New Podders deciding btwn tow vehicles

Not sure what vehicle you all ended up with "ourjourneys" but for me, i'm going down to sign papers on a 2015 nissan frontier tomorrow as long as they dont screw with me on my trade in. Really hard to find all the info on towing package on nissan frontier. All they know is it can tow 6100 pounds (some say 6500) they have no idea of tranny coolers, or 130 amp alternators. It took me days to find the info, and the dealer cant even find it. I'm fairly certain it has all the same tow package as the tacoma. if anyone knows different, please do tell

Since purchasing our 177 back in March of 2011 we used our 2008 Ford Explorer with a 4.0L V-6 with 230 HP and worked quite well for us although it was working when we would travel through the Rockies, nevertheless we would get 12 mpg with it.  This spring we upgraded to a 2013 Explorer with 3.5L V-6 and 290 HP.  This definitely has more power and the towing mpg has increased to 13, it works for us.  This is our run about vehicle so we use it mainly for town runs and then for towing when vacationing.  Our only other vehicle is a 94 F-150 with 309,000 miles, stick shift 5.0 V-8 with 31 deer kills, body is rough but is a good wood hauler/work vehicle.

Check out the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon for those of you like me who want a mid size and US made. Towing capacity is more than adequate for RPods and larger TTs. Many options.

We have a 2010 Highlander with factory tow package.  Only came with 4 pin adapter.  Rated for 5,000.  We lover our Highlander.  It's been more than enough for our ClackaCraft drift boat.  That being said, it does ok with our early 2017 179 HRE.
Cons

• Back end drops an inch or two when we hook up.  Our dealer took the Curt ball mount with attached sway ball plank and 3.5 (?) inch drop and turned it upside down to get the trailer level with the Highlander.  Highlander has struts, so no air bag option.
• We added a 7 pin and trailer brake brain/unit.  It works just fine, but I'd be lying if didn't admit the factory integrated trailer brake on these new shinny pick-ups isn't going unnoticed.
• The gas mileage is cut in half.  At 65mph we were getting well over 20.  Now at 60 were getting 10/11ish.
• We live in Idaho and have to deal with mountains.  While we have not taken the pod up over Galena Summit (8,700), we did have some rollers on the highway back home from SLC.  It did it just fine, but she was panting.    Definitely no cruise control and no overdrive.

Pros

• We own it!

I've been long time Toyota owner.  The Highlander is a great rig, but if you are going to log some miles podding, I'd look at something else.  Tundra?
Good Luck!

Great point to consider the open bed for the generator, gas can, or extra propane tank. I think im sold on the pickup idea now. Plus, like i said before, this is a tow vehicle.  I want the highest tow capacity possible , out of the vehicles in this price range. Here is what is really going to make the difference i think. I did a look into the future. I did a KBB trade in value comparison between tacoma and frontier. I put both vehicles in as 5 years old, with 110,000 miles and the same equipment. The tacoma listed a 6,000 dollar higher trade in value according to kelly. Tacoma had an average value of $16,500, frontier 10,400. The purchase price tends to be about 2,200 higher on the tacoma, but you sure get it back in the end