So just some coffee chat here. I fell victim few years back to listening to what the RV dealer said my 09 Yukon XL could tow. (His book said 8k) Purchased a 6700lb ish dry weight camper. Towed it home and didnt get a warm fuzzy feeling. Did some more re search and paid 1200 to have the rear end rebuilt on my Yukon from towing the 4k mini lite camper I had before. Yukon only has 13K combination rating, which isn't much for a 7k loaded truck. Enter my 02 Ford Excursion. Problem is I live in Michigan. But I just can't help but notice how many people tow campers my size with 1/2ton Suburbans, Expedition, or what ever. Newer ones say 15k for a gross combination I see. What am I missing? Is everyone else pushing the limits on there TV? I run with 1/3 tank of fresh water, camping stuff in side, kids in the car, wife, tools, kayak or two on top. I should probably go get weighed just to see what my combo is out of curiosity.
So my question is: The Ex still runs pretty good. But the environment is gonna kill it long before the milage does. I have been looking for something newer to replace it with. Should I even consider a newer Expedition? Or stick with the 3/4 + chassis.
I would rather have a super duty truck, but can't fit everyone in. So need the SUV. If I can't do a Expedition, then I'm looking for a Southern Excursion not as rusted, or 3/4 Suburban which was made later than the Exc. To bad Ford can't run those things for 5 years again.

 

Why not try and find a good used Excursion? I live in Ohio and found my 2003 Excursion 6.0 diesel in Chattanooga Tennessee last October, for next to nothing (paid less than 5k for it). Took me about 2 or 3 months of pruising the internet almost daily to find a good use one, but I found it!

I used to tow a 5800 dry/7600 loaded Outback 293UBH with my old 2003 Expedition and it was ok. I wish I would of had a newer 5.4 with the 6 speed or a EcoBoost, but it was ok. The new Expeditions tow magnificently! Everything I have ever read between a Suburban vs Expedition towing, the Expedtion runs circles around the GM product, and Excursion even more.

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aut...k-application/

 

Interesting read. I bet they ruin it. Like the E-mustang. 4 door SUV. Wtf.

 

Not all of those Suburbans are 1/2 ton. Chevy did make a 3/4 ton version. But, you're right, most of them are 1/2 ton and they're likely overloaded. At least with a Suburban they can't go Super Stupid and tow a Fifth Wheel trailer.

 

you under estimate people. here is the solution for towing a 5th wheel with your suv.
Fifth Wheel Street Blog

 

Yeah, I know about the TAG. It's a horrible violation of the KISS principle.

What I meant was putting the entire weight of the pin on the rear axle of the Suburban.

 

i know im sure there is someone that has tried it. the best part of that picture is that tow hauler is way over their tow rating and the company selling that makes it seem like its perfectly fine. here is the real solution though for a 5th wheel and a suburban

 

As a former owner of a 2010 SWB Expedition 2wd w 536 package (max tow 9300#) and a current owner of essentially the same 2012 version (my DW loves Expeditions) both with a 5.4 and 3.31 rear axle.I would say avoid any SWB Expedition without the 536 package prior to 2015 (1st year of the ecoboost). The SWB suffers from the tail wagging the dog syndrome, the 5.4 is anemic and coupled with the 3.31 is unbearable towing. The biggest thing with the Expeditions is the limited payload and small fuel tank size. I would advise looking at a 3/4 ton truck knowing that a diesel is payload constrained (if you ever want to upgrade to a 5th wheel) vs. a gas 3/4 ton truck. If you don't want to worry about payload you can always go 1 ton and grow into your towing needs. I'm of the opinion that you can never have too much truck when towing.

 

There is a 10800 GVWR with the 2020 F250 6.7. that pretty much brings the diesel to gas payload numbers.

 

A lot of good advice above ^^^^^^^

I think this is a great first step.

 

That interesting, but not surprising, given that the 2020 GM HDs had bumped their 3/4 trucks to 10800# GVWR. Ford had to respond. The diesel still weighs 600#-800# more than the gas equivalent so the gas payload will still be more than the diesel.