Ford or Jeep SUV for towing?

[jack65]

I currently have a nice Ram 1500 for towing.
We also have a 2012 Ford Edge SUV with 120K miles and want to get a newer one like the 2020 fully loaded Ford Explorer with the V8 etc. We may consider a Jeep SUV as well.
So my question is, will either of them tow our current trailer?
2015 Starcraft AR-ONE 14RB Specs:
Dry Weight 2,390 lbs.
Payload Capacity 810 lbs.
GVWR 3,200 lbs.
Hitch Weight 255 lbs.
Dimensions
Length 16.5 ft. (198 in.)
Width 7.08 ft. (85 in.)
Height 8.42 ft. (101 in.)
Interior Height 6.08 ft. (73 in.)
Wheelbase 11.25 ft. (135 in.)

Of course, I'm keeping the Ram 1500 too. But... if the SUV does well towing, I may sell the Ram and get a low miles 2014 Corvette... (my 6th Corvette over the years). Yup, I'm a Corvette nut.
https://moskovita-photography.com/jacks-vettes.htm

[JDDilly]

I would stay with the 1500, longer wheel base helps with stability. My daughter has a Jeep, don't recall what model, and the dealer told them it was great for towing. However, according to the yellow sticker inside the drivers door, the payload is around 1200 LBS. With 3 people, gear, full tank of gas and a good WD hitch, they have 400 LBS for hitch weight.

Keep in mind the published pin weight is worthless. It will be close to 13% of the GVWR, which in your case is 416 LBS. That would be over their limits and I would never let them do it, for their safety and others.

[flybouy]

That trailer is short and light but the single axle makes it inherently unstable with a higher tongue weight proportianatly in comparison to a dual axle trailer. Stick with the pick-up. IMHO short wheelbase SUVs should not tow conventional travel trailers.

[sourdough]

A 2020 Explorer with a V8?? I must have missed something. Also lots of Jeep models, which one(s) are you contemplating? All that aside the midsized SUVs typically don't make a good towing platform (owned one brand or another since 90).

[wiredgeorge]

I wonder what the tow rating is on a 2014 Vette?

[travelin texans]

The Ford is most likely unibody construction which the use of a WDH, which would be mandatory, is not recommended, so the Ford so won't work.
Just traded my '18 Jeep Wrangler that had a 800lb payload which with 4 adults was about maxed out. With a tongue weight of 400+ lbs that wouldn't leave much for anything but 2 adults inside. IMHO the Jeep is out!
I'd also suspect that a single axle TT the tongue weight could be nearer 15% making it 500+/- lbs.
Honestly keep the 1500, get rid of the Ford & buy your Vette!

[jack65]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

I wonder what the tow rating is on a 2014 Vette?

The 2014 Corvette Stingray's all-new LT1 6.2L V-8 engine is SAE-certified at 460 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 465 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm... but you never tow anything with a Corvette. LOL

Guess I'm not getting another Corvette just yet.

Yep, salesmen will never tell you the truth, they just want to sell, sell and sell some more.

What got me thinking my small trailer could be towed by an SUV is last summer when I went camping I saw LOTS of SUV towing trailers, many considerably bigger than my trailer... what's up with that? You'd think you would hear about accidents?

[jack65]

[QUOTE=travelin texans;459176]
Just traded my '18 Jeep Wrangler that had a 800lb payload which with 4 adults was about maxed out. With a tongue weight of 400+ lbs that wouldn't leave much for anything but 2 adults inside. IMHO the Jeep is out!
Not the Wrangler, but the The All-New Grand Cherokee L | 7,200 Pound Towing Capacity

Honestly keep the 1500, get rid of the Ford & buy your Vette!
Gotta keep the wifey happy... the Ford Edge was her driver so the Newer SUV that I was hoping would tow the trailer is still her car. So I guess the Corvette is on hold for another year.

[JRTJH]

First, the largest engine available in a current model Ford Explorer is a 3.0L EcoBoost.

The largest engine available in a Ford Expedition MAX is a 3.5l EcoBoost.

