Towing with my van

[airdvr1227]

Re: Towing with my van

You don't mention what year the van is. Check here for some good info on ratings.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Towing with my van

Tripples dont change the towing capacity.

yea that would be correct. I was thinking if his truck is rated for it he could leave the van at home.

 

[df909]

Re: Towing with my van

Wow, what a flurry of responses. It's a 2005 van. The boat is lighter than the camping trailer and I wouldn't use the van to put the boat in/out of the water. Just use it to get to the campground while the truck tows the heavier trailer. I'd use the truck to launch and retreive the boat.

The boat trailer does have brakes by the way. I spoke with the service dept at the dealer and was told as long as I kept the speed down, didn't do any mountain driving, had trailer brakes, and used common sense I should be ok. I won't have any gear in the boat or van, in fact I'll try to lighten the load as much as possible. All our stuff and most of the people will be in the truck. Hmm...maybe I should take the doors & spare & seats out too.

Towing triples is out because I don't have a fifth wheel, just a ball/hitch.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Towing with my van

I spoke with the service dept at the dealer and was told as long as I kept the speed down, didn't do any mountain driving, had trailer brakes, and used common sense...........

But YOU won't be driving the van.

 

[109jb]

Re: Towing with my van

As for your wife towing and the rear end sag, I would use a weight distributing hitch and a sway control. This would take care of the sag and also make it as safe as possible for your wife. I mentioned before that I have towed lots with the Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth vans. One of the trailers I used to tow quite frequently was a 21 foot Aerolite travel trailer. It was right at 3000 lbs empty and I'm sure I had probably 500 lbs extra on top of that. I used a weight distributing hitch, sway control, trans cooler, trans temp guage and never had a problem. I didn't run it 80 MPH either though. I towed that trailer with both a 1999 3.3L Voyager and a 2004 3.8L T&C.

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: Towing with my van

But YOU won't be driving the van.

well, total loss of boat and van is way cheaper these days, than a divorce!! mine cost more than a new boat and van would have!! lol

Maybe there's a hidden agenda! lol clever!

 

[df909]

Re: Towing with my van

That's pretty funny. If I do have her tow the boat I'm going to wrap it in bubble wrap. I have to go to the dealer tomorrow to have about $1,200 of free work done to my truck, so I'll discuss it with them again.

Good idea about the weight distributing hitch- it would definately need one.

How can I find out what my boat & trailer weigh? It's a 1992 Bayliner Capri with the 4.3L I a single trailer.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Towing with my van

A weight distributing hitch will make your brakes stop working. You did say you have surge brakes on the trailer?

 

[df909]

Re: Towing with my van

Surge on the boat. I might have her tow the trailer that has electric brakes. I'd have to empty everything (cooking stuff, blankets,...) out of it and tow it dry. In fact, I might even take off the propane and battery to lighten the load and reduce toungue weight. If I totally strip it it should fall within the towing capacity.

Good point about losing the surge brakes, I don't think it would have occured to me.

It'll be a pain in the rear but at least I'll have the boat with me while we camp.

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: Towing with my van

How can I find out what my boat & trailer weigh?

call your motor vehicles department, or a scrap yard... you can usually get it weighed at a transport weight scales... or at a scrap yard if they are not busy, they will let you drive on the trailer

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Towing with my van

you also need to deduct weight of passengers/cargo in the van from that number.

Unless the number that he quoted is Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, that probably is not the case. That said, he does need find out what the CGVWR is and I wouldn't think his van has a tow rating, as high as what was stated.

The relationship between Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), CGVWR and Tow Capacity, can be a little tricky at times. For example, a vehicle could have a CGVWR of 7,000 lbs, a GVWR of 4,000 lbs and a Tow Capacity of 2,000 lbs. If you do the math, the numbers don't add up, but they sometimes don't for a reason. That reason can be a weakness in the vehicle somewhere, such as undersized bearings in the tranny, a relatively weak frame/unibody, etc.

I agree with the posts that suggest that the best course of action is to contact Chrysler with the VIN handy.



???

 

[Philster]

Re: Towing with my van

Did the van come with a tow package? If it did not, you cannot tow up to the advertized tow limit for properly equipped vans by adding a hitch and tranny cooler. It aint geared right, and the wheels/tires might be undersized, and the brake package might not be right.

Constantly I see people fishing for the answer they want: Will my 1974 Pinto tow my 23' boat and trailer? I heard it has a 3000 lb limit. I was told if I take it easy and avoid mountains I am ok. Then, someone shows up to brag about how they towed too much with their truck/car and was 'fine'.

News Flash: There is no such thing as taking it easy over 200 miles when you are overloaded.

One thing everyone needs to get through their heads is that doing dumb stuff (overloading the van) doesn't guarantee your boat and van will end up smoldering rubble, but it sure puts you into an unfavorable category and you are much much more likely to regret it. Stay off my roads.

