Tow Vehicles - What's Your Recommendation?

[Dandy21]

I have been towing out G23 with a Toyota Sequoia. I also notice that NRyan has his G hooked to a Tundra. The driveline in the Sequoia/Tundra seems to be solid, plenty of power in the engine and trans combo. You won't win any off the line records but it does handle it well...gas mileage when towing - well, it just sucks which is pretty much expected. I have the Platinum edition with self leveling suspension which I feel is a must have with any SUV or pick up...at least in the 1/2 ton segment. With the shorter wheelbase, the trailer will tend to push it a little, especially on corners before the surge brakes activate which I why we are planning to upgrade to E/H brakes on the trailer. The new GMC Denalis with the 6.2 seem to be solid vehicles, good torque, good power, leveling suspension and are supposed to be mated with an 8 speed in the near future, which should provide better mileage. There are also a few articles out that show a GM SUV with a sticker under the hood referencing a diesel motor and rumors about the Sequoia being available with a diesel since the Tundra will be getting a diesel option for '15 or '16. If the Excursion is running solid, it may be worth waiting another year to see if any of the current diesel SUV rumors will be produced or confirmed.

Below is a link to one of the GM Diesel SUV articles
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/...uel-efficiency

[jhersey29]

Anyone seen anything on the 2015 Titan with the Cummins diesel? Has my curiosity peeked but not sure about Nissan products. I've never had one. Currently in a 2013 F150 Ecoboost. It is darn fast and turbo is awfully nice when going over the continental divide.
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[swankster]

We have used an F-150 v8, F-150 v6 Ecoboost, (both supercrew) GMC Denali XL and Ford F-250 supercrew 6.7 diesel 6' bed. The Denali gives us more reachable interior space but the best hauling vehicle is the F-250. The biggest drawback of the F-250 for us is the bed cover and the second is reachable interior space, mainly for cooler and snacks. The bed cover we have is a fold back and it is not totally water tight, so we have to be careful where certain luggage is stored in the bed. The advantage, other than power, over all the others is the extra bed space. The extra 1.5 feet makes a big difference. The Denali pulls it OK, but its about equal to the F-150s.

[SkiTower]

though F150 doesn't equal F250, as for space I'd ride 4-5 all day long in the old cabs (2005) and the new one (2014) has even more room. No room for 6, though, and that's where you'll feel it. Having a truck that handles 4-5 is tough if you frequently find yourself with a crew of 6-8.


2007 SV211 SE

[cedarcreek216]

Anyone seen anything on the 2015 Titan with the Cummins diesel? Has my curiosity peeked but not sure about Nissan products. I've never had one. Currently in a 2013 F150 Ecoboost. It is darn fast and turbo is awfully nice when going over the continental divide.
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We tow with an Armada and I'll never go back to an American tow vehicle unless it's diesel. We towed with a Z71 Tahoe before the Armada and the Titan V8 and hearing of the Nissan make it such a more pleasurable experience at highway speeds. Downshifting is so much better controlled and you don't keep it right at the red line at high speeds like the Chevy was. I live the Armada for towing and has so much room inside.

If you end up going to a gas vehicle I would look at the Infinity QX80 or the Armada.


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[ski4evr]

If you haven't been behind the wheel of the new ford diesel, you should. It is an unbelievable power house without any tuning. Maybe the excursion will come back!

[SkiTower]

And not sure if you've checked prices lately, but I was floored. 2014 pricing for F150 XLT is $14K more than what I payed in 2005 equivalently equipped. I'm SO glad they've added all these electronics! The 2005 had 206K miles. I doubt I'll get 150K out of this one before the electronics start failing.


2007 SV211 SE

[HS]

I have been towing out G23 with a Toyota Sequoia. I also notice that NRyan has his G hooked to a Tundra. The driveline in the Sequoia/Tundra seems to be solid, plenty of power in the engine and trans combo. You won't win any off the line records but it does handle it well...gas mileage when towing - well, it just sucks which is pretty much expected. I have the Platinum edition with self leveling suspension which I feel is a must have with any SUV or pick up...at least in the 1/2 ton segment. With the shorter wheelbase, the trailer will tend to push it a little, especially on corners before the surge brakes activate which I why we are planning to upgrade to E/H brakes on the trailer. The new GMC Denalis with the 6.2 seem to be solid vehicles, good torque, good power, leveling suspension and are supposed to be mated with an 8 speed in the near future, which should provide better mileage. There are also a few articles out that show a GM SUV with a sticker under the hood referencing a diesel motor and rumors about the Sequoia being available with a diesel since the Tundra will be getting a diesel option for '15 or '16. If the Excursion is running solid, it may be worth waiting another year to see if any of the current diesel SUV rumors will be produced or confirmed.

Below is a link to one of the GM Diesel SUV articles
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/...uel-efficiency

+1 for the Sequoia Platinum. The 5.7, self leveling suspension and wheel base are great for towing, the tow package with trans cooler and shift pattern control are nice, plus you have the shift controller option. This vehicle replaced our Toy LC which with the 4.7 (in those days) was fine for everyday towing, but on the long grade climbing over the cascade mountain range and loaded up for vacation, it just made sense to gear it down over the summit and keep the speed down. Nice to hear it handles the G well.

[nyryan2001]

There is no new SUV that has a legit 9k+ tow rating. Really needs to be 10k+ ish to allow for folks and gear in the tow vehicle. Let's assume tthe average weight of a G23 on the trailer is 8200lbs. Factor in a full tank of gas, extra stereo gear, ice etc etc. Remember when you see a tow rating that's a 150lb driver, 1/2tank of gas and ZERO options on the tow vehicle. Every pound you put in it is a pound less you can tow.

The Tundra is as capable as and of the big1/2tons... You can maintain 65-70 and see 6-8mpgs, I've towed more than most with it, mine is 8800lbs on the trailer.. Really need to be in a 3/4t to get to a comfy tow IMO.

[BrennanK]

https://www.youtube.com/user/DuraBurbinc
Duramax Suburban conversion. Top notch. It is the Excursion of the future.


Otherwise keep the Excursion, it's a diesel. If you kept up on your maintenance there is no reason to get rid of it.
I have 183,000 on my '05 Duramax and just last week I dove a 1000 miles in one day with it. I have 100% confidence in my truck because I am the one who does the work on it. I couldn't get rid of it for anything.

If you are dead set on something newer. 2015 Duramax LML. You will be hard pressed to find a more comfortable diesel truck than that.

[NautiqueJeff]

Yeah, I certainly have no indication that my Excursion will have any major issues soon. I do all maintenance myself. The only thing I have had done by someone else was the bulletproofing (head gasket/head studs/EGR delete/oil cooler replacement) and that was done simply as a preventative measure. The FICM died a few months back, but it gave me plenty of warning, and I replaced it myself. Other than that, it hasn't needed anything other than general maintenance items.

[rman56]

Buy a Ford!👍

[Quinner]

Buy a Ford!👍

Or a GM'

'Be American Buy American!!!

[Bspot]

Test drive a 2500 duramax and have the dealership lower the tire pressures to 55psi all around (the TPMS can be reprogrammed for this pressure) and you may find that thing rides better than your excursion! When towing you just can't compare anything to a diesel I don't care what anybody says.

[gate9869]

2012 f250 king ranch 6.7 liter diesel pulls great but not as great as the f650 above !! 👍