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Posts: 7106
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | 151K and in the shop again for the transmission. Might be time for a new tow vehicle. I pull a Tuffy 1760 C with a 150 and 9.9 kicker, would like to stay in a SUV and I have to admit I prefer japanese vehicles.
Any suggestions? |
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Location: Des Moines IA | Toyota Sequoia
Nissan Armada
Get a vehicle with the tow package. The Forerunner you have doesn't have a trans cooler, and running it in 5th gear, it shifts down to third to climb hills all the time, heating up the tranny, which damages the seals. I know the book says it'll pull that much trailer weight, but this is a situation where overkill is a good thing.
Edited by MuskieMike 8/14/2011 9:38 PM
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| I'm on my second Armada (first one got totaled by some B that was texting and driving). It's probably overkill for that boat but I love them (over 9k towing capacity. Just towed my dad's 25' Pursuit like nothing). I had a big payout from the insurance co and could pick anything and chose the Nissan again. It's big (you may not like that) but it's powerful, fast and pretty reliable. You can also get them used cheaper then a lot of the competition. |
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Posts: 801
Location: Delavan, WI | I know you prefer Japanese , but have to admit I Love my 07 Suburban 2500 -its got a very powerful 6.0 L engine & on my last trip - fully loaded and pulling a Ranger 690vs it averaged 12.9 mpg- not too shabby if you ask me for the amount of room and the comfort it provides. |
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Posts: 582
| Earlier this year i traded my F150 for a toyota Sequioa. Very happy with my new SUV. This truck has more balls than my f150 ever did to be honest. Rides smoother, tows better, and gets better mpg. I got the limited with the tow package and can tow up to 9k lbs i think. I never really paid any attention to foreign tow vehicles but after some of the problems i had with my F150 i decided i wanted something with a little more quality. I found it. I tow a 1850 Ranger Reata with a 175 4S so i have a large heavy boat and it tows it just fine. |
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Posts: 5874
| As much trouble as you have had with your Japenese vehicles, maybe, just maybe, it's time to look to Ford, GM, or Dodge.
I've put over 500K miles on my first 2 F150's since 1983, and neither ever had a major issue with motor or transmission. And my new F150 has been flawless as well the first 30K. I average 18 MPG with it, and pulling the boat(Tuffy 1890) I get about 14.
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| Do youself a favor and at least test drive a 2011 F-150 crewcab with the Ecoboost engine. Tons of cab space, incredible towing power, and over 20mpg on the highway. The new explorers are awfully nice, too. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Ford has it going on ... although i did have to really struggle through the great "o-ring" problem of my 6.0 litre turbo-diesel, i'm past the design problem and moving past 220k miles on the same tranny, second set of brakes and 3rd set of tires on my way to a 500K miles goal.
i bought a 2011 Ford Taurus SHO with the new eco-boost motor that is north of 400HP and after seeing the new explorer and F150 designs can tell you that the next generation Fords (of today ... 2011) are fantastic in all regards. the "smart" features built-in are so convenient it's hard to imagine ever being without this kind of connectivity to your data/music etc.... by smartphone tie-ins.
i know the foreign vehicles have similar technology built-in but Ford is definitely made some major moves in the past 5 years. |
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Posts: 7106
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Thanks for the advice guys. However, I'm NOT getting a pickup, so please just give advice in the SUV way!
Thanks! |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | go check out the new Ford Explorer Slamr ... i believe they have the new eco-boost motor and all that comes along. |
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Posts: 181
Location: Valparaiso, Indiana | Chevy Tahoe....come see me at
www.teamchevyinc.com
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Posts: 1316
Location: Lebanon,Mo | Personally...I would stick with an American based vehicle if possible when it comes to larger vehicles.The larger rice burners have not be around as long as our bigger suvs,pickups,etc. and think they would last a bit longer.Plus,if im not mistaken insurance is also cheaper....but it's your ride.
Im sitting on a '04 Explorer with the 4.6 and with 197,000 on it and though it had a new tranny at 140,000,it's been a great vehicle and it's been through some wild stuff.Plan on putting another 50k on it as it shows no sign of stopping...
Edited by missourimuskyhunter 8/15/2011 8:02 PM
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| rrrr...Godzirra!
i've got a Ram truck and my wife has a Jeep suv, both have been flawless performers for us the past few years...so i've been intrigued by the new Dodge Durango. i haven't been in one, but they look interesting and we've had a good experience with the brand.
http://www.dodge.com/en/2011/durango/index.html
available V8 Hemi with transmission cooler, but i think you'd be better served with the V6 version - saves on cost up front, mileage, etc and still plenty capable for your towing needs.
they're targeting the Ford Explorer head-to-head.
http://www.dodge.com/en/2011/suv/#compareChart
Sled's right: i'll pay extra for the connectivity upgrades in my next vehicle, and they're all coming with pretty cool option packages.
one interesting thing about the economy right now: slow sales of new vehicles the past few years have shot used car values to historic highs and actually means that buying the right new car can be (for the first time ever) a better value than late model used.
