Tow with 2014 Grand Caravan R/T?
I'm going to start by saying I know little (almost nothing) about this subject. Treat my ignorance with kindness, please! My husband and I road trip long distances and tent camp with our three kids...
Forum Discussion
Roadtripper,
"Towing capacity" per the on-line Dodge specs may be 3,600 lbs, but that's an almost useless number. What really matters is your payload and the tongue weight of the trailer you are planning to pull. Payload is the difference between the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating - usually on a door sticker) and the actual weight of the vehicle after you have you, your family, a full load of fuel, and all the other stuff that will go in the van when you travel on board. (Many users on the forum will load up like they were heading out and have the vehicle weighed on the CAT scales at the nearest truck stop). For a pull-behind trailer, figure on 15% of the GROSS weight (not empty weight) of the trailer for tongue weight and add the weight of a weight-distributing hitch and its bars. I doubt seriously that you'll have much left over for tongue weight when all is said and done - and pop-ups are heavier than you think when loaded with food, fluids, propane, and toys.
"Towing capacity" per the on-line Dodge specs may be 3,600 lbs, but that's an almost useless number. What really matters is your payload and the tongue weight of the trailer you are planning to pull. Payload is the difference between the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating - usually on a door sticker) and the actual weight of the vehicle after you have you, your family, a full load of fuel, and all the other stuff that will go in the van when you travel on board. (Many users on the forum will load up like they were heading out and have the vehicle weighed on the CAT scales at the nearest truck stop). For a pull-behind trailer, figure on 15% of the GROSS weight (not empty weight) of the trailer for tongue weight and add the weight of a weight-distributing hitch and its bars. I doubt seriously that you'll have much left over for tongue weight when all is said and done - and pop-ups are heavier than you think when loaded with food, fluids, propane, and toys.
