Ski

Time to buy something new. I have it narrowed down to the Crew Cab Nissan Titan or the Z71 Suburban. I don't care too much about gas mileage, I've made long trips in a Suburban but not in a Titan - long being over 7-8 hours.

Suburban will be the 5.3 with tow package, Titan will be the standard tow package.

Trailer is a 24' aluminum, enclosed, tanden axle; car and trailer with tools, about 6400-6500#. Thoughts?

Tony356993

I have been towing with a Titan King Cab w/Tow Package for 2 years. 24 ft enclosed trailer w/ tire rack & tires, all tools & jack, and the 993 tt. Add wife and kids and luggage and we are about 8500 lbs. The towing is excellent for a gas vehicle but we get a lousy 8mpg. The Titan is about as good as you can get w/o going to deisel. I towed to 16 DE w/e's this year from VIR (9 hours each way) to the Glen (5 hours each way) and others and the Titan is a great truck. I added DVD for the kids and that makes the truck even better. Nissan has really made a fine truck. We have at least 4 guys in our PCA region towing w/ Titans. Good luck.

JimB

I towed with a Titan for one season. It was a great truck without a trailer but downright scary pulling my 24' enclosed trailer. I think the rear suspension was too compliant/soft for trailering.
Jim

Dbltime

Simple rule of towing, bigger is always better. The Titan may work with the load balanced just right but thats a pain. I towed a 24' trailer with a Tacoma and it would barely work. The car had to be just right in the trailer and I needed to keep my speed down. Screw that. Now I use a 3500 dually Dodge with a Cummins diesel. What trailer?

RedlineMan

Hey;

Either is a bit marginal in my book, but I'd definitely go for the Suburban. A friend has had a LOT of trouble with his Titan. MANY electrical/ventilation problems, and the tranny will not work if you have to back the load any distance. He has to back up a steep driveway. It simply overheats and shuts the truck down. STUPID.

They tell him "too bad," that is the way it is designed. That's not a real truck.

Ski

John, is that friend Chris White, as I heard he had problems with his Titan.

That's why I posted here, I knew you guys would have some answers. Both vehicles I'm looking at 2006 models, both pretty much the same price. I think I'm going to get the Suburban unless they come off the price of the Titan a bit more. I've towed the trailer with my father-in-laws Suburban and it did fine.

smlporsche

I am biased towards diesels as I use a F-350 super duty.
That being said I would consider using the suburban because it probably has a longer wheel base and that will help tremendiously.
Have you checked into the 3/4 ton Subrubans. I think they are labelled as 2500's. They would include not only a larger payload capacity but probably better gearing as well as larger brakes.. Definitely worth considering when towing 24' enclosed trailer (like I do)

Veloce Raptor

If you are gointg the Suburban route, I strongly recommend you buy the 3/4 ton model with the 6.0 engine, and skip the Z71 package. IMO, the 5.3 & its transmission are not strong or durable enough for a load like that, especially when you factor in the wind resistance from a closed trailer.

Also, the new 2007 Suburban/Yukon XL interiors are all-new, and really well done, IMO. Much nicer than the Titan interior. Plus 5 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

spazegun2213

I tow a 18ft steel open trailer with an older (1993) suburban 1500. The trailer weights a hefty 3100lbs (yea, its a tank) and my car weights another 2700. plus all the stuff, i say its 6K. The truck is rated at 6K and pulls it like a champ (although it strains up steep grades.. like going to summit point).

My vote would be for the BEEFIEST suburban you can get. The 2500 series were always know to run forever, and tow whatever you want. You can pack a TON into one (i sleep in mine, and I'm 6'2") and the last thing i heard is the newer ones are very well built.

But if this is JUST a tow vehicle, you may as well get a diesel.

Veloce Raptor

The old rule of thumb is, tow no more than 75% of your vehicle's factory rated tow capacity.

My new 2007 Yukon XL 3/4 ton is rated at 9700 pounds with the 4.10 differential. This means I can tow up to 7,200 pounds safely, IMO....way more than I need.

DrJupeman

Used diesel Excursion. They have 100k mile engine warranties, so you'll likely find one still well under warranty...

soldmystang

3/4 ton suburban. short of going diesel the best bet.

penguinking

3/4 ton suburban here. but still has the 5.7L of the regular suburban. however it tows alot better as the chassis is beefier than the normal 1500.

Tony356993

Charlie has the correct idea. A used deisel Expedition-Cheap and pulls mucho weight. Too late for me though.

Cory M

Have you considered the Chevy and GMC HD2500 trucks? I have a 2003 Chevy crew cab 6 litre and it could handle that load no problem, my father has a GMC crewcab with the Duramax and it tows like a dream and the Allison trans is great. I'd take a used Duramax over a new Titan or Suburban any day.