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steveM.
Currently we have a 08 Suburban, that thing been in the garage more than I think any would care for. The service person was looking up a repair order and counted over 12 pages of items. We have 47K miles on it. There been numerous door lock faults, universal joints, 4WD servo unit, tank vent, and fuel related parts than one could think possible. Keep in mind we really like the functionality of the Suburban, but with the extended warranty running out; we need to make a change. We have looked at down sizing a bit. We really like the Ford Explore Limited. I have heard good things about the EcoBoost but you cannot get it unless you get the Sport package. My main concern is towing. Will it be enough for a Cougar / 250?I am a Bow Tie guy, but need some input from the Blue Oval Camp. As much as I would like a Truck, That is not an option, I need seating capacity.
I dont think that the Explorer has a long enough wheel base or the weight to safely tow your rig. I would look at the Expedition or a truck as they both have a longer wheel base and have the weight and the brakes to stop the boat while towing.
The 2013 explorer will tow 5000lbs with the 3.5 v6 or the 3.5 eccoboost.Both are great models, but I think you are right about the 3.5 Ecco boost only being availed on sport package.The expedition would be closer to what you are accustomed to with the size of suburban.
Were looking for something that gets good mileage thru the week and will tow the boat on the weekends.
I was a die hard GM guy. Last August I got frustrated with my local dealer and crossed the road and bought an F150 crew instead. I have been very pleased with it (amazing since I was so anti-ford before). I got the 5.0 V8 instead of the eco boost. Driving around the hills here in SW Missouri I average around 16.2 MPG. On the highway running 75 it only does around 18.5 MPG. I think on the highway the eco boost will do better However, I have several customers with the ecos that are only getting 14-15 running around here in the hills. I had a 2004 Chevy trailblazer that I tried to pull a P2 with for a while (single axle trailer). It would pull it just fine. On the interstate once I got to 65 it was VERY squirrelly! That short wheel base paired with a single axle trailer wasnt a good combination. My 07 GMC Crew pulled that boat just fine with no swaying. The trailblazer had so much swaying at high speeds it was dangerous. Just pulling it around in the hills the tblazer did fine. The tblazer wasnt very good on fuel though! My new ford crew does better on fuel running around in the hills. I think the explorer with that eco boost should pull your cougar ok as long as you arent on the interstate. Thats where you will find out whether the wheelbase is an issue. The tandem trailer should make it a little better for you. In summary, finding something that does good on fuel and tows the boat on the weekend isnt a very easy scenario to accomplish. Power usually doesnt equal fuel economy, especially when towing is thrown into the mix. The 5.3 V8 in the GMs is probably the best all around engine to get the best fuel economy for regular driving and can still tow efficiently, IMO. That eco boost is a good engine, but if you are driving in the hills a lot, it will do worse on fuel. If you are primarily on flat land, that eco boost is probably the ticket!
BssscatP4…. Hard to fault you for looking for replacement for your Sub. but you just might have gotten unlucky with the one you got off the line. In my 40+ years of towing bassboats I have yet to have a Suburban that has failed and generally replace them at around 200,000 but think they might get another 200,000. I briefly tried an Explorer pulling a PIII and looking in the rear view mirror I felt like the boat was eating that little SUV. Because of a friend with a Ford dealership I switched to an Expedition. The transmission lasted less than 40M, then the new factory replacement lasted less than 30M. Ford then gave me another new trany with warranty lasting to 90M and while it probably would have been fine, I did not have confidence in it so went back to Chevy Sub and the only thing wrong with it in first 145M has been fuel pump at about 125M and put the third set of tires on at about 130M. It tows and runs like new and gets 16.5 overall towing and driving here in the Ozarks. Have friends with Ram and Toyota that have had good results. But you have to be comfortable with what you choose.
I woulds stick with the Suburban too, or a Tahoe.
My leaning would be toward the Chevy Tahoe since you need more passenger room. I have been towing my Classic with a Chevy ext. cab pickup with the 5.3 motor the last 6 yrs. I now have a new 2013 Chevy P/U with under 6,000 miles on it and just returned from trip to Ariz. where I average a little over 20.5 mpg both going and coming home. Around town I get a little under 15 which is about the same I get when towing the boat. Tahoe might get slightly better than the pickup but not having had one not at all sure about that? This is my 3rd pickup same brand, similar style trucks that I have had for last 10 yrs. and other than servicing regularly have not had any work done on any of them.
The New Ford Explorers have the wheel base and are plenty capable of pulling a bass boat…They also have “big truck” brakes and Calibers so no worries there either….I would think hard about getting an F150 Supercrew (4 door) and maybe putting a fiberglass topper on the back if you want an SUV style setup…This may give you the best of both worlds..I have a Super Duty now but My F150 that I sold handled like a sports car and didnt seem like I was driving an oversized truck at all…Loved that F150 as far as handling and every day driving…
I have a 2012 Ford F-150 FX2, eckoboost. City driving I get 18-19, freeway is 21-22 if I keep it around 65. Towing is between 15-16 average. it has plenty of power and the FX2 model is a sweet handling truck.I have towed my PII all over California and never had a burp.The power in this truck is truly surprising. I have the electric locker and as of yet I have never had to use it to pull my boat out of the water on any ramp. I scaled down from having a car and a truck to just this. It does what I need it to do. The heated/cooled seats sure have come in handy.Steve “Gunz” Molina
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