What IF. . .Hypothetically speaking

[CAN-03runner]

Does the boat get towed often, like most weekends in the summer? Or once to the lake/marina, and then back again when the season is over?

There are services that will tow your boat to the marina and back at the end of the season. Cheaper than a new truck

You can also rent a HD pickup for the occasional tow duty. cheaper than new truck and gas that goes with the DD of a full size.

I use my V8 4th gen to tow over and around 6000lbs. I only do it 2 to 4 weekends a year. I can't justify getting a new full size pickup or SUV as a DD to then only tow 2-4weekens a year. I have a V8 suv today so I keep it for now. But buying new again I couldn't justify buying a full size suv or pickup to tow 2-4 weekends a year because a new 5th gen is only rated at 5000bs and alsowhile the rest of the time it's just me in the 4runner driving around town empty. And that's when I'm not using my smaller car.

If I still have something to tow when it's my time to change car I'd get something more fuel efficient, and use a rental truck. Local to me I can rent a 3500HD diesel pickup for about 100$/day. 40-60,000$ of new truck is a lot of rentals.

 

[Jernik]

Thanks guys and I agree about the dependability of GMC and most other domestic brands, as I worked for them. But I cannot fathom being the last belonging of her husband and telling her to ditch it. I guess as you guys pointed out the towing boat is of no importance in this matter between these two vehicles so I guess it, and the original vehicle dont matter
And to out basically ask her . .again. Yota or Subi? I guess it really is that simple.
As someone said let her pick, I am. She doesn't know which one. She has always liked the Runners, which was the reason for that choice, but she also likes the Subaru. So I guess my question I should have asked should have been moreso. If you guys already had a 4runner. Would you buy another for your family or would you buy a subaru outback. And as hard as this is to say. . .pretend the 4runner will never be modded or off roaded to its full potential.

Not sure her age, but if she's over retirement age, the Subie would probably be easier for her to get in/out of. Maybe not now, but 5 or 10 years down the road... Our neighbors are in their early 70's, and my wife's mother is early 60's. Both CAN get into our stock 5th gen 4 Runner, but they struggle to do so. I imagine a set of AMP power steps would make that a lot easier, but a fall from a Subie would not be as nasty as a fall from our 4R - steps or no steps.

In the end, as others mention, make her drive both. Have her get in/out of each several times. Get her to consider ease of loading/unloading groceries etc... Then sit back and let her choose the color she likes best.

And yeah, I'm with you and don't think I'd bring up letting the boat go. Let her reach that conclusion on her own. Best of luck to you!