Towing w/ PU vs. SUV (Updated)

[Bichon Barb]

Hello all. I took my 98 GMC Yukon in for service this morning and got talking with a salesman about a trade in. Quite frankly, we'd love to trade in and get a new Yukon, but we really don't want a big, long car payment.

The salesman spoke to us about some used trucks he has--specifically a 2003 Sierra 2500 crew cab with, I believe, 16,000 miles that he has listed for $29,000ish. This is a bigger engine than we now have (1500).

Any thoughts on the Sierra 2500? On interior room? (We have two kids and two small dogs.) I've never owned a pick up. We'll probably go look at it when I pick up the Yukon (and he's brushed the two feet of snow off of it. LOL.)

TIA.

 

[JCJRSmith]

We have a 23 foot Jayco Kiwi and were originally going to tow with our Explorer (4 door, 5.0 liter with towing package). After the first time we traded in our other car and got a Ford F150 Supercrew (5.4 Liter with towing package). What amazing difference in comfort and control when towing. The Supercrew has 4 full doors and shorter, 5 foot bed. Plenty of room for me, SWMBO and the 2 offspring. I really enjoy my truck.

 

[FredS]

I agree with JCJRSmith. I think that you will be amazed at how much better the truck will pull than the SUV. And the Sierra has a nice, spacious interior. We have traveled in both (first borrowed the SUV, then bought a Sierra) and strongly prefer the truck.

 

[rapriebe]

We also just traded our 2002 Ford Expedition for a 2004 F350-Crew Cab. We were pulling a 27 Terry and the towing experience was terrible. My poor husband had to hang onto the wheel everytime an 18-wheeler came up behind us on the interstate. The vehicle would sway and it was very unsettling. We just completed our first trip to Florida in the truck and it was a world of difference. My husband actually drove the trip in one day and normally we break it up into two days. Several people told us (prior to purchasing the Expedition) not to use an SUV to tow a travel trailer but we did not listen. I really loved the Expedition and hated to sell it but we felt it was unsafe to continue to tow with it.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Thanks for all your replies. I drove the vehicle yesterday. And we talked numbers. I think that if we do want a newer vehicle, we won't find a much better deal than this. The Sierra 2500 has only 14,000 miles (it was a program truck), tows over 10,000 lbs. and it has lots of bells and whistles. I think the numbers work out to around $26,000 minus the book value of our Yukon, plus tax, title, etc. Seeing that a new Yukon XL stickers for around $48,000, I think this is a pretty good deal.

Now, I just have to decide if this Yankee wants to drive around in a black pick up truck with a Harley decal on the back.

 

[JCJRSmith]

Originally posted by Bichon Barb
Now, I just have to decide if this Yankee wants to drive around in a black pick up truck with a Harley decal on the back.

Might as well - Harleys are made by Yankees - Milwaukee, WI and York, PA.

I think you're going to love the pickup.

 

[logical]

We have a 31 ft. with a living room slide. The camper weighs a million pounds. We towed it with a GMC Sierra 1500 through the Smoky Mountains 4 times since 2001 and have been all over the south with it. It really didn't have a problem with towing, it was just too small for my growing family. We have a 7 yr old girl, a 4 yr old girl and two boys born in December of 2003. There was no way to fit 3 car seats into any other vehicle except for a SUV.

I have towed the camper with the new Yukon XL and I love it! It rides much smoother than the truck and as to sway, I think if you have your anti-sway brake adjusted tightly, you will not feel the semi's as bad.

I remember one time after driving white-knuckled all day, finding out that the brake was attached, but not tight.

my 2c

Wes

 

[FredS]

Originally posted by logical
We have a 31 ft. with a living room slide. The camper weighs a million pounds. We towed it with a GMC Sierra 1500 through the Smoky Mountains 4 times since 2001 and have been all over the south with it.

Was this a regular Sierra 1500, i.e., no towing package, etc.?? We looked at the numbers on this and it most definitely is not intended to tow a 31 ft. camper with a slide! We have a 28 ft. without slides and it was not really adequate for that, so we upgraded.

Barb is looking at a truck that has significantly more towing power. I just didn't want there to be any confusion and anyone comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Disney Campers]

camper weighs a million pounds. We towed it with a GMC Sierra 1500 through the Smoky Mountains

a million Pounds??? better not let the weight police find you on the RV discussion boards

 

[Bichon Barb]

LOL! Please no arguments.

I am towing now with a Yukon 1500. I assume this is the same engine as the Sierra 1500? The Ford F150? It has gotten us from Syracuse to Maine and from Syracuse to Virginia, but most 1 to 2 hour trips.