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Posts: 402
Location: Eagle River, WI | We have a 2011 Honda Pilot that has pulled my 1850 crestliner flawlessly. This is our second one and my wife really likes the pilot. It has alot of room for a smaller suv. It's not as nice as pulling with my 2011 6.7 cummins, but it does a nice job when I need an extra vehicle to do some towing.
Sled, you must be the only person in the world that has had a 6.0 powerjunk that has that many miles on it. I have had 3 of them through our business and I have yet to get 30k out of one without a major engine issue. i.e, headbolts, turbos, tranny issues, waste gate issues, and the fact that they are so loud, you have to drive them with headphones on.
P.S. Dodge's U-connect is one of the coolest features I have ever had on a vehicle. Other than the pictures of my kids/muskies that I uploaded to my radio. My Dad has one of the new F-150's that is pretty tricked out and I know that he has that on it, I just have never had any time to play with it.
Edited by welldriller 8/15/2011 11:55 PM
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Posts: 402
Location: Eagle River, WI | One more thing. The only bad part about the Pilot is that even though I ordered it with the towing package on it, it still doesn't have a rear trailer wiring harness. You can't even order it as an option. You have to have a dealer install it, and it is no small feat. The harness alone was somewhere's in the $200 range. Then, they nicked me for another $150 to install it. FYI |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i drive 50-60K miles a year for 15 years or so now mostly due to work. in my experience i loved the dodges but they all needed new trannies like clockwork at 90k miles (3 of them). the fords have been better (wish i'd kept the 7.3 litre). the 6.0 was a design flaw and if you have one it's a matter of fixing a now known problem ... problem is not all know how to fix them. i putzed around until finding out that Ford didn't know how to fix them but East Side Auto in Rhinelander figured it out and it's been great ever since. i will make 500k on it no problem.
slamr is not a pickup guy so he's looking suv ... i had a durango once and would expect the mileage might be better with this newer version? ... mine got around 8 mpg when dropped off a cliff ... total POS, but dated with a 318 V-8. i wouldn't go near a durango from the experience, but maybe the new ones are better. my '99 6 cylinder cummins turbo-diesel ... that was a dandy!!! i'd buy a new tranny and be happy about it if it weren't for the noise. the '05 dually HO cummins was like driving an airplane.
best pull vehicle is a ford chassis, a cummins diesel and an allison transmission ... just a #*^@ shame they don't put the good stuff together in one truck!!! |
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Posts: 247
Location: Uxbridge Ontario | Prefer Japanese vehicles... Is that what you drive now?
There is some pretty good stuff at Ford these days. I have had nothing but good luck with them for years and years. Have a look at the new Explorer. 6000lb towing capacity, 6cyl engine with 290hp and runs something like 24mpg.
I have one on order for my wife... not that it is a "womens car" or anything. There are really nice.
I just read through the other posts and it looks like a lot of you other guys keep the new explorers highly ranked as well. But, the Explorer will not have the EcoBoost for 2012, BTW. I waited for it to come out, as it was not offered in '11 either. Dropped the ball a little bit IMO. But the 290hp 6-cyl they offer is really nice too.
Edited by HomeTime 8/16/2011 7:17 AM
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| But, the Explorer will not have the EcoBoost for 2012, BTW.
they were waiting on EPA certification...which they just received for a 4-cylinder ecoboost explorer. turbocharged or not, that's a pretty small motor to consider for towing purposes compared to a standard V6.
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| Lambeau, have you see the towing limits for the 3.5L V-6 Ecoboost? In an F-150 they have a max of over 5 tons and a torque curve that will make you forget there is a boat behind you. On a smaller vehicle the wheelbase is a significant factor, but they could probably make a 4 cylinder Ecoboost tow better than most 6's and maybe even some of the small 8's.
Anyway, the Explorer with the new TiVCT V-6 will tow a 1760 aboslutely without a problem. I have a friend who tows a Ranger Angler 1860 with his Explorer and no problems whatsoever -- very comfortable ride. Explorer's towing capacity is 5,000#.
http://www.ford.com/suvs/explorer/specifications/towing/
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| expectations are that the towing capacity of the V4 ecoboost will only be 2000lbs. it's a fuel-effieciency move by Ford, and not ideally suited for towing or comparable to V6's or V8's.
and yes, a V6 (regardless of brand) is a good fit for what Slamr describes.
