Recommendation on a used truck/suv

[AustinInDallas]

My dad is looking for a new truck, and is open to an suv that could pull a small trailer.
Looking for something that gets decent mileage and if it's a truck at the very least an extended cab. Hopefully a 4 door.
20k is the very top he wants to spend, 15k is better.
Doesn't care if it's a few years old. Just less than 10 years and has basic features

 

[desy]

Lots of choices
Narrow it down by providing type of trailer and weight, towing condistions IE mountainous or hilly, flat needs AWD or 4X4? Is a 4 door for passengers or stuff?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

How about a lexus GX470? They're relatively inexpensive, bulletproof, a true body on frame SUV.

They're very comfy and will pull a trailer with no problem. But, technically almost anything will pull a 'small trailer' with no problem.

 

[AustinInDallas]

Lots of choices
Narrow it down by providing type of trailer and weight, towing condistions IE mountainous or hilly, flat needs AWD or 4X4? Is a 4 door for passengers or stuff?

http://www.uhaul.com/Reservations/EquipmentDetail.aspx?model=UV
my dad has a small enclosed trailer about the size of this uhaul. Mostly hauling on flat or hilly. No mountains.

Only NEEDS awd or 4x4, if its a FWD suv. 4 doors is for passengers, and just general purpose crap.

He wants a truck, but will be just happy with an SUV, since you dont really need a truck bed if you can pull a trailer.

Some things he was thinking about was a chevy colorado or toyota tacoma. both the 4 doors.

Prefer something that gets AT LEAST 20 mpg highway

 

[dsnyder]

I have been looking at a Tahoe or a Durango. Plenty of room and towing capacity. May be a bit shy of the 20mpg.

 

[AustinInDallas]

I have been looking at a Tahoe or a Durango. Plenty of room and towing capacity. May be a bit shy of the 20mpg.

My friend just got an 05 Tahoe with the 5.3. Says the mileage rapes him

 

[desy]

Its a small trailer, so any SUV w v6 will have a towing capacity of about 3500lb includes all the crap you put in the vehicles too, so a couple of 200lb'ers in the backseat lowers you 400lb.
Thats the important part, adding AWD lowers your towing capacity because it adds to the vehicles weight reducing your towing or cargo capacity
06-07 Saturn Vue w Honda v6
Any V-6 Nissan, not the most fuel efficient but lots of grunt
A good deal on a Rav Pilot or Highlander, hard to find because of resale
Explorers give good bang for buck because of depreciation, Escapes I find too small

 

[bwoody2016]

Nissan Frontier or Pathfinder. Better yet get a 4runner and call it a day

 

[herm0016]

what is the weight of the trailer? to be safe, i would stay 20% or so under the rating of the vehicle. Most of them do not tow well at their rating, plus you have to consider the weight of the stuff in the truck also.

 

[ScoobMaster]

used 2009 Kia Borrego.

The best value (and best kept secret) in a full body-on-frame SUV out there right now.

The V8 version (same engine as the Hyundai Genesis) can tow 7500 lbs. I just bought a FULLY loaded limited edition with 24000 miles for $19K. It gets 22-24 MPG on the highway and we have been averaging 16.5 in town.

See my thread about it here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2253368

 

[desy]

Read!
He pulling a Uhaul 'Max load: 1,650 lbs.'
He doesn't need a gas guzzling V8 4Runner or V8 Borrego or any body on frame SUV

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Read!
He pulling a Uhaul 'Max load: 1,650 lbs.'
He doesn't need a gas guzzling V8 4Runner or V8 Borrego or any body on frame SUV

The 4Runner is offered with a V6 that is more than adequate and can easily manage more than 20mpg highway.

 

[SilthDraeth]

I had an 05 Tacoma Prerunner. 2wd, Double cab.
I got 20mpg pulling 9k uhual from Geargia to California. A lot of that doing around 80 on the highway through texas.

That truck got average of 20mpg no matter how I drove it.

 

[herm0016]

I had an 05 Tacoma Prerunner. 2wd, Double cab.
I got 20mpg pulling 9k uhual from Geargia to California. A lot of that doing around 80 on the highway through texas.

That truck got average of 20mpg no matter how I drove it.

9k huh? that thing was rated for 6500 max with the right configuration.

 

[EagleKeeper]

V6 Escape will get 30mph and have the power to tow the trailer.

 

[SilthDraeth]

9k huh? that thing was rated for 6500 max with the right configuration.

Yeah, I had it overloaded. Not recommending doing it, but it is what it is. Only reason I know is I had to weigh my truck with empty uhaul trailer then load it.

Definitely was around 8-9k over what my truck weighed by itself.

 

[50 mpg by 2012]

2 research tools that might help ...

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/powerSearch.jsp

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=browseList

Hope that helps.

 

[leper84]

One of these would probably be perfect for what you want.

http://austin.craigslist.org/ctd/3142747754.html