I currently have a 13 Chrysler T&C with an aftermarket class III and a 4 flat harness. I’ve used it to tow an 8ft utility trailer to the dump and occasionally a 1500lb pop up camping. I have an opportunity to purchase a small hybrid camper from a family friend at a good price. It’s dry weight is +-2950 with a tongue weight of around 350lbs. The vehicle comes standard with a trans cooler and has a max towing rating of 3,600lbs. Remaining relevant info follows.Vehicle curb weight 4,600. GVWR 6,000. Combined GVWR 8,750. Tongue Weight 360. Family weight w kids and a dog 550lbs. With the understanding that we will have to travel bare bones light with empty tanks on the trailer is there a reason this set up won’t work? Including bikes, a set of golf clubs, a suitcase for each, fishing gear, essential dish ware and bedding along w and groceries I can’t imagine we have more than 400 pounds of gear. I would be upgrading the rear shocks and installing a brake controller in the van. Trips would be within 150 miles and would be through mostly flat midwestern terrain.

Sounds like you're committed to this already, and just asking for validation at this point?Can you switch from P to LT tires on the van? That's what wore the fastest when I was towing with a station wagon. P tires did not like towing at all.That tongue weight is too low. Did you measure that, or just get it online somewhere?Any trailer that heavy will have its own brakes, you should upgrade to the 7-way bargman connector and suitable brake controller on the van.

That combination will suck but it won't amount to a death trap, if that's what you're asking. You've got enough caveats in there I think you know it's gonna suck. You didn't elaborate any on your family size and what alternate vehicles might work but I'm going to assume young family with kids. Although to be fair that description could probably fit a lot of the older rv.net set too, even if the dog is a 8 lb runt. You could give it a shot and if it doesn't work out just plan on trading the van in for something more suitable.

Not committed but leaning towards it. The hitch weight is 360 per manufacturers specs which is exactly the max of the vehicle. A new vehicle is likely a year from now (likely a midsize 3row suv with a tow rating of 5k) but not really possible right now. And yes I am embracing the suck.

Just a reminder as I've owned 2 Starcraft hybrids.....mine weighed within a 100lbs of GVWR.It may be doable but not a fun place to be,been there.

The manufacturer tongue weight is for an empty trailer. Once loaded up it will be much heavier. Count on at least 12% of your loaded trailer weight to be on the tongue. You will be over your ratings. Will it kill anyone or the van? Not necessarily, but certainly not ideal. You will have to get a 7pin wiring harness and brake controller as well as a wd hitch at minimum.

Will I kill my mini-van? | Good Sam Community

GordonThree
Explorer
Jul 09, 2019
Sounds like you're committed to this already, and just asking for validation at this point?

Can you switch from P to LT tires on the van? That's what wore the fastest when I was towing with a station wagon. P tires did not like towing at all.

That tongue weight is too low. Did you measure that, or just get it online somewhere?

Any trailer that heavy will have its own brakes, you should upgrade to the 7-way bargman connector and suitable brake controller on the van.
IdaD
Explorer
Jul 09, 2019
That combination will suck but it won't amount to a death trap, if that's what you're asking. You've got enough caveats in there I think you know it's gonna suck. You didn't elaborate any on your family size and what alternate vehicles might work but I'm going to assume young family with kids. Although to be fair that description could probably fit a lot of the older rv.net set too, even if the dog is a 8 lb runt. You could give it a shot and if it doesn't work out just plan on trading the van in for something more suitable.
sdclaw21
Explorer
Jul 09, 2019
Not committed but leaning towards it. The hitch weight is 360 per manufacturers specs which is exactly the max of the vehicle. A new vehicle is likely a year from now (likely a midsize 3row suv with a tow rating of 5k) but not really possible right now. And yes I am embracing the suck.
kellem
Explorer
Jul 09, 2019
Just a reminder as I've owned 2 Starcraft hybrids.....mine weighed within a 100lbs of GVWR.
It may be doable but not a fun place to be,been there.
camp-n-family
Explorer
Jul 09, 2019
The manufacturer tongue weight is for an empty trailer. Once loaded up it will be much heavier. Count on at least 12% of your loaded trailer weight to be on the tongue. You will be over your ratings. Will it kill anyone or the van? Not necessarily, but certainly not ideal. You will have to get a 7pin wiring harness and brake controller as well as a wd hitch at minimum.
sdclaw21
Explorer
Jul 09, 2019
camp-n-family wrote:
The manufacturer tongue weight is for an empty trailer. Once loaded up it will be much heavier. Count on at least 12% of your loaded trailer weight to be on the tongue. You will be over your ratings. Will it kill anyone or the van? Not necessarily, but certainly not ideal. You will have to get a 7pin wiring harness and brake controller as well as a wd hitch at minimum.

Thanks for this. I'm not an expert on hitches. I had my class 3 putchased and installed at a farm/fleet type store. Any way to tell if its WD?
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Jul 09, 2019
I see a tranny in your future .
rexlion
Explorer
Jul 09, 2019
Get a bathroom scale that reads up to 350 lbs and go weigh the tongue. If it really is 350 or 360 with lp and battery, I would be shocked. But if it is ok, next consider where rhe water tanks are because water is 8.3 lbs/ gal. Then think where most of the storage is located.... up front, over axle, or in rear.

The van has a decent wheelbase and with stiff sidewall LT tires it should handle ok if you do not overburden the rear suspension. Van contents play into that issue also.
carringb
Explorer
Jul 09, 2019
X2 on hitch weight. They NEVER weight what the brochure says. Once the dealer adds a battery or 2 and fills the propane, that's easily 100+ pounds more right there, before you even pack the groceries, much less add water.
rexlion
Explorer
Jul 09, 2019
sdclaw21 wrote:
camp-n-family wrote:
The manufacturer tongue weight is for an empty trailer. Once loaded up it will be much heavier. Count on at least 12% of your loaded trailer weight to be on the tongue. You will be over your ratings. Will it kill anyone or the van? Not necessarily, but certainly not ideal. You will have to get a 7pin wiring harness and brake controller as well as a wd hitch at minimum.

Thanks for this. I'm not an expert on hitches. I had my class 3 putchased and installed at a farm/fleet type store. Any way to tell if its WD?
A weight distributin hitch is an aftermarket device that slides into your class iii receiver. It levers some hitch weight forward onto your front axle. But it will weigh 70-95 lbs by itself, and that puts you well over the 360 receiver limit.