[wiswind]

I have towed a trailer on a trip to Tennessee (about 600 miles one way) full of "stuff"....and a bunch of kids in the van. I have the auxillary transmission cooler, and full synthetic fluid in the transmission. I change the fluid each year. The vehicle does very well......watch for times that you are stopped in traffic.....shift into neutral to reduce work for the transmission.......
I also bought a "anti-rattle clip" for my reciever. I was amazed at how much it reduced....make that eliminated the rattle (clunking) whenever the trailer hits a bump. It keeps the shaft that the ball is mounted on from rattling in the receiver. It cost about $16. It came with a big knob on the bolt. I have a "hidden hitch" and had to mount the clip with the bolt to the side....... I went to Autozone and bought a bolt that did not have the big knob on it.....as there was no room for the knob unless I put it on the bottom.....which is not the place to have it.
It was really nice not having any clunking on the whole trip....did not compete with any of of the kid's music selections.
I have no factory towing package....and would NOT add to the transmission load without a good auxillary cooler. The vehicle handled the big hills and mountains just fine.....including down and back up that 8% grade, 2 mile hill, at Dunlap, Tennesee.