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Jplant · 02-08-2025, 02:40 PM

New RVer here, moving from Class A motorhome to 25’ Travel trailer. Looking for some advice on the size SUV I should get. Recently bought a 25’ Forest River Alta TT with a GVWR of 7610 and dry weight of 5463, hitch weight of 610#. Currently have a 2004 Toyota 4Runner V8 with towing capacity of 7000# which I think is too small. Looking for recommendations for a SUV (not a truck) without killing the bank that could easy handle the load. I live in Utah which is very mountainous, so that is a factor. Thanks in advance

deserteagle5 · 02-08-2025, 08:50 PM

So essentially you are talking about pulling an 8000 lb travel trailer in mountains. I don't know of any current SUV capable of safely handling that much weight in the mountains. The latest Suburban is rated right at 8000 lbs but that's not leaving any safety margin.

CharlesinGA · 02-08-2025, 09:30 PM

GVWR of 76!0 means a tongue weight when fully loaded, or between 760 lbs (10%) and 1125 lbs (15%), and probably around 900 to 1000 lbs depending on how heavy you load the trailer. Not too many SUV's and even some pickups, cannot carry that much tongue weight and have any room for passengers and gear.

My trailer grosses 7500lbs and while I have not weighed in a while, its probably around 6500 to 6800 lbs and I have a tongue weight of right at 850 now (weighed with a Sherline scale) so I'm at about 13%. I pull with a Dodge/RAM with a Cummins diesel, but I would not be happy towing with a SUV or "half ton" truck.

If you need space inside the vehicle, a 3500 series Chevy Express or GMC Savanna passenger van with the Gas 6.6L V8 would make a good towing platform, though I think the max tow limit is about 9600 lbs with them. The shorter wheelbase model is lighter and thus has more carrying capacity than the long wheelbase version.

Charles

d23haynes57 · 02-08-2025, 10:12 PM

Tahoe or Suburban!
You want a real V8 if going gas or a Diesel. Avoid the ECO Turbo and other high-tech stuff.

Jplant · 02-09-2025, 09:23 AM

How about 2024 Toyota Sequoia
i-FORCE MAX 3.445L Twin-Turbo V6 Hybrid engine
437 horsepower
583 pound-feet of torque
9,520-pound towing capacity
10-speed Electronically Controlled automatic transmission, and while Rear-Wheel Drive is standard with Automatic Limited-Slip Differential

MFL · 02-09-2025, 09:45 AM

Lots of SUV options with plenty of power to pull it, such as the Sequoia mentioned. The bigger issue is the tongue wt capability, and shorter wheel base of many SUVs. Towing in the mts, or in high winds, a longer, heavier tow vehicle will handle towing a heavy, tall box down the road, and especially down the steep grades. Some V6 turbos lack adequate engine braking, compared to a V8.

A 2500 Suburban would be a good choice, but hard to find, since they were discontinued some years ago.

d23haynes57 · 02-09-2025, 09:53 AM

Some that power and torque is from the Hybrid motor assist. The assist will not always be there for longer hill climbs. Also, what the vehicle and axle weight ratings? Somewhere between 10% and15%of the trailer weight needs to go on the hitch as tounge weight.
Will it do the, if the weight capacity is there yes. Is it an ideal choice, probably not.

Jay D. · 02-09-2025, 11:08 AM

You should be fine with a half ton. we tow with crew cab., we tow a 27' at around 6500# and a tongue wt. of about 8-10% it tows perfect. there's a lot to think about for a tow rig
Jay D.

Jplant · 02-09-2025, 01:48 PM

Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions . After looking a payload and hitch weight I realized that I should look for a more substantial towing vehicle.

xc-mark · 02-09-2025, 02:12 PM

If you can find a good used one older 2006 era 2500 suban or Yukon XL with a 8.1L gas engine. Other than that, you're looking for a problem with short wheelbase lighter SUV pulling a 27' 8000lb trailer on the highways in the mountains.

3/4 ton pickup is the TV of choice in my opinion. Gas or Deisel , Deisel perform much better up and down hill compared to gas.

d23haynes57 · 02-09-2025, 08:05 PM

Yukon rated to tow "up to 8,400 pounds".

db4570 · 02-09-2025, 10:20 PM

How much stuff do you plan to load in it? If you keep it reasonable, any full-size SUV will handle it just fine. If you load it with 2000# of stuff, you may need a bigger truck.

jerome951 · 02-10-2025, 08:00 AM

I think the best SUV options for that size trailer will be the larger Suburban 2500 as others mentioned, or the discontinued Ford Excursion (also built on a 3/4 ton platform).

The newer Armada, Sequoia, Suburban and Expedition might work if you get a lightly optioned unit and don't carry much in the SUV. But even then, you are in the upper range of their capacity, which isn't recommended.

Beamer2022 · 02-10-2025, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesinGA

GVWR of 76!0 means a tongue weight when fully loaded, or between 760 lbs (10%) and 1125 lbs (15%), and probably around 900 to 1000 lbs depending on how heavy you load the trailer. Not too many SUV's and even some pickups, cannot carry that much tongue weight and have any room for passengers and gear.

My trailer grosses 7500lbs and while I have not weighed in a while, its probably around 6500 to 6800 lbs and I have a tongue weight of right at 850 now (weighed with a Sherline scale) so I'm at about 13%. I pull with a Dodge/RAM with a Cummins diesel, but I would not be happy towing with a SUV or "half ton" truck.

If you need space inside the vehicle, a 3500 series Chevy Express or GMC Savanna passenger van with the Gas 6.6L V8 would make a good towing platform, though I think the max tow limit is about 9600 lbs with them. The shorter wheelbase model is lighter and thus has more carrying capacity than the long wheelbase version.

Charles

Charles is spot on!

Tow rating don't really matter. It's the cargo/payload rating you will exceed way before you get near a tow rating.

For that much weight trailer, a 3/4 ton pickup or equivalent is needed unless you have a heavy cargo 1/2 ton.

For tongue and hitch weight, figure 1200 lbs. Then add the weight of passenger and all gear. That has to stay below the payload/cargo weight rating of the vehicle. With a family of 4, a dog, drink/snack cooler for the trip, extra gear in the TV, I would figure a cargo/payload rating of at least 2000 lbs. would be needed. Bump that up if you want to bring a full fresh water tank, firewood, and other heavy items.

Last time across the CAT scale, my 7000 GVWR weighed in at 7040 lbs. with a full fresh water tank and 1160 lbs. (16.5%) on the tongue.