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

sdclaw21
Explorer
Jul 09, 2019
Specs on most trailers advise dry and hitch weights include full propane tanks. Is that not the case?
ib516
Explorer II
Jul 09, 2019
The back end will sag, but for shorter trips in flat terrain, it'll be fine.

I towed my 17' hybrid with a 2006 Pontiac Torrent for short trips over flat terrain, and it did "ok". Not a combination I'd want to take to the mountains, or tow all day with, but in a pinch (like I was), it did the job for one season.
wowens79
Explorer III
Jul 09, 2019
Also look at the allowed frontal area to tow. Wind resistance will be a concern. Not only will you be pushing the weight, but also moving a bunch of air.

For a year while saving for a vehicle upgrade, you might be ok, but that trans fluid will be smoking :)
ppine
Explorer II
Jul 09, 2019
asking for trouble.
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Jul 09, 2019
sdclaw21 wrote:
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.

That's an empty hitch weight. The real weight is likely to be 12% of the loaded weight or GVWR of the trailer - will most likely be well over your payload capacity by the time you get a WD hitch, cargo, people and fuel on board.

Rob
jfkmk
Explorer
Jul 09, 2019
midnightsadie wrote:
I see a tranny in your future .

Exactly what I was thinking as I read through the posts.
Terryallan
Explorer II
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?

it needs to be a Class III / Class IV to handle a WDH. There should be a tag on the hitch saying if it can or not. It has to be bolted to the frame. AND there is something else to consider, and more important to find out. What does Chrysler say about the minivan using a WDH. There is a chance it cannot. A WDH really puts a lot of stress on a vehicle frame. Many front wheel drive vehicles do not have enough frame strength to handle a WDH. That should be in your manual. At one time Chrysler minivans did not. but it may have changed in the past few years.

Miinivans are great to tow pups with. Not so much with a heavier trailer
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jul 09, 2019
Come on out West and pass up beautiful dry campsite after dry campsite with your dry tanks. Not fun.

BUT nothing bad happens within 150 miles of home! 175 miles it does however.
GordonThree
Explorer
Jul 09, 2019
Terryallan wrote:
AND there is something else to consider, and more important to find out. What does Chrysler say about the minivan using a WDH. There is a chance it cannot. A WDH really puts a lot of stress on a vehicle frame. Many front wheel drive vehicles do not have enough frame strength to handle a WDH. That should be in your manual. At one time Chrysler minivans did not. but it may have changed in the past few years.

x2 for this... same thing my station wagon ran into. there is no frame, it is a unibody. just pieces of sheet metal formed and welded together. WDH was a no in the manual, and from the mechanics I talked with.

that said, I towed with it for a year, the tranny didn't blow, the engine didn't blow, the only thing it cost me was a set of tires.
drsteve
Explorer
Jul 10, 2019
Get to know the guys at the transmission shop now.

The T&C is a people hauler that was basically at its max pulling the popup. As others have said, the WD hitch and the true tongue weight of the TT you're contemplating will put you well over the limit. And the WD hitch might bend the unibody.