Short tow with minivan

[OverEasy]

We tow light with a Dodge Caravan, 3.6L, surge brakes on a twin axle trailer carrying a Mac26X.
The surge brakes have behaved nicely and take most of the trailer/boat deceleration loads.

We stay within our factory 3500 lb tow recommendation and 350 lb tongue weight and GVWR.
From the get go we added towing snubbers to the rear axle and properly rated and inflated tires on the van and trailer.
We limit our speed to 55 MPG as we aren’t in a hurry and desire to minimize wear and tear for the long haul.
We avoid steep slimy ramps and ramps with gravel. (Front wheel drive tends to dig in.)
The Caravan and trailer combination behave very nicely on the highway and we appreciate the 20+ mpg fuel consumption.

BUT we also carry tread plates just in case as well as 100 feet of 1” diameter twisted nylon low stretch rope and a 2000lb capacity come along ... been doing that since High School and it has been helpful in helping others as well as ourselves innumerable times over the years..

We have traveled from NH to SC without any incident and plan on doing this loop twice a year using Over Easy as a camper enroute like we did traveling down last November. A small 1000 watt 110 VAC heater more than adequately took care of keeping us warm in the campgrounds. Good sleeping bag quilts made for a comfortable night’s sleep when stopping at rest areas.

While we guess some like to travel with more stuff we don’t quite understand some of the high weights mentioned but to each their own. In our travel planning we recognize that things like fuel, water and other supplies can be had at or near launch or enroute. So we don’t plan on stocking up much to begin with. This approach makes it less challenging for us and more fun.

We also understand that this approach does not apply to everyone and their travel plans. We don’t expect it to.
We just wanted to convey that it is safe and doable to happily travel within the 3500 lb tow limit and 350 lb tongue and GVWR envelope over distance as long as one is reasonable about the process.

[Inquisitor]

I downloaded the X manual off the site, but it didn't have specs. Go figure.

The X must be much lighter than the M. Using the M's published specs... empty boat, trailer, add engine (same Mercury Big Foot as Factory) and you're at 3500 lbs. I think we've given the OP both sides of the debate. That he only wants to get to his local ramp says to me that it won't significantly hurt the vehicle... and only he can gauge his tolerance of skirting safety and liability factors. I understand not being able to afford a vehicle just to tow a boat. But on the other hand, now that I have a truck, I can't imagine not having one. It rides far better than any car I've ever had, gets near 30 mpg (without the boat) carries plywood, concrete blocks, concrete and literally tons of other stuff for my miscellaneous projects. I'd rather not have to be concerned about emptying the gas and water and throwing away unused provisions that technically / legally I couldn't have gotten to the ramp in the first place... OR having to drive a separate vehicle just for the extra people and provisions. And I'd certainly not want to limit my modifications for fear of being a hundred pounds over the limit. I also would not want to be that close to the margins for long hauls. But we all have different areas where the wallet factor / sphincter factor makes our decisions for us.

[pitchpolehobie]

I downloaded the X manual off the site, but it didn't have specs. Go figure.

The X must be much lighter than the M. Using the M's published specs... empty boat, trailer, add engine (same Mercury Big Foot as Factory) and you're at 3500 lbs. I think we've given the OP both sides of the debate. That he only wants to get to his local ramp says to me that it won't significantly hurt the vehicle... and only he can gauge his tolerance of skirting safety and liability factors. I understand not being able to afford a vehicle just to tow a boat. But on the other hand, now that I have a truck, I can't imagine not having one. It rides far better than any car I've ever had, gets near 30 mpg (without the boat) carries plywood, concrete blocks, concrete and literally tons of other stuff for my miscellaneous projects. I'd rather not have to be concerned about emptying the gas and water and throwing away unused provisions that technically / legally I couldn't have gotten to the ramp in the first place... OR having to drive a separate vehicle just for the extra people and provisions. And I'd certainly not want to limit my modifications for fear of being a hundred pounds over the limit. I also would not want to be that close to the margins for long hauls. But we all have different areas where the wallet factor / sphincter factor makes our decisions for us.

What truck gets 30mpg? I've considered changing from a CRV (31.5mpg) but I spend 99.99% of my miles not driving my boat around (borrow a truck or rent uhaul for 75$). My experience with a truck is about at best 17-20mpg on an f150 and a chevy 2500. This is coming out which looks exciting --- https://www.caranddriver.com/hyundai/sa ... santa-cruz

[Inquisitor]

I have a 2017 Ram 1500 with the Eco Diesel. Max trailer 8500 lbs.

In my day to day usage, rural living, 10 highway miles from town, I get 28 mpg (computer and pump measured). On 300 mile interstate trip running 65 to 70 mph, the computer showed 34 mpg. I've never pump measured Interstate mileage as I routinely get more than 700 miles of range on a tank. I've only driven with the on our local highway which is very hilly at 55 mph. The computer shows a little over 20 mpg doing that. I'll be towing to Florida next week, I'll be updating info in the tow vehicle thread viewtopic.php?f=11&t=27186. I'll do whatever the speed limit says... 65 to 70 mph. Its 500 miles... should be able to do it with one tank going down.

