Well I am still divided between buying a shorter Yukon/Tahoe or the full length Suburban/XL. Be nice to have a smaller wheel base for off roading, 14" difference (wheel base) and total length difference being 20", the full size is great but for me its only great to sleep in as I dont need all that cargo area.
With the shorter length suv's might have to custom make a a cargo area extension that extends a few feet out beyond the rear bumper. As thats just where the feet will be. I contemplated the Avalanche with its bed pannier but those are expensive, all coils. My idea comes from the Doubleback VW: Slider straight back -
http://fancytuning.com/2012/05/vw-t5-transporter-doubleback-is-a-great-idea/
BTW I just watched a TV episode called Motoring '21 and their crew truck was a Tahoe 2nd gen '00-'06 and the mechanic was saying its a great truck, just the Canadian climate rusts them out big time. He ends up fixing a rear brake drum that broke off due to rust. Ontario show but they travel all of North America in that SUV and fly all around the world.
I've been reading up on the V8 Grand Cherokee's and the gas mileage is pretty much the same.
The higher mileage 150k+ 4.7L grand cherokees are a gamble on previous owner taking care of the suv.
12/16 burbs (5.5klb) to 14/19 gc (4,618–5,353 lb)
so 2mpg (0.8km/L) difference
Yea ok I just talked myself into buying the tahoe/yukon.
Next to find out is lift kit for which size tires and power mods.