 

[109jb]

Re: Towing with my van

A weight distributing hitch will make your brakes stop working. You did say you have surge brakes on the trailer?

Not entirely true. You have to pick the right system, but there are weight distributing systems and sway controls approved for use with surge brakes. Link below is one. Most manufacturers have systems that will work with surge brakes though.

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/productinfo/compatibility.php

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Towing with my van

Did the van come with a tow package? If it did not, you cannot tow up to the advertized tow limit for properly equipped vans by adding a hitch and tranny cooler. It aint geared right, and the wheels/tires might be undersized, and the brake package might not be right.

Constantly I see people fishing for the answer they want: Will my 1974 Pinto tow my 23' boat and trailer? I heard it has a 3000 lb limit. I was told if I take it easy and avoid mountains I am ok. Then, someone shows up to brag about how they towed too much with their truck/car and was 'fine'.

News Flash: There is no such thing as taking it easy over 200 miles when you are overloaded.

One thing everyone needs to get through their heads is that doing dumb stuff (overloading the van) doesn't guarantee your boat and van will end up smoldering rubble, but it sure puts you into an unfavorable category and you are much much more likely to regret it. Stay off my roads.

I would be very surprised if the gearing is any different with the tow package option. It is front wheel drive automatic and thus the factory does not bother installing a differently geared automatic. The tow package might have different suspension springs and shocks/struts. Other than that, the tow pkg is most likely only an extra tranny cooler, a hitch and trailer wiring. I would be more afraid of stopping than getting going.

Remember too, the boat is way more aerodynamic and less drag on the van then your camping trailer will be. Less induced sway due to cross winds and big rigs that will be whizzing by at 30mph more than the van.

 

[642mx]

Re: Towing with my van

Here is my 2 cents...

Will it pull it? Of course it will. Will it pull it safely.... probably not.

IMO, Trucks/SUV's (anything with a real frame) is made to pull a load. Cars/Mini-vans are made to carry passengers. People often try to do too many things with one vehicle...

 

[109jb]

Re: Towing with my van

Here is my 2 cents...

Will it pull it? Of course it will. Will it pull it safely.... probably not.

IMO, Trucks/SUV's (anything with a real frame) is made to pull a load. Cars/Mini-vans are made to carry passengers. People often try to do too many things with one vehicle...

Well to that I will say this. I have owned these minivans and have also owned mini-trucks (S-10's, Rangers, and Imports). I have also towed with all of these and I would rather tow with the minivan than with a mini-truck. By your estimation the mini-truck should be better simply because it has a frame. Not in my opinion. ALL vehicles have a frame, it is just a matter of whether the frame is integral to the body or a separate. Fact of the matter is that the mini-vans can tow and tow safely. Would a full size truck do beetter? Of course it would, but just because a full size can do it better doesn't mean a minivan can't do it or is unsafe.

 

[642mx]

Re: Towing with my van

Well to that I will say this. I have owned these minivans and have also owned mini-trucks (S-10's, Rangers, and Imports). I have also towed with all of these and I would rather tow with the minivan than with a mini-truck. By your estimation the mini-truck should be better simply because it has a frame. Not in my opinion. ALL vehicles have a frame, it is just a matter of whether the frame is integral to the body or a separate. Fact of the matter is that the mini-vans can tow and tow safely. Would a full size truck do beetter? Of course it would, but just because a full size can do it better doesn't mean a minivan can't do it or is unsafe.

A Ranger (for example) has a real frame (not a unibody)... some Rangers even come with a class 3 hitch from the factory. Last time I walked thru a dealership I didn't see ANY class 3's on the soccer mom mobiles (maybe I over-looked them). Towing with a passenger car/mini-van is a joke compared to a framed truck (even small trucks). I've towed with both aswell.

Towing within a couple hundred pounds of any vehicles limit is not safe.... or smart.

 

[df909]

Re: Towing with my van

Stay off my roads.

Wow, how friendly. In the name of safety that's why I'm here asking others about it.

I've decided against towing...I've heard three different towing capacity rating from three different places. For now it'll just be one toy until we replace the van with maybe a full size.

Thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Towing with my van

I have a '99 caravan (std length, not grand caravan) with a 3.0 liter motor. I use it to pull my boat and trailer, but the weight is only about 1100 pounds. The van does OK, but you definately do know the boat is back there. I would be concerned about your kind of a load on on the 3.3 liter. Also, Caravans are known for transmission issues. That said, if you keep it on level roads, and use an auxiliary transmission cooler, and keep an eye on the transmission fliud color, you might be OK. I don't see it as a safety risk, except if you need the exceleration to avoid a crash.

TerryMSU

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Towing with my van

If the tow rating for both are somewhat close...........
I would rather pull a trailer with an empty unibody minivan versus an empty full frame mini truck.