Picking the right tow vehicle

[Hilola]

For those of you that like to take your trailer into the backwoods, here is a new tow vehicle option:

https://chevroletforum.com/articles/...mpaign=content

[padlin]

How about something like the Earthroamers and get rid of the Escape?

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

I pull a 2007 Escape 17B with a 2017 Toyota 4Runner, and the best advice I can offer is don't go above 50% tow capacity. I would tow a 7500lb boat a half hour to the lake, but for a long haul through the mountains, I prefer to keep my camper on the small side.

The most important item to consider is Elevation. If your staying under 5000' like in the Smokey's, maybe a midsize will work, if your heading past Denver, get a full size with a V8...

Why 50%? How about 40%... or 10%?

Rules of thumb can be useful, but applying some "correction" factor to rated capacity of very different vehicles is meaningless. If your concern is power - which is what the above sounds like - you would be better off with a rule-of-thumb such as a minimum of 70 horsepower per ton of combined tug and trailer (so 280 hp for four tons of 4Runner and Escape 17'), because rated towing capacity has nothing to do with power. Two vehicles with the same rated towing capacity could have very different power and performance.