My 2015 grand dodge grand 's towing capacity

liusigou

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My 2015 grand dodge grand 's towing capacity is 3600lb. Is it possible to buy a 2900lb boat? Should I consider the weight of trailer and passengers while running?

What is the difference between existing brake and without brake for the trailer?

Thank you a lot of
 
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briangcc

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Umm...if the trailer is connected to the minivan, then yes you need to consider it's weight in addition to the boat, the battery in the boat, the gas tank in the boat, all safety gear, anchor, additional items - fishing gear, tubes, etc.

There is no free ride...everything weighs something.

So short answer...nope - you're exceeding the tow capacity of the vehicle. Cause a single axle trailer is going to be around 800lbs itself and that's before you add in everything else I mentioned above.

Either lighter boat (think aluminum here) or new tow vehicle with higher rating.
 

airshot

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Also keep in mind that most states require trailer brakes when the tow weight exceeds 2500-3000 lbs. Each state may vary but typically they are between the weights posted.
 

Scott Danforth

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A 2900# boat with a 800-1200# trailer, 300# of fuel, and 600# worth of batteries, oil, anchor, gear is a bit over your 3600# max towing capacity

Working backwards..... 3600# - 1200# trailer, -300# of fuel, - 600# of gear, etc leaves you with a 1400# boat (including motor)
 

Bondo

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Ayuh,....... 'n with front wheel drive, I doubt you'll be able to pull it up the launch ramp,.....
 

aspeck

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In other words, can you? Yes you can (you can try anything you want to try). Should you? No you shouldn't. You might be one of those Credit Card Captain videos where the tires spin on the ramp and the boat and trailer pull the van into the water. Or you might be one of the videos where the boat pushes the van through the busy intersection and it isn't a pretty outcome.
 

airshot

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Ayuh,....... 'n with front wheel drive, I doubt you'll be able to pull it up the launch ramp,.....
Curious why you mention that.....I have found the front wheel drive to be helpful on slick ramps as long as the vehicle is towing within its capacity.
 

Bondo

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Curious why you mention that.....I have found the front wheel drive to be helpful on slick ramps as long as the vehicle is towing within its capacity.
Ayuh,..... I've got a 4x4 F250, but have watched many u-tubes of front drive cars, not bein' able to climb a launch ramp,...
Weigh-transfer seems to be a major factor,....
Worse yet is a 2x pickup, with wet tires,....

The op is gonna be well over capacity,....
 

briangcc

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Curious why you mention that.....I have found the front wheel drive to be helpful on slick ramps as long as the vehicle is towing within its capacity.
Basic physics...

More tongue weight, the lower the rear sags and the front lifts up. Good old teeter-totter affect. With less weight on the front tires, less grip. Not only acceleration but steering is now affected. I don't care who you are...steering isn't overrated.

In other words...bad mojo.
 

airshot

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Basic physics...

More tongue weight, the lower the rear sags and the front lifts up. Good old teeter-totter affect. With less weight on the front tires, less grip. Not only acceleration but steering is now affected. I don't care who you are...steering isn't overrated.

In other words...bad mojo.
I have not experienced that issue, but then again, I haven't used a front wheel drive to pull big heavy boats. all my towing has been under 2500 lbs well within my vehicle towing capacity. Having used both front wheel drive and rear wheel drive vehicles to tow the same boats, I found the front wheel to be much better on the ramps pulling my boats out. The weight of the engine far exceeds the tongue weight pressure. Now...if your pulling a 3000 lb plus boat then that is an entirely different story. Those rear wheels in all that green slime, quickly adds fear of going unto the drink....
 

roscoe

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Read your vehicle owners manual.
Read the towing section, where
it tells you that you need brakes on the trailer.

I have the same Grand Caravan.
Boat and trailer about 1400#.
I made one trip with a little extra gear ( 800 # ), and 2
people in the 1 year old van. I was well under tow
capacity and cgvw weight.
Going down hill at 30 mph, .
I could NOT STOP. Could barely slow down to 20 mph.

Ordered and installed brakes when I got home.
 

briangcc

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I have not experienced that issue, but then again, I haven't used a front wheel drive to pull big heavy boats. all my towing has been under 2500 lbs well within my vehicle towing capacity. Having used both front wheel drive and rear wheel drive vehicles to tow the same boats, I found the front wheel to be much better on the ramps pulling my boats out. The weight of the engine far exceeds the tongue weight pressure. Now...if your pulling a 3000 lb plus boat then that is an entirely different story. Those rear wheels in all that green slime, quickly adds fear of going unto the drink....
And we're comparing apples and oranges...

Your situation, you're within your tow rating.

The OP is vastly over their tow rating which will experience this effect.

Personally, I've towed overweight once. Wife's then 2016 GMC Acadia SLE2 AWD with tow package (5k towing) and my then 2005 FourWinns on a tandem. Was probably close to 6k when all said and done for towed weight. That experience alone, with the rig dramatically slowing down going uphill - the accelerator pedal was on the floor board - was hair raising enough to never, ever attempt something so galatically stupid again.

Luckily I'm here to tell the tale. And since then, every vehicle I tow with has a wide margin of safety for the towed weight. Durango is rated to 6200lbs and Ram is 82-8500lbs depending on who you believe...towed weight is likely 4500lbs. Which coincidentally happens to be a 2600lb (dry / rigged) boat, trailer, bats, gas and other ammenities I pack for a day on the water.
 

airshot

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And we're comparing apples and oranges...

Your situation, you're within your tow rating.

The OP is vastly over their tow rating which will experience this effect.

Personally, I've towed overweight once. Wife's then 2016 GMC Acadia SLE2 AWD with tow package (5k towing) and my then 2005 FourWinns on a tandem. Was probably close to 6k when all said and done for towed weight. That experience alone, with the rig dramatically slowing down going uphill - the accelerator pedal was on the floor board - was hair raising enough to never, ever attempt something so galatically stupid again.

Luckily I'm here to tell the tale. And since then, every vehicle I tow with has a wide margin of safety for the towed weight. Durango is rated to 6200lbs and Ram is 82-8500lbs depending on who you believe...towed weight is likely 4500lbs. Which coincidentally happens to be a 2600lb (dry / rigged) boat, trailer, bats, gas and other ammenities I pack for a day on the water.
I was only responding to a particular post about front wheel drive not getting up a ramp and now we re discussing trailer brakes and towing packages. Apples to oranges ?? Rocks compared to fruit would be more accurate.
 

Grub54891

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I've towed overweight once. Not a good situation. I could not go over 25 mph as it would start to fishtail and lose control. I was only going about 5 miles, so I just kept going slowly. Passed a cop sitting on the side of the road, he just shook he just finger at me. Glad he had a sense of humor......
 

liusigou

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How can I know 1996 Doral speed boat's weight? It has a cuddy and a 4.3L mercruiser. the owner told me the length is 18 feet. The boat's HIN No is 55E19916
 
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briangcc

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briangcc

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The HID doesn't decode...too short. For that year, would need to be 12 digits. Look here:


Assuming this is a cuddy we're talking about, that puts the published length at 20' and you're way over your tow rating once you add in everything else you need to be on the water. Boat alone is 3200lbs dry - no gas/batts/trailer/etc.

Join the Starmada and look at aluminum. Starcraft, Sylvan, Crestliner, etc. OR....pony up some additional $$$$$$ for a new tow vehicle. Plenty out there that will tow 5k and up with 3rd row seating. I own one...wife's red buzz bomb....'22 Dodge Durango SXT AWD w/tow package - 6200lbs tow rating....includes factory electric brake controller.
 
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