Chrysler Town and Country Towing

Time Traveler wrote:
I have a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country van. I am interested in any information from anyone towing anything besides a pop up. I've read a lot of negative information on towing a standard trailer, not so much for the weight limit but because of the height of a standard trailer.

Your answer is the same answer for this minivan owner.

Time Traveler wrote:
I have a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country van. I am interested in any information from anyone towing anything besides a pop up. I've read a lot of negative information on towing a standard trailer, not so much for the weight limit but because of the height of a standard trailer. The V6 engine paired with the 6 speed transmission, seems to have more than adequate power. If there is anyone out there that is towing anything other than a pop up, with this combination I would love to hear from you on your success or not so successful. Thanks!

Van power feel with out a barn wall behind it, Is a far different feel than it will be with a wall behind it. Then there is that problem of the van actually holding up the trailer tongue. There is better than good chance that the van is not able to use a WDH to help hold up the TT.

In short. Trying to tow a TT with a front wheel drive minivan is not a real good idea.

Learn more about your van and then post...payload, weight of passengers and cargo in van when camping, max trailer weight, tire max weight, rim max weight etc., not how others feel you might do.

I towed a 2500 lb popup with two different Dodge Grand Caravans and it was a good experience. Folks are bang on saying the frontal area makes minivans a poor towing choice for a travel trailer. Tongue weight limit is small, and even the biggest V6 struggles beyond the 3500 (aprox) tow limit of a properly equipped van. Hopefully others who have towed a TT will share their findings.

Popup = Yes . Travel trailer = No
Van cannot handle the additional payload that is present with the TT.
Also there are frontal area limitations for the vehicle being towed.

sch911 wrote:
Popup = Yes . Travel trailer = No
Van cannot handle the additional payload that is present with the TT.
Also there are frontal area limitations for the vehicle being towed.

x2!
Foldable trailer or mini eggshape trailer.

Time Traveler wrote:
I have a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country van. I am interested in any information from anyone towing anything besides a pop up. I've read a lot of negative information on towing a standard trailer, not so much for the weight limit but because of the height of a standard trailer. The V6 engine paired with the 6 speed transmission, seems to have more than adequate power. If there is anyone out there that is towing anything other than a pop up, with this combination I would love to hear from you on your success or not so successful. Thanks!

Unfortunately, that is not feasible. My son, who just graduated college, is looking for a job as a major corporation CEO. That is not feasible either.

You have to watch out for hitch weight, because that will top out at your rated limit (350 lbs or so?) before you hit your towing limit. That said, you could tow a Scamp, 16' Casita (not the 17, too tongue-heavy), Li'l Snoozy (factory direct from SC, and I know of a FL owner who has a used one for sale), Parkliner, or similar trailer. The rounded, narrower and lower profile of these molded-fiberglass bodies will tow fine behind your minivan and the hitch weights tend to be in the 250-300 lb range when ready for camping. Another possible lightweight (and affordable!) TT is the Eureka, built in TN; it is low and narrow but it will have somewhat more wind resistance because it's boxy.

Any TT you buy, look at both the dry weight and the dry hitch weight and figure you'll have to add the weight of a battery, full LP tank(s), options, gear, and probably some water (8.3 lbs per gallon adds up fast!).

I put 140,000 towing miles on a 2008 Toyota Highlander with pretty much the same engine output as yours. Mostly I towed a 6x12 cargo trailer or Lil Hauley (empty Snoozy body) cargo for work; in summers I had a 17' Burro followed by a KZ Escape E14RB. The molded Burro put much less stress on the HL and gave me almost 3 mpg extra than the blocky KZ. However, I had 5000/500 tow rating, so I could handle the 370-390 lbs I was carrying on the hitch from the KZ.

Rather than listen to the uninformed, go to www.canamrv.ca in Canada and read Andy Thompson's info. He's been setting up mini vans for towing for many years

Ron3rd wrote:
Rather than listen to the uninformed, go to www.canamrv.ca in Canada and read Andy Thompson's info. He's been setting up mini vans for towing for many years

IF you have PLENTY of money, and don't mind heavily modifying your van.