Car totaled should I go to a truck?

Our 2013 traverse had hail damage was told it would be fixed brought it in and now alas it’s totaled. So my boat weighs 1400 pounds not heavy but seems to take it’s toll on any vehicle we use we tow 6-9 times a week with most trips being 20 mile round trip. I know a truck will suck more gas but I drive 5 miles to work. I want something that can just tow a boat without the trans blowing up. The traverse has been nothing but trouble. I would say not leaning toward any SUV and my loan capacity may be low. Looking at a 2014 Ford FX4 with 3.5 with 125,000 miles seems OK pluses minuses? We have had mini vans which we liked but none can hold up tranny wise. we have a Ford Edge which has been nothing but issues as well but paid for. Have not had a truck in years the thing I liked about a SUV is locking all your gear in the inside with a truck need a topper and possible theft easier? Thanks a big blow to us we need to get a vehicle very fast

Was it totaled because of the hail damage? Take the check and buy the thing back from them. You know the history (even if you don’t like it) and you won’t need to take a loan for another.

You can lock items in the bed of a truck. I have a lock on my tail gate combined with a roll up tonneau cover. Technically someone could knife their way through it but if that bothers you, a hard side tonneau cover would work or as you stated, a topper.

I think you will find towing better with a truck. Your overall mileage will decrease, but if you only use it 5 miles to work or for towing, it sounds like a pretty ideal situation.

I’m kinda surprised to hear that the Traverse is a pain to tow such a light weight boat/trailer.

The traverse is on it’s second transmission even with a trans cooler and they both failed while in warranty and I drive slow enough to drive miss daisy. it tows it great but can be a pain backing in the water because I cant immerse the rear end in water. I’m hoping this is a blessing that the Traverse is totaled worse car we ever owned. Thanks for the replies.

I tow a similar size boat (16 foot alumacraft) with a subaru outback. Transmission cooler and trailer brakes, no issues. I don’t tow as frequently as you, but I take longer trips (twin cites to Gunflint Trail, etc).

That said, I’d rather have a truck.

Check out a Honda Ridgeline. It’s essentially a Honda Pilot with a truck bed. It has a dual action tailgate and a huge waterproof lockable trunk under the bed.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/honda-ridgeline-in-bed-trunk-review/amp/

I wouldn’t touch an earlier version of the eco boost 3.5 with 125k before seeing proof that the timing chain had been replaced. That age was notorious for that repair and it’s not cheap.

My cousin, who is a mechanic, has told me he works on Traverses more then any other vehicle. I think it may be just the vehicle and not nessessarly the ability to tow with something similar and more reliable.

Personally I wouldn’t even consider that Ford. And those traverses were notorious for bad motors and tyranny issues.
Look for a older half ton and pay cash. And as far as a mini van. I had a sienna for 10 years that towed great when I needed it to.

Your going to pay a little more but my advice would be a Tundra or Tacoma depending on what size fits your needs. If another SUV still fits better than a Pilot, Highlander or 4 Runner would fit. I wish I could still feel better about a GM, Ford or Dodge. GM has lifter and other engine issues, Ford timing chain, turbos and my Ram has already needed a water pump and manifold and does not have 30K on it yet. Sad really.

If you’re wanting a truck I agree with John…a 2021 or older Tundra or a Tacoma would fit the bill. For the price difference I would get a Tundra…but your gas mileage will be worse. I have a 2021 Tundra with the 38 gallon tank and it does sting…~175 to fill from completely empty right now. 10-11 mpg pulling the boat, but I know the reliability will be there as well as the resale value in the future.

John Rasmussen wrote:

Your going to pay a little more but my advice would be a Tundra or Tacoma depending on what size fits your needs. If another SUV still fits better than a Pilot, Highlander or 4 Runner would fit. I wish I could still feel better about a GM, Ford or Dodge. GM has lifter and other engine issues, Ford timing chain, turbos and my Ram has already needed a water pump and manifold and does not have 30K on it yet. Sad really.

My water pump went at 80k. And I’ve done my manifolds 2 times and have 101 on it now. You’d think ram would figure out the issue

Bearcat89 wrote:

My water pump went at 80k. And I’ve done my manifolds 2 times and have 101 on it now. You’d think ram would figure out the issue

The problem is all manufacturers have their little gremlins and could easily fix them yet they dont. The bean counters and planned obsolescence make them too much money.

If you need a new truck they are 5 to 8 months.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

If you need a new truck they are 5 to 8 months.

I wish. I was told the truck I ordered in January wouldnt be here until December at the earliest. No worries though. GM is dumb with how they allocate vehicles to dealerships. The dealer I ordered from can only order 8 to 9 vehicles a month for ALL GM models. They are one of the state’s largest GMC and Buick dealers too.

agree with others – the smaller SUV isnt the problem in your equation its the model you owned. you can still tow your boat with a smaller SUV just dont by a junk ford or GM. If i you like a smaller SUV i would personally look at a Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander. Very reliable and will get decent MPG.

