Oasisbob
Portland Oregon 97266
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Joined: 11/18/2001
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Our RV listed below has served us well. With 140K and a list of repairs we are cutting our loss and researching a slightly used TV. We would like 5K tow capacity. May get a non hybrid trailer soon. We are considering Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango and Nissan Path Finder. Any thoughts on these rigs or others? Our price range is a firm 25K max. Wiling to go two years old and will buy extended warranty. Throw us a bone
Oasis Bob
Wonderful wife 3 of 4 kids at home. 1 proudly serving in USAF
2018 Ford Explorer
2001 Bantam Trail Lite B-19
HAPPY TRAILS">
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Oasisbob
Portland Oregon 97266
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Forgot to mention this will be our daily driver as well.
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mleekamp
Washington, IL
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Joined: 10/18/2012
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In my opinion and experience, I would opt for a 4 door "crew cab" truck over the SUV's you mention. For example, the V6 versions of Ford have plenty of power for the lite unit you have, are much lower in price than V8 or ecoboost, and 6 seat arrangements can be found. Ford, Chevy, Dodge -- all would be fine. That is, unless a 3rd row seat in an SUV is a must.
Again, that is my opinion. If I had to pick from your 3 choices, I'd go the Durango. Why? Explorer has had issues. Nissan as a company is having issues. Lastly, in my opinion, i'd forgo the extended warranty -- just profit for the dealer.
But don't take my input except for this: go to NHSTA website (national highway and safety transportation admin) and look up each of your picks -- look at not just recalls, but customer complaints. No recall on a model but dozens and dozens of complaints about a transmission? I'd want to know. Go to Edmunds and look up family reviews (not pro reviews) of each model. Come to a conclusion based on NHSTA, Edmunds or other actual buyer reviews, and in-person drive/look.
I wish you good luck.
2019 Jayco Redhawk 29XK Class C, Ford V10 E450 with Roadmaster Hitch Mounted Spare Tire holder, Bigfoot Hydraulic Leveling
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A1ARealtorRick
Gulf Shores, AL
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Joined: 04/17/2020
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Coming from a car guy, the Explorer would be my first choice. Of course, it's a double-edged sword. Since the Durango and Pathfinder are far less desirable and less in demand than the Explorer, they naturally depreciate faster, and can provide a better 'deal' for the pre-owned buyer.
. . . never confuse education with intelligence
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carringb
Corvallis, OR
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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Will this be a daily driver too? If yes, I wouldn't recommend the Durango for that. I'd consider it if it'll be a dedicated TV, but only the V8. The V6 can do it, but not well. It seems like it can never find a good gear when it's loaded heavy.
The Pathfinder is NOT a good TV for 5,000 pounds. It's low on torque, and has a CVT. CVT's are prone to early failure when low-speed torque is needed, because of the heat generated by the belt. And when the belt breaks, you have to just replace the transmission. The plates that makes up the "push" design" of the belt scatter all over, and trash everything else in there.
The Explorer is nice, and great for towing with the EcoBoost. My sister has a 2016. Bought with 15k and has 75k now. It's been back to the dealer a few times, but only for improper repairs from a rollover accident that didn't show on it's history. No issues other than those (broken roof-rack trim-clips, leaky windshield, butt-connectors on the rear-seatbelt-airbag system.
The one common issue to watch out is cooked PTU fluid. Changing it should be part of your new-vehicle inspection, and then change it regularly after towing. It gets too hot because of it's proximity to the exhaust, and you can't run synthetic because that would reduce the ability for the clutches to hold.
2000 Ford E450 V10 VAN! 450,000+ miles
2014 ORV really big trailer
2015 Ford Focus ST
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Raife
Texas
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Joined: 07/21/2020
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I have a 2015 Dodge Durango Citadel V8 with tow package and love it. It has been my daily driver for last 5 years and now tows our Grand Design Imagine XLS 21BHE (I have run through the CATs scales fully loaded and all my numbers are good: GVWR, GCWR, axles, payload, tongue, and trailer - it is 5,400 fully loaded). Don't expect great gas mileage with the V8...
Getting my Equal-i-zer hitch dialed in was key as the dealer screwed it up...
I had a 2004 Ford Explorer V8 prior and liked that as well. Although my Durango drives better and is more comfortable.
I can't say it has been problem free however...I had to replace the AC last year (but we live in central Texas and the AC gets a workout 7 months of the year) and I am working through getting the hub bearing replaced (I'm at 75K miles so a bit early). And I had some early issues with the sensors in the fuel fill pipe (it was all covered under warranty).
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BurbMan
Islip, Long Island
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Joined: 09/20/2001
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Raife wrote:Getting my Equal-i-zer hitch dialed in was key as the dealer screwed it up...
The dealer adjusts the hitch based on the empty trailer you are driving off the lot. Then you get the trailer home and pack it up and everything changes, so the hitch needs to be re-adjusted. Why the dealers don't tell folks that upfront is a mystery.
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ppine
Northern Nevada
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Episode 487 in the "Just enough truck" series of how to tow an RV.
Why not just buy a 1/2 ton pick up?
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Joined: 08/19/2009
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With 4 kids who are presumably getting larger each year, you might consider looking at full size vans. They only get bigger with the years.
Once you get used to driving a full size truck, it's really not much different and if you are comparing to V8 SUVs you likely won't lose much on MPG.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
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Raife
Texas
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Joined: 07/21/2020
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BurbMan wrote:Raife wrote:Getting my Equal-i-zer hitch dialed in was key as the dealer screwed it up...
The dealer adjusts the hitch based on the empty trailer you are driving off the lot. Then you get the trailer home and pack it up and everything changes, so the hitch needs to be re-adjusted. Why the dealers don't tell folks that upfront is a mystery.
Understood, but you think they could take a stab at getting it closer...off the lot is the only time it is truly empty. Even when we put it in storage between trips it is not "empty," just not quite completely loaded.
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