Tow Vehicle: V-8 or V-6?

[NiceAft]

The only reason I inquired, was to inform you. If you drive that truck on a road, or a bridge with a four ton limit, you are over weight. No mater what you have inside, the door tag states “8900 lbs”. Just wanted to make you aware.

Does the license plate state that it is a truck, or something else?

[BOAT]

I dunno - it's never been an issue.

[dlandersson]

FYI, Consumer Reports has nice things to say about the new (2014) Jeep Cherokee with diesel engine tow ability AND MPG.

[Tomfoolery]

That's going to be my next tow vehicle later this summer or fall, in fact.

[NiceAft]

That's going to be my next tow vehicle later this summer or fall, in fact.

This may be of interest to you.

http://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2014/ ... -fix.shtml

This now being June, they may have finally addressed the issue.

Ray

[mastreb]

My wife had a minor accident in our tow beast (she was hit while parked) and we got a Dodge Durango as a replacement rental.

I'm very favorably impressed with it. It's a platform share with our SUV, and you can tell that the unit body is the same. Everything is the same size as our truck, and it seems to be the same suspension. The engine is Chrysler, the transmission is ZF, and the unit body and suspension are Benz. 1st gear is super-low and torquey; 8th is unable to hold freeway speed going up even a slight hill with the 290hp V6. 5.7L V8 is an option.

It inherits a 6,200 lb. rated tow capacity (7,400 in the V8 model), although all-wheel-drive is a $3K option.

For $30K to start, it's quite the deal in tow-beasts. Doesn't come in a diesel model.

[SENCMac26x]

Ford E350 XLT van, 11,000 lb towing and chicks dig it.

[dlandersson]

Really? I like the 10,000 towing ability. What other vehicles can do that? Got kids so 4WD is also a plus.

Ford E350 XLT van, 11,000 lb towing and chicks dig it.

[SENCMac26x]

Really? I like the 10,000 towing ability. What other vehicles can do that? Got kids so 4WD is also a plus.

Ford E350 XLT van, 11,000 lb towing and chicks dig it.

It's a 12 passenger van, plenty of room for your kids.

Our other option we were looking at was a Chrysler Aspen. It was luxurious, 4wd, 10k towing

[dlandersson]

The 2009 Chrysler Aspen is ranked:

#15 in Used Large SUVs under $30K
#7 in 2009 Affordable Large SUVs

Thank you.

Really? I like the 10,000 towing ability. What other vehicles can do that? Got kids so 4WD is also a plus.

Ford E350 XLT van, 11,000 lb towing and chicks dig it.

It's a 12 passenger van, plenty of room for your kids.

Our other option we were looking at was a Chrysler Aspen. It was luxurious, 4wd, 10k towing

[mastreb]

The Aspen is also a platform-share with the Durango/MB GL/Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's equivalent to the top-of-the-line Durango.

[Catigale]

My wife had a minor accident in our tow beast (she was hit while parked) and we got a Dodge Durango as a replacement rental.

I'm very favorably impressed with it. It's a platform share with our SUV, and you can tell that the unit body is the same. Everything is the same size as our truck, and it seems to be the same suspension. The engine is Chrysler, the transmission is ZF, and the unit body and suspension are Benz. 1st gear is super-low and torquey; 8th is unable to hold freeway speed going up even a slight hill with the 290hp V6. 5.7L V8 is an option.

It inherits a 6,200 lb. rated tow capacity (7,400 in the V8 model), although all-wheel-drive is a $3K option.

For $30K to start, it's quite the deal in tow-beasts. Doesn't come in a diesel model.

Shame about the lack of diesel model. The blue goop is useful at home as a drink mix.

[raycarlson]

Mopar-Fiat has shared nothing with MBenz since pre 2010. If there is something similar it is because it was engineered 2010 or earlier and has just never been updated since.

[Tomfoolery]

My wife had a minor accident in our tow beast (she was hit while parked) and we got a Dodge Durango as a replacement rental.

I'm very favorably impressed with it. It's a platform share with our SUV, and you can tell that the unit body is the same. Everything is the same size as our truck, and it seems to be the same suspension. The engine is Chrysler, the transmission is ZF, and the unit body and suspension are Benz. 1st gear is super-low and torquey; 8th is unable to hold freeway speed going up even a slight hill with the 290hp V6. 5.7L V8 is an option.

It inherits a 6,200 lb. rated tow capacity (7,400 in the V8 model), although all-wheel-drive is a $3K option.

For $30K to start, it's quite the deal in tow-beasts. Doesn't come in a diesel model.

The Durango has a 119.8 in wheelbase and 64 in. track (average front and back), which is longer than even our 2003 Honda Odyssey at 118.1 in (but the Honda has a 66.1 in track). When it comes to towing stability, longer is better.

My Highlander only has a 109.8 in wheelbase. It has wheelbase envy, and towing stability (performance) to match. The Grand Cherokee has a 114.8 in wheelbase; a fair bit longer than my Highlander, but not as long as the Durango by quite a bit.

I may have to seriously consider the Durango, especially since the same dealer has both. Unfortunately, it doesn't (yet) come in diesel, though I would think they'd get to that if the EcoDiesel is a popular option in the Jeep, and it won't seriously dilute the market for Jeep GC's.

[BOAT]

The 'boat' tow veh has a 158IN WB and a diesel motor - is that good?