I own a 2021 Tundra and this would obviously work for you but its painful at the pump. i can get 17-18 mpg in optimal conditions (summertime with little weight and no wind). Winter time i get 13-15. Towing i get around 10-11 with a headwind or 14 with no wind (I tow an alumacraft thats around #3000)

For me reliability trumps everything else and so im a fan of Honda and Toyota but ive owned lots of other vehicles. The nicest one i ever owned was a 2007 Yukon XL. Beautiful SUV but the rear end blew up after a year of ownership and the previous owner had the engine replaced at 90k for oil consumption. Owned a 2006 Dodge Durango that i liked a great deal but it had lifter issues and other engine problems. These were both older vehicles though with higher mileage so some of that is to be expected and not a problem with the make or model itself.

If you didnt want to look at Honda or Toyota i would look at a Dodge Durango. I liked the HEMI motor

I have heard nothing but bad things about the Traverse, the bright side is at least you are getting a check and can be done with it. What ever you do, do not by a 2011-2014 F150 with the Ecoboost. The newer ones are better, but the old ones had incredibly high failure rates with the Cam phasers/Timing chains.

If I were you I would get a mid-size truck. Tacoma is great, but the used prices definitely reflect their desirability (4runner’s are in the same boat, but would be a great option for you too). Honda ridgeline or Nissan Frontier would be my choice.

mnfisherman18 wrote:

Honda ridgeline or Nissan Frontier would be my choice.

Doesnt the Frontier have a CVT? If so, I wouldnt touch that at all if you tow anything. Depending on year those with a regular tranny had recalls too to extend the warranty. Tranny coolant lines went bad.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

If you need a new truck they are 5 to 8 months.

Yep…on month 2 now for a 1 ton Chev…Maybe I’ll have it by fall but I doubt it.

I’ll endorse the Honda Pilot for towing that size boat. My wife likes to park in the way of my boat so when she does that I just use her 2013 Honda Pilot to tow it if I’m in a hurry (I’m always in a hurry). My boat is similar size to yours, probably 2,000 lbs total boat/motor/trailer, and the Pilot tows it just fine. Round trip anywhere from 5 miles to 70 miles and either on 2 lane county roads or through town it handles my smallish boat fine.

404 ERROR wrote:

Yep…on month 2 now for a 1 ton Chev…Maybe I’ll have it by fall but I doubt it.

You’re going to be waiting a while. The HD trucks are a much longer wait that half tons.

We have had zero issues with our Traverse. Its a 2019 maybe the newer ones are better. Most of the issues we see with them are from poor maintenance.

You definitely don’t need a full sized truck if that’s all you’re pulling. If your boat weighed tripple that or if you had other uses for a truck then get one. Being as you haven’t had one before, unless you’re changing lifestyles you probably don’t need one. That being said I’d look into a Colorado or some other mid sized truck.

Trucks are expensive. Smaller vehicles are much cheaper to maintain. Everything on a truck is bigger and therefore usually costs more. That being said, if you find a 2016 or newer silverado with less than 80k miles on it that’s not ridiculously priced, let me know. Time to get rid of the 2007!

CaptainMusky wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mnfisherman18 wrote:</div>
Honda ridgeline or Nissan Frontier would be my choice.

Doesnt the Frontier have a CVT? If so, I wouldnt touch that at all if you tow anything. Depending on year those with a regular tranny had recalls too to extend the warranty. Tranny coolant lines went bad.

No, its a standard transmission. Some of their cars do though, and I agree I would not touch those.

I will back up the praise for the Honda pilot too. They are solid cars, have towed a 3000lb boat with various models since ’07 and never had an issue with them other than the soft back suspension.

Go with a older chev 01 to 05. Or go mini van

buckybadger wrote:

I wouldn’t touch an earlier version of the eco boost 3.5 with 125k before seeing proof that the timing chain had been replaced. That age was notorious for that repair and it’s not cheap.

I have a 2012 (212,000 miles) and would never buy a ford again solely based on this truck. I luckily havent had this issue yet. I should get rid of the thing before it happens

mnfisherman18 wrote:

No, its a standard transmission. Some of their cars do though, and I agree I would not touch those.

I think some of their smaller SUVs use them. Glad to hear they dont in the Frontier.

Buying anything now sucks. We are on our second Pilot , beyond 10 years on both. Only real replacement of parts. My mechanic buddy was moving to Texas. Our 06 has 100k miles. I had him do the timing belt/chain which ever it was. While they were off the a/c compressor had a slight noise. I had him replace it and the water pump. Sold at 160k. Oil,filter and lots of brakes with my wife driving. Funny the new Pilot has fuel economy light. She sees what her Kenny Bernstein starts do to her gas milage. She now drives like a 80 year old. These brakes may last forever. The Pilot pulled my boatas well as my 1500GMC with a 5.3. My brother pulled a 24′ Pathfinder to Florida with his for 5 years. Wouldn’t reccomend that. Over heated tyranny several times. But it never broke.

A friend of mine had a 08 dodge caravan that was his company car and it towed his 2000lb boat just fine, and with the stow and go feature he could fit 4×8 sheets of plywood in it. His truck just sat in the garage and he used the van for everything. We also fix (auto body) dodge caravans for a company that uses them as fleet vehicles and I have seen them with almost 400k on them. All they run are the caravans so they must be reliable.

Price points are everything in this scenario, $10k will get different recommendations than $20k, or even $5k.