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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / September 2005Pick-up vs. SUV/Van
If wheel base and towing capacities are the same do you think one vehicle is better for towing over another? I'm hesitant to look into big SUV's (Suburban, Excursion) or the larger vans assuming that their suspension and ride won't be as good for towing as a pickup. What ya' think? We want to be able to upgrade that's why we're looking into a bigger vehicle.  SignatureEd, Sandy, E.J. and Misty 2001 Rockwood Freedom 1950 1994 Ford Explorer XLT > If wheel base and towing capacities are the same do you think one vehicle is > better for towing over another? I'm hesitant to look into big SUV's > (Suburban, Excursion) or the larger vans assuming that their suspension and > ride won't be as good for towing as a pickup. What ya' think? We want to be > able to upgrade that's why we're looking into a bigger vehicle. Depends on what you wish to tow. The Surburban makes an excellent tow vehicle but only if you get the 3/4 ton. It's a full sized vehicle and compares well with many trucks in suspension and performance. What do you wish to upgrade to? A truck does give you the option of a 5th wheel. If going that route I'd opt for a long bed pickup. In any event, the 3/4 ton Suburban is a strong towing vehicle but it depends on ones needs such as how many people etc. Ford is dropping the Excursion from what I've heard. > Ford is dropping the Excursion from what I've heard. 2004 was supposed to be the final model year. However, the official Ford website lists 2005 models. http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/excursion/ Perhaps this will be the last year. As it was with the phase-out of Oldsmobile, Ford is NOT touting the end of the Excursion as NO ONE wants to buy the last one off a soon-to-close assembly line. <sigh> JR > Perhaps this will be the last year. As it was with the phase-out of > Oldsmobile, Ford is NOT touting the end of the Excursion as NO ONE wants to > buy the last one off a soon-to-close assembly line. > > <sigh> <rant> %$#@^! GM. It took a lot of hard work to kill the Oldsmobile. Ordinary stupidity wasn't enough. Just twenty years ago, Olds was selling more units than Ford. I just went up into Michigan's UP with my 91 Olds Custom Cruiser. "Shamu" did fine pulling my Palomino. Without the trailer, I took her way off the paved road, just took it slow and she brought me back. Great car. Rated at 5000 pounds towing capacity, posi-traction rear end, can carry 8 people. I wish I had a 92, with the 350 LT-1 instead of the 305 with throttle body injection. But she's still a great car. GM stopped making the big wagons in 1996, with the death of the Buick Road Master Estate. Just about when "crossover" vehicles started appearing. And now, GM is playing catch-up in the market, trying to get its crossover vehicles out there. A few tweaks bringing the big wagons up to modern trim and they could have dominated the segment. </rant> Ford just announced that the last Excursion will be built in September. >> Ford is dropping the Excursion from what I've heard. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > to > buy the last one off a soon-to-close assembly line. A 'fiver' is not in the future but a bigger pop-up, hybrid or possibly a tt is in the cards. I just don't want to find out that the big SUVs (Suburban, Excursion) or the full size vans (Chevy Express, Savanna) would be wallowy on the suspension like our Explorer is. We prefer a closed storage area that's why the preference but I'd rather have the best towing vehicle first. SignatureEd, Sandy, E.J. and Misty 2001 Rockwood Freedom 1950 1994 Ford Explorer XLT >> If wheel base and towing capacities are the same do you think one vehicle >> is better for towing over another? I'm hesitant to look into big SUV's [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > needs such as how many people etc. Ford is dropping the Excursion from > what I've heard. > A 'fiver' is not in the future but a bigger pop-up, hybrid or possibly a tt > is in the cards. I just don't want to find out that the big SUVs (Suburban, > Excursion) or the full size vans (Chevy Express, Savanna) would be wallowy > on the suspension like our Explorer is. We prefer a closed storage area > that's why the preference but I'd rather have the best towing vehicle first. A 3/4 ton Suburban is an awesome tow vehicle with a suspension built to