What Overland Vehicle?

[BigJoe1960]

I'm buying an Overland caravan camper (Conqueror UEV-490 Extreme). With that said, I have 3 children and a total of 5 to haul around. The camper weighs around 5K loaded with gear and is 16ft long from tongue to rear.
So, I'd like any and all input on the "appropriate vehicle" to build for my overland needs. Please, all thoughts are appreciated on truck vs SUV and full vs mid size.

Many thanks, BigJoe

 

[Masheen365]

I would suggest a full size rig with at least a V8, probably an SUV to accommodate 5. I'm a little biased on the full size, obviously but to make towing a 5K trailer and toting 5 people and gear easier it makes sense.

I read that and pictured a Suburban or Expedition. Others might say different but I like my F150 to haul or towing anything I can. And I'm lazy so I don't need to think about what I take because I just over pack. Lol

 

[BigJoe1960]

Than

I would suggest a full size rig with at least a V8, probably an SUV to accommodate 5. I'm a little biased on the full size, obviously but to make towing a 5K trailer and toting 5 people and gear easier it makes sense.

I read that and pictured a Suburban or Expedition. Others might say different but I like my F150 to haul or towing anything I can. And I'm lazy so I don't need to think about what I take because I just over pack. Lol

 

[BigJoe1960]

Thank you, my first instinct was a HD truck but wanted input on overall length and maneuverability. Most everything can be prepacked in the camper, but it's still a large load.

 

[stoney126]

Well more then size is actual weight of load of gear and people. Payload with a halftone seems to go away rather quickly especially with a family of 5 and gear. Power is one thing but suspension and more importantly brakes .

What kind of trips do you plan? That would have a impact in what you can choose

Also what is your budget? What year is the cutoff age wise?
Anytime I hear towing I default to diesel. Just my personal preference though

 

[BigJoe1960]

Well more then size is actual weight of load of gear and people. Payload with a halftone seems to go away rather quickly especially with a family of 5 and gear. Power is one thing but suspension and more importantly brakes .

What kind of trips do you plan? That would have a impact in what you can choose

Also what is your budget? What year is the cutoff age wise?
Anytime I hear towing I default to diesel. Just my personal preference though

Agree, diesel is my first thought on a truck. I'm going to start with National Parks and lands to explore. I guess time will tell on the overall combination, but power, breaking and clearance are what I'm most concerned with. The truck would have to double as my everyday driver, but that doesn't entail many miles for me.

 

[stoney126]

With my 7.3 crewcab 4x4, it will tow 7k pounds without issue and the suspension doesn't blink. It's not fast at least not compared with the new diesels with common rail systems but it's torque that matters and towing a fully loaded 2000 vw beetle and the bed fully loaded and cab loaded (moved my sister in law) I stayed in the teens in fuel mileage low teens but still teens. Newer Diesels require a bit more upkeep but not much.

Large suvs with diesels are limited to and excursion with a 7.3 and 6.0 or suburban witha 6.2 or 6.5 TD. I'd love to get my hands on a 7.3 excursion. In fact I'd have one If I had a place to put it. Pickups have more options.

Due to length and brake over angle I think 35's minimum and say a 4 inch lift depending on what you get. Dodge trucks will sit just as with a leveling kit as my old superduty with a 4 inch lift. Aftermarket can help with power and braking on almost all the major brands

 

[BigJoe1960]

With my 7.3 crewcab 4x4, it will tow 7k pounds without issue and the suspension doesn't blink. It's not fast at least not compared with the new diesels with common rail systems but it's torque that matters and towing a fully loaded 2000 vw beetle and the bed fully loaded and cab loaded (moved my sister in law) I stayed in the teens in fuel mileage low teens but still teens. Newer Diesels require a bit more upkeep but not much.

Large suvs with diesels are limited to and excursion with a 7.3 and 6.0 or suburban witha 6.2 or 6.5 TD. I'd love to get my hands on a 7.3 excursion. In fact I'd have one If I had a place to put it. Pickups have more options.

