I have a G3 Angler 185 with a Yamhama 150 and T8 Kicker. The whole package, including the trailer weighs a bit over 3200 lbs. I’m currently towing it with a 1998 Merc Mountaineer (V8). The Mountaineer has over 130M miles, so I’m thinking about getting a different vehicle. If you had $20K-$25K, what would you get?
I love my 03′ Suburban with a 175,000 miles. I have a 19′ boat pulls great and rides nice.
Some sort of gently used full sized V8 Chevy/Ford/whatever would work fine. My Silverado has been good to me.
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Some sort of gently used full sized V8 Chevy/Ford/whatever would work fine. My Silverado has been good to me.
Just don’t skimp on a small V8 such as the 4.7L Dodge in a 1500 just as an example.
Good point… I assumed most non-HD vehicles are 5.3 or 5.4 liter V-8s… Always good to check and make sure. I wouldn’t want anything smaller than my 5.3 liter Silverado to pull my boat (similar sized to your G-3)…
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I love my 03′ Suburban with a 175,000 miles. I have a 19′ boat pulls great and rides nice.
2000 to 2008 Suburban 5.3 engine and 410 gear ratio 
Also would go with cargo doors lot better to get to get gear in and out. 
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Some sort of gently used full sized V8 Chevy/Ford/whatever would work fine. My Silverado has been good to me.
Just don’t skimp on a small V8 such as the 4.7L Dodge in a 1500 just as an example.
4.7 not made for towing… if you have to be told that. 390HP 5.7 HEMI for Dodge. Then again, if you want to tow the Moon, 6.7L Cummins 
big G
Depends if you prefer SUV or Pickup. As long as they continue to make Suburban’s or Yukon XL’s, that is what I will own. Decent gas mileage and tons of room for extra passengers and your gear.
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Also would go with cargo doors
2 Thumbs up on the rear cargo doors.The shock system on most rear hatch(lift) doors go to heck especially in cold weather.I have a 99 Suburban with 178,000 on a 5.7L.& no major problems.I will most likely get another Suburban to replace it.Once you have a Suburban you will likely find it hard not replacing with the same vehicle.Good luck shopping.
05 Suburban for me! Smooth ride and tons of space for vacations and hauling all of the extra stuff for the kids.
FDR
I’m a long time Suburban fan and now own a Silverado 4 door long box with the duramax diesel with Allison transmission. The perfect tow vehicle would a cross between the two in my opinion. But since that is a pipe dream… if you want a gasser the ‘burb is hard to beat. If you’re open to a diesel…. once you’ve towed with a diesel you’ll find it hard to ever go back to a gas motor again.
Tow my 20ft skeeter with a 2008 4 door silverado with the 5.3L. Would be nice to have a diesel for pulling, but I also put a lot of non towing miles on the vehicle and couldn’t justify the cost of the fuel. Prior to that I had a 4 door dakota with the 4.7, that was a great combination but the truck was small and tended to be steered by the object getting towed. Never been a fan of the SUV as I have to smell my gear all the way home, vs having a topper on the pickup to throw stuff into. Try to keep my wife away from Marquarts as she has had her eye on those yukons…
I’ve towed that boat a few times with an 05 2500 Dodge with a Cummins, don’t even know its back there…
More importantly, are you happy with the suv or are you looking for a truck?
How many kids do you have?
How far per year do you tow the boat?
When I win the lottery, I’m buying one of these! Don’t know the name or who makes them, but how cool is that.
Jami
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Tow my 20ft skeeter with a 2008 4 door silverado with the 5.3L. Would be nice to have a diesel for pulling, but I also put a lot of non towing miles on the vehicle and couldn’t justify the cost of the fuel. Prior to that I had a 4 door dakota with the 4.7, that was a great combination but the truck was small and tended to be steered by the object getting towed. Never been a fan of the SUV as I have to smell my gear all the way home, vs having a topper on the pickup to throw stuff into. Try to keep my wife away from Marquarts as she has had her eye on those yukons…
My 2005 Duramax gets 20 – 22 on the highway unloaded. As far as I’m concerned is it the best of both worlds. Much better economy and power when towing and as good or better economy than comparable gas powered trucks or SUV’s unloaded.