handle the load. Since the light suspension of your Explorer is of concern I wouldn't look at 1/2 ton trucks or SUV's. My 2004 Hemi Durango is excellent for towing but the Hemi will only handle up to about 6,000lbs comfortably. The Durango uses a live rear axle and rather stiff frame which is whats wanted for towing. However, the Hemi and shorter wheelbase limit its towing to about 6,000lbs loaded and 24 feet IMHO. I tow 5,000lbs at 23' and love it. The 3/4 ton Suburban is every bit as good as a 3/4 ton full sized truck. >A 3/4 ton Suburban is an awesome tow vehicle with a suspension built to >handle the load. Since the light suspension of your Explorer is of >concern I wouldn't look at 1/2 ton trucks or SUV's. It is also important to remember that GM is notorius for different configurations of the same vehicle. When we shopped for our 3/4 ton 'Burb, I ran across a stripped model (2WD, 2 rows of seats, no carpeting--very spartan) with the 5.7L engine. The towing capacity wasn't much more than 7,000 lbs., if that. The one we ended up buying was a fully-loaded SLT 4x4 model with all the gizmos. It has the 7.4L engine and 3.73 rear end, so the towing capacity is 8,000 lbs.. There is another configuration available with the 4.10 gears that push the towing capacity up to 10,000 lbs. Mark Filice 2004 Homestead Settler 255RS 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 > If wheel base and towing capacities are the same do you think one vehicle is > better for towing over another? I'm hesitant to look into big SUV's > (Suburban, Excursion) or the larger vans assuming that their suspension and > ride won't be as good for towing as a pickup. I disagree. If wheelbase and tow rating are similar, I would expect AS GOOD a ride from a van or SUV as from a pickup. In fact, I expect the van or SUV would be BETTER, especially when NOT towing due to better weight distribution. Pickups are frequently very light over the rear wheels when driving solo. That said, you may be surprised at how well ANY late model, full-size vehicle rides, towing or not. > We want to be able to upgrade that's why > we're looking into a bigger vehicle. A full-size van or Suburban (not a Tahoe, et al = short[er] wheelbase) would be an excellent choice. Of course, you are then restricted to a travel trailer. A pickup, on the other hand, can also tow a fifthwheel trailer or carry a slide-in camper. My Silverado pickup has a cab-high, fiberglass topper. This is a GREAT place to securely store all of my camping stuff. If I eventually get a fifthwheel, I'll remove the topper. :) JR Signature2000 Skamper Ultra 249 TT 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Vortec 8100 - Allison 1000 > If wheelbase and tow rating are similar, I would expect AS GOOD a ride from a > van or SUV as from a pickup. In fact, I expect the van or SUV would be > BETTER, especially when NOT towing due to better weight distribution. Pickups > are frequently very light over the rear wheels when driving solo. You're assuming the suspension and frame are the same on trucks and SUV's. The soft SUV suspension and frame give great ride and handling when not towing but are often lacking once a trailer is put behind them. However, full size 3/4 ton SUV's have similar suspensions as a 3/4 ton truck. >A full-size van or Suburban (not a Tahoe, et al = short[er] wheelbase) would >be an excellent choice. Of course, you are then restricted to a travel [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >to securely store all of my camping stuff. If I eventually get a fifthwheel, >I'll remove the topper. I'm in a unique position as I have both a Dodge 1500 pickup and a Chevrolet Suburban 2500 to tow my trailer with. Just not at the same time 8-). I like the Suburban a little better over the Dodge as it has a bigger engine, better rear gears, and is heavier than the truck. Of course, the passenger room in the 'Burb is great. I use the Dodge to tow the trailer when I'm either going out to the campground alone first, or when I take it out to go fishing with my buddy. No complaints--but if I'm taking more than 1 additional person, my wife can swap vehicles with me. If I was in the market for a 5er, I would definitely trade the Dodge 1/2 ton in on a 3/4 ton or better truck. I almost bought a full-size van as my tow vehicle--they work really well. But they don't do too well with 5ers, either. Mark Filice 2004 Homestead Settler 255RS 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 