There are no available V-8 engines in a Ford SUV or Crossover.

The current Ford Explorer did change back to a "rail frame/inline engine/RWD configuration". The older ones were unibody/transverse engine/FWD vehicles.

IMO, none of the current Ford SUV offerings are suitable for towing a "full size travel trailer, whether a single axle or tandem axle and without regard for the trailer weight/tongue weight". The reasons are physics, not tongue weight or capability to "pull the trailer".

I'm not familiar enough with the JEEP SUV offerings, so I can't suggest anything from that manufacturer. With Ford, you'll do best sticking with a truck platform which is the only way you can get a V-8 engine in a Ford that has any "reasonable tow capacity".

[roadglide]

I have a 2018 jeep Wrangler two door With Kevlar 17 inch tires . I built a small trailer just for the Harley and jeep. It weighs 562 pounds . The door sticker is 2000 Pulling and 1000 payload got the Jeep . I know I’m going to be at the max for the the Jeep. The trailer was built to tow the bike 2000 miles to Florida house for the winter . The added weight to the tongue Has stabilize the jeep very good and it track excellent . I made a raised tong and flipped the axels making the trailer pull level . I would not want to pull a higher profile trailer with a jeep.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

I wonder what the tow rating is on a 2014 Vette?

Well it looks like someone tried it lol

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by jasin1

Well it looks like someone tried it lol

I'm not 100% sure, but that top photo looks like a MOAB in that trailer... If so, I sure hope nobody's smoking in that vette....

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

I'm not 100% sure, but that top photo looks like a MOAB in that trailer... If so, I sure hope nobody's smoking in that vette....

Maybe he picked it up a flea market or yard sale lol


Yeah I didn’t even notice what was in the trailer,just pulled it off the interwebs…the caption said they didn’t think it was photoshopped but who knows

[jack65]

Originally Posted by jack65

What got me thinking my small trailer could be towed by an SUV is last summer when I went camping I saw LOTS of SUV towing trailers, many considerably bigger than my trailer... what's up with that? You'd think you would hear about accidents?

No one has really responded to that question. I'm not kidding, I saw a lot of SUV's towing trailers or in campgrounds last summer.
Jeep claims theirs can tow:

The All-New Grand Cherokee L | 7,200 Pound Towing Capacity
https://www.jeep.com/all-new-grand-c...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Ken / Claudia]

All I have is why do people speed beyond the posted limits, drive through red lights, fail to yield the right of way, do not signal a turn. I see that everyday I drive on a roadway. I also see overloaded vehicles nearly everyday. I do not base my behavior on what others do, if I know or suspect it's wrong, unsafe or illegal.
As for traffic crashes, they happen. More importantly is the thousands of times people have that Oh S### moment of nearly crashing but recover. It is spoken on here about having a "White knuckle" experience when towing.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by jack65

No one has really responded to that question. I'm not kidding, I saw a lot of SUV's towing trailers or in campgrounds last summer.
Jeep claims theirs can tow:

The All-New Grand Cherokee L | 7,200 Pound Towing Capacity
https://www.jeep.com/all-new-grand-c...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

You do see, and will see, lots of SUVs towing trailers they could never hope to control in the case of an "event"....no way. Generic towing specs from ANY truck/SUV manufacturer are to mislead you and guide you to think you have a "beast" vs a kitten - sales 101. The important numbers are never mentioned by the dealers because it would impair sales, instead those gargantuan max tow numbers etc. are all you see......then, you find yourself upside down on weights, in the ditch or worse yet across the lanes.

IMO some of those folks towing an RV of any size with an SUV, particularly mid size SUVs, are just ignorant to be kind, the others are just intentionally dangerous. JMO

[travelin texans]

[QUOTE=jack65;459182]

Originally Posted by travelin texans

Just traded my '18 Jeep Wrangler that had a 800lb payload which with 4 adults was about maxed out. With a tongue weight of 400+ lbs that wouldn't leave much for anything but 2 adults inside. IMHO the Jeep is out!
Not the Wrangler, but the The All-New Grand Cherokee L | 7,200 Pound Towing Capacity

Honestly keep the 1500, get rid of the Ford & buy your Vette!
Gotta keep the wifey happy... the Ford Edge was her driver so the Newer SUV that I was hoping would tow the trailer is still her car. So I guess the Corvette is on hold for another year.

