Towing with my Minivan

[Jeff]

Someone is selling a Drawtite Class III hitch for minivan on turbomopar.com. He says $50. I'm hoping shipped will be under $70 My question is, assuming I get a huge tranny cooler and upgrade the rear shocks (rancheros with helper springs) Would this make a decent towing rig for a one car dolly? Hitch is rated for 3500 toung weight. Manual for van says do not tow with the turbo. I assume it is because of the heavy tax on the coolant system for both the engine and the transmission.

Thoughts?

[ViPER1313]

Thoughts?

Manual for van says do not tow with the turbo. I assume it is because of the heavy tax on the coolant system for both the engine and the transmission.

[CaptainHenreh]

+1

I wouldn't hesitate to tow like, a small utility trailer or a tire trailer but a car...no.

[white_2kgt]

I wouldn't tow more than a shoe box w/ a mini, certaintly NOT a car, come on man.

[Sijray21]

I wouldn't hesitate to tow like, a small utility trailer or a tire trailer but a car...no.

+1

[.RJ]

Some minivans are rated at 3500 lbs of towing capacity, so just depends on what you're doing with it. One of the spec e30 guys has been towing with a Mazda MPV for a few years now.

Just because its not a ladder-frame pick'em'up with a big block v8 doesnt mean it cant tow. It may not do it particularly well or get more than 8mpg doing it, but it will get the job done.

For jeff... towing with a dolly might be an option, but certainly not a car on an open trailer.

[BLINGMW]

what's the van rated for with another engine? It's probably ok to tow up to that if you do the cooler and springs I bet. I'd honestly look into an EGT gauge or something like that too, or at least take it a little easy. If you were at full boost up a hill for extended period of time, something would probably give.

Nothing wrong with towing with a minivan at all. I don't know what the wheelbase and weight of yours is, but as I think I've posted here somewhere before, one of my previous bosses had a Caravan and with the tow package (cooler, load leveling suspension), it was an EXCELLENT tow vehicle IMHO.

[white_2kgt]

Oh this is a miniVAN? Not a MINI? Ok difference there, I would tow SHORT distances with a van + tow dolly and a SMALL car, nothing big or heavy and you should be fine. Just watch all temps, trans, oil, coolant.

[Jeff]

LOL... a MINI! Sorry Chad, guess I should have been more specific. ITs a 1990 Dodge Caravan (Short Van) w/ 2.5L turbo and 3-speed. I'm gonna get ahold of the owners manual next time I am over where it is being stored.