reinita
Lansing, Michigan
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Joined: 06/21/2010
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Hi,
We currently tow our Keystone Passport Ultra Lite 3220BH with a 2008 Dodge Ram Big Horn with the HEMI engine. It's a beautiful combination, except that we would like a vehicle to fit seven or eight people and still tow our TT. We're looking at a 2010 or newer model.
We've been poking around RV.net and the Chevy and Ford websites, and have enough information to make our heads blow up. Hopeful you can help us narrow down our options, in particular, the model, rear wheel gear ration and such.
Our TT info:
Shipping weight: 6,275
Carrying capacity: 1,225
Hitch: 515
Here's what I know from the Chevy website:
http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/en/pdf/brochures/CHEVY_MY12_Catalog_TraileringGuide_R7_12.13.11.pdf
Suburban 1/2 ton 4WD, axle ratio of 3.42 to tow 8,000 lbs. The website says it requires the "Heavy-Duty Trailering Package (K5L)"
Suburban 3/4 ton 4WD, axle ratio of 3.73 to tow 9,400 lbs
The Ford website: http://www.ford.com/suvs/expedition/specifications/towing/
Would appreciate any insight/suggestions. Please be gentle. And thanks in advance. We learned to listen to the "weight police" after we got our first HTT and tried to tow it with a Durango. Not pretty.
2011 Passport Ultra Lite 3220BH pulled with a 2008 Dodge Ram Big Horn with tow package and HEMI engine.
http://whatevertakes.blogspot.com/
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Joined: 04/21/2005
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If you get a Suburban get the 2500. A typical 1500 Suburban is already very close to it's max rating with passengers and gear on board. The 2500 gives you more motor stronger frame better axles. Bottom line just a all round more capable vehicle.
Donn,Lorri,Max (rescued Lab)
Saigon International Airport 1966/67
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glamisorbust
Arizona
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Joined: 10/14/2009
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I would go with a 3/4 ton suburban for many reasons. 3/4 ton suspension is much better made than 1/2 ton suspension. Everything from brakes, engine size, rear/front end size, tire size and load range, gear ratio is better for towing. When you load 7 or more bodies into a truck, you are talkling about minumum of 1200 pounds of weight, just in people. That doesn't count all your gear, water, etc. The 1/2 ton will just leave you wanting more. The expedition is a great vehicle i'm sure, but it's not built for towing. Either a suburban or excursion would be your best bet. I'm partial to chevy/gmc but I hear the fords are good too. Hope this helps.
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clearnetedm
Alberta
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Joined: 07/06/2010
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Ya in your case I'd go with the 2500 sub. Both the ford and sub 1500 are great but the payload is where you get caught. With our expy and our loaded 6700 lbs trailer we are right at max on rear axle limit. This is with 4 younger kids in the back of the truck. Give it a few years and their weight alone will put us over. Not a lot of options in the suv arena so we will be looking at a 2500 sub shortly, unless something else comes out in that field.
2008 Ford Expedition EL
2012 Rockwood 2601s
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The Mad Norsky
Yankton, South Dakota
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Joined: 04/14/2003
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Just for capacity, go with 3/4 ton Suburban. Almost a legendary vehicle, due to its long, long production run.
Expeditions are nice, and I drove one for years, but its a 1/2 ton, which means your capacity will be lower.
The Mad Norsky, Doll, Logan, Korey & Rocky
2011 Ford F350 Power Stroke dually
RV'ing since 1991
We never know where we're going till we get there!
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sga_jed
South Georgia
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Joined: 01/30/2011
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My TT specs are pretty close to yours and last year we were faced with a similar scenario. In the end, I traded my 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 for a 2006 Ford Expedition Limited. I absolutely love the Expedition. It suits our needs for both towing and everyday use. The Expedition has plenty of power and the additional room makes traveling with the family, dogs, etc much more enjoyable than traveling in the Dodge.
I should note that because of the much shorter wheelbase on the Expedition, I also elected to install a ProPride hitch which I believe was money ($2,500) well spent!
2006 Ford Expedition Limited
2010 Keystone Laredo 291TG
ProPride 3P hitch
Prodigy P3
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ch47d99
VA
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Not sure why you are limiting your search to not look at Nissan Armada or Toyota Sequoia. Another option that should be available very soon is the Nissan NV Passenger van. If you can go without 4x4, it will have payload better than the 3/4 ton suburban and much more flexibility with seating. I am watching it closely. I got a call from Nissan the other day that 4x4 might be an option in the near future as they are pairing with a third party to offer a 4x4 that will be sold by Nissan dealers.
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APT
SE Michigan
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Joined: 06/09/2010
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2500 Suburban. Although I have limited TT towing time with mine, I haven't heard of any complaints about how well they tow within their ratings. Needs better than OEM shocks, though. 7000-7500 pounds loaded means 1000 pounds of tongue weight. How much does 7 or 8 people and some cargo weigh? More than the remaining 200-500 pounds of most half tons SUVs. This is why 2500 Burb:
At the Detroit auto show last week, all the half ton SUVs has tire and loading stickers with 1150 to 1450 pounds of payload. Half ton Burb and Expy had about 1400 with the imports lower. There was no Expy EL, and I thought they were a bit higher at 1500-1600. Still borderline for 1000 pounds of TW and lots of people.
Armada and Sequia are too short, as is the Tahoe/Yukon. And their payloads are on the low end, despite their tow ratings and powerful drivetrains. Check the driver's doors of the SUVs you test drive. 1500+ pounds minimum.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
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MO_Trout_Bum
Missouri
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Have owned a 2007 Suburban LTZ with K5L and Autoride, and it was an incredibly capable vehicle. We towed a 7200LB (dry) wt TT with 750LB tongue wt (dry), knowing we were probably exceeded GVWR/GCWR on long trips with a lot of gear in the TT and TV. It still handled things flawlessly with the greater loads, however we had only 2 adults and one teenager.
Seriously, for hauling 7-8 people and the TT, it would be too risky not go with 3/4 ton for the increased payload and heavier chassis/other components. That all being assumed and said, in the 2012 new vehicle marketplace, the Suburban 2500 is the only available option.
2004 Silverado 2500HD Ext, Duramax LLY, 4WD, 3.73
2012 Keystone Cougar 327RES
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JiminDenver
Denver, Co
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Joined: 09/09/2011
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Payload on my Expeditions are 1615 lbs on the 03 and 1895 lbs on the 07 according to the website. The EL is slightly lower at 1745 lbs.
for 2011 the payload is listed at 1590 for the 4x4 version
JinD
* This post was
edited 01/25/12 12:09pm by JiminDenver *
2011 GulfStream Amerilite 25BH
2007/2003 Ford Expedition
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