It would be great to have a variety of choices when considering a tow vehicle. But the reality is that whatever you are towing and wherever your passions lie largely determine the vehicle you buy. If you have a fifth-wheel camper or a gooseneck trailer, for example, you can forget about buying an SUV or a short-bed pickup. You will need a longbed pickup, and depending on the weight of your trailer, maybe one with a diesel engine. Likewise, if you own a 7,500-pound travel trailer, you can forget about a midsize anything, pickup, or SUV. You need something fullsize.
Unless you own a commuter car and a capable tow vehicle, the trick is to find a vehicle that fulfills your towing needs and daily driving requirements. Therein lies the rub. That's where research-and hopefully this story-can help.
If you are pulling a trailer of horses, odds are you don't live in the confines of zero-lot-line suburbs and you have enough room for a big dualie pickup. But if you do live like many Americans-in the suburbs-you need to be sure that whatever you buy will not pose parking problems while you're out grabbing groceries, hitting the drive-thru, and picking the kids up from school.
To find our 5 Best in Class, we composed a list of what's available for 2010 and made the final selections in much the same way real buyers do. We test-drove each of them and then asked questions like, "Could I live with this vehicle every day? Will I have enough capacity to pull my trailer or haul the family and our gear?"
For safety, we believe you should always buy a little more tow vehicle than you need. However, if you are pulling a popup camper, you really don't need a 1-ton dualie. A midsize SUV will do, and it will be infinitely more economical and convenient for everyday use. By purchasing a bit more capacity than you need immediately, you have the flexibility of considering a larger camper later-without having to pony up again for a new tow vehicle.
The final decision is obviously yours to make. We encourage you to look at the pros and cons of each vehicle before you get emotionally attached to it. Do the research, and it will pay dividends in the long run.