500HD LTZ Duramax/Allison
2005 Jayco JayFlight 31BHDS
2007 Kawasaki BF 650 4X4i Camo (mine)
2007 Polaris X2 500 EFI Deluxe (hers)
The mountains of Wyoming as my backyard.
Powder River, Let 'er buck!
I'm with you crashpilot. I get about 23 mpg on the highway with my Cummins. When I had my TT I would still get about 14-15 towing unless there were a lot of steep grades.
It doesn't really matter what weight the vehicle is rated to tow, when your pulling a TT the frontal area of the trailer above your vehicle really compounds the energy required to pull it.
One downside to the Explorer is that you will not be able to rent a trailer from U-Haul if you intend to tow it with the explorer.
From the U-Haul website:
Ford Explorer owners: U-Haul has chosen not to rent behind this tow vehicle based on our history of excessive costs in defending lawsuits involving Ford Explorer towing combinations. This policy is not related to safety issues.
If you will never rent a trailer from U-Haul then this will not matter.
Wayne in San Jose
TV1:2002 Chevy 1500HD 4wd Crew Cab,Valley Odyssey brake ctlr,McKesh mirrors
TV2:2008 GMC 2500HD long bed 4wd Crew Cab,GMC brake ctlr,GMC mirrors
TT:Trailmanor 2720
Honda 2000
Yamaha WR250R,Polaris Sportsman 700 X2,Polaris Scrambler 500
Just a thought. but first ----
I'm am also thinking a few years down the line I will want to go bigger and better. DH has the Lexus that is fantastic on gas mileage but very low tow capacity. We are not ready to buy a new vehicle at this time so we have the small pop-up. ANYWAY...
Instead of a bigger gas guzzler today (that you have to buy gas for all year)for a toy you won't have for a couple years, why not lease?
2 years from now you will have a better idea of what's right for you.
Personnally, I don't like leasing. Sometimes, though, it a better choice.
M
“Life is uncharted territory. It reveals its story one moment at a time.”
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