A 'fiver' is not in the future but a bigger pop-up, hybrid or possibly a tt is in the cards. I just don't want to find out that the big SUVs (Suburban, Excursion) or the full size vans (Chevy Express, Savanna) would be wallowy on the suspension like our Explorer is. We prefer a closed storage area that's why the preference but I'd rather have the best towing vehicle first. SignatureEd, Sandy, E.J. and Misty 2001 Rockwood Freedom 1950 1994 Ford Explorer XLT > In article <jim.redelfs-9DC64B.21301204082005@news.central.cox.net>, Jim > Redelfs [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 > 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 You will not be dissapointed towing a popup with a Suburban. For years we towed our Jayco 10UD popup with a V8 Mercury Mountaineer (same as an Explorer) and while it had all the power needed, the suspension was taxed by the load. Upgraded to a 2003 GMC Yukon XL (same as Suburban) this year. Having just come back from a 2700 mile road trip with the popup I can say that towing was a dream with the full size SUV. While the popup was all I would want to haul with the Mutineer, the Big Kahuna (Yukon XL) can handle much more. Another bonus is that gas mileage only dropped about 2 MPG moving to the bigger truck. > A 'fiver' is not in the future but a bigger pop-up, hybrid or possibly a tt > is in the cards. I just don't want to find out that the big SUVs (Suburban, [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > > 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 > > 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 What I found here in Canada, is that based on the same truck chassi (ie: 1500 Sub vs Sierra)... the SUV cost you way more than a Pick-up. Mel Ed H a écrit: > A 'fiver' is not in the future but a bigger pop-up, hybrid or possibly a tt > is in the cards. I just don't want to find out that the big SUVs (Suburban, > Excursion) or the full size vans (Chevy Express, Savanna) would be wallowy > on the suspension like our Explorer is. We prefer a closed storage area > that's why the preference but I'd rather have the best towing vehicle first. Someone else may know more than I do, but I doubt the suburban and Excursion are much different from the same manufacturer's pickups. If you look at a Ford van, it's pretty much built on the truck chassis. I can't imagine the Excursion is much different...? How big are you thinking of upgrading to? Wesley > If wheel base and towing capacities are the same do you think one vehicle is > better for towing over another? I'm hesitant to look into big SUV's > (Suburban, Excursion) or the larger vans assuming that their suspension and > ride won't be as good for towing as a pickup. What ya' think? We want to be > able to upgrade that's why we're looking into a bigger vehicle. >If wheel base and towing capacities are the same do you think one vehicle is >better for towing over another? I'm hesitant to look into big SUV's >(Suburban, Excursion) or the larger vans assuming that their suspension and >ride won't be as good for towing as a pickup. What ya' think? We want to be >able to upgrade that's why we're looking into a bigger vehicle. Most larger SUV (not the ones that are Small, Ugly Vehicles), are built on a truck frame and have roughly the same max. towing weight.. My gut feeling is that the SUV, with the extra sheet metal and seats, might be a little heavier, which I consider an advantage in towing.. YMMV If an upgrade is in the future, PLEASE consider a 3/4 ton truck or SUV... lots more towing options and not that much more money.. mac Please remove splinters before emailing My bias is with the Ford Expedition. Good towing capacity, lots of room, fits in a standard garage (most Excursion's won't - too wide with the mirrors), and a decent ride, towing or not. This is officially a truck, built on a truck chassis, with a somewhat different suspension, but the ride is not very truck-like. A MUCH better vehicle than your 1994 Explorer. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ed H" > If wheel base and towing capacities are the same do you think one vehicle > is better for towing over another? I'm hesitant to look into big SUV's > (Suburban, Excursion) or the larger vans assuming that their suspension > and ride won't be as good for towing as a pickup. What ya' think? We want > to be able to upgrade that's why we're looking into a bigger vehicle. |
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