Towing w/MiniVan

steve01 · Jan 20, 2003

We are looking at selling our explorer, and buying a minivan (need more room for the little ones

). We have a 19ft '75 Beachcraft with a 150hp Merc OB (guessing at 1600 lbs total). We like the Chevy Astro, which will tow it with no problem (5100lbs cap), but also like the AWD Dodge Grand Caravan (3500 lbs cap). Anyone have experaince towing with one of these? We're not likly to get a larger boat in the future, maybe newer I/O. Thanks for any help.

MIKE F · Jan 20, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

I think you're underestimating your towed weight by a whole bunch. That engine is over 400# the trailer is probably another 600+/-#, that old a boat, I wouldn't be surprised if it's near 2,000# so you're talking 3,000# +/- not counting fuel,safety gear, toys etc. I think the only mini van that would give you a safety cushion would be the Astro, possibly the Mazda MPV unless their tow ratings have dropped. I believe they were rated for 4,500#.

roscoe · Jan 20, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

The Astro has more grunt in that 4.3 engine. IT is also available with AWD, but that drops the tow rating a little. I would go with the AWD Astro with the factory tow package and put some surge brakes on your trailer for good measure. Probably should have had them with your Explorer if your rig is that heavy. Got to protect the little ones.

steve01 · Jan 21, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

I should take it to a scale. Hard to believe it could weigh that much. Its a fairly basic set up, and the explorer, with 160hp, tows and stops like there is little back there. We've been leaning toward the Astro anyway. Thanks for the help!

Bondo · Jan 22, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

Your Problems Will Find You at Haul-Out.... I've watched mini-vans Smoking there tires up the ramp, with small runabouts in tow....You need rear wheel drive....

SpinnerBait_Nut · Jan 23, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

steve01, get you a Astro EXT AWD and you will never have to worry about it. Got one for my courier service to use in the winter and it goes good. Just my .02 worth.

lilwily · Jan 23, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

I have a 95 Astro that I pull everything with. I have pulled my bay boat....3300-3500lbs with no problem. The kids fit with plenty of room... gear....wife's stuff ect....with the boat behind us. The 4.3 has alot of power....more than enough to pull your boat. It came with an oil cooler..I added a trans cooler. Wily

lilwily · Jan 23, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

Also....I have the 2wd....never had a problem slipping going up a ramp. There is enough weight on the back tires......just never had a problem... wet or not. Wily

steve01 · Jan 23, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

Bondo, I've seen the front wheel drive mini-vans smoking tires, not a good situation. We were looking at AWD with the Dodge, but are leaning towards the Chevy - better tow cap. and could tow well with either 2WD or 4WD. What do you Astro owners think of your vans? Any thing to look/look out for? Thanks for all the help!

SpinnerBait_Nut · Jan 23, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

steve01, just take care of the 700r4 that comes in them. Make sure if it has not got one, to put a tranny cooler on it. That is the death of a 700r4, heat. And always leave it in drive intown and o/d when out on the road. The 4.3 has plenty of power and is a good engine. Mine has over 100,000 and still does not use any oil, but it gets serviced religiously at 3000 miles.

masterp · Jan 24, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

I have a 98 Safari (the GMC equivalent of the Chevy Astro) in our plumbing fleet. Last year a tree fell down at the property and we had to cut it up and tranport it to behind my house. Since the Safari is AWD we decided to pile it in there trying to avoid getting stuck. I was surprized!!!!! The truck was filled half way with green wood and I didn't even feel it sway. The Astro is a real truck in my eyes. I have a friend that regularly tows his two horses to Vermont from Maine for horse shows. Tells me he hardley knows they're back there. You can't miss with that Astro for towing ability. The Astro has a real frame!

Paul Witt · Jan 24, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

I've got a 97 Aerostar, last year they made them. 4200 lbs of towing capacity. Tows my 19 ft. Sea pro center console great! I just wish they still made them. 4 liter and rear wheel drive. I've towed 400 miles down to the beach and back with no problems. I'm looking at upgrading next year, and I will probably go find a Chevy Astro, only because the Aerostar is too old. Good luck.

horndog · Mar 7, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

the biggest problem is that the caravan series is a UNI-BODY, which means it has no frame! If you tow with a uni-body you will eventually put the frame out of whack and you never will have correct wheel alignment I would NEVER tow anything that weighs more than 1000lbs with a uni-body, actually I would NEVER tow anything with a uni-body. You need a full framed vehicle like a SUV or the Astro. If you are uncertain, just bend over and look underneath, if you see a big square tube run down the length of the vehicle its a full frame vehicle.

BassMan283 · Mar 7, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

Just to give you kind of a benchmark, I have 16.5 ft Lund (aluminum) with a 60 Merc which weighs in at about 1600 with trailer. I'm guessing you're heavier than that.

6MISFITZ · Mar 9, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

My 97 Asto pulls my 2150 Bowrider everywhere we need to go in summer. Some trips are over 400 km. It does have the factory towing package which includes engine oil and transmission cooler and 3.73 gears. Tows great on the highway other than fuel economy. What ever you do tow with, make sure the trailer brakes are always kept up to be safe and change the tranny fluid at the end of every summer.

dkhntr · Mar 28, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

we just bought a 93 town&country AWD. I am very dissatisfied with the towing capacity. It also states in the manual if you are going to tow over the recommended weight. You must have an equalizer hitch. Well, I am stuck with the van now so I must get the hitch. I belive the tow rating is only 2500 lbs. I figure my 19ft bayliner with a galvanized escort trailer is about 2800-3000lbs. On top of it they do not make a class 3. So I have to cut it close with a class 2. GRRRR!

dkhntr · Mar 28, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

Ooops! I also do not fear towing it. We just sold a 91 caravan with the same motor. No problems. Just the weight ratio. I also belive it only has about 100# toung wieght. I can lift it no problem.

JimmyDeb · Mar 30, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

ok i worked as a dodge mechanic for 6 1/2 years total and i can tell you if ya go with a caravan(*) you must get a cooler!!!!but also to tell you this---the caravan has a 41TE trans in it---well the 2nd number equals the stregth of this trans from dodge---which is 1 which equals ---WEAK!!!!i have been to quite a few trans schools for this transmission and i can tell you it is a terrible trans and i have made alot off money off poor owners of people with this trans(which is also in the stratus,avenger,intrepids(42LE in intreps)....they are very expensive to rebuild or replace!!!the * in this post is that i do pull a 17ft tracker with mine and pulled it all the way from fla and it did flawless!!!But i must say my boat is much lighter than yours......now the other day i did spin tires pulling it up a ramp for the first time!----I must put that a SUV may be the best for ya to consider but if ya have to get a van go for the full frame!!--just my 2 cents worth.

bubbaboater · Apr 1, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

I have towed with a Astro for 6 years. 16' to 19' boats. The van has 181,000 miles on it and is still going strong. The AWD is one of the best tow vechiles I have ever had. Make sure to put a tranny cooler on it and service it regularly and it will last a long time.

crab bait · Apr 1, 2003

Re: Towing w/MiniVan

i have a 2001 astro.. i LOVE it..!!! i don't pull much.. i could pull my rig with a rickshaw.. the van is nice.. it's loaded,, rides like a limo... i get 20 mpg all round..( not tow ) that 'sawed-off ' 350 is sweet..stomp it,, it's a rocket.. did i say i loved it..??..!!..??

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