Vehicle for towing

Mike_Rupp

Mike_Rupp

Well-known member
Mar 26, 2004
3,604
0
Mercer Island, WA
With the Kennith and Chapman feud being temporarily suspended, I guess now is a good time to get some recommendations. I have a small winery that requires me to drive 200 miles to pick up grapes. I have to tow around 8000-10000lbs (more capacity wouldn't hurt) of grapes / trailer / bins several times per year. I've been using my Audi Q7, which does ok with about 4-5000lbs, but I wouldn't try adding more even though it's rated for 6600lbs. Driving from the Seattle area to the Yakima valley involves 4 mountain passes, so I need something that has some reserves, so to speak. Driving with a full load and having the engine revving at 4500rpm in a low gear to maintain 50mph isn't my idea of a good tow vehicle.

Unfortunately, pickup trucks are out. I need to stick with SUVs. I don't need something new, but the newer the better. In a nutshell, I need a decent SUV towing rig that won't leave me stranded on the side of the road with grapes that need to be crushed.

Go.
 
Blue

Blue

Well-known member
Mar 26, 2004
10,069
879
AZ
Unfortunately what you've described screams "pickup truck" all day long.
 
Maximumwarp

Maximumwarp

Well-known member
Mar 22, 2015
836
26
Fairburn GA
Yeah, the diesel Excursion that jrose suggested is gonna be your best option for an SUV, as it's on the F-250 chassis. They also make 2500 series Suburbans, and once upon a time, Avalanches, but they lack the engine grunt you're seeking if you want to yank 10k lbs up a mountain
 
Blue

Blue

Well-known member
Mar 26, 2004
10,069
879
AZ
I've purchased two 2014 F250's and one 2015 F250 in the past year. All have the 6.2L V8 and they barely drive any differently with fully loaded trailers hitched up.
 
Mike_Rupp

Mike_Rupp

Well-known member
Mar 26, 2004
3,604
0
Mercer Island, WA
KyleT said:
Rent a uhaul.
Click to expand...

This is a consideration as well, but then I'm at the mercy of someone else. I've been renting Uhaul trailers for the last three harvests, but it's not an ideal solution since it's one more variable to deal with. My goal was to have a trailer built that can hold 3-4 tons of grapes and tow that with something. Then all I have to do is schedule the time to have the grapes picked.
 
chris snell

chris snell

Administrator
Staff member
Aug 15, 2005
3,020
152
What's wrong with a pickup? Will the Mercer Island HOA complain? :)

But seriously, a quad-cab F250 or F350 or similar Chevrolet would be perfect. They are available in trim packages that are quite luxurious--not Audi level but still very nice.
 
K-rover

K-rover

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2010
2,179
69
Raleigh, NC
Why no pick up truck? I would say get a full size pickup
with 4 doors and a camper shell. Thats pretty much the same thing as an SUV...
 
jrose609

jrose609

Well-known member
Feb 10, 2009
2,162
0
Boise, ID
Well, I live in Boise, and I'm not Mormon, but the Ex is a great rig..........


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Maximumwarp

Maximumwarp

Well-known member
Mar 22, 2015
836
26
Fairburn GA
Mike_Rupp said:
Light bar and engine swap? That's a little too much for me to handle.
Click to expand...

The light bar does add many horsepowers, you'd be burning through rear tires in no time. There are several diesels in my area with under 100k on the clock, in various stages of lift/rim combos. If you're looking soon, you may have to travel. I've always heard good things about them, people probably tend to hang on to theirs.
 
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