Full size suv you recommend? - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Me | General Topics > General Escape
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 09-06-2019, 07:16 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: alpharetta, Georgia
Trailer: 2014 21' Escape
Posts: 493
Full size suv you recommend?

Hello All,
OK there have been some threads on this but they seem to more recommend trucks and that is not an option for us. We bought our 21' Escape for when our grand kids go, add two dogs and us a truck will not work.
I love my 2012 Pathfinder but at 225,000 miles starting to have some issues so makes me worry about towing far from home. I have on order (Carvana) a 2015 Armada with 53,000 miles but now after reading some reviews questioning if I want an Armada.

I know many of you tow with 5,000 lb like Highlanders and Pilots but just not sure I like the ratio. Also I would like to stay under $35,000 if that's possible really less then that. This Armada is only $23,000 out the door but again starting to wonder if a good vehicle or not. Have had good luck with Pathfinders so why I looked at the Armada but cannot find a Pathfinder that fits the need (would need to be 2010-2012).

I value the opinions I read on this forum so THANKS in advance for any thoughts you provide.

Enjoy the journey.

Steve
stratos175 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2019, 07:46 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
The new Pathfinder is 6,000 lbs but the rest are at the 5,000 lb limit, Ascent,Palisade,Ridgeline.
The Jeep GC models go a little higher but so do the prices.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2019, 09:51 AM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Magna Bay on Shuswap Lake, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B
Posts: 30
tow car

Be sure what ever tow vehicle you pick has a trailer tow option factory installed. These typically include the hitch and wiring but also brake controller and oil coolers. I think it best to not be too close to your max towing rate. Going up hill at near max load can be very slow. I like to be no more that 70% load to load rating ratio. So a tow vehicle with a rating of 5000 lb would be no more than 3500 lb total trailer load. That's the way I do it. Hope that helps.
Regards Al C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2019, 09:53 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Trailer: 2016 19 (sold)
Posts: 105
Look at the Toyota/ Lexus body-on-frame SUVs with V8s, i.e., the Sequoia, GX 460/470, and Land Cruiser/LX 570. All of those have relatively high tow capacities and could handle a 21 with no issue. Used prices are relatively high, but there’s a reason for that. Great vehicles.
canyonrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2019, 03:29 PM   #5
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,104
also the ford expedition and chevy tahoe are good choices. both of these are based on a shortened pickup truck chassis and drive train. both are excellent at towing, if equipped with the factory tow packages..
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2019, 06:11 PM   #6
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Calhan, Colorado
Trailer: 2019 Escape 19
Posts: 35
Chevy Tahoe

We use a Chevy Tahoe w/max tow package to tow our 2019 19' Escape. Does a great job. Not sure of used prices but new is well above your $35k target.
rog mich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2019, 06:31 PM   #7
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,104
nowdays $35K new will get you an econobox, not much more.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2019, 06:40 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
For about $38,000 you can get a 2020 Hyundai Palisade SEL with convenience package, sunroof, air suspension, and electronics. It tows 5000 lbs and had 10 year warranty.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2019, 07:16 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Trailer: 2016 19 (sold)
Posts: 105
I have been fairly accused of being a bit of a fanatic, but I would choose a 10-year old Land Cruiser over any of these other options, used or new.
canyonrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2019, 07:28 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SLO County, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21C 2019 Expedition
Posts: 5,207
Leaving tomorrow for UT/CO in the new Expedition, having previously towed with Yukon- pretty much same as Tahoe. Have my hanky ready as I remember reading how Reace had tears of joy when going to F150 EcoBoost. 420 ft. lbs. of torque sounds great!

