Which Vehicle Would Be Your Pick?

[WXman]

Hypothetical question here.

Let's say you can only have ONE vehicle. Just one. And that one vehicle will need to be capable of/feature:

- 15 MPG or greater on the EPA "combined" portion of the window sticker (but the more the better)
- Able to navigate moderate to slightly difficult trails
- Enough interior room for 4 people to be comfortable
- Can tow a minimum of 7,500 lbs. gross trailer weight (but the more the better)
- Runs on gasoline or diesel fuel
- Has a cargo area that can haul items that are 66" long

What vehicle would be your pick? Any brand and any vehicle is fair game. I'm just curious what your choice would be, assuming that ALL of these conditions must be met. Not meeting even one of these is a deal breaker. Let's hear opinions....

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[jeepingib]

Gas Power Wagon.

 

[WXman]

Gas Power Wagon.

That's definitely on the list, but it's such a large vehicle to be trying to navigate wooded trails in, and my father has one and says 15 MPG city/highway combined is not happening.

 

[ODDs]

With conventional wisdom that your tow vehicle should have double the towing capacity as what you are towing, or there abouts (I target around 1.5x overcapacity), I think you are looking at a truck.

As much as that pains me to say, as I prefer SUV's for anything but heavy towing. We use a Nissan Armada (8500lb towing capacity) to tow our 6000lb loaded camper, and it seems well matched.

 

[grimmjeeper]

If you can compromise on the towing, I'd look at a Tacoma. Otherwise a half ton pickup, with the brand being matter of personal choice.

 

[WXman]

With conventional wisdom that your tow vehicle should have double the towing capacity as what you are towing, or there abouts (I target around 1.5x overcapacity), I think you are looking at a truck.

As much as that pains me to say, as I prefer SUV's for anything but heavy towing. We use a Nissan Armada (8500lb towing capacity) to tow our 6000lb loaded camper, and it seems well matched.

Yeah, I do think these requirements trend toward a pickup truck. But it's surprisingly difficult to find one that is good at all of those bulletpoints.

If you can compromise on the towing, I'd look at a Tacoma. Otherwise a half ton pickup, with the brand being matter of personal choice.

Tacoma checks off most boxes. It certainly can NOT haul 4 people in comfort. The Tacoma has the worst second row seating in the entire segment. And I'm not sure it can reach the 7,500 lb. target in crew cab 4x4 trim. But otherwise it is a close option.

I looked at Nissan Frontier. It checks more boxes than the Tacoma. But towing in crew cab 4x4 long bed format is capped at 6,300 lbs.

The Jeep Gladiator doesn't have a 6' bed option to haul those long items secure and out of the weather. If it did have a 6' bed option it would be the clear choice here. Too bad.....

Full size 1/2 ton trucks are notoriously poor offroad due to lack of features and ground clearance.

So I guess the Power Wagon is the leading option so far. I'm hoping somebody chimes in with a vehicle I haven't thought of.

 

[jeepingib]

That's definitely on the list, but it's such a large vehicle to be trying to navigate wooded trails in, and my father has one and says 15 MPG city/highway combined is not happening.

With your towing capacity requirement, you are going to have to get a full size. And all full size rigs are going to struggle in the woods with turning radius. But none of the mid size trucks can really tow 7500 gross+ effectively like you put in the requirement. If not the Power Wagon, then I'd still say a Ram 2500 or Ford F250 gas engine truck. The Power Wagon is just the better off road rig, but some of the others will get better mileage with different axle gears. But you will have to judge which is most important to you, mileage or capability.

 

[grimmjeeper]

Yeah, I do think these requirements trend toward a pickup truck. But it's surprisingly difficult to find one that is good at all of those bulletpoints.



Tacoma checks off most boxes. It certainly can NOT haul 4 people in comfort. The Tacoma has the worst second row seating in the entire segment. And I'm not sure it can reach the 7,500 lb. target in crew cab 4x4 trim. But otherwise it is a close option.

I looked at Nissan Frontier. It checks more boxes than the Tacoma. But towing in crew cab 4x4 long bed format is capped at 6,300 lbs.

The Jeep Gladiator doesn't have a 6' bed option to haul those long items secure and out of the weather. If it did have a 6' bed option it would be the clear choice here. Too bad.....

Full size 1/2 ton trucks are notoriously poor offroad due to lack of features and ground clearance.

So I guess the Power Wagon is the leading option so far. I'm hoping somebody chimes in with a vehicle I haven't thought of.

You could always go with an older used truck like a half ton Ram 1500 from the solid axle days. That would check the off road boxes better and still do everything else well.

 

[jadmt]

That's definitely on the list, but it's such a large vehicle to be trying to navigate wooded trails in, and my father has one and says 15 MPG city/highway combined is not happening.

I rarely got under 15mpg..I get worse in my jlur when traveling fast. wooded trails suck but places like Moab they do great depending on the trails..I have had mine there 2X but I would not even consider doing tight trails with it..things like the white rim and fins etc they do great on.

 

[scorpionsix]

Raptor, depending on which cab, towing capacity is up to 8500lbs so allowing for a safety factor of 10%, your 7500lbs would be fine.

 

[WXman]

With your towing capacity requirement, you are going to have to get a full size. And all full size rigs are going to struggle in the woods with turning radius. But none of the mid size trucks can really tow 7500 gross+ effectively like you put in the requirement. If not the Power Wagon, then I'd still say a Ram 2500 or Ford F250 gas engine truck. The Power Wagon is just the better off road rig, but some of the others will get better mileage with different axle gears. But you will have to judge which is most important to you, mileage or capability.

The Ranger, Gladiator, and Colorodo all meet the 7,500 lb. towing requirement and are rated using SAE J2807. So that's not a problem. (And I have towed 7k with my Gladiators in the past and they performed admirably.) The problem with all those options is the 60" box and no option for a longer one. BUMMER!

Power Wagon is still the leading option it seems.

 

[3TV]

The new Cummins diesel Power Wagon that is coming out in 2026 will meet your fuel mileage requirement. And with 1,076 lbs ft of torque I don't think it would have a problem towing 7,500 lbs. either.

 

[AskBin]

Hypothetical question here.

Let's say you can only have ONE vehicle. Just one. And that one vehicle will need to be capable of/feature:

- 15 MPG or greater on the EPA "combined" portion of the window sticker (but the more the better)
- Able to navigate moderate to slightly difficult trails
- Enough interior room for 4 people to be comfortable
- Can tow a minimum of 7,500 lbs. gross trailer weight (but the more the better)
- Runs on gasoline or diesel fuel
- Has a cargo area that can haul items that are 66" long

What vehicle would be your pick? Any brand and any vehicle is fair game. I'm just curious what your choice would be, assuming that ALL of these conditions must be met. Not meeting even one of these is a deal breaker. Let's hear opinions....

my buddys 300k km cummins. extended cab, dually, nice tray on the back. he averages 22mpg too. very nice

 

[scorpionsix]

The new Cummins diesel Power Wagon that is coming out in 2026 will meet your fuel mileage requirement. And with 1,076 lbs ft of torque I don't think it would have a problem towing 7,500 lbs. either.

At least there wasn't a cost limit on the list of requirements. Neither a Raptor nor a Power Wagon are inexpensive.

 

[3TV]

At least there wasn't a cost limit on the list of requirements. Neither a Raptor nor a Power Wagon are inexpensive.

Agreed. A diesel Power Wagon cost as much as a 392 Moab.

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