Here's the answer. That max tow weight for the Jeep GC of 7200 lbs equates to a tongue weight of 932 lbs subtracted from a 1000 lb payload means you leave everyone/everything at home but that already accounted for 150 lb driver.
DO NOT use the max tow weight of any vehicle to pair with a rv. That weight was arrived at by the vehicle manufacturer towing a low profile utility type trailer with the load situated directly over the axles thereby lowering the tongue weight considerably which you're not able to do with a rv that's built like a giant box.
Also the dry weight of any rv is totally useless! It's the out the factory door weight with no batteries, no propane or any dealer added options, it will never weigh that again nor anyone will ever tow it at that weight.
Those you've seen towing with SUVs either don't know, they were probably assured by a salesman that didn't have a clue that it would be fine or they do know & don't give a s##t about their safety or anyone else's.

[gearhead]

We have had 2 Jeep Grand Cherokees, there won't be a 3rd. Both had V8's with the 7200# tow rating. I towed low boy style trailers pretty well loaded down with both Jeeps. They pulled good but were not like a travel trailer with high sides that the wind would push around.
There won't be a 3rd one because of reliability. Mine, and my sisters, had serious electronic issues. The dealer couldn't get any codes and I allowed him one $300 guess that didn't work. Traded it in on a Chevy Traverse.
Get that Vette. I sold my 2007 just to get garage space and regret it.

[jack65]

[QUOTE=travelin texans;459271]

Originally Posted by jack65

Here's the answer. That max tow weight for the Jeep GC of 7200 lbs equates to a tongue weight of 932 lbs subtracted from a 1000 lb payload means you leave everyone/everything at home but that already accounted for 150 lb driver.
DO NOT use the max tow weight of any vehicle to pair with a rv. That weight was arrived at by the vehicle manufacturer towing a low profile utility type trailer with the load situated directly over the axles thereby lowering the tongue weight considerably which you're not able to do with a rv that's built like a giant box.
Also the dry weight of any rv is totally useless! It's the out the factory door weight with no batteries, no propane or any dealer added options, it will never weigh that again nor anyone will ever tow it at that weight.
Those you've seen towing with SUVs either don't know, they were probably assured by a salesman that didn't have a clue that it would be fine or they do know & don't give a s##t about their safety or anyone else's.

Why don't they have laws to govern the safety for towing?

After reading all the post here, I'll keep my Ram 1500 and get the SUV for my wife and forget about a Corvette for now. I'll get one in the future though.

[linux3]

Originally Posted by jack65

2015 Starcraft AR-ONE 14RB Specs:
Dry Weight 2,390 lbs.
Payload Capacity 810 lbs.
GVWR 3,200 lbs.
Hitch Weight 255 lbs.
Dimensions
Length 16.5 ft. (198 in.)
Width 7.08 ft. (85 in.)
Height 8.42 ft. (101 in.)
Interior Height 6.08 ft. (73 in.)
Wheelbase 11.25 ft. (135 in.)
[/URL]

My TT is around 1k lbs more and dual axle so it aint apples to apples, but...
First year my TV was a 2016 Explorer Sport with the twin turbo 3.5.
365 HP. All the power I needed. I did use a Centerline TS WDH and WDH hitches were approved for my SUV.
I just was not happy. I never felt real comfortable towing. A unibody just doesn't have the a** to handle a load that is near the manufacturers limits.

Your TT is much lighter but much less stable having only a single axle.
Make sure whatever you buy is approved for a WDH.
Friends pull a similar spec TT to yours with a Honda Ridgeline and put on a lot of miles and are happy.

I don't know. Vehicles with frames are for towing. Unibody vehicles CAN tow but..