Something to consider, anyway. I think we would be remiss if we didn’t throw out at least one mention of a diesel on a thread asking about “tow vehicles.”
diesel gets my vote I drive f-250 buying a f350 in spring. never go back to gas. I also use them for work though pulling my skid steer and dump trailer.
Count me in as a diesel fan. 
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If you’re open to a diesel…. once you’ve towed with a diesel you’ll find it hard to ever go back to a gas motor again.
I can’t stand the stink. I’ll stick with my 8.1 and Allison.
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If you’re open to a diesel…. once you’ve towed with a diesel you’ll find it hard to ever go back to a gas motor again.
I can’t stand the stink. I’ll stick with my 8.1 and Allison.
and it shifts up every little incline!!!! Diesel for sure. We run a 7.3 and a 6.0 and like everyone said you don’t know you have a load back there!!!
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If you’re open to a diesel…. once you’ve towed with a diesel you’ll find it hard to ever go back to a gas motor again.
I can’t stand the stink. I’ll stick with my 8.1 and Allison.
Serious question to follow… be assured this is absolutely not an attempt to question your choice in motors so please keep that in mind. Call me curious.
When I was researching trucks this past spring I did a lot of research on various motors, transmission, etc. The fuel economy ratings on the 8.1 were… dreadful. 10 – 13 MPG on the highway. Unloaded. What are you seeing?
I have a 95 tahoe w 295,000 miles runs good pulls a 18′ champion bass boat w single axel trailer and get 13-14 mpg, for work I have an 06 3500 express van wduramax desiel that I would love to tow with,it gets 19mph working summer and 16mph winter and I towed some equipment up to Hayward and couldn’t even tell the trailer was back there. Stan 
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and it shifts up every little incline!!!! Diesel for sure. We run a 7.3 and a 6.0 and like everyone said you don’t know you have a load back there!!!
The Allison transmission is the most superior transmission a light duty truck can get. It really doesn’t shift much at all on the hills. With the trucks without an Allison, just keep it in 3rd and you’re good to go.
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When I was researching trucks this past spring I did a lot of research on various motors, transmission, etc. The fuel economy ratings on the 8.1 were… dreadful. 10 – 13 MPG on the highway. Unloaded. What are you seeing?
I had a ’97 8600 GVWR 5.7 3.73 and got 18 empty highway
Went to a ’00 8600 GVWR 6.0 3.73 and got 13-14 empty highway
Currently an ’02 9200 GVWR 8.1 3.73 and get 16 empty highway
Not sure what happened when I went from the 5.7 to the 6.0 with the milage drop, the displacement wasn’t that much more.
Later, I wanted a crew cab with an 8′ box, which forced me into the 9200 GVWR truck and a 4.10 with a 6.0. I could get the 8.1 with a 3.73 which allowed me 13,500 lbs of towing plus the Allison transmission. I really don’t know why I get great mileage with a big block, but I’ve also heard guys getting 10-12 mpg, which they must be running the 4.10.
GM has discontinued the 8.1 and I believe the only big block left is the v10 from Ford. So I’ll have to hang on to my truck a while longer, it only has 80,000 on it. I don’t drive enough to benefit from a diesel. Too bad the Allison wasn’t available for the other gas engines, that tranny is tops.
My 7.3 PowerStroke always gave me close to 19 mpg. But since I don’t drive 70 miles round trip every day my mileage has dropped with the short hops I make now, it is so low that I am scared to check but I would guess it is closer to 10. When pulling my 18′ Nitro I will still get about 16-17 because of the distance to and from any lakes I fish. It turned over 284,000 a month or two ago and I need to get it out on another road trip. Real bad cuz our ice is melting. 
Anyway it will pull my boat and you don’t hardly know anything is back there.
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