What's needed to get my vehicle ready for towing a pop-up?

[pjynx]

We have a 2005 Grand Caravan. It did not come with the towing pkg so we are planning to get a hitch installed. I haven't checked into where yet though. Probably either at the dealership or at the RV store where we buy the pop-up.

But in browsing some of the other threads here, I'm getting the idea that I need other things besides a hitch.....something for the transmission? Something for the brakes? Sway bars? More??? Sorry if these are all basic knowledge things. This will be our first pop-up and I'm clueless. I'm sure that the RV salesguy will be able to tell me, but I also don't want to blindly believe him when he's trying to sell me all the "necessary" extras.

Can anyone tell me what I really need to have done to my Caravan to allow it to properly tow? Thanks!

Pam

[wavery]

What is the towing capacity of your Caravan?

What is the "Total" weight of your trailer?

It is always a good idea to install a transmission oil cooler (the bigger the better).

If your trailer has electric brakes, you will need a brake controller installed on your Caravan. You will also need to have a trailer wiring harness installed. It's a good idea to get the large 7-pin connector installed on the Caravan and the corresponding connector installed on the trailer.

Weight distribution hitch and sway bars can wait until you see how your new trailer tows.

[abbear]

Read your owners manual.  DO NOT TRUST THE DEALER TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED!!!

When we got our 1998 Coleman Westlake (loaded 2750 lbs) we added a weight distribution hitch (required by Dodge on trailers over 1000 lbs - see your manual) and a tranny cooler.  Spend the money and get a Prodigy brake controller.  Take the time to understand how weight in your van will affect how much you can tow - this is also in your manual.

We towed with our 1996 3.3 v6 grand  caravan after installing the above for 3 years and thousands of miles all over the west without a problem.  But read the trailer towing section of the owners manual - it will tell you most of what you need to know.  The dealer?  He sells trailers.  That's his job.

[Billy Bob]

Hi how are you doing.

You must be a little exited getting a PU as we all were. That's great. You have taken some big steps realizing you may need to modify your TV.

There are a couple of things you should or must do to tow a PU or just about any trailer.

1) If the trailer has brakes it is a must you that you install a brake control on your TV. It really isn't that hard and we can help you if you want to tackle the job yourself

2) Maybe a tranny cooler to keep your tranny fluid cooler while towing.  The reason I am say "maybe" is because if your TV has a tow package it may already have it.

3) MAYBE a tranny temp gauge. If you are planning trips out west into the Rockie Mountains this is a good tool. ( if your planning such a trip contact me and I will elaborate more on this)

4) Have your REAR brakes adjusted. This is a easy do it yourselfer but if not it's no more than $30 to have someone do it for your. You will be SURPRISED how much this makes a difference.

Let me know if you need more assistance. I am a mechanic and can guide you to do almost everything you need to.

[lwbfl]

Hi how are you doing.

You must be a little exited getting a PU as we all were. That's great. You have taken some big steps realizing you may need to modify your TV.

There are a couple of things you should or must do to tow a PU or just about any trailer.

1) If the trailer has brakes it is a must you that you install a brake control on your TV. It really isn't that hard and we can help you if you want to tackle the job yourself

2) Maybe a tranny cooler to keep your tranny fluid cooler while towing.  The reason I am say "maybe" is because if your TV has a tow package it may already have it.

3) MAYBE a tranny temp gauge. If you are planning trips out west into the Rockie Mountains this is a good tool. ( if your planning such a trip contact me and I will elaborate more on this)

4) Have your REAR brakes adjusted. This is a easy do it yourselfer but if not it's no more than $30 to have someone do it for your. You will be SURPRISED how much this makes a difference.

Let me know if you need more assistance. I am a mechanic and can guide you to do almost everything you need to.

I agree with all the above.  Could you explain #4 though?  Not how to do it, but would you adjust them differently than for regualr driving for some reason?

[pjynx]

Thank you all for the information!

The tow capacity of the TV is 3500. It currently does not have a tow package. I'll read through my manual to find the information on towing.

We haven't decided on a specific PU yet. We're leaning toward a 2004 Fleetwood Laramie. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is 3000 and the Unloaded Weight is 1975. Other PU's we're considering are the SeaPine and Valor (both Fleetwood). The Valor's weight is similar to the Laramie and the SeaPine is lower (I think).

When looking at the trailer weight and the tow capacity of the TV, what weight do I look at? Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or Unloaded Weight?

Thanks again for all the info!
Pam

[indiana_campin]

Can someone elaborate on the tranny temp cooler? Doing some travel in the smokies (instead of generally flat Indiana terrain) this fall and want to be prepared. How hard is this to install, or cost to have installed?

[DoubleD]

Can someone elaborate on the tranny temp cooler? Doing some travel in the smokies (instead of generally flat Indiana terrain) this fall and want to be prepared. How hard is this to install, or cost to have installed?

Here is a very simple explanation...
An automatic transmission uses fluid pressure to do some of its work.  More weight being pulled = more work.  More work = higher pressure.  More pressure = higher fluid temperature.  As temperature increases, the protectants in the fluid break down, and allows damage to internal seals and other parts of the transmission, causing expensive transmission repairs.  Simply put, a cooler keeps the additives in the fluid from breaking down so they can better do their job.
My tranny cooler cost about $325 installed by my tranny guy who rebuilt and warrantied the tranny before I got the PU.  I didn't want anybody else do it so I can go back to the same guy who warrants the tranny if his cooler fails and causes problems in the tranny he rebuilt.
If you like getting dirty and know about cars, don't mind getting red tranny fluid all over yourself and your garage floor or driveway, you can do it yourself and save some money.  If not, have a professional do it, hopefully a mechanic you use regularly and trust.

