Tow with an SUV?

[jgroff]

I Pulled a roo 233s with my 2007 chrysler aspen( 5.7 hemi). pulled great! the roo is heavier then your mini lite. if I were looking for an SUV to pull a trailer with it would be one with a full frame under it. very few have that anymore. how many will go in the vehicle? if it is just 2 I would get a short box reg cab pickup.

[davel1971]

a short bed reg cab truck would be a HORRIBLE tow vehicle. Being so light and short you would be jerked all over the road

[RKR]

I don't know why you wouldn't be able to tow with an SUV. Shop around and make sure the tow ratings are good and you're within your limits.
Personally I would use a full size with a V8. From there look at the options for the vehicle like a tow package and such. Maybe add a heavy duty oil and trans cooler to take care of the drive train and make sure you don't have P rated tires.
I'm pretty adamant about making sure I have the right tools for the job, even if it's a bit of overkill. Better safe than sorry. You never know where that camping adventure might take you.
One year we were pulling the grade on the backside of Cloudcroft NM and saw several light duty vehicles and one HD vehicle pulled off to the side with their hoods up overheated. All pulling campers. That type of engine / tranny damage can get expensive real quick. Not to mention possibly ruining a camping trip.


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[davel1971]

Originally Posted by Murphybed

I am unable to overcome maneuvering it, parking it, and generally dealing with it.
Wondering if an SUV would be capable of towing as my husband has to do all the driving now.

this statement right here tells me there is no good solution for your problem. If you are that uncomfortable driving a truck at all, towing is not for you. Sounds like you would be way to nervous to be able to do so safely.

[cbconway]

Originally Posted by davel1971

this statement right here tells me there is no good solution for your problem. If you are that uncomfortable driving a truck at all, towing is not for your. Sounds like you would be way to nervous to be able to do so safely.

X2 !!!

[Terier]

Originally Posted by Murphybed

I don't have a certain suv in mind, it is that I can't drive the the truck.
I am unable to overcome maneuvering it, parking it, and generally dealing with it.
Wondering if an SUV would be capable of towing as my husband has to do all the driving now.

Since I only had a Rav4 when I brought my TT I used to borrow my sister's Yukon for towing. I was more comfortable towing with it than driving it while camping. When first I brought my truck I had some adjusting to do for sure. The trucks mirrors helped especially after upgrading to tow mirrors. What helped the most was having a rear camera installed as well going slowly when parking or backing up.

[falcnjet]

Hey experts,
I'm looking at a trailer with a 740 lb dry hitch weight, but my tow vehicle has a max 720 lb tongue weight. The salesman says that this is no problem because of the weight distribution hitch that I'll be using.
May I have your input on this so that I can make an intelligent decision? All other weights are within limits.

[cbconway]

Originally Posted by falcnjet

Hey experts,
I'm looking at a trailer with a 740 lb dry hitch weight, but my tow vehicle has a max 720 lb tongue weight. The salesman says that this is no problem because of the weight distribution hitch that I'll be using.
May I have your input on this so that I can make an intelligent decision? All other weights are within limits.

I'm assuming that the 720 lb. figure you gave is the rating of your TV without a WD hitch. There should also be a rating of the maximum tongue weight with a WD hitch. That's the figure to go with, provided you don't exceed the max cargo or axle rating of your TV. No WD hitch can supersede the second rating.

[hockeytownmom]

Originally Posted by davel1971

this statement right here tells me there is no good solution for your problem. If you are that uncomfortable driving a truck at all, towing is not for you. Sounds like you would be way to nervous to be able to do so safely.

Agreed. You have to be confident and comfortable in towing to do it safely.

[climbbike]

+1 for Jeep Grand Cherokee. I have the 6.4 liter and tow our 5100lb 26 ft trailer with ease. Tows solid, no sway problems whatsoever and more than enough power. Of course, I have a good hitch setup too.


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[rockfordroo]

Hey experts, I'm looking at a trailer with a 740 lb dry hitch weight, but my tow vehicle has a max 720 lb tongue weight. The salesman says that this is no problem because of the weight distribution hitch that I'll be using. May I have your input on this so that I can make an intelligent decision? All other weights are within limits.

Don't believe a word the salesman tells you. He'll tell you anything to make the sale. Look it up in the manufacturers information for your tow vehicle.

(How do you know when the salesman's lying? His lips are moving!)

[falcnjet]

I didn't realize there was a tongue weight limit with a WD hitch published. Any idea where I'd find it?

[00buck]

Originally Posted by falcnjet

I didn't realize there was a tongue weight limit with a WD hitch published. Any idea where I'd find it?

In your owners manual or on a label posted to the hitch.

[falcnjet]

Nope. Not either place. All they have is the basic hitch limit.
Let me ask this - what % increase do you usually get with a WD hitch over the basic hitch?

[raspivey]

The two I've had stated a 100 lb difference between the two. That doesn't mean it's always 100 lbs. At any rate, your "dry" weight is probably going to turn into an "actual" weight of around 900 lbs. Take that into consideration. At the least, I'd upgrade to the next class of receiver. Again...that doesn't mean you won't exceed payload and just getting a bigger hitch wont increase anything on the truck...just what the hitch will handle, so check into that.

[falcnjet]

Thanks folks. Appreciate the input.

[vinmaker]

The weight is a large factor in deciding a TV. Pretty hard to comment if the weights are in question.

[jgroff]

Originally Posted by davel1971

a short bed reg cab truck would be a HORRIBLE tow vehicle. Being so light and short you would be jerked all over the road

Really? an SUV would have the same wheel base and weight. what am i missing? added bonus for the truck would be the bed for wood

[davel1971]

bigger SUVs are longer than the shortest of pickups. Either way, as Murphybed said. "I can't drive the the truck. I am unable to overcome maneuvering it, parking it, and generally dealing with it". Being a foot and half shorter isn't going to matter.

[00buck]

Originally Posted by falcnjet

Nope. Not either place. All they have is the basic hitch limit.
Let me ask this - what % increase do you usually get with a WD hitch over the basic hitch?

My Silverado is 600 and 1000 (WD). If I recall correctly my 4Runner was 500 and 700 (WD).