Travel trailer towing question?

[MacDaddy77]

I currently have a 2002 Pontiac Montana 3.6 litre V6 mini Van with a tow package capable of towing a 3500lbs trailer.

I am looking a a travel trailer with a "dry weight" of 3900 lbs.

Is there anyway I can possibly pull this trailer with my van? I'm going to be replacing the Van in the next year or so but this deal on the TT is really good.

Can I use a weight displacement hitch to counter some of the weight on the hitch.

Also my family weighs a combined 400lbs (high est) and the GRVW of the Van is 5357lbs, how does this come into play on the amount of weight I can pull and amount of stuff I have loaded.

I'm eventually upgrading to a V8 Pathfinder with a tow rating of around 6000lbs so that would be enough i think.

Thanks in advance for your help

[ken0042]

Keep in mind what the "dry weight" means- absolutely nothing in it. No pots & pans, bedding, food, etc. Also the water- my trailer holds 400 pounds of fresh water; and up to 600 pounds of waste water. (Depending on how you are camping; count on having either 400-600 pounds worth of water.)

Even dry, you are over weight by quite a bit. Keeping in mind we don't live in a flat part of the country; I wouldn't do it. On a trailer of that weight I would suggest at least 6000 pound towing capacity.

[Sliver]

If you do it - which you probably shouldn't - definitely get a weight distribution hitch. Also, I'm assuming you have a trailer brake control unit in the van, but if not that would be absolutely mandatory.

Deals on trailers are a dime a dozen. If you don't get this one, another will come along.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Keep in mind what the "dry weight" means- absolutely nothing in it. No pots & pans, bedding, food, etc. Also the water- my trailer holds 400 pounds of fresh water; and up to 600 pounds of waste water. (Depending on how you are camping; count on having either 400-600 pounds worth of water.)

Even dry, you are over weight by quite a bit. Keeping in mind we don't live in a flat part of the country; I wouldn't do it. On a trailer of that weight I would suggest at least 6000 pound towing capacity.

The one thing is most campgrounds you can fill up with water when you arrive and dump your grey water before you leave. No matter what the towing capacity is, I wouldn't carry around 500+ pounds of water with me.

[ken0042]

Yes, but how do you get your trailer from the filling station to the campsite? Or if the campsite has running water, you need to get the trailer to the dump site. (Yes, there are campsites that have both on site; but now we are really narrowing the possibilities.)

And yes, the distance may only be a kilometre or two. But we are talking about an already overweight trailer and adding even more weight, going down a gravel road.

[old-fart]

I'd say no way. As others have said, dry weight means nothing in the trailer at all. You also have to consider that generally speaking I think the "tow weight" of a vehicle includes everything in the vehicle itself, including passengers. So if you have a family that weighs 400lbs, plus clothes, sleeping bags, food, beer (100lbs there for sure), water in the trailer (depending on where you are camping), bikes, etc..... you would be way over the limit.

The weight distribution hitch won't help in this situation. The trailer brake control isn't really an option - either the trailer you are pulling has brakes or it doesn't, and that determines whether you need a brake control unit in the van or not. A trailer that weighs 3900 will definitely have brakes so you'd need a controller in the van (or other vehicle) for sure.

I have heard that in BC they will stop vehicles and check the tow weight and if you are over they make you unhook and come back with a different vehicle (along with a fine I'm sure).

For the record, we tow a 16' Fun Finder T160 with our 2011 Town and Country (with tow package rated for 3600). The dry weight of our trailer is 1997lb or something and by the time we load it up and head out, it's about as heavy as I'd want to get with that vehicle.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by old-fart

I'd say no way. As others have said, dry weight means nothing in the trailer at all. You also have to consider that generally speaking I think the "tow weight" of a vehicle includes everything in the vehicle itself, including passengers. So if you have a family that weighs 400lbs, plus clothes, sleeping bags, food, beer (100lbs there for sure), water in the trailer (depending on where you are camping), bikes, etc..... you would be way over the limit.

The weight distribution hitch won't help in this situation. The trailer brake control isn't really an option - either the trailer you are pulling has brakes or it doesn't, and that determines whether you need a brake control unit in the van or not. A trailer that weighs 3900 will definitely have brakes so you'd need a controller in the van (or other vehicle) for sure.

I have heard that in BC they will stop vehicles and check the tow weight and if you are over they make you unhook and come back with a different vehicle (along with a fine I'm sure).