BTW - Your numbers on other trucks is my experience also. A ram 1500 with the Hemi gets about 15 to 17 mpg. My last tow vehicle was a Durango with the Hemi... I got about 20 mpg on the interstate and about 12 mpg towing. My wife drives a Toyota Tacoma and it pi$$ her off to no end that I get a LOT better mileage than her toy.

[pitchpolehobie]

I have a 2017 Ram 1500 with the Eco Diesel. Max trailer 8500 lbs.

In my day to day usage, rural living, 10 highway miles from town, I get 28 mpg (computer and pump measured). On 300 mile interstate trip running 65 to 70 mph, the computer showed 34 mpg. I've never pump measured Interstate mileage as I routinely get more than 700 miles of range on a tank. I've only driven with the on our local highway which is very hilly at 55 mph. The computer shows a little over 20 mpg doing that. I'll be towing to Florida next week, I'll be updating info in the tow vehicle thread viewtopic.php?f=11&t=27186. I'll do whatever the speed limit says... 65 to 70 mph. Its 500 miles... should be able to do it with one tank going down.

BTW - Your numbers on other trucks is my experience also. A ram 1500 with the Hemi gets about 15 to 17 mpg. My last tow vehicle was a Durango with the Hemi... I got about 20 mpg on the interstate and about 12 mpg towing. My wife drives a Toyota Tacoma and it pi$$ her off to no end that I get a LOT better mileage than her toy.

The Laramie interior on those is fantastic, feels like sitting in a high end lounge doing a bit of driving.

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

Yes, a truck can be a very nice thing to have and we have owned a Ford F-250 HD (8000+ Lb tow capacity) and a Ford Expedition V10 Eddie Bauer (10000+ tow capacity). We used them to tow a 1989 Alfa Gold 30 ft travel trailer with a Reese load leveling anti sway cam-saddle torsion bar hitch. The trailer was a heavy 4 season model with full insulation, dual large capacity batteries, 25 gallon water tank, shower + bath (which came in handy with both little ones and dog), AC, 3-way fridge/freezer, stove and oven and an electro convertible couch among other features.with kids growing up we tended to travel on the heavy side. Both vehicles were good tow vehicles but we really enjoyed the Excursion because it held everyone (including a very gregarious 60 lb Standard Poodle) VERY comfortably. We logged two coast to coast trips (northern and southern routes) along with numerous Pacific Coast and East Coast mountain trips with an accumulated mileage close to 100,000 miles.

But things change and the New England weather and salt took their toll....... So we moved on to Mini-vans! Voyager, Sedona, and now Caravan. The kids have both grown into beautiful capable adults ( empty nest is a real thing) and the Caravan does virtually everything we need it to do (including towing Over Easy) comfortably and safely. With the interior room we used the vans as conveniently as a small pick-up truck with the advantage of it being covered, heated and secure (unlike the cap on the F250) We have enjoyed being able to car camp on long trips as well as the Caravan has fold flat rear seats disappear into the floor in a heartbeat. This eliminates needing to remove and store them (unlike the Excursion). A 1000 lb capacity flat deck tilt bed with sides 4x8 utility trailer handles over size loads and quantity lumber, salt, sand, gravel, ride-on mower hauls actually easier than either the F250 or Excursion.

We like the idea of the Sprinter van custom camper conversions but is sort of more than we want at this time...maybe later though..... That’s the fun of different vehicles and different people and different needs and different times.

[Inquisitor]

... ( empty nest is a real thing) ...

Why frowny face?... My kids (adults) are out on their own and successful enough that I'm not worried about boomerangs. Allowed me to retire early and do what I want. Empty nest is great!

[OverEasy]

Took the ER when it was offered as the company was about to change management and the incoming wasn’t going to be offering as generous a package. (They aren’t). The ER was the right thing to do and are enjoying it.

When working everything’s a rush ⏱ 🛣🏞🪜🏕🏝🏔🏜🗺🎖🫐🌬⛈🌪🐿🪢‍🪅‍‍‍ and the weeknights are practices, the weekends events, chores have their own to-do list committee and then there are the things you didn’t even know existed popping up. Just like every other household.

We have really enjoyed raising our kids, spending lots of time with them, enjoyed watching them become their own persons, make their own accomplishments, demonstrate their independence. We are proud of them and happy for them. We throughly enjoy their exploits and visits. We remain very close but ... the inevitable ‘but’ ... they are off to the four winds of life with adventures and higher degrees and lives of their own. The thing about ER is the old saw about when you finally have the free time you have always dreamed of having to spend with them they aren’t there.... such is life. (and the odd moment of melancholy the slips in unexpectedly).

So in comes Over Easy and the adventures continue on a different tack as the winds of life change.

Thanks for the reminder!

[Inquisitor]

...
So in comes Over Easy and the adventures continue on a different tack as the winds of life change.
...

There you go! ... I like to think of it like... the more exciting and interesting your life is, the more likely the grand children will clamor to come to your place and outings than the other grand parents sitting in front of a tube.

VBR,
Inq

[Catigale]

Op is towing 1 mile

Anything with a 2 inch ball will tow that. At 20 you are home in 3 minutes , brakes and ratings are non issues

If all these accidents are so close to home, why don’t people just move?