Got it. If it were me I'd probably be looking for a domestic crew cab pick up with a towing package. They can usually fill in pretty well for a sport-ute and have additional flexibility when carry anything large and bulky. If that won't work for you I'd probably look at the full sized sport-utes.
In your price range the pick-up trucks are going to be more numerous in terms of selection and will usually have a bit more towing capacity as well. For some reason its hard to find a sport-ute with a useful axle ratio as a tow vehicle until you get to the bigger stuff. Probably has to do with the C.A.F.E. standards and the general popularity of the vehicles among urban and suburban customers.
Among the candidates for usable sport-utes I would list the Chevy/GMC Tahoe/Suburban platform as the most capable. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is nearly so but a bit smaller in overall size and capability. The Ford Expedition is nearly the size of the Chevy/GMC cars but a little weaker in the engine bay and thus less capable. The Ford Explorer has been trending to a more car-like platform for years but the older ones were probably marginally capable for your purpose. The Dodge/RAM Durango is also about on par with the rest of the domestics. The Toyota Land Cruiser is probably the only import I would take a chance on in this application - maybe the Nissan Armada but I don't have much experience with them. The Nissan X-Terra has been discontinued but it was also a pretty capable platform - particularly in the 4wd specialty models. The fact that they have been discontinued may make them a little more affordable but their 4wd-off-road chops also may tend to make them a little more "used" than some of the others.
Frankly, none of these vehicles have fared very well in terms of reported reliability and scoring by the national publications that specialize in that kind of thing. As for my own experience, I have run Fords, Chevy/GMC's and Toyotas over the years and have found them all to be fairly reliable as long as the maintenance is kept up. All of them have their quirks which you have to get used to and in your price range I'd be looking for a vehicle with a complete service history and probably would pay extra to get it. My family ( Dad, brother and me )has run Chevy Suburbans and K 5 Blazers since the late 1970's and had good luck with them. Others folks wouldn't buy one on a bet. They are not cheap to maintain - or to run - so just plan on that up front. Properly maintained they are pretty capable vehicles.
For pick up trucks I like Fords but the Expedition has never impressed me much. The Toyota Landcruiser is legendary - but as an off-roader and not as a tow vehicle. Mine was an FJ40 and lasted for years here in Arizona. The later models went all "Land Rover" and got expensive but they were still a pretty good truck. No experience with the Dodge Durango but a neighbor had one for years and beat the crap out of it and couldn't get it to quit on him. Jeeps are quirky but the Grand Cherokee-Commander line has been pretty decent over the years just not terribly reliable in factory trim. Again, no personal experience - just talking with owners around home and out in the boonies. The Nissan X-Terra is a good truck and has the bonus of being found in a surprising number of two wheel drive versions which simplifies the towability and improves fuel economy if you don't need the 4wd. One neighbor has owned three. One he wore out. The second one he bought for his wife and the third one he bought when he heard they were being discontinued and it's his daily driver and hunting truck so I guess you could call him a fan.
Given what you want it for and what you want to spend I would think you might be well served to consider buying it from and individual. You might pay a little more than at a dealer but you're more likely to score a vehicle with a complete maintenance history and fairly moderate use.
A lot of older folks buy the tow vehicle and the travel trailer at the same time and when the notion of trouping around the country leaves them the toys get used less and less. I have seen them offered as a pair in many classified ads in the local paper and some of the travel trailer magazines and site. Sometimes RV dealers take the whole package in trade but that is less common in my experience.
Bottom line is, you never know where you'll find the vehicle you finally end up with. Knowledge is power and flexibility is a bargaining tool.
Hope this helps.
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