Best vehicle for towing

[007matman]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

The only thing that comes close is the 3/4 ton Suburban or Yukon XL. The peak years would be the 2000-2005 8.1 that I think are rated right around 2900 pounds of payload and 12,000 pounds of towing. They actually ride very nice as well. Gas mileage not so great. The Excursion doesn't have anywhere near to same payload, probably 1000 pounds less so it can tow or carry 8 people but not both at the same time.

Add the extra leaf to the rear of the Excursion and call it good. It'll handle it no problem.

Not to mention the fact that fuel mileage will be much better with the Diesel.

[llr]

the Nissan NV may be an option. It has the payload. the website only lists the V6 towing of 6,000lbs, it does not list the V8 which should be higher

[spock123]

Originally Posted by John319

I have a dodge ram 1500 4x4. It does a good job, but need to tow a little more when we upgrade our camper.
I need to tow at least 12,000 lbs camper. I've been researching a lot. I have a large family at full capacity, 8 people. But sometimes just 6. Been trying to find a vehicle that will tow what we need it to tow and to seat everyone. Was looking at the Ford Expeditions with the 3rd row seating, but it doesn't seem to tow more than 9,000 lbs.
I don't want to go with a 2500 or 3500 truck. I've been finding that the v-6 vehicles with Turbo boost can tow what we need.
I know I can't be the only one out there with this issue.

I welcome all input.

HELP!

Hey you can put four people in the camper. Four in the truck.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by 007matman

Add the extra leaf to the rear of the Excursion and call it good. It'll handle it no problem.

Not to mention the fact that fuel mileage will be much better with the Diesel.

Doesn't change any ratings, those 7.3 Excursions are always scabby at this point and overpriced. The 6.0s unreliable. If you are willing to make your own package with modifications and your own ratings buy a $4000 2500 suburban those years and put a nice Cummins/Allison conversion in it. Best of all worlds and still close to the price people ask for a 200,000+ mile 7.3 Excursion.

[glsimms]

Originally Posted by John319

Ford Excursion looks great! How's it on gas? Would it be any different than a 2500 pickup?

I don't think Ford makes the Excursion anymore.....

[Springerdad]

Originally Posted by glsimms

I don't think Ford makes the Excursion anymore.....

They don't.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by Dave Lyon

Get your wallet out. This should meet your needs.

Don't forget to subtract the weight of the ladder (extension ?) needed to get in and out.

[007matman]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

Doesn't change any ratings, those 7.3 Excursions are always scabby at this point and overpriced. The 6.0s unreliable. If you are willing to make your own package with modifications and your own ratings buy a $4000 2500 suburban those years and put a nice Cummins/Allison conversion in it. Best of all worlds and still close to the price people ask for a 200,000+ mile 7.3 Excursion.

I completely disagree with you... You should really do some research on what the bullet-proof process is. I think you'll find that a 6.0 can be very reliable and does have all the emissions requirements of newer model.

[IsleDog]

There are companies out there that find really good Excursion bodies and put them on new super duty frames.

https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/...and-new-259591

[rockfossilman]

Originally Posted by John319

I have a dodge ram 1500 4x4. It does a good job, but need to tow a little more when we upgrade our camper.
I need to tow at least 12,000 lbs camper. I've been researching a lot. I have a large family at full capacity, 8 people. But sometimes just 6. Been trying to find a vehicle that will tow what we need it to tow and to seat everyone. Was looking at the Ford Expeditions with the 3rd row seating, but it doesn't seem to tow more than 9,000 lbs.
I don't want to go with a 2500 or 3500 truck. I've been finding that the v-6 vehicles with Turbo boost can tow what we need.
I know I can't be the only one out there with this issue.

I welcome all input.

HELP!

We used a 2003 Expedition with a big V8 engine as a tow vehicle for the last six years. It was great for hauling eight people around but we never towed our 7,000-pound Rockwood with a full passenger load--I think it would have died on us earlier than it did. It worked well as a tow vehicle while camping east of the Mississippi, but we finally insured its demise on our trip our trip to the Southwest in September--just traded it in for a 2013 F150 with Max Tow Package. I think the eastward climb on I-80 in Colorado led to the Expedition's death

I can't imagine towing a 12,000-pound trailer with a V6 Expedition loaded with any passengers in the car. You'll have a real challenge with any steep climbs.

[bikendan]

The OP faces a big challenge finding any vehicle capable of carrying 8 people AND towing a 12000lbs trailer.
We don't even know if the 12000 number is dry weight, UVW or GVWR.

[007matman]

Originally Posted by IsleDog

There are companies out there that find really good Excursion bodies and put them on new super duty frames.

https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/...and-new-259591

There is a guy at church that has a F-450 w/ 6 doors and a long bed. It's crazy huge.

Super nice truck though.

[dbledan]

Originally Posted by llr

the Nissan NV may be an option. It has the payload. the website only lists the V6 towing of 6,000lbs, it does not list the V8 which should be higher

9400 is the max tow for the V8 with a 9900 GVWR.

[katkt]

We use to travel/ camp with 4, in a regular cab Chevy years ago. Put a topper on the PU, and removed the front window from the topper. PU had a rear sliding window that worked as a pass through. Put a cot back there for the 4th person. It had an inflatable seal between the topper and cab. I suspect somebody has improved on the design.
With a 350 crewcab long bed with a topper, you could put 2 in the back, to get to 8 bodies.
They have some pretty cool toppers now, where you remove the tailgate, and they have a nice door to get in and out of the back.
That’s gonna be a huge truck for a daily driver though. I think I’d still be thinking something disposable for the DD. A beater with simple liability would be a good idea.

[redskins2856]

Originally Posted by Dave Lyon

Get your wallet out. This should meet your needs.

Good news would be you'd be the new king of the campgrounds [emoji38]

[emoney]

I’m afraid you’ll need to get a 1 ton dually, buy a 5’er instead of a TT and move to one of the states where it’s legal for people to ride in the camper while in motion. 8 people alone limits your options without even considering towing.

[harpman0824]

SUV would be dangerous..no getting around it..you need a F250 or F350

[ronheater70]

Im guessing the OP was scared off. We have 6 kids also, plus my wife and I makes 8. Somethings just dont work the way you want it too. Someone mentioned it above, but honestly, I see you as having 3 options.

1. drive more than one vehicle
2. and older 2500 suburban, even that is "iffy"
3 get a motor home and a toad.

I had an Excursion for 2 years, no way would I hook that thing to 12K pounds with 8 people in it.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by katkt

We use to travel/ camp with 4, in a regular cab Chevy years ago. Put a topper on the PU, and removed the front window from the topper. PU had a rear sliding window that worked as a pass through. Put a cot back there for the 4th person. It had an inflatable seal between the topper and cab. I suspect somebody has improved on the design.
With a 350 crewcab long bed with a topper, you could put 2 in the back, to get to 8 bodies.

Most states now it is not legal for people...most especially kids...to ride in the back of a pickup truck.

Remember the slogan..."Click It Or Ticket"?

[katkt]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

Most states now it is not legal for people...most especially kids...to ride in the back of a pickup truck.



Remember the slogan..."Click It Or Ticket"?

If somebody was seriously thinking about a couple of passengers in the back, ......inside of a topper, not an open truck bed, .......a pair of seats/with seat belts from a junkyard bolted to the floor of the truck bed, would be as good or better, then seat belts on a couch in a motor home.........where we all know everybody in the back stays buckled up.

I still think this is the best solution, short of driving a second vehicle. Even if you drove a second vehicle, you’d still have to take both, if you went sightseeing from the campground.