Towing with a Minivan??

[lukenick]

Took an interest in camping last summer but have decided tent camping is no longer for me. I am interested in buying a camper but one with a toilet and shower in it. I understand my best type of camper for my needs will be a travel trailer. I have a 2004 Toyota Sienna with a tow package (no hitch yet). Was planning on getting a hitch at Uhaul. From my owners manual it says It can tow 3,500#. Can someone steer me in the right direction for what camper I can safely tow? We are a family of 4... 2 kids ages 10/12 plus our 9# dog. I don't think a pop up is right for me because I really want a bathroom.
Thank you so much!

[rightyouareken]

I grew up camping in a Jayco popup towed by a 4 cylinder (!) '86 Plymouth Voyager. We stayed within 300 miles of home for the most part, but really enjoyed it. Was 2 kids, 2 adults, and a medium sized dog. Ours didn't have a toilet, but some of the newer ones do.

[spike99]

I've towed with a few different mini-vans in my past. As stated by many others, the combo with average loaded TV is often at max (and sometimes over) its max towing weight. And, towing large shape items is like dragging a parachute behind the TV as well (which creates even more stress). Even with tranny cooler, one of our mini-vans blew its tranny - from "stress" overload. Today, I no longer tow mini-vans at their max towing ability. IMO, mini-vans are good to tow up to 2,000 lbs and only a few times a year (like local dump runs). Anything more and its stressing the mini-van too much. As implied, "been there, done that and paid dearly for the t-shirt / to rebuild its tranny".

[Capt_RonB]

I bought a Gulfstream Visa 19 ERD thinking I could tow it behind my 2006 Toyota Sienna.

The van would tow it but it was definitely pushing the maximum capability of the rig with just me and the wife. Also the hitch is so low that I needed a WDH and air bags in the rear coils just to maintain about 6 inches ground clearance for the bottom of the hitch. It towed ok at 60-65 on smooth interstate highways but was easily blown about by passing big rigs, busses, etc. We got about 9mpg and the tranny would downshift a lot from 4th gear (forget 5th) on even the slightest grade ... i.e. overpasses.

We now tow with a Trailblazer ... 5500lb tow rating but shorter wheelbase so the ride isn't as good as the van. Not so much of a strain but we tow in 3rd gear and get about 11.5-12.5 mpg withe the 290hp inline six. Same E2 WDH, but much better ground clearance. Still according to the CAT scales, we're still just shy of the maximum axle loading.

With full sized TTs you're towing a ten foot diameter parachute back there, there's no free lunch. Love the camper though.

[Terryallan]

Again read your owner's guide. Some minivans CAN tow their max rated tow capacity while being fully loaded to their GVWR. Your's may be one.
Now as to a TT you can tow. Think Airstream. I'm sure they have one you can easily tow. However, While your thinkin. Think big money.

[vermilye]

This is a duplicate to another forum member asking the same question:

I pull a 2100 lb dry weight Escape 17B (actual weight loaded for a long trip - 3000 lbs) with a RAV4 (V6 & tow package) rated at 3500/350 lbs. 33,000 miles so far over two years, including Colorado & other eastern & western mountains. A couple of advantages - I travel solo so not much of a load in the RAV4 & I rarely drive interstates, prefer secondary roads and towing @ 57MPH. Yes, I slow down on long hills, but the 25MPG unhooked makes it worth it. 15MPG towing.

[ChooChooMan74]

As others said, you won't like the performance on the phone hiway. I do ok on the hiway but my lil diesel puts out 370 ft*lbs of torque at 1900 RPM. Popup would be your best bet.

[smokedummy]

lukenick wrote:

smokedummy wrote:
I tow a small TT with a minivan. Longest trip has been from TX to NY and back no problems. Just not quickly. I can go 60 but am much happier at 55. 12 MPG.

Which one do you have?

The TT is a 16' Skyline Mountainview Retro 140, 7'-0 wide, 2170# empty. The minivan is a 2004 Dodge (no tow package - as I said I take it easy when towing).

[BUFFALODAN]

Check out some of these

http://www.livinlite.com/camplite-models.php

13BHB?

This is one of their popups with a toilet

http://www.livinlite.com/xlp-floorplans.php

Your van should be able to handle some of these.

[lukenick]

smokedummy wrote:
I tow a small TT with a minivan. Longest trip has been from TX to NY and back no problems. Just not quickly. I can go 60 but am much happier at 55. 12 MPG.

Which one do you have?

[smokedummy]

I tow a small TT with a minivan. Longest trip has been from TX to NY and back no problems. Just not quickly. I can go 60 but am much happier at 55. 12 MPG.

[angler]

I would look at a travel trailer you could tow and compare it with a pop-up with a bathroom. You will most likely have better sleeping arrangements and more room in the popup. You could even get a pop-up with a slide out, but those can get heavy too.

[gcloss]

Like others have said there is nothing wrong with pop-ups.

We had three pop-ups over a 26 year period. Our two kids grew up camping in pop-ups along with three dogs over the years. We pulled the pop-ups with a 1967 Ford station wagon, 1980 Pontiac Grand Le Mans, 1985 Chev Celebrity wagon and a 1991 Mercury Villager Mini-Van. I simply couldn't afford a truck or a travel trailer in those days.

Only in the last 7 years were we able to afford a truck and TT. We had some of the best times camping in our Rockwood pop-up that lasted us for 21 years.

[lukenick]

I have no plans on going to the mountains to camp. Not sure if that makes a difference or not. I do however plan to travel highways.

[tatest]

I have a friend who has towed a 17-foot Casita travel trailer with his Town and Country minivan for at least 10 years now. The size works OK for him because he goes out solo, or only one other person.

If you are looking for family size space, consider pop-up tent trailers. Forest River (Rockwood/Flagstaff) and Jayco make several models, usually 12-foot box, that include a shower/cassette toilet combination unit. The dealers here usually order those models with that option. Haven't checked other brands, don't have dealers for them.