Hi Klaus.

Thanks for answering.

re: "...All towing capacities for all car/trucks get decreased as the load in the car increases...."

I know about that, but taking 500 to 800 lbs off of the trailer's allowed weight for carrying each 150 lb passenger seems a little ridiculous.

And I'm bothered that I (and how many others) may have bought the SUV without being informed that the SUV can't tow nearly as much as advertised because I'm carrying two extra family members -- the owners manual is routinely not available to prospective buyers, and the brochures only list 5,000 lbs without any indication that it might be so severely reduced.

re: "...For pulling a large camper across this country, I suggest an F150 with a large cab and short box...."

Fortunately, we're considering at most a 4,100 lb boat (incl. trailer, fully loaded) and we've picked out a 3,000 lb camper model -- both very modest sizes. The boat would be short distances, 50 miles or so at most, and usually a small fraction of that; the only long-distance tow would be for the much lighter-weight camper.

I'm thinking now, having dropped the XC90 from my list, about the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee -- it can be equipped for 7,200 lbs in 4x4, more than enough margin (unless they also pull a fast one with the tow weights like Volvo); and with the V-8 for climbing high altitudes where you lose a lot of hp (no turbo to compensate), because despite the camper's small size we'll be touring up and down the Sierras and Rocky Mts [we're moving to Seattle to be closer to our daughter and her new husband.] What caught my attention is that it's the sister design of the new MB M-class, from when MB partnered with Chrysler, so it should be a well-thought out design.

Anyway, you seem to be familiar with trucks, too, so have you ever encountered such an extreme, limiting provision (150 lb passenger = 500-800 lb trailer weight) in other makes of trucks?

Thanks again.
Ken