Edited by lambeau 8/16/2011 12:07 PM
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | lambeau - 8/16/2011 7:04 AM
i had a durango once and would expect the mileage might be better with this newer version?
Durango:
16/22 in the AWD and 16/23 in RWD V6 versions.
5 yr/100,000 mile warranty
Explorer
20/28 with a FWD V6 version
5 yr/60,000 mile warranty
it's worth noting that the difference between 16 and 20 mpg is _much_ bigger and more important than the difference between, say, 26 and 30 mpg. think of it in terms of a percentage of your total fuels costs...4mpg on the low-end is a much larger percentage so much more savings.
how many miles do you put on per year, Slamr? 20,000? it changes the warranty term dramatically, and 40k extra is 1-2 years longer coverage.
After owning Durango's as the last two primary tow vehicles I wouldn't hesitate to get another. My boat is similar in weight to the Tuffy 1760 and without question I would get the hemi on the next one. Gas mileage might not be the 20-21 I get on the highway w/ the 4.3 but I'm also not going to get the huge drop with the boat in tow (usually getting 14-15.5). |
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| Slamr,
I went from toyota back to a couple american made trucks, now back in a tacoma, huge downgrade in experience going domestic in trucks. You will not be pleased, buying domestic is like setting the hook and ending up with a small pike. BR |
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Get a VW Bus, an old one. That will need to be towed allot. |
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Location: Des Moines IA | My 2003 Dodge Ram quad cab 4X4 is rated to tow 8400 lbs. It absolutely hates towing my 2000 pound Tuffy. Just because a vehicle is rated to tow 6000 pounds doesn't mean it will be good at it. If it had the 5.9 instead of the 4.7, and the factory tow package, I'm sure my truck would be a totally different animal. As it is, I tow the boat with the overdrive off, and she get's the job done, but chews through fuel. Slamr wants a Japanese full size SUV, so his choices are Nissan Armadas, and Toyota Sequoias, 5 and a half liter V8s with a factory tow package, either one will do the job nicely. Overkill is a good thing. |
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Posts: 222
Location: c.wis | cant beat the yukon/tahoe. but the longer wheelbase of the burban or yukon xl makes for a softer ride. went from the burban to the yukon and i like the burban better. pulls awsome and tons of room inside for all the gear, plus the fam. i pull a alum boat most of the time but i have used it for a glass sailboat thats around 6k and pulls that w/ ease |
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Posts: 1756
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | One other major consideration that does not come into play or thought very often for SUV owners is the rear axle ratio.
3.27 will feel like you are never going to get to highway speed because it is just a dog.
3.55 will be feel underpowered for a v6 towing anywhere over 3500 lbs.
3.92 is a much better axle ratio for towing heavy loads.
my 2010 Dodge ram with the 5.7 hemi 4x4 gets 17.8 mpg on average towing dad's lund on the two lane roads to the lake. I would say look into the jeep grand cherokee or durango based on my positive experience with Dodge. This is my 3rd Dodge and none have ever had any tranny or engine problems other than a water pump at 145k. |
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Posts: 5874
| BenR - 8/16/2011 9:12 PM
Slamr,
I went from toyota back to a couple american made trucks, now back in a tacoma, huge downgrade in experience going domestic in trucks. You will not be pleased, buying domestic is like setting the hook and ending up with a small pike. BR
And that's why Ford outsells Toyota 3:1 in trucks. Toyota didn't even make a real (full size) truck until the recent Tundra came out in 07. |
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Posts: 5205
| buy ford have two ford suvs.please stay away from toyota its not worth it.old fords last and can be affordable . b ramit |
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Posts: 797
Location: North Central IL USA | Shep - 8/15/2011 8:41 AM
I've put over 500K miles on my first 2 F150's since 1983, and neither ever had a major issue with motor or transmission.
What was your maintenance schedule like? |
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Posts: 279
| 0723 - 8/18/2011 11:31 AM
buy ford have two ford suvs.please stay away from toyota its not worth it.old fords last and can be affordable . b ramit
Why stay away from Toyota's??? I have had two 4runners in 21years. My first one was a 89' drove it till 2000 traded it in on a 1998 for $3500 it had 196,000 miles on it. I still have the 98' 11years later changed one starter and had one other 500 dollar repair. Its got 187,000 miles on it and still no sign of giving up. I know that it won't be good to tow huge 21ft rangers. My brother had two f150's both of them ended up needing a new transmission at about 65,000 miles he has now had a tundra for 100,000 miles with zero trouble. So again I ask why stay away from toyota's??
Edited by ttrap 8/18/2011 12:58 PM
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