Towing smallish boat with caravan

I say smallish because it is 17'3" but only weighs 1150 pounds, everything seems fine, I have hauled it about 150 miles so far with no problems. I know the towing limit is 2000 and I should be under that, the only reason I was wondering is due to the mileage on the van about 117,000.

What transmission do you have? There is one transmission (the 4 speed auto) that from what I hear you are asking for trouble towing anything with it.

I don't think it's the 4 speed auto, because all I have is D 3 1 so far all is well. I guess it would cost more than it is worth to add the two package to this van. It has a larger rad, trans cooler, and a larger batt, I don't thinkit is worth the cost of having that done on a van with over 100,000..any thoughts?

I believe you do have a 4-speed. If it were a 3 speed you would have D 2 1. The 3 on your shift selector will limit your transmission from entering 4th gear, and the 1 will keep you in first.

At least that is the way it has been on every 3 speed I've ever owned, where the 2 would limit you to 1st and 2nd gear while still shifting automatically. I'd imagine the 3 indicates the same thing only with 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears; preventing the use of 4th gear.

BTW do not tow your boat in 3, and only use 1 when you are on the ramp! If you insist on towing in 3, don't go faster than 20 mph! (watch your RPM)

-Tim

The only time I use 1st is on a hill or at a stop light, I then switch to 3rd at about 10-15 mph and then drive at about 25. So far so good, would I be able to tell if I was causing a problem?

I believe you do have a 4-speed. If it were a 3 speed you would have D 2 1. The 3 on your shift selector will limit your transmission from entering 4th gear, and the 1 will keep you in first.

At least that is the way it has been on every 3 speed I've ever owned, where the 2 would limit you to 1st and 2nd gear while still shifting automatically. I'd imagine the 3 indicates the same thing only with 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears; preventing the use of 4th gear.

BTW do not tow your boat in 3, and only use 1 when you are on the ramp! If you insist on towing in 3, don't go faster than 20 mph! (watch your RPM)

-Tim
Not sure what you mean don't tow in 3 , he should be towing in 3 , this keeps the tranny from hunting and will keep the rpm's up in the power band . 4th gear is not strong enough to tow heavy loads on a regular basis . He should be able to tow in 3 anywhere up to at least 60 mph . I tow a 3400 lb boat in 3rd all the time and if you look in the owners manual it will tell you to do that if the tranny is doing a lot of hunting which it will because these things unlock the torque converter just going up medium size hills with nothing in tow.

You tow a 3400 # boat with your caravan? do you have the tow package? I don't but mine with the trailer should be under 2000..I hope I have to find somewhere to get it weighed to be sure. Without the tow package should I be towing in 3rd? someone told me to put it in drive once I hit 30 or so, but I have forgot to do that once or twice for a short amount of time.

If you are towing a light boat and the tranny isn't hunting for the gear (switching between 3 and 4) you should tow in D.

You certainly are right; if you are towing a heavier load, and the tranny is laboring so much at speed that it hunts for a gear, certainly tow in 3. But one would need to carefully watch both the rpm and more importantly the temp.

The 3rd gear on a 4speed isn't the same as the 3rd gear on a 3speed, the vehicle isn't meant to travel at speed in 3rd gear, that is why I would reccommend keeping it slow.

How far do you travel with your 3400# boat at 60mph in 3rd? Ever overheated?

I don't have much experience with a mini-van and towing. If there is something vastly different about these transmissions I certainly apologize, and would like to know more about the towing capacity of these vans. I was speaking in general terms based on experience with vehicles that are meant to tow boats. I used to work for a boat transporter, and a marina.

-TIM

I've towed a tent trailer quite a bit with my GC. It did not come from the factory with the trailer tow. The rating with out the factory tow is 2000 minus what ever weight you add to the van (150 pounds for driver is included in the 2000 tow rating). For example, 3 extra people at 150 pounds each, 300 pounds of camp gear = 750 pounds. Tow capacity would be 2000-750=1250 pounds.
If you have the factory tow package, you start with 3500 pounds and work your way down.
I've not had any trouble with the trans (4-speed). I am very careful with it though. One thing that will kill the trans is to leave it in D while going up a hill. When the load increases the trans will first unlock the torque converter. If it still needs more power it will shift to 3rd and run with the torque converter unlocked (slipping, building up heat). Little known fact... after the trans shifts into 3rd, you can move the gear selector to 3 and the transmission software will lock the torque converter. This will keep the trans from getting too hot. As soon as the torque converter locks, you can move the selector back to D and it will stay locked until it shifts back to 4th. If you have the factory tow kit, it comes with a very large trans cooler to prevent the trans from overheating if the torque converter is left to slip by the unknowing user.

Per the owners manual it "reccomends towing in third when possible this will reduce shifting , reduce heat buildup and extend the life of the transaxle when towing heavier loads . It has no problem running 55-60 mph in 3rd , not even turning 3000 rpm at that speed .

[QUOTE=neon_rt]I've towed a tent trailer quite a bit with my GC. It did not come from the factory with the trailer tow. The rating with out the factory tow is 2000 minus what ever weight you add to the van (150 pounds for driver is included in the 2000 tow rating). For example, 3 extra people at 150 pounds each, 300 pounds of camp gear = 750 pounds. Tow capacity would be 2000-750=1250 pounds.

This means I pushed the limit yesterday :confused:


If you have the factory tow package, you start with 3500 pounds and work your way down. :disappoin I wish I would have had the package added, but I listened to the salesman, which I never should have a thought when he said it could tow a boat he didn't mean a rowboat!

I've not had any trouble with the trans (4-speed). I am very careful with it though. One thing that will kill the trans is to leave it in D while going up a hill. I did that by mistake yesterday coming home from a day on the water, big mistake, I had not had a problem until I did that. RPM's jumped up to 4000 before it shifted. :nono:

:confused: Little known fact... after the trans shifts into 3rd, you can move the gear selector to 3 and the transmission software will lock the torque converter. This will keep the trans from getting too hot. As soon as the torque converter locks, you can move the selector back to D and it will stay locked until it shifts back to 4th.
I don't really understand what you mean, say I'm stopped at a light, I'll put it in low until I hit 10-15 MPH then shift to 3rd until I'm doing about 30 MPH, then I put it in drive, is this ok?

I don't know why I used all the goofy icons today, trying to laugh to keep from crying! I have had to put as much money into this boat making it legal as I paid for it! Now I'm hoping I don't have to have another vehicle to tow it. I worry constantly that I'm going to screw up the trans. I had the fluid and filter changed before I took the boat to the bay this weekend, which was about a four hour round trip. Thanks for the advice.

When towing, you don't need to play with the shifter so much. Most of the time when I'm towing I put the selector in 3 while I'm in town or taking off. When I reach my cruising speed and I'm on level ground, I put the selector in D. When going up hill, as soon as the trans unlocks the torque converter I move the selector to 3. I usually leave it there until I reach level ground again. The thing that you want to avoid is letting the Torque converter run in unlocked mode for an extended period of time.
The 4 speed transmission has six modes (combination of torque converter and gears) that it uses.
1st (always unlocked)
2nd (always unlocked)
3rd (unlocked of selector is in D)
3rd (locked of selector is in 3)
4th (locked unless is needs more power, then unlocks)

If you run for a long time in unlocked mode, you will build up more heat
than the cooler (undersized) can dissipate and the trans will overheat.
If you stick to the manufacters towing capacity guidlines, you probably won't have any trouble, no matter how you drive... then again...