OP- I see 2015 & 2016 Expeditions in your price range and 2015 is when they went with EcoBoost.
__________________
"We gotta get as far away as we can!"
- Russell Casse, Independence Day
Rossue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2019, 10:32 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SLO County, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21C 2019 Expedition
Posts: 5,207
Shoot- ran outta time to edit. Actually the torque spec for Expy is 380 @ 2250 rpm. My '13 Yukon 5.3 is 335@ 4000 rpm.
__________________
"We gotta get as far away as we can!"
- Russell Casse, Independence Day
Rossue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 02:42 PM   #12
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,104
Quote:
Originally Posted by canyonrider View Post
I have been fairly accused of being a bit of a fanatic, but I would choose a 10-year old Land Cruiser over any of these other options, used or new.
pretty sure the Lexus LX *is* a Land Cruiser, in upscale trim. The Lexus GX is the smaller Land Cruiser Prado, again wearing a party dress. The 4Runner has a lot in common with the LC Prado, too. The current LC also has a lot in common with the Tundra, from which the Sequoia SUV is derived.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 02:51 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Trailer: 2016 19 (sold)
Posts: 105
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
pretty sure the Lexus LX *is* a Land Cruiser, in upscale trim. The Lexus GX is the smaller Land Cruiser Prado, again wearing a party dress. The 4Runner has a lot in common with the LC Prado, too. The current LC also has a lot in common with the Tundra, from which the Sequoia SUV is derived.
Exactly right. By “Land Cruiser” I meant both the Toyota and Lexus variants. The LX can often be had for a bit less $$ than the Land Cruiser on the used market, making it the better deal.
canyonrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 03:02 PM   #14
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,104
OTOH, all that luxo stuff in the LX makes it a big heavy lumbering beast with suspension tuned for comfort rather than hauling or offroading. they also get awful gas mileage.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 08:14 PM   #15
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Trailer: 2019 Escape 19
Posts: 92
Dodge Durango? Don't know much about them.
Seneca is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 08:44 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Quote:
Originally Posted by Seneca View Post
Dodge Durango? Don't know much about them.

All I know about the Durango is that instead of clearance, it has a nifty looking dam below the front bumper. My son-in-law knocked it off our rental. Couple thousand dollars damage I figure. Good thing he rented it on his credit card and was covered.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2019, 02:41 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
7th Heaven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: palo alto, California
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic #7
Posts: 314
Hi Steve,

We (make that I as I do most of the driving) love towing our 21 with our 2014 Toyota Sequoia.

Our prior tow was a Volvo XC90. The Volvo could do the job but I would feel it start to drag a bit in in the hills so much that I was never comfortable 100%.

With the Sequoia its towing capacity is more then that required to tow the 21 ... Also with 3 kids the extra seat room on the longer trips allows for a little more elbow room in the back.


-David
__________________
7-7-7 Our Marriage
2013 Escape 21 Classic
2014 Sequoia
7th Heaven is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2019, 11:16 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Redwood City, California
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19
Posts: 286
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
OTOH, all that luxo stuff in the LX makes it a big heavy lumbering beast with suspension tuned for comfort rather than hauling or offroading. they also get awful gas mileage.
The awful gas mileage seems to be fairly universal across the Toyota V8s. Decent power, great reliability, atrocious efficiency.
Defenestrator is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2019, 12:05 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Dave&Kathie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Portland, OR, Oregon
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 #8
Posts: 437
Quote:
Originally Posted by Defenestrator View Post
The awful gas mileage seems to be fairly universal across the Toyota V8s. Decent power, great reliability, atrocious efficiency.
That pretty much sums it up. That being said, we love our V8 Toyota 4Runner. We have towed our 21 up and down the west coast and all the way around the US. Comfortable to ride in and solid as a rock. Really we get about the same gas mileage as most folks do towing. Wish it did better around town though. We have 140k and expect to get that much more but if we ever have to replace it I think we'd be looking at the Sequoia. The Lexus is a little too spendy. Good luck!
Kathie
Dave&Kathie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2019, 06:11 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
I had a 2009 Ram 5.7 Hemi with a 5 speed automatic, 3:55 rear, got 12 mpg towing or not. Plenty of power with but dismal mpg. Traded in for a 5.7 Hemi with a 8 speed auto, 3:21 rear, made a world of difference. Can achieve 20 mpg empty and 15 towing. I believe the Toyota have not upgraded their auto multispeed transmissions similar to Ford and Chrysler.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:09 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.