SUV for 6x12 or 7x14

Ive got my eye on a couple 2012-13 Nissan Armadas, one is at 100k and the other 150k. How do these hold up? Any big gotchas to look for? So far my google fu leads me to believe the drivetrains are pretty good.

 

Funny... I use google to inquire about towing x size trailer with my new rig and the 3rd result is this thread. I've gone thru several vehicles since posting in this thread 7 years ago, and come full circle to a similar one now.

 

Did you get ther Armada?

 

it was the other old white guy shopping Armadas... I was thinking Sequoia. Since then I had an older one but sold quickly and wife had a 2012 that's now with her son. Then I ended up with the wife's LS430, that went to my daughter... a couple others I forget... last year I bought a Tundra and recently sold it to wife's son (same one). Sold my Venza a few weeks ago and now I'm rocking a GX460. Pairs nicely with wife's GS450H. The 5x8 trailer I bought a few weeks ago is now for sale and shopping for a 6x12 to 7x14... Motorcycles have had a similar churn rate lately too.

 

One ton, four door, dual wheel, long bed diesel of your choice is alway the correct answer to this question.

Some folks do choose to skimp a bit though. I went with single rear wheels, short bed version a few years ago.

My Sports Utility Vehicle.

 

My Armada got bambi'd.

R I P!

I never did upsize my 5x10. I did use my armada to tow an enclosed 8.5 x 24 on a good trip it did that jut fine

 

I was thinking about a Venza for a first car for my youngest. Did you like it?

 

LOVED it, only sold for more space and towing ability. Bought with 225K, sold at 245K with zero problems, didn't use/burn a drop of oil. I had a 2012 V6 FWD XLE. Actually had a 3500 lb tow rating and had no problem with the 5x8 loaded up. MPG's not great, otherwise nothing to complain about.

 

I'm thinking about a TDI Toureg for and 14ft enclosed.

 

My TDI works great for my 6x12 5200lb rated v-nose. I can't see it having an issue with a 7x14 as long as you don't load the nose too heavily.
I have also towed a rented Coachman Clipper 17FQ a couple of times with no issues. I did notice the extra drag vs the 6x12 with the motor working a bit harder at higher speeds, but handling and braking were no problem.

 

what kind of speeds are you talking?? 60mph?

 

65 with the RV. Could run 69 with the 6x12 before it started burning more fuel than it was worth to me, although it would go faster.

 

65 with the RV. Could run 69 with the 6x12 before it started burning more fuel than it was worth to me, although it would go faster.

 

When we were on the autobahn last week, I saw quite a few travel trailers being towed by VW Passats or Audi sedans and wagons. These were the taller standup RV trailers, not pop up trailers. They were probably 14-18 feet long. They were towing between 100-140kph.

Not a single one towed by a big truck. Did see a couple towed by SUV’s as well, but most of the trailers were towed by cars.

 

Its funny how the US mfgs have pretty much limited the selection of sedans for the market.
Even the small pickups like the Maverick, Santa cruz, Ridgeline, Taco, & Frontier are pushing price envelopes barely affordable. I was promised the Maverick to be in the low 20s brandy new. All of the above are well into the 30s. For about $10k more you can get a full sized 1/2 ton that gets the same fuel economy with alot more space.

 

Tell me more about this $40,000 full sized pickup that get 42 city and 35 highway mpg of the Ford Mavrick Hybrid. The F150 Hybrid or the baby Duramax Diesel might be close to the Santa Cruz and non-hybrid Maverick's 22 city / 30 highway, and but you are not buying either of those for $40k.

The Taco, Frontier, Colorado are more about having a smaller more maneuverable truck that is easier to put in a garage. Also, $10k can make a big difference in affordability for some folks. That is 20-25% more. For your money you get trucks that ride and handle better than ever with more safety features, better mpg, and "1/2 ton" trucks with 1500lb+ of cargo carrying capacity. Even lightly optioned mid-sized trucks have that much CCC. Inflation sucks, but it isn't going away any time soon without a recession and a recession isn't going to fix affordability.

 

Ooh, you sure got him!

Nobody was talking about fucking hybrids, doucheface.

 

Agreed on sedans. I thought about buying a hybrid Maverick during Covid for a parts truck and commuter. They were under 30k. Ended up buying a beater Ranger for 2k. Lolol

 

some of you may have seen my setup at WERA events. my MDX does very well towing my 6x12. the MDX has a 500lb tongue weight and 5000 pound towing capacity. i'm close or slightly overweight with my 3500 pound trailer, but the weight distribution hitch makes a world of a difference for me. i can still drive 60-70 towing and get 11-13 MPG on average. very rarely, but i'll see 10 MPH or 14 MPG sometimes.

 

I get between 16-18 mpg with the TDI and 6x12, including the run over the mountains between the DC area and Pitt Race.
I got around 15 with the little RV. The extra width and length really make a difference in drag. It didn't weigh much more than my 6x12, so accelerating from a stop felt about the same, but once over 60ph you noticed the extra wind resistance. The corrugated sides and awning create more drag as well.

The short rear overhand of the Touareg / Cayenne leaves a short lever arm for the trailer to work against. It is a very good tow platform for its size. Never had an issue with sway just using a standard hitch. The Touareg does have built in trailer sway control as part of the stability control system, which I think I might have felt activate once. Nothing came up on the dash indicating it activated like it did when I hit a patch of wet leaves on an off-ramp one time.