Need suggestions for TV

[hihousej]

Totally new to RVing, previously a tent camping guy. I have a Keystone Passport UltraLite 195RB. About 4,000 pounds. I have been towing it here in flat-land Indiana with my 2018 Toyota 4Runner. 4 liter 6 cylinder engine with factory towing package rated for 5,000 pounds. All is well so far, but heading for the Appalachians so I'd like a bigger/better towing vehicle and am looking for suggestions. NO PICKUP TRUCKS!!! (many reasons and NO, I won't change my mind) I want to tow with an SUV 4wd. Can someone with experience make good suggestions?

[cookinwitdiesel]

Well, if you are against pickup trucks, then I would recommend a good full-size SUV built on a truck platform :)

The full size SUVs usually have similar towing ability to the "small" trucks but not that of the 1/2 ton trucks they share a platform with.

The field narrows pretty quickly to an Expedition or Suburban/Tahoe. Those both share drive train and chassis components with their pick-up truck cousins but should ride better (and tow less).

Unfortunately, those SUVs are now all crazy expensive compared to 10 years ago when they were reasonably priced and not essentially luxury vehicles. As an example, a loaded Yukon Denali XL cost more than a loaded Sierra 3500 Denali DRW Diesel.

[Carrottop]

I have a passport 2510RB with a dry weight of 5200lbs. We tow with our F-150 however we have on occasion towed with our Nissan Armada. The previous post had it right with the exception that there are more options than the Expedition and Yukon/Denali. Nissan with the Armada and Toyota with the Sequoia are both capable Full size SUV's. Mine came with the factory air bags so there was virtually no sag with it. You will still run into a payload capacity issue with any of the above choices. But to answer your question my Armada tows very well stable and lots of power with the 5.4 V8, we also use a 4 point equalizer with sway control.

[cookinwitdiesel]

I only didnt mention the Armada and Sequoia because their pickup counterparts do not have the best reputation with regards to payload and towing abilities. As SUVs they are fantastic vehicles :)

As noted, you will want to make sure you have a good WDH with sway mitigation for sure on the SUVs since they all lack the heft of a truck as a counterweight against the trailer.

[Carrottop]

Agreed. Funny though my Armada has a payload capacity of 1350lbs and my neighbors Titan has a payload capacity of 1390. We were both shocked by that considering they sit on the same frame and have the same powertrain.

[Logan X]

The link below is for an article with the best SUVs for towing a travel trailer.

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/suvs-with-the-best-towing-capacity

Keep in mind that the dry weight of your camper is 3805 lbs but fully loaded it is 5200 lbs. It is prudent to use the loaded weight, or gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) when calculating towing capacity.

The number you want to keep an eye on is the payload capacity. It can be found on the yellow sticker inside the drivers door. That is the maximum amount of passengers and cargo that your tow vehicle can carry. That number includes the hitch weight of your trailer. The hitch weight is roughly 12% of the trailers GVWR, or in your case 5200X.12=624 pounds.

Hope this helps!

[cookinwitdiesel]

That is a handy link!

[sourdough]

I have a 2017 4runner TRD with the same engine (my 2nd). I wouldn't pull your trailer, or any other that weighed more than maybe 1000 lbs. - they are too unstable and lack power. My 2017 Explorer which I owned prior to the 4runner had a smaller engine but was more powerful and responsive, but, was FWD and not 4wd.

By refusing to get a "truck" you greatly limit what you can tow safely. With your trailer, which has a gvw of 5146, you put yourself out of the "midweight" SUVs capped at 5k - and you don't want one anyway. They are "rated" to tow that but it doesn't mean they were "meant" to tow that; especially efficiently, safely or comfortably.

That said I would think you should be looking at the Tahoe, Expedition and maybe the Armada. The American brands are constantly evolving their drivetrains, electronics, stability controls etc. The Armada, and Sequoia, are on antiquated drivetrains, with antiquated styling, electronics and interiors. I almost bought a new Sequoia last year when an opportunity arose but just looking at it (looks like it did when it was introduced basically), the engine rates the worst gas mileage of any in its class with less power etc. and the interior and ergonomics are....not impressive. Same goes pretty much for the Armada. You can get a good price on an Armada, not so with the Sequoia simply because of the resale which is based solely on their reputation for reliability.

I would highly, highly recommend a bigger tow vehicle. Which one is up to you but with over 5k behind you make sure you have one of the best wdh/sway control units behind you. The short wheelbase of the SUV works against you.

You didn't give the year of your trailer so here is a link to the specs of a 2017:

https://www.rvusa.com/rv-guide/2017-keystone-passport-ultra-lite-express-travel-trailer-floorplan-195rb-tr29199

[Gegrad]

Yep, since you are a "no" on the pickup trucks and you already have a 4Runner and realize it will not cut it, your only realistic options are an Expedition, Tahoe/Suburban, Armada, and a Navigator. Any of those should be able to handle it, you will just want to make sure it is properly equipped for towing.

[cookinwitdiesel]

As a reference point, my parents have a loaded 2016 Suburban. They have used it to pull the same trailer I have - this trailer has a GVWR over the suburbans ratings but moderately loaded is within spec. They said it felt extremely unsafe going down the highway with it and now use their ranch truck (Chevy 3500 HD DRW Duramax - complete overkill) and it is effortless towing.

I would guess with a large SUV you will be limited to 22-25 foot long trailers and even then will be subject to a lot of sway. You want as long a wheel base as possible (so Suburban, Yukon XL, Expedition XL) to help stabilize the rig.

[Fishsizzle]

We towed our 2006 Sandpiper 26 footer with our 2005 Lincoln Navigator for a few years. I think the gator had a 10,000 tow rating. It did admirably, went down the AZ and Disneyland several times. Just never, ever, left a town that had a gas station in it without a quick top off

[travelin texans]

I'm sure there are others beside myself that are wondering why NO TRUCK? Inquiring minds want to know!
These days you'd be hard pressed to find a truck that wasn't or couldn't be equipped as nice as any luxury SUV on the market with the added plus of actually being a tow vehicle unlike even the largest of the SUVs.