Due to length and brake over angle I think 35's minimum and say a 4 inch lift depending on what you get. Dodge trucks will sit just as with a leveling kit as my old superduty with a 4 inch lift. Aftermarket can help with power and braking on almost all the major brands

Thank you for the great ideas. I keep coming back to a HD diesel truck. I've always loved the Excursions with 7.3, getting tough to find.

 

[Meta6981]

My jeep is rated for 7300 lbs to wing, has air suspention to level out when loaded, resonable creature comforts. But might be a little cramped for 5 people high mile runs. If you want to know more check the build treads for some ideas. Or feel free to pm me if i can answer more questions.

 

[PetfishEric]

Being able to pull 5000 lbs isn't too much to ask for. You have several options but you will pretty much have to go with V-8 power. SUV such as Dodge Durango, Land Rover, Sequoia, Armada, and Expedition all have the capability and your ability to haul 5 comfortably. You can also go with quad cab full size pickups of any brand to handle the job.

 

[boss324]

I would add a GMT800 Suburban/Yukon XL 2500 3/4 ton to your list. With a choice of 6.0 or 8.1 liter V8 engines along with 10-12k towing capacity plus ability to have 9/8/7 passengers seating, choice of axle ratios 3.42/3.73/4.10, GM auto Trac 4WD, G80 locker and modern amenities for 6-13k is a great value. After market for this platform is also good.

 

[Toyotadirtdevil]

A friend of mine is selling his Dodge quad cab. He runs Cali fabrication in Carmichael, Ca. It's a clean truck. Tell him that I sent you.
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/5800653838.html

 

[Comanche]

Are you in Australia? If you are you have some really cool options we don't get here.

 

[Joey D]

For something a little different to consider, you can get the Grand Cherokee with the 3.0 V6 diesel that puts out a nice 420 lb.ft. of torque and they are nice enough inside to live with everyday. The suspension might be a concern with that though since it's rated for 2,000-ish lbs for payload and 7,000-ish for towing.

I'm also not sure how keen you are about dropping $60k on a new rig, but the new Land Rover Disco's come with a diesel as well.

 

[Meta6981]

For something a little different to consider, you can get the Grand Cherokee with the 3.0 V6 diesel that puts out a nice 420 lb.ft. of torque and they are nice enough inside to live with everyday. The suspension might be a concern with that though since it's rated for 2,000-ish lbs for payload and 7,000-ish for towing.

I'm also not sure how keen you are about dropping $60k on a new rig, but the new Land Rover Disco's come with a diesel as well.

Well if you have the quadralift II system it levels out when loaded.

 

[Adventure Ready]

I'd go with an 80- or 100-series Land Cruiser with a diesel transplant or a bigger Vortec. If you're going to anything more than a gravel road you won't want anything real huge (like an Excursion).

 

[TylerC]

I drive a 2015 Ram crew cab. Tons of room for 5 people with gear. The only gear we put in the cab is clothes. Can tow 9300 lbs if I wanted. My trailer only weighs 7000 when I pull it. The reason I went full size was gas mileage. With full kit on board I average 9 L/100kms (30 MPG) on the highway. I get somewhere around 15-20 when pulling the trailer. Nothing beats 1000 kilometers on a tank of gas when you are on a long road trip.

 

[Kelly]

I'm buying an Overland caravan camper (Conqueror UEV-490 Extreme). With that said, I have 3 children and a total of 5 to haul around. The camper weighs around 5K loaded with gear and is 16ft long from tongue to rear.
So, I'd like any and all input on the "appropriate vehicle" to build for my overland needs. Please, all thoughts are appreciated on truck vs SUV and full vs mid size.

Many thanks, BigJoe

Want to be able to go exploring without having to break camp, but don't feel tents are secure enough, and pulling a trailer is too limiting?
I just saw this on Pinterest...


Imagine one of these on a CrewCab Tacoma.

 

[stoney126]

this is going to be in my fleet sooner or later

 

[O.Dfj]

this is going to be in my fleet sooner or later
View attachment 9289

I have a square body chevy, it's not nearly as nice as that and its not a blazer lol