For the record, we tow a 16' Fun Finder T160 with our 2011 Town and Country (with tow package rated for 3600). The dry weight of our trailer is 1997lb or something and by the time we load it up and head out, it's about as heavy as I'd want to get with that vehicle.

It would help a ton.

[4X4]

It might just be your hitch that's rated for 3500lbs, so there's a possibility you could upgrade to something like a 5000lbs hitch. That said, I wouldn't use a minivan to go towing 5000lbs without a transmission cooler, especially in the summer.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Yeah, if you're going to be pulling that thing with that vehicle, I'd say you should include the price of a new transmission when you consider the deal you're getting on the trailer.

yeah, you could probably get away with it for a short while, but I wouldn't be too keen to pull an overweight trailer with a 9 year old vehicle.

[burn_this_city]

Your van will #### out a transmission if you attempt it. In Alberta I would only tow up to 80% of the capacity.

[You Need a Thneed]

My dad used to his 27' travel trailer with a GMC Safari Van, perhaps that same engine. of course, he had a transmission cooler, weight distribution hitch, 5000lb hitch, etc.

He also took it easy while driving, well you sort of have to.

It's not "unsafe" per se to drive, as long as everything is balanced and all other conditions are met. You would have to be very careful that just the right amount of the trailer's weight is on the van. Too little, and the van's back end can float around, due to trailer lifting it off the ground. To much, and you won't be able to steer.

[old-fart]

Originally Posted by Sliver

It would help a ton.

Um no... no it wouldn't. A weight distribution hitch distributes the tounge weight of the trailer (generally 10 to 15% of the trailers gross weight) and has nothing to do with how much total weight your vehicle can tow.

There are very valid reasons for vehicles tow ratings based on the engineering of the vehicle itself. Exceeding that is unwise, and quite possible dangerous. Exceeding it on dry trailer weight alone is foolhardy and most definitely dangerous.

[Jackpot_Smooth]

you might be able to get away with one or two trips but for sure if you keep it up you're running the risk of eating a tranny. something that heavy a transmission cooler is a must.

Also, isn't the law that anything over 2000lbs HAS to have it's own brakes? you'll need a controller too.

[MacDaddy77]

Thanks for all the advice, Im leaning on buying the trailer. It's a really good deal. I'm planning on replacing the Van the day it stops working (cost more than $1000 to fix) and am ready to go with a V8 Pathfinder.

I will only be using the trailer for a couple of weekend trips next summer as we have a big trip to PEI planned so 1 weekend to Montana, 1 weekend to Mount Kidd and 1 weekend to Drumheller (all campgrounds have power, water and onsite dumping) so I think I could push the limits a bit for the next year (hopefully)

anyone hear any horror stories about Pathfinders I should hear about?

Truck is not an option as were replacing the Van with another family vehicle my wife will want to drive.

[burn_this_city]

I think purely from a safety perspective its a bad idea.

[Jackpot_Smooth]

I see improper towing all the time. sucks if something happens while on the trip.

what year pathfinder? v8 ones are rare here i think, they may be susceptible to the same manifold issues that titan/armada owners see sometimes. i know the (2004 and newer) v6 powered ones are good for 6000lbs tow cap. might just want to consider that for the mileage standpoint.

Also, don't expect mileage close to your montana with either engine.

[MacDaddy77]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I think purely from a safety perspective its a bad idea.

I forgot to add that for the limited times I would use it next year I would be renting a truck to haul it.

I wouldn't risk the safety of my family or anyone else on the road by hauling an unsafe load.

Just want to clear that up

[MoneyGuy]

Bad idea. This would be dangerous and you don't want to put your family at risk. I'd recommend visiting a company that installs hitches or one that custom makes trailers for advice, but they will advise against this. You'd hate to have a photo of your unit end up in the Sun should it cause a crash on the TransCanada Highway. Safety is No. 1.

[Jackpot_Smooth]

How fun is vacation with a dead van and trailer on the side of the highway with family and gear to deal with?

that being said, i'd still get the trailer if it's such a good deal. just might want to rethink the vehicle situation.

[afc wimbledon]

In europe you see mini's and ford focus's towing single axle caravans, I was overtaken by a BMW Z3 towing a trailer loaded with a full set of living room furniture last time I was back there.

Yous' guys worry to much.