What type of vehicle can pull a 30' travel trailer and haul 7 passengers?

Question

I want to be able to take my family on vacations without an extra vehicle and pull a Jayco camper at the same time.

But want a vehicle big enough. Do not want a dually or a pickup? is this possible?

Answer 1

We've pulled a 28' trailer and hauled 5 passengers in our 98' Chevy Suburban just fine. I would say Diesel would be a better choice, but a suburban does the job well, in my opinion...

Answer 2

A crew cab truck won't do it for you.  They only seat 6.You are going to need a larger full size SUV like a Suburban to get your required seating capacity.  You could also consider a full size 3/4 ton van to get your seating and towing capacity you need.

A 30 foot Jayco trailer is going to weigh about 7000 pounds empty.  A 30 foot Jayco is capable of hauling about 2000 pounds of your stuff.  Another 1000 pounds for your passengers and gear.

Go for something with at least 10,000 pounds towing capacity and you will be OK. You will need at least a 3/4 ton with a 5.7 - 6.0 liter engine.

The second link is a list of Chevrolet Suburban towing capacities.  I list Chevrolet only as a baseline.  Any of the other full size SUV manufactures have trucks with similar capacities.

Just keep in mind that a vehicle with this much towing capacity is going to be a gas guzzler, even when you are not towing your trailer.

Answer 3

Think about a Ford Expedition/Excursion, or a Chevy Suburban/Tahoe. I'm not familiar enough with other brands larger vehicles, but at least now you have a basis for comparison. Good luck.

Answer 4

At most, crew cab pickups only have 6 seats, and the 6th seat would be located in between the driver and the passenger in the front row - not ideal for kids.

For your needs I'd recommend a big SUV. Here are some options:

1. Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon

2. Toyota Sequoia

3. Ford Expedition

4. Nissan Armada

Out of those, I'd recommend the Chevy/GMC or the Toyota. The GMC/Chevy could probably tow more than the Toyota, and also it is probably a bit more fit for towing. The Toyota can definitely do the job, but I put it up there because you may like imports too.

The Nissan would be okay as well, but the reliability history for it is pretty bad. The Ford could easily do it too, but reliability has been iffy.

Both the GMC/Chevy and the Toyota have been redesigned for 2007 or 2008 model years. Personally, out of that, I would choose the GMC Yukon (or Chevy Suburban, which is the same car, just the looks are different and I like the GMC looks better).

Click on the links below to find out more information.

Edmunds is a car review site. Just search for any of these cars you are interested in and you should find a review and also some videos. Good luck.

Answer 5

Check with the GM website or your dealer for the correct limitations, but a suburban with a third row seat will fit all the people you are talking about and most likely be able to tow the trailer. Again, I'm not totally sure on the towing capacity, but you should be able to find out with a little research. I have driven Suburbans and love the way they ride and the conveniences.

Answer 6

A Chevy Suburban should fit the bill quite nicely.  I'd go for the 3/4 ton model. The 6.0L engine, standard in three-quarter-ton Suburban, is rated at 352 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque, which should be more than adequate for towing a 30 foot travel trailer on those weekend trips, and still gets reasonable gas mileage during the week.  A diesel engine is not an option in the '08 Suburban.

Answer 7

No matter what you get you need to find out the hitch rating on it and the tounge weight on the trailer. just because it's big do'nt mean it will pull anything.i have a 3500 dodge dually that i love but it's not for everyone because it is a big one.

Answer 8

a 1971 buick electra will do it great!!!! actually any 1976 and older g m boat!!

Answer 9

I would suggest a big SUV, an expedition (they seat 7) would probably handle that ok, if you can find and afford a diesel engine they always offer more torque!

Good Luck!!

Answer 10

Diesel Suburban

Answer 11

To be on the safe side I would recommend a crew cab of some sort because a 30 foot trailer just cant be pulled by an everyday car or minivan........