Eskay -
Tow rating gets a lot of attention. As unlikely as it seems, the vehicle manufacturer gives you a single number, and expects you to believe that applies to all situations. Really? Before going down that road, the first question should always be "Where you will be towing?" The flat country of Florida or Indiana is not the same as the Rockies of Colorado or the Sierras of California.
Several Forum members tow with a 3500 pound rating. They say it works, especially if you pack light, don't load a seven-passenger SUV with seven people, and plan to stay away from the biggest mountains. General consensus has been that 5000 pounds is better for most situations.
You didn't say how big your family is, or how much stuff each family member will want to bring. In this regard, you should be aware that the tow rating of a vehicle always comes with a manufacturer's statement, sometimes hidden rather well, that every pound you put in the tow vehicle - people, cargo, and luggage - has to be subtracted from the tow rating. So if you put 600 pounds of people and 400 pounds of cargo in your tow vehicle, your 3500-pound rating is now 2500 pounds. Considering that a loaded and ready-to-camp TM usually weighs well above 3500 pounds, that's pretty thin.
You might use the forum's Search tool to find discussions of "tow rating" here on the forum. You'll find some good experience and advice. You will hear from people who tow with a 3500-pound vehicle, often a minivan, and are quite satisfied with it.
Bill
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