Hi, I'm new here. I am a bit overwhelmed by all the reading I've been doing so I decided to join here to be able to talk to others who are more experienced.My mother and I are talking about travelling across the country for roughly a year. We want to tent camp mostly, but have the option of cramming into a travel trailer in bad weather, or if we get spooked out as single women travelling with kids. I've been looking into buying a minivan as my little sedan couldn't pull anything and would not be comfortable for all of us for an extended period. The tow vehicle I am leaning towards is dodge grand caravan. It's in my price point, and can seat all of us.Some examples of travel trailers I have seen for sale that I like: scamp trailer, heartland mpg, forest river r-pod. There is a list of others, just giving an idea. I don't want big or fancy, just something we can plop inside, hopefully with a table for schoolwork, and a bathroom would be nice.So why am I posting? This last month, I have been reading plenty but feel like I still cannot grasp what all the weights mean. I see some people say, of course you can tow with "x" while others insist that "x" is not going to work. Where can I find out information? I thought about asking the dodge dealer, but worry they will be less than honest to get me to sign. So maybe I should ask the rv dealer? But without a tow vehicle in hand, can they tell me for certain that it would work?We aren't planning to go before the year is over. I want to see what will be best so that we can prepare and study/practice so it can be as smooth as possible once we hit the road. Thanks!

Here's a good starting place. Don't believe any RV salesman when they tell you X vehicle will tow your trailer safely. Many of them will lie just to get the sale. Do your own homework.

Dodge minivans are not great tow vehicles, they have a reputation for weak transmissions.How many people / kids are you taking? You may be better served with a full size van.

With a load of people and camping gear you would most likely be well beyond a minivan's capability. It would help us help you if we could be given more information about the number and and ages of the family members participating in this planed adventure. Do you also plan to use the unit for future trips?Happy Trails,ArizAl

IMO, I would look more into something like an Acadia/Traverse rather than a minivan. Our Acadia had a nearly 1700 lbs payload rating and could tow somewhere around 5000 lbs. I'm sure that it could handle a smaller TT like what you are describing while comfortably hauling 4-6 people.There are other similar vehicles that could work too (highlander, pathfinder, etc.), but most minivans aren't rated very high in payload or towing it seems.YMMV

Minivans are very capable people movers. Towing? Not so much. My wife's daily driver has been minivans for many years. The 2" receiver I had installed is/was for a bike rack. I pulled a 1300# Aluma cargo trailer up to Menards a couple times for some heavy landscaping loads before I got a more capable truck and was a little nervous about the tranny capabilities. A Chevy Trailblazer with a V8 will tow better(probably twice the tow capacity) than a minivan. I towed that cargo trailer loaded up with dirt bikes and gear with a '96 Chevy Blazer(V6)and it did pretty well. The Trailblazer is much more capable.

Towing with a minivan | Good Sam Community

HappyKayakers
Explorer
Jan 27, 2014
Here's a good starting place. Don't believe any RV salesman when they tell you X vehicle will tow your trailer safely. Many of them will lie just to get the sale. Do your own homework.
mbopp
Explorer
Jan 27, 2014
Dodge minivans are not great tow vehicles, they have a reputation for weak transmissions.
How many people / kids are you taking? You may be better served with a full size van.
arizal
Explorer
Jan 27, 2014
With a load of people and camping gear you would most likely be well beyond a minivan's capability. It would help us help you if we could be given more information about the number and and ages of the family members participating in this planed adventure. Do you also plan to use the unit for future trips?
Happy Trails,
ArizAl
eluwak
Explorer
Jan 27, 2014
IMO, I would look more into something like an Acadia/Traverse rather than a minivan. Our Acadia had a nearly 1700 lbs payload rating and could tow somewhere around 5000 lbs. I'm sure that it could handle a smaller TT like what you are describing while comfortably hauling 4-6 people.

There are other similar vehicles that could work too (highlander, pathfinder, etc.), but most minivans aren't rated very high in payload or towing it seems.

YMMV
krobbe
Explorer
Jan 27, 2014
Minivans are very capable people movers. Towing? Not so much. My wife's daily driver has been minivans for many years. The 2" receiver I had installed is/was for a bike rack. I pulled a 1300# Aluma cargo trailer up to Menards a couple times for some heavy landscaping loads before I got a more capable truck and was a little nervous about the tranny capabilities. A Chevy Trailblazer with a V8 will tow better(probably twice the tow capacity) than a minivan. I towed that cargo trailer loaded up with dirt bikes and gear with a '96 Chevy Blazer(V6)and it did pretty well. The Trailblazer is much more capable.
djsamuel
Nomad
Jan 27, 2014
What about a pop up? For an example, CLICK HERE.

The transmissions on the Dodge van should be fine. The issues were from the early 90's and the newer transmissions are fine, including the 4 speeds still in service (41TE transmission). I got 292,000 trouble free miles out of mine.

However, it's all about weight. The Grand caravan with the 3.6L V-6 has a towing capacity of 3600 pounds, a GVWR of about 5700 pounds and a vehicle weight of about 4500 pounds. The pop up I linked to has GVWR of 1500 pounds. So, being conservative, figuring a 200 pound tongue weight (spec says 170), that gives you room for about 1000 pounds of payload in the van. When you add the passengers and any gear into the van, that may be getting close, but I don't think you'd exceed it.

But, when you get into mountainous areas, you may find it struggling a bit. I'm sure others will add in more info and opinions, but if you really want a minivan I would suggest looking at a popup and consider that a good compromise between tent camping and a trailer. If you really want a small trailer, than the minivan is not viable, and I would be looking at some of the vehicles mentioned here or at a truck, again depending on what size trailer you're considering.
boosTT
Explorer
Jan 27, 2014
You need to look at full sized vans (E-350, conversion vans, ect).

You could probably just get a conversion van for what you plan on doing.
djsamuel
Nomad
Jan 27, 2014
boosTT wrote:
You need to look at full sized vans (E-350, conversion vans, ect).

You could probably just get a conversion van for what you plan on doing.

^^^^^This would be a great alternative^^^^^
LVJJJ
Explorer
Jan 27, 2014
Using a front wheel drive vehicle for towing doesn't sound very safe to me. The tongue will weigh the rear down a bit taking traction away from the front drive wheels. Of course a WD hitch could resolve that problem. FWD's must have different reactions to TT sway or even cornering. Just doesn't seem like a good idea to me. While I love my Chevy HHR, just have never liked the way FWD's handle, pretty much all you can buy anymore, except for pickups and full size vans.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jan 27, 2014
You want to pull a pop up, buy the mini van.

You want to pull a travel trailer, get a full size vehicle.