Advice on mid sized SUV that can tow

[detamble13]

The wife and I have decided a 19' - 21' fiberglass boat is in our future and we need something to tow it. I've been looking at Toyota 4Runners with the 4 liter V6. It's a body on frame SUV which is rare in the segment but unfortunately doesn't give it any additional towing capability. I'm comfortable with the Toyota brand and like a larger displacement naturally aspirated engine over the boosted inline fours that most other brands have in their mid sized suv's. 2025 4Runners are going that way though.

This will be our family hauler so three rows are nice but not required. Also this is my wifes car and she doesn't want a full sized suv.

Please let me know your thoughts and/or experience with a newer mid sized suv that can tow.

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[Carbide]

4 Runner at the minimum. I had a 2005 that I towed with. It wasn't great. Even a little lightweight aluminum trailer with a couple of dirt bikes was a little sketchy.

 

[Inthehighdesert]

My wife had a limited for quite a while. It was a great suv. My biggest complaint was it was underpowered. We‘re at a mile in elevation and the lack of power frustrated me. We had that for several years. I couldn’t imagine towing with it. I got her an Explorer St after the 4runner, that was a great suv. Would tow what you’re talking about in a boat no issues. The all wheel drive would be good in your neck of the woods to. I bought that new and sold at about 40k miles and got her a new Bronco 4 door.

 

[detamble13]

Thanks for the advice. I've been taking a look at the Explorer and might look at a Grand Cherokee as well. Not comfortable with what I've read about Jeep quality though and have never owned one. I've also never owned a Ford, it's been GM and Toyota.

My wife really likes the looks of the Bronco and so do I. It was disappointing to find out max towing is 3500 lbs unless you get a Raptor. I wish Chevy made a body on frame Blazer that could tow 5000lbs or more. The search continues.

 

[shogun32]

19' - 21' fiberglass boat is in our future

since the purpose of a boat is to make a hole in the water into which you pour endless money, why not rent a tow vehicle of sufficient size when it's time to move the yacht? How often are you moving it? 10 times a year? If that?

 

[Inthehighdesert]

The body on frame was a big deal for me to. Old body shop guy here. Thus the 4runner a ways back. My wife really likes the bronco, I do as well. Little surprised the towing is so low. I‘m in the same boat on the grand cherokee. Worked on alot of those over the years. The jeeps are a different story though. Coincidentally came across a guy in a 392/rub this morning tow a smaller travel trailer. That thing was tank slapping at 75-80. He had no business towing that fast. I really wish toyota didn’t underpower there stuff, they make a very sound product.

Thanks for the advice. I've been taking a look at the Explorer and might look at a Grand Cherokee as well. Not comfortable with what I've read about Jeep quality though and have never owned one. I've also never owned a Ford, it's been GM and Toyota.

My wife really likes the looks of the Bronco and so do I. It was disappointing to find out max towing is 3500 lbs unless you get a Raptor. I wish Chevy made a body on frame Blazer that could tow 5000lbs or more. The search continues.

 

[kz]

I'll say that rental 4Runner I got last year visiting Grand Teton NP was the worst vehicle I drove for a long time - by far. And I drive a lot of different cars while traveling for work - outside US too.

I think it utlimately doesn't matter that much - all these SUVs have similar 3,500lb ish towing capacity so few thing I'd look at is making sure it has transmission cooler as that's likely failure point and what the payload is (amount of weight you can pack into it which should include tongue weight of the trailer).

People love to brag about how much their F150 Ecoboost with max tow can tow completely missing that effectively it is half of that due to payload limitation.

FWIW friend towed ND Miata on a steel trailer (>2000 lb alone for the trailer) from Cincinnati to Lincoln, NE and back twice with a Toyota Highlander and it was "fine". Allegedly not too sketchy and Highlander is still alive.

 

[robvas]

4Runner payload is either 880 or 1160lbs..

4 medium size (175lb) people is 700lbs

That leaves you with either 180lbs or 460lbs for luggage and the tongue weight of the trailer

How much does the boat/trailer weigh?

 

[detamble13]

How much does the boat/trailer weigh?

I don't have the boat yet. I wanted to have something to tow it first and to be honest I like a Tahoe but they are full size. This will be my wifes vehicle and she doesn't want something that big. The only time she's ever complained about something being too big (couldn't help myself). She doesn't care what I drive so I'm trying to find something she's good with and is capable. Also, we do enjoy the lower fuel bills for our family hauler and most of the time we won't be towing. Currently we have a Toyota Sienna and it meets all of our needs except towing.

Thanks for the feedback everyone and I appreciate you pointing out payload and tongue weight. The Explorer ST looks good with 400hp and 415 ft/lbs which is considerable more than most in the segment. I'm going to look at this closer. I think I wanted to like the 4Runner more than it deserved but it seems underpowered and old with a 5 speed and poor fuel economy.

 

[Det_Riot]

Cayenne Diesel - 7700 lbs, only 2 rows, but super comfortable to drive, not obnoxiously large

 

[kz]

Cayenne Diesel - 7700 lbs, only 2 rows, but super comfortable to drive, not obnoxiously large

Good idea - or Touareg.

 

[shogun32]

Cayenne Diesel - 7700 lbs, only 2 rows

not to mention it gets you in on a lower rung so when it's time to buy the GT3RS they won't refuse to take your money until you buy lesser models and prove you're worthy of ownership.

 

[kz]

not to mention it gets you in on a lower rung so when it's time to buy the GT3RS they won't refuse to take your money until you buy lesser models and prove you're worthy of ownership.

LOL, for GT3RS you'd have to buy like 10 of these. Acquitance here owned 911 Turbo S in one of the past iteration and got dropped by dealer from the list for a new one. It wasn't enough. P-car world is an insanity.

Beside, Cayenne Diesel is a thing of the past if I am not mistaken, from the good old vw-emissions-thing time so would have to be used so no credit towards GT3RS.

 

[Hack]

I wouldn't use a newer mid-sized SUV to tow. Not even a light boat for shorter distances. I'd just buy something older and cheap that is built for that kind of use. Like a 1990s Ford or Chevy pickup would be perfect in my opinion. It will last forever, they are easy to repair and cheap to operate.

I don't think the Japanese really build good towing vehicles yet. And Toyota is terrible for warranty coverage. I owned one and dumped it based on how the local dealers treated me when I requested warranty service. And the various other people who had claims rejected were a factor as well.

 

[detamble13]

Yah the more I look into the mid size segment I've realized they cater more to the soccer mom and less to someone looking to tow. And my wife is most definitely a soccer mom.
Anyways, I wasn't particularly keen on Dodge/Jeep but the Durango and Grand Cherokee have a tow rating of 7600 - 8600 lbs. They offer a V8 which I probably don't need but will want it anyways if we go that route. Also looking at an Explorer ST but it's tow rating is significantly less.
I've thought about a third vehicle but don't need something else to maintain that will sit most of the time. I'll take my time researching and won't jump into anything. No clear winner yet.

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