Now I'm curious. Does it make a difference if you put the same engine on a pick up or an SUV?

Anyway, we still haven't committed. I looked through the auto section of today's paper--with rebates, etc., it looks as though you can get a Silverado 1500 with bells and whistles for around $24,000. Should I pay $26,000 for a Sierra 2500 which is a year older and has 14,000 miles?! I will definitely bring this up as a bargaining tool!

And I assume that a General Motors product with a 2500 engine is pretty much the same as a Ford F250?

Discuss amongst yourselves...

 

[Bichon Barb]

Duh, I just realized, we towed a Coleman Sun Ridge Pop up to Maine and Virginia with the Yukon. It wasn't the Outback 25RSS. We've got about a 2500 lb. difference there.

 

[Disney Campers]

i would say go with the bigger vehicle, especially since RVers usually upgrade to a bigger trailer, if you have a truck you have the option of upgrading to a 5th wheel, i have a Sierra 2500 HD, it one heck of a tow vehicle that will allow us to upgrade to a bigger trailer or fiver in the future, currently it pulls our 31 footer with great ease.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Originally posted by Disney Campers
i would say go with the bigger vehicle, especially since RVers usually upgrade to a bigger trailer, if you have a truck you have the option of upgrading to a 5th wheel, i have a Sierra 2500 HD, it one heck of a tow vehicle that will allow us to upgrade to a bigger trailer or fiver in the future, currently it pulls our 31 footer with great ease.

Bingo Disney Campers! You must be married to have such progressive thoughts! The first thing I said when we looked at the PU is "Geez, this thing could pull a fifth wheel" . Seriously, we just bought our trailer last July, so I don't foresee an immediate upgrade.

This is the time of year I'm envious of you Floridians. DH and I were just talking about how far south we'd need to go to camp in mid April. (We're talking about Washington DC right now.)

 

[logical]

Sombody asked if I towed my 31 ft dutchmen classic with super slide with a regualr GMC Sierra. Yes. The only thing my truck did come with that was extra was a transmission fluid cooler and a 3.73 rear differential.

When I bought the camper, they had mislabeled the weight by about 1500lbs. I had some remorse over this but was determined to camp anyways. Well, 150,000 miles later I traded it. I never had a problem with the transmission, engine or rear end. Maybe I was lucky. I talked with the service guys at the GMC place and they said that it wasn't unusual at all because the towing specs are underrated for a reason (me).

Now as to the Yukon, is has 10 more horsepower and a different towing package (computer for transmission I've been told). It really does ride much nicer than my truck and I thought my truck rode like my Sedan DeVille.

I got 7 to 9 miles per gallon towing with the truck and don't know what I'll get with the Yukon. By the way, the 4.10 rear differential raises your towing capability to 9600 lbs using the same engine.

I guess that I'll find out if I am as lucky with the Yukon XL.

Wes

 

[Bichon Barb]

We're picking up the Sierra at 11:00 a.m.! It just happens that we are leaving this afternoon for a two day ski trip (a couple hours west of here), so I'm looking forward to taking the new truck.

They gave us about $2000 or $3000 more than the book value for the Yukon, and a good price on the Sierra. It was an offer we couldn't refuse.

Now we just have to wait a few months to see how it tows!

 

[tiggereyore]

Barb I'll be interested in hearing how it goes and how you like it. We're looking at a new truck (couple of months) and were considering the Seirra did you get he 1500 or 2500. I'm so glad you didn't get the ford. We just had to put an oil pan in our f350 4 yrs and 19,000 miles.
Please keep us (ME) updated.

 

[Bichon Barb]

OMG! The thing is huge! I'm going to be able to drive around crowded parking lots for a while--at least until I get used to the extra footage. I'll just park far away and walk. LOL.

Tiggereyore, it's the 2500, four door. The front and back seats have comparable room to the Yukon. Like I said before, it has 13,000 miles on it. Compared to the new SUV's, it was a steal. I think because SUV's are so hot right now, the pickups are much better priced.

I've only driven it a few miles, but I'll get back to you after our trip.

 

[JCJRSmith]

Originally posted by tiggereyore
Barb I'll be interested in hearing how it goes and how you like it. We're looking at a new truck (couple of months) and were considering the Seirra did you get he 1500 or 2500. I'm so glad you didn't get the ford. We just had to put an oil pan in our f350 4 yrs and 19,000 miles.
Please keep us (ME) updated.

What happened that caused the truck to need a new oil pan? Did you hit something?

 

[JCJRSmith]

Sounds like a great truck, Barb. I'll bet you are going to be pleasantly surprised the first time you tow with it.

Congratulations