Looking at a suv or truck

I am looking at selling my passat to get a suv or truck for the harsh alaskan winter. I would only be towing a snowmachine once and a while so a v6 engine would be nice on the mpg. I have around $11,000 MAX to spend. It would have to be a 02 or newer to finance but older if a dealer had it. I am looking hard at a 04 mercury mountaineer with 47,000 miles on it with the v6. IS this a good buy or is there a better truck or suv? Thanks. Oh yah i have owned 3 audis and a vw passat over the time so I know what a repair bill is.