Towing
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3306
Printed Date: 13 May 2024 at 3:57pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Towing
Posted By: Rugby8
Subject: Towing
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 7:29am
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Hello everybody, have not towed my new rpod yet and am having concerns. I have a 2013 Dodge grand caravan that has a tow capacity of 3600 lbs. My rv dealer said that I can tow 5000 with an equalizer. Do we have enough TV? Tks, very excited, warm day here yesterday......spring cometh ------------- 2013 grand caravan 2010 176t pod Wife, 2 boys, and golden retriever. Can life get any better |
Replies:
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 10:57am
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Wecome. If the terraine that you travel in is fairly flat the Caravan will do fine for you, it's when you start to get into grades of any steepness that you maybe disappointed in the Caravan. We towed for the first year with our 04 Caravan that had the 3.3 Liter engine and found it to be light on power when we got out west or hit strong headwinds. I have never used a WDH or anti sway hitch even with the Caravan. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: Burt
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 11:05am
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He's right. We have a Ford Ranger 4.0L 4X4 and here in the West, we have some hills that are big. We call them mountains. Solution for us is to always fill with non ethanol fuel when towing. Non ethanol fuel gives you more power. We do have the load equalizer and anti sway. That makes a big difference. Consider this: When the load equalizer was invented, in order to publicize it, they used an Oldsmobile front wheel drive towing a trailer across the entire U.S. WITH THE REAR WHEELS REMOVED!!! That's real world testing. That's the difference it makes. To accommodate us in the future, we also added a performance chip to the Ranger, beefed the tranny and put a cooler on it. You'll be OK without big mountains to climb or major wind gusts. Burt, Laura the White Tornado and Buddy the Wonder Dog |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 7:57pm
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Hi I also have a 2013 grand caravan and tow a 171 . We have the 6 liter pen star engine that puts out 283 horse power. We have plenty of power. We have towed in northern Vermont and northern New Hampshire, along with the Pocono's in Pennsylvania and have had plenty of power. We have also gotten between 13.5 and 14.5 mpg in Vermont and as good as 17 mpg on our trip[ to Cape Hatteras in NC. Great vehicle!! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Thinker
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 9:28pm
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The question may not be if you can get over the hill or 200 miles down the road. Towing puts a tremendous load on the transmission which generates heat. This heat shortenens the life of the transmission. The question to ask may not be "can I do it?" But rather ask, "Should I do it?" ------------- Tow Vehicle: 2013 Pathfinder 4WD R-POD Model 171 
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Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 10:14pm
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A lot of good info here, pros, cons. I think your caravan can pull it ok under certain circumstances. You are not going to be able to tow it 70mph up and down hills. You are pulling about 100 % of what your t.v. is rated to pull so take your time, on the interstate i stay in the right lane period, unless passing a slower vehicle (semi's going up real steep hills} My trail blazer is rated for 7000 lbs, but I still use 1/2 throttle on long hills and let the transmission downshift and we slow down. If your van does not have a trailer towing package you can add a transmission cooler for a reasonable cost. Use your head, take 2 lane roads, slow down, enjoy the country side and stop in at local cafe's and grab a sandwich. see the country side. There is more beauty and neat things to see off of the interstate. When you are 2 laneing you will get better gas mileage. The only down side is I feel 2 lanes are more dangerous than Interstates, but everything has a trade off. We use a friction anti sway, but I have pulled the pod 100 miles with no antisway or wdh with no problem, period, but my T Blazer does have a longer wheel base than your t.v. I guess the thing is , slow down and enjoy. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: Rugby8
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 2:53pm
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Thanks for that great info. Am comfortable that we have enough, will see how the mileage does driving to NASCAR in June and then Nova Scotia ! ------------- 2013 grand caravan 2010 176t pod Wife, 2 boys, and golden retriever. Can life get any better |
Posted By: morningstarrising
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 7:35pm
| Yes life is good with one wife No kids and one little Golden Retriever puppy whose a English Cream. Have a Great Time! |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 11:20am
LOL.. that had me at the Mopar website pretty quick.. 3.6 liter.. ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 1:55pm
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283 horses is still pretty impressive for a 3.6 liter. My 5.3L V8 does 320 hp. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Rugby8
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 4:40pm
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Chrysler has done a great a great job with the engine this year!!!! Easy decision to buy this year! ------------- 2013 grand caravan 2010 176t pod Wife, 2 boys, and golden retriever. Can life get any better |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 5:10pm
No doubt.. but a 6 liter in a mini van.. that would be awesome. I didn't read his HP numbers.. just stuck on SIX LITERS!!! ARGH!! MOAR POWER!! LOL. From a guy with a 5.4 and a 6.8.. ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 7:06pm
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Its amazing that in recent years what you used to get in a V8 you now get in a V6, and what required a V6 you now get in a 4. More power! More power! Arrr-arrr-arrr < in my best Tim the Toolman growl > ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 9:42pm
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My 5.4 has 340 horses. A guy at work has one of the Eco-Boost v6s in a truck just like mine and it has even more horses, but the very best economy he has gotten to date, unloaded, no trailer is 16 MPG on the highway. I can get nearly that pulling the Pod if I keep it around 60.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Rugby8
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 10:48pm
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Well I just booked our first camping trip, keeping it close to home as it is our first time in the rpod! We will be getting the equalizer, all your posts have been very helpful and informative!!! All my research into the dealer I bought the rpod from has been positive, in fact when I was contemplating if we should buy they had 2 people come off the street that wanted to buy, but they said they had to wait because I " saw" and asked for a day of pondering time first. Not many dealers would do that. So when he said I can tow it no problem I am feeling confident!!!! ------------- 2013 grand caravan 2010 176t pod Wife, 2 boys, and golden retriever. Can life get any better |