Best tow vehicle?

Just took delivery on a 2017 GMC Canyon Crew Cab Denali Diesel. Tow capacity 7700 lbs. Probably more than we need but I do pull other heavier trailers occasionally. On our winter trip now without the "Tipi" and averaging 27 mpg. Not as good as some other Teardrop tow vehicles but so much better than our 15 mpg Yukon. CAn't wait to get the "Tipi" out this Spring.

 

certainly overkill for the TD, but you have to pick a vehicle based on its most demanding use, not its most common use

I'm currently towing with a Volvo XC90, but I'm sure I'll have to replace it before we stop using our TD. My struggle is wanting a good onroad vehicle that has decent offroad ability, and we want a lot of interior cargo capacity to keep the excessive crap we bring with us when camping (case of wine, extra chairs, large cooler). Something like a mid-size wagon or SUV doesn't work for us. Jeep Grand Cherokee is probably at the top of the list. Would love to buy a hybrid, but I need to research how robust those systems are when subject to the jarring conditions of offroad/dirtroad use.

Because our TV is our only 4-door vehicle, I also want the TV to be nice enough for urban use, e.g., when going to the City for dinner and symphony with friends. My preference is for the TV to also be my daily driver, so I prefer high MPG and good handling.

Yes, I realize I am fantasizing about a vehicle that can "do everything" for me - not very realistic. But a GMC diesel could rise to the top. Not sure about its offroad capability, but am sure it's better than my current XC90.

 

They do have an off road pkg. I did not think it was necessary for what I wanted. Not sure it comes in the Denali trim pkg. My wife drives this vehicle as she likes the larger size. Makes her feel safer and it still looks nice. We have another car that meets any other criteria we might have.
Only have a 1000 miles on it so far but we like it a lot. Does not ride quite as good as it is a little lighter than the Yukon but it is ok. I actually thinks it handle easier.

 

Confession - Based on the positive reviews on the Sabaru Outback, we bought one & love it! Great daily driver, and with the 3.6 engine, plenty of towing power.
BTW ~ Porsche Cayenne GTS has been sitting in garage, and will be for sale in the near future.
Never to old to listen & learn...
TOWBERT

 

Above are a couple quotes that I believe are key to choosing the correct tow vehicle for you. Personally I drive a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser with automatic transmission (this is an automatic where all 5 gears can be manually selected if desired). This past summer I drove through 20 states and 5 provinces, for a total of 14,700 miles (Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Indiana, Missouri, Colorado, and New Mexico. Being retired, time wasn't an issue and I slept in the 560 for 73 consecutive nights (it was a trip of a lifetime, absolutely fantastic). I did take some day trips without the trailer, but the mileage while pulling my 560 was about 12,000 miles.

Most times I had to remind myself that the trailer was behind me. I prefer two lane roads to freeways, but when on freeways I limited my speed to 65 MPH. On flat terrain, cruise control was engaged a good deal of the time. When driving faster than 55 MPH, I generally placed the transmission in 4th gear, as 5th gear is basically an overdrive the help with fuel economy. This was done so as to not incur too much vehicle automatic shifting to maintain speed. The fuel economic was compromised by driving in 4th, but I believe it is easier on wear and tear on the drive train.

The FJ Cruiser has a greater height than the 560, so I don't think wind was as much a factor as the additional weight of the trailer was on fuel economy. I averaged about 2.5 MPG less with the trailer than without; however, remember that I drive slower on freeways than without the trailer, so the economy is probably slightly worse than calculated.

It was a solo trip and the FJ Cruiser contained a lot of items that would have been carried in the trailer with a lesser vehicle. The FJ Cruiser is somewhat of a panel truck and very convenience to storage extra items. Unfortunately, Toyota no longer manufacturers the FJ and has designated the Tacoma pickup and 4 Runner to fill the void.

The FJ is shorter than both, and this came in handy when I took the ferry from Digby, Nova Scotia to St. Johns, New Brunswick. My total length was under 30 feet, which is significant when calculating the crossing fare.

In conclusion, my recommendation for a tow vehicle is summarized in the quotes borrowed from Inn42.

People ask what does "FJ" stand for, I say it is "Fantastic Journey."

 

Best tow vehicle? 1992 BMW 735il. Comfortable, reliable, factory leveling hydraulic rear suspension, good mpg and mostly analog.

 

I have a 2017 F150 with the 2.7 ecoboost engine. Got 18 mpg coming 750 miles back from WI to Pittsburgh at 70-75 mph. MPG was 20 at 55 mph on 2-lane roads.