Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

[Fox River Cruiser]

Can anyone tell me if this will work? I have a 17.5 ft. Bayliner, and was wondering if this van could pull it. It is a unibody vehicle, and I'm not sure how to mount a hitch to it.

 

[Fox River Cruiser]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

Also I should add I'm not looking to good to far say 30 miles each way.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

It will work fine. I have a Caravan that I occasionally tow my pontoon about 25 miles with no problem. Just take it easy. Watch out for the panic stops!! Mostly, I tow with the truck when going farther. Much safer and easier to tow with..

 

[glass from the past]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

As far as hooking up a hitch, you should have some sort of frame rails in the back of the van where the rear suspension bolts up that would be suitable to mount a receiver. I say have a shop setup your receiver, it's one less thing to worry about going down the road. I had mine done for less than $160.00 including the receiver. They will know the best location to mount it and they will be able to weld it on for you. Make sure that you get a receiver with the proper rating for the boat you are gonna tow.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

Fox River Cruiser, What state are you in?<br /><br />Just Curious..

 

[jtexas]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

Check the weight limit in your owner's manual, but I bet you're in good shape. Go to a reputable truck accessory shop & they'll order a hitch receiver made to fit your vehicle frame & bolt it on & wire it up. Discount place in my town has done two minivans for me for about $180 apiece. Some places (u-haul) will want to drill holes in your frame to fit a universal hitch but I wouldn't recommend that.

 

[Fox River Cruiser]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

Pointer I'm from the NW suburbs of Chicago Il. Frame rails? I looked under the van and it looks like only sheet metal, no frame. A couple of hitch sites say some drilling required. Just wondering if anyone else had mounted one of these.<br />Thanks

 

[gewf631]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

Fox River Cruiser, a friend used to have the 3.0L version of the Caravan (not the Grand), and we towed his 16 ft. aluminum fishing boat all over the place (even to Canada), without any problems. <br /><br />Granted, it's MUCH lighter than you Bayliner, but you see a lot of these vans with hitches - although I can't say that I've seen 2" receivers on them.<br /><br />Your distances are pretty short, and most of the ramps around the Chain are pretty decent (but the Chain Of Lakes State Park has some pretty good hills), so I wouldn't worry too much. Probably the worst would be trying to get your boat in/out of the water on a weekend.<br /><br />I'm in Mundelein, just a mile or so from Diamond Lake - maybe run into you sometime!

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

FRC that vehicle comes in 4 and 6 cyl,always has.All your replies should apply to a 6cyl ONLY.The 4 cyl wont do it.Not so much the engine,but the tranny in the 4 cant pull a little red wagon.Charlie

 

[Fox River Cruiser]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

Hi, ED & CC mines got the 6 cyl. was mostly concerned about hookin up the hitch to the van, and that the van is front wheel drive. I heard towing was not very good on the trans. Ed I run the chain mostly, but kinda like Lake Geneva too, when you get tired of banging your props up.

 

[garycinn]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

I've been very happy with this site:<br /><br /> http://www.etrailer.com <br /><br />On my '01 Grand Caravan w/ 3.8L, it was so easy and all for about $100 to my door.<br /><br />The nice thing about this site is that you can look at the install sheets and they tell you whether you have to drill or not.<br /><br />You don't list your van year, but I'm sure you could find one that will work.<br /><br />I would suggest getting your boat and trailer weighed and getting the appropriate hitch.<br /><br />You may want to consider a $40 tranny cooler.<br /><br />Be careful about exceeding weight limits of your vehicle.

 

[Sydmoe]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

I towed a 21 footer all summer last year with my Caravan. I added a $75 tranny cooler since my van didn't come with the trailer tow package. You should have no trouble towing the 17 footer if you take it easy.<br /><br />

<br /><br />

 

[kozman01]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

Just be careful with the transmission. They have to be the worst trans on the market in the last 20 years. Just do a search on the net concerning Caravan transmissions. I have a Grand Caravan and after what I've read and heard from my brother-in-law(big shot supervisor at a Chrysler repair shop) I change the fluid every 10-15K and never pull anything that is heavier than a load of groceries. The problem is that the damn trans. costs so much too replace. Just watch the fluid temp int he trans. If you don't have a cooler, get one immediately AND a temp. gauge. Good luck.

 

[dmartin1215]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

Agree with Kozman...don't tow with it! A mechanic friend of mine owns an auto repair shop, and owns a Dodge Caravan. Had put two transmissions in his van, and he only towed his 20 foot suntracker a few times. The guy that rebuilt his tranny told him...never...never tow with it, not matter how light or how far. In what a tranny cost for that, buy you a good P/U. He bought him a good 1981 4X4 for $1000! It's not pretty to look at, but it works! Too bad he didn't do that before he destroyed his caravan transmission!

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

FRC,<br /><br />I got a buddy in florida who put a hitch on his company caravan to haul around a 18ft searay. He hasn't had a problem, I have heard rattlings about the durability of the caravan's tranny but as long as you don't exceed the trailer rating in the manual I think you will be ok for short trips, I would invest in the tranny cooler though. I would agree it will pull your boat without a problem.<br /><br />I know a couple of fox river's in the area. I am a lake geneva guy, but you can find me on blarney island for the drag boat races on thursday nights. I'm usually the one holding a beer..

 

[Seaboo2]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

All I can say is that my shop has put ALOT of trans. in caravans (they are high buck too). I personally would not tow with it (even with a cooler). If you do I'd sugest getting the trans. fluid flushed now and at every 30,000 miles (spend a little now and (hopefully) save alot latter).

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

Unfortunatly you can tell them, plead with them and give all sorts of statistics, but if they want to they are gonna do it!<br /><br />My input, NO, NO, NO, Besides that you cant stop!

 

[bomar76]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

I wouldn't tow anything that I couldn't carry with a Dodge Caravan.

 

[mlslocks]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

Sydmoe<br />Your boat looks a little short for the trailer.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Towing with a Dodge Caravan 3.3L

Speaking of "Statistics", I think Sydmoe is looking to be one!