Towing with my Caravan

[OhioFisherman]

 

x2. caravans are renowned for glass trannys.

 

Yes, had a friend buy a new one and the transmission went towing a pop up camper to North Carolina, his first trip with it.

[grimsbylander]

There are vehicles that are designed and made to tow and those which are simply able to tow. If you choice the latter, you take your chances. If you have to choose the latter, try to mitigate the risk by staying well under the towing capacity, no overdrive, use tranny coolers and proper hitch assemblies. Even take a second vehicle if possible and load it with passengers and supplies. The fuel in the second vehicle is still cheaper than a $1500 ++ tranny and an afternoon on the side of the highway.

[aplumma]

Apluma, Sir where can I get gas for $4.00 a gallons here? I'm willing to pay $5.00 USD. $1.34 a Lt yesterday. Fill every container you have before showing your passport this year.

 

You're bang on, towing down the road in a fairly strait line is one thing, stopping for an emergency on baby brakes on a mini van is a totally different scenario.

OWWWCH I did not know it has gotten that far out of hand. I bought gas up North Last August and I thought I paid around $4.00. I drive a truck that holds 36 gallons and if I fill it at the border I can make it to Docus and then add 20 gallons of gas I can just make it back out of Canada. I usually bring 30 gallons of canned gas as well as 28gal of gas in the boat for the week. so a week of fuel is 132 gallons. I guess it is all prospective the big boat holds 100 gallons and gets 1.5 gallons a mile. Here is hoping that the price of gas comes down to the point where it is not a choice between fishing or other expenses.

 

 

Art

[moxie]

Caravans, old and new are nitorious for transmission failures but have and still do offer great bang for your buck in the people mover category.

[zamboniwaterboy]

Hello. Towed with a 1999 Grand Caravan. Tranny cooler, oil cooler, helper springs springs, RedLine Water Wetter. Flush and fill your tranny every 80000km. http://www.jcwhitney.com/jcwhitney/textsearch_result.jcw?sku=Helper+Spring&shopid=100001&filterid=d420y2013g26j1&sku=Helper+Spring

Edited March 28, 2014 by zamboniwaterboy

[jedimaster]

I used to tow my 17 foot bowrider with my minivan. No Trans issues but I did get stuck at a ramp once. Sold the minivan and bought a 4x4. Getting stuck once is too many times.

[Rizzo]

thanks guys, since the caravan is my only option right now...sounds like beef it up best I can and drive gently! The tow package is about $1000 so hopefully its a lot more than just a hitch, wiring and tranny cooler.

[fishindevil]

It's a caravan it's for moms groceries & taking kids to hockey & soccer !!!! Maybe it will tow a 14ft tinny with a 9.9 but would not even try with a 2,000 lb boat !!! It's not if it's when,will it grenade !!!

[archer379]

Towed my. 1750 crestliner all the time with a 02 caravan van had 250 000 on it when we got rid of it only problem i haver had with tranny was a leaking oil pan

[lookinforwalleye]

Towed my. 1750 crestliner all the time with a 02 caravan van had 250 000 on it when we got rid of it only problem i haver had with tranny was a leaking oil pan

 

I heard there was one that survived!!!

[fishindevil]

 

I heard there was one that survived!!!

ya must be that one !!!! ....only one i ever heard of that did

[16 Footer]

Bought a 98 3.3 Grand Caravan new with tow package. Towed loaded hard top camper, box trailer and my 16' with 25hp. Caravan lasted 11 years 330,000 kms with no trany problems. I did change the trany fluid about 3 times.

[Freshtrax]

Our mercury villager van was used to tow a 2000lb tent trailer to BC, pei, and about 30 trips to North Carolina. Was sold at 400,000 still running. Take it easy, and budget for a new tranny Heaven forbid.