One thing not mentioned above...get all four of your brakes checked out by that trusted mechanic, front and rear.  You spent a good deal of money on your recreation, don't cheap out on your loved ones' safety.  

[wavery]

Can someone elaborate on the tranny temp cooler? Doing some travel in the smokies (instead of generally flat Indiana terrain) this fall and want to be prepared. How hard is this to install, or cost to have installed?

I bought my trans cooler on eBay from this guy:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Transmission-Oil-Cooler-20-000-GVW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ46104QQihZ010QQitemZ200013551415QQrdZ1

It was about $45 including S&H and I got it in 2 days.

It really isn't difficult or messy on most vehicles. Mine was harder than most because of limited space between the radiator and bumper sheet metal. It took me about an hour and zero mess.

It comes with complete instructions. If you feel nervous about installing it, you can take it to a trans shop and have them do it. I can't imagine them charging over $100 labor unless they have to dismantle the front end to get it in.

I took mine to a trans shop (just felt lazy, I guess) and they said that it would be $250 labor because they had to take the entire front end apart to get it in. I sad, "Thank you very much." I left for home and stuck it right in. No hassle at all. I guess that I looked stupid or something. Maybe I shouldn't walk around with the parrot in my pipe.

[tlhdoc]

Thank you all for the information!
 
The tow capacity of the TV is 3500. It currently does not have a tow package. I'll read through my manual to find the information on towing.
 

Are you sure that is the capacity of the TV without the tow package is 3500 pounds.  I towed with a Grand Caravan and the capacity was 3500 pounds with the tow package and only 2000 pounds without the package.
 

When looking at the trailer weight and the tow capacity of the TV, what weight do I look at? Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or Unloaded Weight?

You need to look at the GVWR.  You also have to include everything in the TV except the driver when you look at how much weight you are towing.  good luck getting your TV ready and finding a PU that fits your family.

[wynot]

Chrysler transmissions are a known weak point.  Don't tow without a transmission cooler and cut your transmission fluid change interval in half.

Do not rely on someone telling you that you already have a tranny cooler, unless you have a towing package and can see the external cooler (probably about a foot or so square or rectangular).

[lwbfl]

Chrysler transmissions are a known weak point.  Don't tow without a transmission cooler and cut your transmission fluid change interval in half.

Do not rely on someone telling you that you already have a tranny cooler, unless you have a towing package and can see the external cooler (probably about a foot or so square or rectangular).

Right, because all automatic trannys have a cooler.  What you want is a seperate (auxillary) cooler.  Take my truck for example.  With the towing package, it list an engine oil cooler and a tranny cooler.  Too bad both are built into the radiator (like almost all factory coolers)!  This setup means that if any one of the three gets hot, they all get hot.  Who the heck wants to "cool" anything with boiling water/coolant?  When I installed seperate oil and tranny coolers, all my temps went down.  They are no longer expensive and are not hard to install on most vehicles.

[edwardr132]

Are you sure that is the capacity of the TV without the tow package is 3500 pounds.  I towed with a Grand Caravan and the capacity was 3500 pounds with the tow package and only 2000 pounds without the package.

I strongly believe your van can only handle 2000 pounds, not 3,500 pounds.  Then you have to subtract the weight of everyone in your van and all the coolers and such.  

I personally think Dodge Minivans are worthless as tow vehicles.  I owned a 1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager with only 70K miles on it before I decded to tow a 2,000lb popup with it.

I invested
1) tow hitch and 4way plug wiring
2) Trans cooler

 Cost around $600/so  Turns out I wasted that money, because after towing about 500 miles,  I could sense that the minivan needed a new transmission.  That really ticked off the wife, because not only did I have to buy a new vehicle, but also a new tow package and hitch and wiring all over again!!!!!

I traded it in for a 2006 Honda Odyssey.  It was a night and day difference.

Just thought I should warn you from the bottom of my wallet.

This time I did it right.

I bought the tow package from honda (includes the 4 way plug and tow hitch and (2) coolers.

Then I just bought a weight distribution hitch for the popup which makes it easier for the van to tow.

I also bought a new pin design that is actually two pins and prevents the knocking back and forth between TV and popup that happens with the one pin design.

[Robert1955]

I am in the same boat as you are - I have a 2001 Town & Country that I plan to use as my Tow Vehicle and it does not have the factory tow package. If you plan to tow with your van and make NO UPGRADES to it then your limit will be 2000lbs and under. If you make the upgrades to it you can get it up to the factory limit of 3800lbs. The upgrades would be a larger trans cooler and bigger is always better, an engine oil cooler, the factory(or aftermarket) HD radiator, and a set of HD rear load assist shocks. The factory Radiator part # is 4809225AE @ about $300 and the HD trans cooler is #4809272AD for around $100. I believe the factory HD trans cooler has the engine oil cooler built into it and all you need to get from your dealer would be the adaptor that fits onto the oil filter pad that has the lines to go to the cooler. You can probably find a better trans cooler on the aftermarket for the same price or less than the factory price but my dealers price on the radiator is about the same for an aftermarket version. I will add a link and or part number for the rear shocks you should look at. Here is the shock info - SENSA-TRAC

[pjynx]

Thanks for all the info, it's very useful!