2012 Chrysler minivan towing?

[joharnisch]

We have a 2012 Town & Coountry (72K miles) with max tow rating of 3,600 lbs. We have trailer brake installed. Family of 4 (me, wife and 2 grade school kids). looking at a 2016 Jayco x17z - GVWR of 3,500 lbs, with a hitch weight of 400lbs. Is this too much for our minivan?

Owners manual drops max Gross Trailer Weight to 3,350 if you have 3-5 persons and luggage and reduces another 100 since we have stow and go. THat's now 3,250 lbs. I've also heard of 'Frontal Area' this camper is 10ft x8ft, thus 80 SF. that would exceed the 40 SF limit, correct?

We've pulled a 2003 Carmel popup for two years with not many problems, though I did have brakes replaced all around this fall.

[Mortimer_Brewst]

APT wrote:
Stick to low walled trailers, AKA popups.

X2

[APT]

Stick to low walled trailers, AKA popups.

[Campfire_Time]

You'll have enough power, so that's not an issue. The issue is a family of 4 towing a trailer that's already going to be maxing the capacities of the van. Keeping in mind that the kids are growing and so will their need for more toys.

We towed a similar trailer with a mini-van for a family of 3, and our daughter was in her teens at the time. Not too bad really but you have to watch what you pack. But when we got a bigger tow vehicle it was a night and day difference. The ability to take more things with us and not be limited on things we could buy on a trip was well worth it.

[Fast_Mopar]

joharnisch wrote:
We have a 2012 Town & Coountry (72K miles) with max tow rating of 3,600 lbs. We have trailer brake installed. Family of 4 (me, wife and 2 grade school kids). looking at a 2016 Jayco x17z - GVWR of 3,500 lbs, with a hitch weight of 400lbs. Is this too much for our minivan?

No, this is not too much. I would recommend weight distribution due to the 400 lb tongue, but this is not a problem.

[bikendan]

Minivans, except for the Astros/Safaris, are limited to trailers of no more than 3500lbs GVWRs.
Nearly all of these trailers, have VERY low Cargo Capacities. This limits the amount of stuff you can take.

[dshelley]

I believe the 2012 has the 3.6 engine and 6 speed transmission. If so you should be able to pull a 3500 pound trailer fine. Keep your speeds reasonable, your loads light, and pull shorter distances until you become comfortable with it. It may be at or over the published recommended GVWR or GCWR guidelines, but if it were mine, I'd use it and enjoy it. Even with only 400 pounds, I would use a proper rated weight distribution hitch with sway control.

[1jeep]

Not even getting to the front surface drag, your vehicle will be overloaded before you even get in it.