No 3/4 ton SUVs on the market anymore?

[coastal]

Yukon/suburbon 2500 is discontinued

Excursion is discontinued

What else is there?

[dznf0g]

Nothing that I am aware of in the 3/4 ton range.

[Denis4x4]

With CAFE and EPA mileage regs on the horizon, 3/4 ton SUV's present some issues to manufacturers trying to comply with these new rules.

[dznf0g]

Actually, 3/4 tons (>8600# GVWR) are excluded from CAFE regs.

[coastal]

Yea, Tow vehicle wise options are very limited for large rigs compared to 3 or 4 years ago. I think this will create a problem in the future for towing and probably a big reason why Thor purchased live n lite. Airstreams and other trailers will probably start getting produced closer to those in Europe with much less weight

[Jammer]

The choices in new vehicles for towing 30'+ trailers are now:

a) Pickup trucks.
b) Full-size vans, possibly including a Quigley 4x4 conversion.
c) The Nissan Armada 4x4, which has a 9,000 pound rated towing capacity
d) The Yukon Denali XL, which has a 7,800 pound rated towing capacity.
e) Use of aftermarket modifications to improve towing capabilities.

The Armada and the Yukon both have payload limits such that the vehicle would be overweight with the combination of typical 30' trailer tongue weights and driver plus 5 passengers.

I'm hoping that Chevrolet will release a 3/4 ton 'burb at some future point.

[phbarnhart]

As we're discussing in another thread, the 3/4 is gone but the towing and load rating of the 1/2 tons has gone up... not to the same level as the 3/4 but some. I think my 2012 3/4 ton is rated for 9,800 lbs towing and 2,200 lbs load (or something like that) and the new 1/2 ton is in the 8,000 and 1,700 range. Yes, that's less, but it puts the new 1/2 in the range to tow a 27" Airstream.

All that said, it's a damn shame that the 3/4s are going the way of the dodo; for someone who wants to tow while transporting a medium sized family and may encounter a situation where 4wd is necessary there are NO good options for new cars anymore.

[rostam]

Originally Posted by Jammer

The choices in new vehicles for towing 30'+ trailers are now:

a) Pickup trucks.
b) Full-size vans, possibly including a Quigley 4x4 conversion.
c) The Nissan Armada 4x4, which has a 9,000 pound rated towing capacity
d) The Yukon Denali XL, which has a 7,800 pound rated towing capacity.
e) Use of aftermarket modifications to improve towing capabilities.

The Armada and the Yukon both have payload limits such that the vehicle would be overweight with the combination of typical 30' trailer tongue weights and driver plus 5 passengers.

I'm hoping that Chevrolet will release a 3/4 ton 'burb at some future point.

Also, Ford Expedition has a tow rating of 8700 to 9200 depending on configuration (2WD vs 4WD and extended body length or not).

[dkottum]

I would imagine the low demand of the 3/4 Suburban is at least somewhat due to the evolution of 3/4 pickups. Now with good seating, relatively comfortable ride, luxurious options, well-designed bed shells to protect cargo and diesel engine option. Unless you prefer the shorter wheelbase or need the extra seating the newer "soft" 3/4 pickups do well.

[JFScheck]

My version - Cummins powered 4x4 4-Door truck with leather, Alpine stereo, Nav (all the comfy objects) and ARE topper with bed rug liner.

As my doggie is in the cab with me, like keeping my "stuff" in the bed isolated from the cab - a bonus to me over a SUV.

[perryg114]

Pickups have been reduced to a glorified car with the short beds and all. They are basically SUV's with no roof on the back and a pickup with no cargo capacity. I wonder if this will spur a truck to SUV customization industry.

Perry

Originally Posted by dkottum

I would imagine the low demand of the 3/4 Suburban is at least somewhat due to the evolution of 3/4 pickups. Now with good seating, relatively comfortable ride, luxurious options, well-designed bed shells to protect cargo and diesel engine option. Unless you prefer the shorter wheelbase or need the extra seating the newer "soft" 3/4 pickups do well.

[field & stream]

As is being discussed in a similar thread, the new 1/2 tons may be able to pull (and stop) more than before, but the payload limitations remain. For many this is an equally critical spec.

[boondockdad]

Not having 4WD is a real issue for me. I've used it plenty of times towing and not. Other than that, the E-350 is a very capable TV except for it's integrated brake controller. There's no electric/hydraulic setting.

And, it's also discontinued.

Guess I'm going to need to keep my SuperBurb alive/in-service for a lot longer than I anticipated.

[bganso]

I presume this is more than you're looking for

SportChassis

[Skater]

Originally Posted by perryg114

Pickups have been reduced to a glorified car with the short beds and all. They are basically SUV's with no roof on the back and a pickup with no cargo capacity. I wonder if this will spur a truck to SUV customization industry.

I don't know what your basis for these claims are. Long bed pickups are still widely available, and their cargo and hauling capacities are higher than ever. If you want a long bed pickup, they're easy to find used and new, with four brands (instead of the traditional three) offering them - Ford, Dodge, GM, and Toyota.

[mstephens]

Bigger SUVs or Lighter Trailers

Personally, I'd be highly motivated by a 25' quality trailer that weighs 4000# that could be towed by any of the hefty V6 SUVs. There's an obvious counter trend happening: CAFE standards are putting pressure on automakers for getting rid of the big hogs, but trailer makers are getting heavier! I think the opportunity for AS is to transition to lighter TTs.

Heaven for me would be a GMC Terrain with a 25' AS under 4500#. I don't think it is impossible.

[rostam]

Originally Posted by mstephens

Bigger SUVs or Lighter Trailers

Personally, I'd be highly motivated by a 25' quality trailer that weighs 4000# that could be towed by any of the hefty V6 SUVs. There's an obvious counter trend happening: CAFE standards are putting pressure on automakers for getting rid of the big hogs, but trailer makers are getting heavier! I think the opportunity for AS is to transition to lighter TTs.

Heaven for me would be a GMC Terrain with a 25' AS under 4500#. I don't think it is impossible.

I agree with your point 100%. Airstream used to make light trailers in the 70's and 80's (especially the Argosy line -- 1979 30 ft Argosy has ~ 4200# dry weight and ~ 400# dry hitch weight).

I guess heaven is in Europe, where you CAN tow a 25 ft Airstream with a GMC Terrain.

Specifications - Airstream & Company

A Euro spec'ed 25 ft Airstream gross weight is 4600# with a max tongue weight of 330# (by the way, the interior looks much nicer that Airstreams offered in US).

If Airstream offers such light trailers in North American market, I bet you their sales would double. Why aren't they doing that is beyond me. Not everyone wants to buy a big truck to pull a heavy Airstream.

[moosetags]

Even though I mourn the demise of the Suburban 2500, I, also, would like to lighter well made travel trailers. I would like to have a 25' Airstream that is south of 5,000# ready to camp. A unit like this could be easily towed by a mid-sized SUV.

Brian

[Jammer]

I don't believe 3/4 ton trucks are covered by the CAFE standards.

The Quigley 4wd conversion for full-sized vans may be the answer for some people.

[gmw photos]

As ford found out with the Excursion line, there was a rather limited market for a "super duty 3/4 ton SUV".
As Doug K and some others have pointed out, modern pickups are so well appointed inside, and ride so well, and quietly, they have effectively bridged the gap.

I suspect it might be harder than we think to build a modern TT under 4K pounds with all the luxury stuff folks want. I was recently helping a friend in the shopping process where we looked at the all aluminum livin lite trailers. Even being "all aluminum" ( main frame, floors, etc ) they are really not much, if any, lighter than other trailers made with steel frames and plywood floors.