Tow Vehicle Options

[forjar]

We are looking at changing out our tow vehicle from a 2005 2500HD to a 2012 Tahoe. Looking for more room for extra passengers so we don't have to take multiple vehicles on road trips.

Does anyone have any experience using a Tahoe as a tow vehicle for their Tige. What kind of towing are you doing with your Tahoe? Would love to upgrade to a new diesel truck, but wife wants extra room fro kids. Any input would be great.

[tommy1005]

I'd also look at the Denali or Escalade. I know it's more, but you'll appreciate the rear air suspension and the extra horsepower of the 6.2. The Tahoe will do it, but you'd likely have to order one to get it setup to actually handle a decent load. When we were looking most had the 3.18 or so gear. With the 5.3 you really need a 3.73 rear end to be able to tow with it. 2014 Expedition will have the Ecoboost motor in it. I have out the same load behind my F150 and my buddies 5.3 Tahoe and the Ecoboost will drag circles around the 5.3. Might be worth waiting until the fall. I will say towing with the 6.2 over the 5.3 is night and day difference.

[Duncan]

3/4 ton Suburbans are very nice (9800 lb tow capacity, huge interior). And they are about to get a redesign in the coming model year. So you might pick an current style up for a good deal.

We love our 09 Nissan Armada (9100 lb tow capacity). I highly suggest a used one if you can find one. But the news ones have just not kept up with features of other full sized suvs.

[MN Tige-man]

x2 what tommy1005 said. I have a 2008 GMC Sierra with a 5.3L and it accelerates slow with the boat. After the first year of towing my boat with this truck I was ready to get rid of it.

[rwdavis1]

I pull my 06 24V with a 2000 GMC Yukon XL. It has a 5.7L with the 373 rear end, Z55 auto level suspension,tow haul option which changes the shift settings. I pull mine in town and on the highways and have no problems. From a dead start it will not pull the axles out from under the trailer like some vehicles can but i have no problems accelerating to speed. The room is awesome in this vehicle. Good luck

[forjar]

I think that the suburban and armada are the only suv's that have over 9000 tow capacity right now. I just may have to stick with the idea of taking two vehicles if we are taking more of the kids friends with us.

[jmhatchett]

prolly one of the coolest things ive seen is i have a buddy that did a rebuild. he bought a 2010 2500 hd (Chevy) and also a 2010 suburban. he flipped the bodies and now has a 2010 Chevy suburban duramax with allison all on the 3/4 ton frame and equipment. it only has the suburban body instead of pickup bed. now there is a lot of work and paperwork that goes along with registering and such but its an awesome ride.

[Travism]

I pull our new z3 with our 2012 escalade SUV with no issues. Pulls the boat great and can run highway speeds with no issues. I will say it isn't easy on gas while pulling but surprisingly good on fuel when not pulling.

[Duncan]

I would love one of the so-called Duraburbs

[LTtige22v]

I have had a 2010 Tahoe with the big tow package 8,200. Lbs and my 2012 does not have the big tow package 7,200 Lbs. I have an 03 22v you def know its behing the Tahoe but still gets the job done. I use it for mostly shor tows to the river and a few 5000 mile round trip tows a year. Gets 11 mpg towing and 19.2 highway.

[Dan and Christy]

My vote is that Duraburb! Nice!!!

[D&P Powell]

Forjar, I see you have the same boat as we do (2004 22i), and I can tell you we have the 2011 Tahoe and we are very pleased with its capabilities. We have towed to Havasu and Mohave quite a few times, but with gas prices the way they are, we decided to just start storing our boat in Needles during the summer. $110 a month stored in a warehouse is a good savings over the gas back and forth.

[racerdave]

I use a 2010 Yukon Denali to tow my boat... it will pass anything on the road but a gas station! it doesn't even know the boat is back there! I have pulled my boat all over the place haven't had any troubles!

[bigskymudflaps]

I have a toyota tundra with the 5.7l motor and a 6 speed tranny. About 400lbs of torque. I set the cruise at 75 and tow my rz2 anywhere. I live around mountains and our local summit is steep, 6% and about 8000 feet. Towed the boat over at a little faster than 80 just to see what it could do. Huge brakes, good reliability, really good resale. Now, the Toyota Sequoia is the same, but it can hold at least 7 and maybe 8. I don't know if you can get the front bench like I have (three over shoulder belts), but the rear is at least what you see in a 5.7 Tahoe with a lot better towing . Dry, I get a real 13 to 14mpg in the city and 18 on the highway on 85 octane fuel. It looks like the towing capacity is 7400 on the sequoia with the same motor I have in my tundra, must be the shorter wheel base or different frame? The tundra is over 10k. If you want to go nuts on power, throw on the 5500 dollar factory supercharger that pushes the hp to 550 with no effect on the warranty. I've heard good things about the ford ecoboost, but scares me with a pumped up motor like that. I definitely wouldn't tow large loads on a regular basis. I know it sounds like I love the toyota, I don't. It's just a truck I got a great deal on that has worked out really well.

[Jeepdude]

If you are going with a Full size GM, you are going to want the 6.2. the 5.3 is under powered for long haul towing comfortably.
The 5.3 will do it, but you will hate it. especially coming out of a diesel!