which 3 row mid sized SUV for 17B or 19 Escape?

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by 77FJ40

... I know I am old school but wouldn't even consider buying a vehicle for towing that didn't have a truck frame and a solid rear axle. I know lots of people are happy doing it. Just not what I would suggest. That leaves very few SUVs as options any more though. Mostly Toyota/Lexus vehicles......

well, pretty much all pickup trucks (except the Honda 'truck' which is unibody FWD centric), and also the truck based SUVs like Ford Expedition (and older Explorers), Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon, etc.

me, I'm towing my 4500 lb E21 classic with a 2002 F250 7.3 powerstroke and getting 13-15 MPG on the interstates if I'm not leadfooting it.


somewhere in Nevada near Area 51

[Bill and Earline]

Originally Posted by 77FJ40

This the 100 series Land Cruiser. The best family/tow vehicle. But I'm biased. If you can find one you'll likely feel the same as we do.

Well done, FJ. We are now towing our 21' with a 2003 4Runner V6. I am told I am not to mention the year, but if I do, that I should specify that it only has 115,000 miles and looks and drives like new after the recent wash and wax.

How many miles on your 2001, 4.7 Land Cruiser. It also is looking pretty new.
You do know that the first Tundra to make it to 1 million miles has that 4.7L. Worth reading the article, if you haven't already.

Hurry up, Toyota. Let's see what the 2022 Tundra will have.

[77FJ40]

Our Land Cruiser is up to 186,000 after our recent trip to pick up the Escape. The plan is to take it to 350,000. Keep up on scheduled maintenance and learn/replace what tends to fail at certain milage/age and the reliability will remain well into the 300,000s. Right before the trip we replaced the radiator and hoses, belt, belt pulleys and brackets.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Bill and Earline

Well done, FJ. We are now towing our 21' with a 2003 4Runner V6...

note that a 2003-2009 4Runner is based on the Land Cruiser Prado 120. The Prado is a series of smaller Land Bruisers, a bit more comfort oriented than the original series (which are still made, but only imported here as the Lexus LX series, in fact, a 1998-2007 LX *is* a LC J100 but with a luxo interior and lots more bells and whistles)

[Wunfiddy]

Explorer has three rows. It's still unibody but rear wheel drive bias.
I feel they r too much money and frankly Haven't been impressed with reliability of the latest generation. They have 5k tow rating though.
Smaller than expedition.
I'd otherwise say grand Cherokee if you didn't need third row.
What about a Durango with the 3.6 V6? Do they offer a third row? They are longer than GC.