Choices of TV for a family of 6

[theoldwizard1]

The kids are 5-9 now, but growing fast ! TT is max (loaded) weight of 8500 lbs. SWMBO does not like vans.

Is there a 6 passenger pickup any more or are we limited to Expedition/Suburban ?

[4x4ord]

We used a 6 passenger crew cab for 7. I thought it worked wonderful. 6 in a 5 passenger would be even better.

[BurbMan]

parker.rowe wrote:
Is the tow rating on the fleet HD suburban really that low? Wow!

Yes, they get built with 11K GVWRs specifically to be upfitted with armor and other specialty gear like this.

[parker_rowe]

I don't mind the idea of a van either. Just bummed that the only way to get 4wd is to pay a 3rd part company like Quigley another 10-15K to build a 4wd van.

Is the tow rating on the fleet HD suburban really that low? Wow!

[Dadoffourgirls]

IdaD wrote:
The GVWR cutoff under CAFE is 8500 lbs and under except for medium duty passenger vehicles such as SUVs and Vans, in which case the GVWR stretches up to 10,000 lbs. That probably went a long way toward killing off your HD Suburban and Excursion.

I would also agree that it's a pretty small niche market. Most families don't need a heavy duty vehicle nor do most families consist of 6 or more people, and families with 5 and under can make an HD pickup work just fine.

This is why the Suburban 3500HD Fleet has a GVWR of 11000lbs.

However, it has a tow rating of 3000 lb.

Only one time have I missed my Heavy Duty SUV compared to my van. I have appreciated my van every time I go to the gas station.

[BurbMan]

Everything is for sale if the price is right!

[Lantley]

Once upon a time I had an Excursion that I towed an 11K GVW TT . Back when they quit making them, I new this dark period we are in, was on the horizon!
We all saw the day coming when there would be no large SUV to tow large 10K GVW RV trailers. That day has arrived with no relief in site.

[Grit_dog]

^ I agree. Didn’t really think about the cafe standards part of it.
But even if they don’t sell well forever, there is now a large gap in that market. And it’s not like in the last 10 years everyone quit driving gas hogs, sold their towables and started driving cars that run on unicorn farts. Quite the opposite actually.
If they can’t make em because overall they’d lose profit due to emissions standards that makes sense. But it ain’t because they wouldn’t sell.
They’d sell like hotcakes until the next economic downturn.

[IdaD]

The GVWR cutoff under CAFE is 8500 lbs and under except for medium duty passenger vehicles such as SUVs and Vans, in which case the GVWR stretches up to 10,000 lbs. That probably went a long way toward killing off your HD Suburban and Excursion.

I would also agree that it's a pretty small niche market. Most families don't need a heavy duty vehicle nor do most families consist of 6 or more people, and families with 5 and under can make an HD pickup work just fine.

[Lantley]

We can stamp our feet and pound our fist all we want,
there is only a niche market for a heavy duty SUV.
The demand is not there by the masses.
The 1/2 ton versions meet the needs of most.
An SUV has a different impact on the CAFE standards(The Corporate Average Fuel Economy) vs.a pick up.
A HD SUV really brings down the avg. fuel economy while producing very few sales.
Ultimately it is the CAFE issue that eliminated the HD SUV.

[dodge_guy]

I agree, bu for some reason they all think we want some ugly front wheel drive vans. Let alone a HD suv to haul a trailer and people!

[Grit_dog]

I’d stay home if one of the kids had to ride b*tch for 1000miles next to me!
This is yet another argument for a HD SUV again. There are so few left, that the first mfg to pull their head out of their arse will make a fortune on them!

[blt2ski]

deltabravo wrote:

blt2ski wrote:
tallest two were 5'16".

5'16" = 6'4"

Nope, I'm 6' tall, so boyz are shorter than me at 5'16" tall. We all know 5' something is shorter than 6' something! I have another friend that is 5'23" tall. He's shorter than me too! lolol

Marty

[deltabravo]

blt2ski wrote:
tallest two were 5'16".

5'16" = 6'4"

[Dadoffourgirls]

Because I did not like 6 in my crew cab, I bought my wife a CTS. Then I sold the crew cab, and bought a 3500 Express. Then I sold the CTS, and leased her something cheaper.

The Express has been a dedicated family hauler and trailer puller. It has been used for spring break trips for 10 people. It has been used to take 8 adults on a brewery tour.

It is not the coolest vehicle in the drive, but the most useful.