I am considering purchasing a 2015 Sportsmen 14 ft. travel trailer with a dry weight of 2123 lbs. I would be pulling it with a 2004 Chevy Venture that has a 3500 lb tow rating. The trailer has electric brakes and I will be adding air shocks and a transmission cooler to the Venture. I have a class III receiver hitch and plan on using an E2 WD hookup. Am I leaving anything out as far as towing hardware?? I don't plan on towing any faster than 55 to 60 probably not in OD. Thanks

to me if some thing comes with out a tow package from the factory, I would not tow with it. lost a tranny in one vehicle and that was enough, definitely not worth the money to replace a tranny. yes I put on a tranny cooler also, just not ready to try again.

The factory tow package includes air shocks and a transmission cooler both of which I am adding. I don't foresee a problem with sensible driving as I will be well under the rated towing capacity.

all I towed was a small boat and motor, still lost a tranny. believe me the boat weighted a lot less than the tt you are thinking about. good luck

VentureVan wrote:I don't foresee a problem with sensible driving as I will be well under the rated towing capacity.Actually, you will not be well under the rated tow capacity.The manufacturer rated that capacity, considering the vehicle had a 150 lb driver, with no aftermarket accessories, no cargo, and no passengers.As you add weight from accessories, people, and cargo, that rated tow capacity is dropping, pound for pound. Just adding the E2 hitch, will take close to 100 lbs of tow capacity away.If you load the hitch and 500 lbs of people and cargo, your real tow capacity is 2900 lbs. Load 700 lbs of people, cargo, and hitch, your max tow rating would become 2700 lbs.Now, look at the trailer:It has an advertised 2133 lb dry weight. Dry weights are rarely accurate.Average weight of stuff we drag along (dishes, pots and pans, bedding, camp chairs, BBQ, a few tools, groceries, and water, etc) weighs 700 - 1000 lbs.If the advertised dry weight is close to accurate, adding a battery and propane will push that up to 2200 lbs. Conservatively, you will add another 6 - 700 lbs. That gives you a loaded trailer weight around 2900 - 3000 lbs.Rather than being well under your tow rating, you could be over.

Hopefully the tranny cooler will prevent that and I will be keeping a close eye on the temp gauge. I have a lot of experience RV'ing and in the past I have even run the heater in the summer to cool down a vehicle.

Towing with a Chevy Venture | Good Sam Community

GaryWT
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
The payload of the van is actually higher than many 1/2 ton pick ups. You just might get away with it, keep it slow and safe.
nomad297
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
westend wrote:
nomad297 wrote:
VentureVan wrote:
Not sure what you mean by payload?? :)

You really need to do some research and listen to what the experienced people here have to say.

Your payload will be listed on a sticker on your driver's side door pillar.

Bruce

On an '04, maybe not. I think the mandatory tire and safety sticker came around in '06 but it might have one.

It won't make any difference to the OP but "payload" and the payload rating are what the mfg. says the vehicle can carry (weight). This would be the weight of passengers and cargo inside the van, the weight of the WDH, and the tongue weight of the trailer.

I had two '04 Silverados and an '04 Suburban and they all had the sticker. Maybe a minivan won't have it, but the trucks do.

Bruce
VentureVan
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
Jetta03 wrote:
2004 chevy venture
curb weight 3699 (gvwr 5257, couldn't find gcvwr)
payload 1612lb
towing 3500lb

14 foot kz sportmen
gvwr 2800 (unloaded 2126)
hitch wt 323

I wouldn't push it too much, but you should be well within all your specs with this trailer. I think you'll find the minivan makes a very good tow vehicle.

Thanks that is what I've been thinking. Not everyone has to have a big pickup truck to tow a travel trailer safely especially one so small. I really don't think travel trailers should be towed at 65 to 70 mph anyway I don't care how big the TV is.
Jetta03
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
2004 chevy venture
curb weight 3699 (gvwr 5257, couldn't find gcvwr)
payload 1612lb
towing 3500lb

14 foot kz sportmen
gvwr 2800 (unloaded 2126)
hitch wt 323

I wouldn't push it too much, but you should be well within all your specs with this trailer. I think you'll find the minivan makes a very good tow vehicle.
GaryWT
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
Yes, payload is total weight of everything in the tow vehicle including hitch and tongue weight of the trailer. Once you go over that number is can be a safety issue for you and others on the road.
westend
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
nomad297 wrote:
VentureVan wrote:
Not sure what you mean by payload?? :)

You really need to do some research and listen to what the experienced people here have to say.

Your payload will be listed on a sticker on your driver's side door pillar.

Bruce

On an '04, maybe not. I think the mandatory tire and safety sticker came around in '06 but it might have one.

It won't make any difference to the OP but "payload" and the payload rating are what the mfg. says the vehicle can carry (weight). This would be the weight of passengers and cargo inside the van, the weight of the WDH, and the tongue weight of the trailer.
nomad297
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
VentureVan wrote:
Not sure what you mean by payload?? :)

You really need to do some research and listen to what the experienced people here have to say.

Your payload will be listed on a sticker on your driver's side door pillar.

Bruce
stepside454
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
we towed a 3500 lbs travel trailer( weighed it) with our 06 Ford freestar , rated to tow 3500 lbs for 3 yrs without a problem. was it fast? nope but it did fine, never had a tranny problem.
VentureVan
Explorer
Apr 18, 2015
Not sure what you mean by payload?? :)
GaryWT
Explorer
Apr 18, 2015
Minivans are great for towing popups but not sure I would do more. What is the payload of the van.

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