by JaggedEdges » Tue Apr 19, 2016 12:26 pm
One thing that factory tow packages may have that's very difficult to replicate is different transmission programming for electronic controlled automatics, which is also related to ECU programming. Latterly all electronics have been VIN tied so you can't even swap a module from teh wreckers without getting the dealers "help", which may or may not be available or affordable. Practically you'd have to get a written off donor and do a complete heart and lung transplant, I mean wiring and electronics, so all parts coded the same and all options and wiring harness right. Or accept that you'll be swapping in transmissions every few years. This should really only be an issue though if you want to get to 100% of tow package limit.
However you should be really careful towing with something that only has 9.5 inch disk brakes on front only, 150-180HP, stopping distance of 220ft from 60mph empty and a load capacity of only 1000lb before you put any passengers in it, am I describing a minivan? No a mid 90s half ton truck that might have been rated to tow 10,000lb yikes, typical figures for a modern minivan would be 11inch disks front, 10" rear, 220HP, 170ft at 60mph stop, 1500lb load capacity. They have somewhere in the region of a ~3000lb rear axle which is what the basic spec, no-HD half ton will have. Anyway just saying minivans should be fine for towing moderate loads, and anybody who says they are not, should be saying most half tons shouldn't tow anything either. Really the only weak point is transmissions, so baby them, and try not to fall into the redneck mentality of thinking that lower engine speed is better, it really is not, make it kick down, buzz up that hill at 3000 rpm, less strain on everything, sure hold it at 5000 rpm for long periods and your bores are getting ovalled, but in the middle there is your torque peak which is your engines best efficiency, meaning it is putting maybe 35% of fuel consumed into turning the wheels instead of 20%, have a think, is 65% in waste heat or 80% in waste heat better for your motor, oil, transmission and cooling system?
Jack of all trades, Doctor of rocket surgery and fellow of the noble college of shadetree meddlers. "in argentum tenax vinculum speramus"