Tow vehicle ideas needed!

I'll just comment that since I switched from a RAM 1500 to a 2500 the towing experience with the R-Pod 195 (weight about 4500 lbs) is much better...much more stable in crosswinds and just overall a more solid ride.  I attribute it to the heavier towing vehicle (+ 1600 lbs).

Originally posted by lostagain The down side of the small displacement engine is that you don't get much compression breaking and have to be careful to keep your speed down so you don't have to use your brakes too much.  A diesel engine has the same compression braking issue unless it is equipped with a compression brake system, such as a Jake Brake.  If I had it to do over again I would have test driven a 3.5 ecoboost to compare the difference.

Originally posted by lostagain Ben, you may be real happy with the ecoboost engine if you are driving at high altitudes.  We lived in NV and camped all around the northeast Sierras.  Crossing Ebbetts and Carson passes was easy with the ecoboost engine.  The altitude made no difference at all and there was plenty of power for our 4400 GVW trailer.  We had a Dodge Dakota with a 4.7 V-8 that we towed our Pod with and it really struggled to get up steep climbs.   With a naturally aspirated engine and a 5K weight limit, you may find that the mountain passes are unpleasantly challenging.   The down side of the small displacement engine is that you don't get much compression breaking and have to be careful to keep your speed down so you don't have to use your brakes too much.  A diesel engine has the same compression braking issue unless it is equipped with a compression brake system, such as a Jake Brake.  If I had it to do over again I would have test driven a 3.5 ecoboost to compare the difference.

Just a report back to all of you who assisted (I know we all like to hear the ending to a story). We just took posession of a 2016 F150 with a 3.5 V6 ecoboost. We'd gotten as far as putting a deposit down on a new Tacoma (prices on used ones are nearly the same as new), but realized that 1) the Tacoma would still likely fall short of our expectations for towing the 179, especially in the mountains and 2) we didint want to spend so much $$ on a vehicle that we pretty much only use for camping and occasional local trips. It'll take some getting used to - driving a big rig, that is - but I'm sure it will work well as a TV. 

So far, I am glad we traded the 2010 Frontier for the 2018 F-150 3.5l Ecoboost XLT. Overall, I am getting better mileage with the bigger truck and I have tow capacity to spare. The back seat area of the F-150 crew cab is impressive. It is built with leg room for even big people.