I normally tow my CJ7 on a flatbed trailer. Trailer and Jeep and gear total about 5500 lbs. I use a Dodge W350 Cummins for a tow vehicle.

For a number of reasons I won't go into, I'm planning on selling the Dodge truck, as well as my current daily driver, a 2002 Saturn L300. I plan to replace those two vehicles with an SUV.

The SUV has to have some requirements. First, it has to be able to tow 5500 to 6000 lbs. Second, I'd prefer a V8 engine for towing up grades. Third, it has to have an automatic transmission. Four wheel drive, for getting the trailer into remote areas. Lastly, the storage area behind the rear seat cannot be sunken. Anything stored there has to be able to be dragged straight back out of the vehicle, with no need to lift it out.

I don't want to spend a fortune on this SUV, so no BMWs or Cadillacs or Range Rovers. Also, no Suburbans or Expeditions, cause I have to get it into my garage. This SUV will become my daily driver.

So far, I found these three: (1) A Ford Explorer with the 12000 GVW; (2) A Chevy Tahoe; (3) a GMC Yukon.

Can anyone think of anything else. Thanks.

One daughter has a sploder... It seems to be a nice car.. She does not tow as her husband has a 350 Ford deisel.
I am a chevy guy. My wife has drove suburbans since the 70's. So I would choose the tahoe..or the gmc.
I am prettty well connected and would be able to choose a 1 or 2 year old with low miles.
Both of the rides for 2007 have some ridiculas features.. the 07 chevy is supposed to send you an E-mail when it finds need of oil change or a mechanical problem.. $crew that! I just want a truck not a companion.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the input. Since my post, I have kind of shied away from the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon because of their size. The Chevy Trailblazer can be had with a V-8 and with 3.73 gears it will tow almost 7000 lbs. The GMC Envoy can't be had with a V-8 unless I get the Denali package, which would price the vehicle near $45K. The Toyota FourRunner can be had with a V-8 and towing capacity a little over 7000 lbs. The Explorer can be had in a 12,000 GVW with V8 and 3.73 gears ratecd a little over 7000 towing. All of these are 4x4 and range from $29K to about $32K if you don't get nuts on fancy options.

I don't know how often you will be towing or how far.. If infrequently I would opt for a taller gear than 3:73.
Remember not only the HP of a vehicle tells it's towing capacity... BIGGER wheelbase is always better when towing.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

I agree with the gearing issue, but am left kinda confused with the wheelbase. i thought smaller was better due to less horsepower and torgue loss. I understand the longer a truck and the trailer is the easier it is to back it up., but foward towing shorter should be better.
I am also a chevy guy for the most part and I have to say the tahoe and the yukon will get better milage than the exsploder. Why that is I have no clue other than IMHO Fords stink. Some things to look at is reliability,resale value and repair costs. In general GM has the best of all three, they tend to find something that works and sticks with it.That in turn drives their parts costs down because the parts are usually the same for many years.Also they have extremly dependable 4wd systems, which has been the same for quite awhile.When you are as dependable as GM is you get higher resale value.

A longer trailer puts the fulcrum farther from the wheels on a trailer, giving it a wider turning radius. I have a 5x8 trailer, and that thing turns left and right like crazy.

Anyway, I don't like too many of the new SUVs. It seems like every new vehicle nowadays is really plasticy and HUGE. The Durango now looks like a minivan, a hummer is no longer a hummer, etc. I would personally go with the Trailblazer. My aunt and uncle have two Tahoes parked in their garage, and man is it a tight fit. The new ones do have push button folding side views though. That's a pretty nice feature, but the "conveniences" on vehicles are getting crazy; power folding seats, powered rear hatch, and so on. They should worry more about building a reliable vehicle instead of trying to make the population even lazier. Not to mention, the more electronics, on a vehicle, the more things there are that can go wrong, and are more likely to go wrong.

The Trailblazer IMO is a decent size, and like said, equipped right can tow what you say is needed. Good luck.

May be a H2 Hummer would do the job....how abouts a Land rover....humvee H1, from our uncles lot would be the ticket.
Of course you'll have to marry a rich oil barrens daughter. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I agree with the gearing issue, but am left kinda confused with the wheelbase. i thought smaller was better due to less horsepower and torgue loss. I understand the longer a truck and the trailer is the easier it is to back it up., but foward towing shorter should be better.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
No,No,No You are still confused.The longer the wheelbase on the towing rig the better. Backing up a trailer w/ a long WB rig can be more difficult as the length makes stearing inputs take forever to act on the trailer.But when pulling at speed and braking with a short wheel-base rig you can have a "tail waggin the dog" situation. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

Well said! A 7K trailer when zig-zaging in the wind can overpower the tow vehicle! The shorter the tow wheel base the sooner it will be slid around by the trailer. The reason DUALLYS are used to pull horse trailers is just for that purpose.. The combined weight, wheelbase and rubber on the road.. NOT for horsepower alone.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

My good friend just bought a brand new 4runner v8. And I have to say, I like it way better than it's domestic equivalents. That would be my choice. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Kevin