Not an SUV but have to share.

My 2000 Cadillac.

300hp

325 ft lbs. torque

Showroom condition

40,033 miles

Tow package

Tows my 16ft Cajun with a 70 Johnson like a boss!

Yup.

Cool rig...wouldn't work at some of our...ah..."unimproved" boat launches here in NW WI.

Momma might need a ladder to get in, but THIS is THE tow vehicle everybody should have!

 

How many gallons per mile does that thing burn?

There are alot of good thoughts here. Around here we have had what could be referred to as a rash of RV wipeouts on the interstate this year. In several instances it has been due to overloaded tow vehicles. There was a great article about how to really figure what your vehicle should and shouldn't be towing attached to one of the news articles. Wish I could find it. I'll keep looking.

I'd agree that its pretty impressive the HP and torque numbers that technology has brought to smaller engines but those, from a safety standpoint, are the least important numbers. I like having weight on the tow vehicles side. I have a pretty heavy boat and even with a 2500hd you have to be careful in certain situations. Stopping a boat for a stoplight is one thing. Stopping a boat cause some clown just jerked out in front of you is another. Throw in a curve on a wet road and you better not be running at 100% of your vehicles rated capacity.

I'm not contradicting anything anybody has said cause I don't disagree with any of it. Just my point of view. As far as smaller tow vehicles I'd have to say that I have seen stuff being pulled by early model grand Cherokees that I would hesitate to hook with my truck and frankly they didn't look like they were struggling too much.

Minnow, you're spot on, IMO.  I grew up pulling 30 ft. campers for grouse hunting...

 

Here's how my math works for my rig:

 

2005 Crestliner CMV, empty: < 1200 lbs.

2005 Johnson (Suzuki) DF140: <400 lbs.

41 gallons gas: < 250 lbs.

Tackle and rods: ~ 200 lbs.

Trolling motor, batteries, and charger < 200 lbs.

 

That gets me to 2050 lbs.

 

Trailer is <700 lbs. and round up for misc. gizmos - I'm at 3100.

 

Less than 90% of capacity...and I never tow with a full tank of gas...so that's got a huge impact.

 

That Tracker is lighter than my CMV, the motor is way lighter than my 140, and it carries less gas...no brainer from here.

 

A new (later than 2013) Ford Escape will pull it all day, every day.

Well, I looked into both the GMC and Chevy mid-sized pick ups and with the options I want and momma 'needs' I can save over $10K vs. a mid-size SUV even with the addition of a cap. Of course, I'd loose some interior space. That's not a big concern and a sliding rear window along with the cap gives me everything but the extra seating. The GMC doesn't have the variety of option packages the Chevy does, but it does offer everything on my list and aside from the fact it says GMC on it, it ends up being cheaper.

Here's the new "tow" vehicle.   Has & does everything I'll be asking of it.

 

Granted I'm fairly sure the Denali doesn't work up much of a sweat hauling around the Old Town.

 

 

A-Jay

 

I tow my 16ft Deep V Tracker ( about 3000 fully loaded) with my 05 Avalanche Z 4x4. I don't even feel the boat. My dad has a 2010 Colorado Z71 and it pulls the boat ok but it struggles on hills and MPG. My dad told me that if he had to pull the boat more than 2hrs away he'd like to use my truck. I would look at the newer body Avalanches they feel like a SUV but you get the pickup bed.  They sit a little lower than the trucks