Good SUV tow vehicles?

[Rick]

I went for the Chevy Tahoe. I was towing with a Chevy Uplander but it was actually rated for 3500 lbs and I was towing 4K. My Tahoe tows like its not even there.

[Flux]

I will second the Excursion, although I have it's truck counterpart (F-250) with a crew cab, the 6.0l diesel loves to pull, you will enjoy your towing miles tremendously. It's fun accelerating up steep hills towing a boat. The Excursion is a beast, as is the F250. I love driving my F250, it definately drives like a truck, but on the highway it holds high speeds with ease and accelerates like crazy. I am with Jeff though, I will always have diesel truck now that I have owned one, it's just awesome. The Excursion has some luxury packages as well. I have seen alot of them around used, with lower miles.

If you want a bit more luxury, the Denali's and Escalades have very powerful gas engines. I would not recommend the ford 5.4 litre if you have to tow up hills alot although it does fine, their V-10 will get the job done nicely though, but sucks more gas. If money is a consideration than the V-10 is alot cheaper initially than the 6.0l diesel.

If you are not all that stoked on your F150 as a tow vehicle, then with Ford you really want a V-10 gasser or a 6.0l diesel, but they are only available in the Excursion. You won't need airbags or suspension mods in the excursion either. I fit 5 people and a medium size dog in the crew cab of my F-250 for 200 mile trips, everyone does fine. I have the 6.5 ft bed and it holds alot of gear.

Best of luck and definately go test drive a few, Diesels are great but I don't use mine to go any less than 15 miles, it's not good to run them for short periods of time, I have a gasser Bronco I use around town.

[Quinner]

Anything American!!

I have had great luck with GMC Suburban/Yukon XL's, tow like nothing is back there, towing mileage is not bad for all the space and comfort you have and in my experience they are low maintenance and very dependable. If you have kids and plan long trips TV's with wireless headphones are a great option.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[tdc_worm]

it seems like most people with the 5.3L GM trucks are comparing them to something smaller that they have come out of. they claim that their new ride tows like there is nothing back there. my previous tow vehicle was a 5.3L GMC Sierra, and, at the time it was the best vehicle that i had every owned.

so, if my GMC towed like nothing was back there, then my Armada tows like the trailer is pushing it up any hill i drive. the difference in torque is dramatic and is largerly related to the larger displacement engine (5.6L vs. 5.3L).

additionally, the armada comes standard with air bag rear suspension. outside of the power advantage, i feel the trailer moving the armada less than my GMC (even though it has a shorter wheelbase) because the suspension automatically adjusts for heavier loads...

just for reference, the boat i towed with both vehicles was a Calabria ProV. boat, trailer, fuel, gear, and stereo was right at 6000 lbs. that was then and this is now, and i am officially part of the nautique family!

[jmass03]

We have a 2005 Infiniti Qx-56 and we love it. Couldn't say anything better about Japanese reliability, and the motor is great for towing. 340 hp and 390 pounds of torque, with a sub 6 second 0-60 translates into effortless towing. We couldn't say anything better about the truck.

[KPNautique]

I tow with an 04 Lexus GX470. V8, air suspension, ect. Rated to tow 7000lbs. I've pulled my 216 Air on a number of 900 mile trips without a problem.

On my wish list - 2008 BMW X5 Diesel

[97SN]

Others say Yukon pulls like a champ, but my experience is much different. Numerous transmission issues, brakes failing 3 times, fuel injection replaced six times, all in less than 60K miles. Obvously a lemon, but GM doesn't think this is anything out of the ordinary. Needless to say, I'm in the market for a replacement tow vehicle, so it's good to hear others experiences. No more GM tow vehicles for me.

[Hollywood]

Other than things breaking, how did it TOW? Sounds like a lemon to me.

[97SN]

Hollywood, my "lemon" GMC Yukon has always towed like a little red wagon with a rubberband for a motor. I purchased the vehicle brand new in 1999 and have been suffering ever since. I've been waiting for a diesel in an SUV, but my patience is running thin. I missed the boat (pun intended) on getting a new Excursion and am looking at used ones. Although the Armada / QX-56 comments have also peeked my interest.

[bkhallpass]

Others say Yukon pulls like a champ, but my experience is much different. Numerous transmission issues, brakes failing 3 times, fuel injection replaced six times, all in less than 60K miles. Obvously a lemon, but GM doesn't think this is anything out of the ordinary. Needless to say, I'm in the market for a replacement tow vehicle, so it's good to hear others experiences. No more GM tow vehicles for me.

Interesting. My Yukon XL is a 2000, which I bought new in November of 200. It currently has 128K on it, and other than routine maintenance, and a couple of recall notices, I've never had an issue. Didn't even have to put break pads on it until 120K, and then it was the back brakes. The fronts still have 50%. BKH

[LT206]

Wow they must have really improved the brakes with the 2000 body style.

I also pull with a 99 Yukon, but have not had the problems 97SN has. It does drop a good bit of speed pulling up long grades at 70 mph, and the brakes are pretty lame, but they have never failed. (Trailer brakes a must have with this truck) Other than those two things it's been a great tow vehicle. It has 138k miles on it. It does not tow "like there's nothing back there" you definitely know when you're hooked up.

This Armada discussion has also peaked my interest - I'd love to have something a little more nimble around town. The Yukon is a tank.

[CradGen2]

We went from A 04 Durango (Junk) to 06 Nissan Armada. I love towing with it. Grant it I only towed 10 Miles, but I know I am going to love it. The dealer let me tow my boat b4 I bought it. Talk about customer service. It is a little thirsty at 12 MPG

[bkhallpass]

Wow they must have really improved the brakes with the 2000 body style.

This Armada discussion has also peaked my interest - I'd love to have something a little more nimble around town. The Yukon is a tank.

The dealer told me they had problems with front brakes on earlier models. When they made the corrections they actually went the other way. The truck probably favors the rear brakes now. Don't know what year they made the changes, but it sounds like 2000 might be it.

Funny, I find the Yukon XL nimble. Of course my other car is a crew cab silverado without the quadra steer and it takes a city block to turn that thing around. BKH

[CradGen2]

TDC Worn said it is all about Power and Suspension. I agree, but I would also add Axle ratio and wheel base. Axle Ratio gives you the get up and go, but also maintains speed. Get 3.73 or better (4.10 or 4.30). 3.55 just is not good for the long haul. Wheel base keeps you safe and on the road when the BIG trucks go by. So when you see a person towing a 30f camper behind a explorer, even though it is rated to tow 6000 LBS, it is danagerous... Keep that in mind. I am opinion in these cases bigger is better.

[LT206]

Funny, I find the Yukon XL nimble. Of course my other car is a crew cab silverado without the quadra steer and it takes a city block to turn that thing around. BKH

Well I guess it could be worse - but in comparison to a Honda Accord - it's a tank......all relative, I guess.

It is a little thirsty at 12 MPG

That's without a boat in tow? ouch. Although I don't get any better with the Yukon, I would have thought the Armada to do better than that.