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Topic ClosedSUV Tow Vehicles
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Joined: 20 May 2018
Location: Indianapolis
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Posts: 20 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: SUV Tow Vehicles
    Posted: 02 Jul 2018 at 9:21am
Hi Everyone,
I am in the market for a new car! I have a 2018 Rpod 178. I am looking for an SUV that can tow her from Indiana to Oregon to see family, to state campgrounds in the midwest, southwest, but also be used around town as my daily vehicle. I would love to hear your recommendations!

Heather
Rpod 180 2018
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Posts: 1407 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2018 at 11:10am
We have a 2012 Toyota Highlander V6 we use as a tow vehicle and it has handled everything we've thrown at it pretty well. The only real downside has been the front wheel drive, which makes it more prone to get stuck when boondocking. We'll probably go to a Dodge Durango for our next one.
Alan
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Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
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Posts: 6288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2018 at 12:30pm
If you go for an SUV, make sure it has 4WD or AWD. FWD will work, but as Alan said, it is much less than ideal since weight is removed from your front wheels which provide not only steering, but traction. When we were using the Ford Escape, it was really easy to spin the front wheels, even on dry pavement and with a WD hitch. I wouldn't have dared take it on a dirt road that had any significant hills. If Ihad to stop on an uphill slope, I might not have gotten started again.
StephenH
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ouR escaPOD mods
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Posts: 473 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2018 at 2:45pm
Prepare to get deluged with responses, I'm surprised that more haven't responded up to this point.

My 2 cents - ANY SUV with a minimum of around 4500 towing capacity and a tow package will meet your need. I personally wouldn't go lower than around that, but a lot of people do, and many people recommend a higher tow capacity, it really depends on how high the mountains are that you want to encounter.

I use a Jeep Cherokee Trail Hawk
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TheBum View Drop Down
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Posts: 1407 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2018 at 2:57pm
Originally posted by StephenH

If you go for an SUV, make sure it has 4WD or AWD.

Did you mean to say "4WD or RWD"? In the vast majority of cases, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference in handling between 4WD and RWD. 4WD will allow you to handle off-road grades a little better and will be better in slick conditions.
Alan
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Posts: 3223 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2018 at 3:19pm
I would agree that the minimum tow capacity would be at least 4500 - 5000 lbs.  Maybe not necessary if you are only going to travel short distances and stay out of the mountains but if you decide on doing the Rockies a lot, which we do, 5000 would be the bare bones minimum.  Even with that there are some steep grades where our V-6 Explorer is working pretty hard to get us up and over the top.  
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Posts: 355 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2018 at 3:55pm
Out here in the west, the most popular TV seems to be a Toyota 4Runner w/ V8 engine.
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2018 at 9:11pm
 If you know the distances and elevation changes for the kind of towing you're going to do, then a V6 or V8 SUV with at least a 5000 pound tow capacity is what you're looking for.

 If I was in the market, I would look at the new Durango(5.7 V8) , or a slightly used Lexus GX460 (V8), they are nice SUV's. I already have my towing overkill, 2013 VW Touareg TDI (diesel). The VW Touareg is not for everyone, and I would NOT have bought it unless it had a huge powertrain warranty (it came with 10yr/100K). I wouldn't risk a used one unless it had a great dealership and warranty.

Someone already mentioned the older(2003-2007??) Toyota 4Runner V8. That was a sweet combo, but I think it was axed because it was competing with the Lexus GX470.
2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
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Joined: 29 Nov 2015
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Posts: 6288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2018 at 9:22pm
Originally posted by TheBum

Originally posted by StephenH

If you go for an SUV, make sure it has 4WD or AWD.

Did you mean to say "4WD or RWD"? In the vast majority of cases, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference in handling between 4WD and RWD. 4WD will allow you to handle off-road grades a little better and will be better in slick conditions.
Well, it should have been RWD, 4WD, or AWD. Anything but FWD. Smile
StephenH
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ouR escaPOD mods
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Posts: 128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2018 at 7:07am
After looking long and hard we went with a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee with factory trailer package.

Factory channels for roof racks (for the kayaks)
Listed tow capability was 5500 lbs.

It is a darker red color so I call it "big red" and people stay out of my way.

Have not towed with it yet, but in town it is getting about 25 mpg.

Inside it is the most comfortable vehicle I have owned, bar none. Seats feel awesome. Controls are nicely laid out. We paid 19,000 $ for ours with 90,000 miles on her. And then I bought the best possible extended warranty for the next 4 years.

Your mileage may vary, but thus far big red works for us. But we are still waiting on our pod.
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