Towing with a Dodge Caravan

[Benhamtroll]

I picked up a 1997 Dodge Caravan 3.0L V6 a few months back. Oddly enough, this was to replace my 1984 Jaguar XJ-6 which I had blown the head on, but that is beside the point . . .

Anyway . . . has anyone used such a beast to tow a TTT? The previous owner had installed a hitch that he pulled a utility trailer with, and I believe the stated towing capacity is around 1300-1500 lbs. Of course, numbers on paper mean little compared to actual reports.

So . . . anyone?

Chris

[parnold]

I used a V6 caravan to tow a pop-up from Jersey to Shenandoah Nat'l Park years ago. Towing was no problem at all, but I did have to pull over once to allow the brakes to cool down while in the process of going down a very, very long hill. No brakes on trailer. I would guess the pop-up weighed in around 1800 lbs. Would have been perfect if the trailer had brakes at that weight.

[Benhamtroll]

Sounds good! Thanks for the real life situation.

[parnold]

I would also say that "a friend of mine" used the same Caravan to tow a 2600lb trailer 25 miles to my, I mean "his" house. It was hairy and scary. I, I mean "he" loved that trailer, but it never made it more than 20 miles from home due to the lack of adequate tow vehicles.

I towed a 700lb teardrop to Indiana and back with my Hyundai Accent. Again, it towed wonderfully, and never had a fear, starting or stopping. Being cautious is great, and knowing that your trailer is easily within your vehicles safe zone is priceless.

[Woodbutcher]

I towed a 1000# Coleman Pop up from Chicago to Spokane WA. in 1986. We had a 4Cyl Dodge Caravan. I will say that I hit 80 on some down hill grades to pull the up hill grades. It all worked out fine.

[H-Balm]

I use a 2004 Honda Odyssey minivan.
The book has the tow capacity at 3500, though.

From the van standpoint, I couldn't be happier.
I have never had any instances of trouble or worry.

At times I need to be careful, and remember it is still back there.

[Martiangod]

Any info i find says 1000 lb tow capacity, i would definatly add a tranny cooler no matter what

[asianflava]

Dave & Cindy (Bluebonnet tear) used a caravan to tow theirs for a few years.

[Deryk the Pirate]

My dad has a 96 or so Grandcaravan with the tow package and it has a 3500 tow capacity...id join the dodge forum and talk with them. A lot had tranny issues so definatly get a cooler

[jandmz]

We towed a 1900 lb popup with a 2000 V6 Voyager (the last of the Plymouth badged Chrysler minivans). We had a brake controller installed, and towed mostly on the Illinois prairie. It towed fairly well, and was stable, even in a cross wind.

The Chrysler minivans had a reputation for transmission problems, so we purchased an 85K extended warranty. Sure enough, at 83K the trans packed up and went bye-bye, but I don't think it had anything to do with towing. According to the owner's manual, we had a 3500 lb tow rating. Even so, about two years after the trans was replaced, we traded it off.

[Jerry Bleeg]

I had a 96 Dodge Grand Caravan years back and we towed a heavy and big coleman pop up in the 2000 pound variety. That was pushing it . . or should I say it was pushing us. The pop-up's brakes were not the best and there were a few moments where it got scary. My van had the slightly larger 3.3 liter motor and I added a tranny cooler. I would recommend adding a cooler, which was not to hard once the front bumper cover gets removed. I think with a cooler, you should be OK towing a Teardrop weighing in the 1000 to 1500 pound range. Keep in mind your passengers and cargo in the van though and like others have said, be careful in hills and mountains.

[rowerwet]

my '06 grand caravan didn't even notice the TD hooked on the back, we were moving and had the TD stuffed to the gills with boxes and junk, other than a longer stopping distance the van didn't seem to care. like the others said check your tow ratings...