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Post by moneyboat on Jun 16, 2014 15:38:16 GMT -6
Have a 2000 1900cc Just got a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan If I put a hitch on it does any one see any trouble pulling it ?
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yolo
Ensign
Posts: 626
Location: Back to Manasquan Inlet, NJ
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Post by yolo on Jun 16, 2014 16:15:37 GMT -6
Dodge website (and a few others too) show a towing capacity of 3600lbs. How much does the boat weight dry? Also take into account fuel and gear after that. I think your dry weight should be in the range of 1500lbs? If so then you should be fine. Another thing to keep in mind with the mini vans is when you put that hitch bracket on the back of the van it may be a little low for the boat trailer (not sure if this will actually be the case, just hypothetical what if). If so then each receiver you buy has a "Drop" on it. if the trailer sits low on the van you can flip that receiver over, turn the "Drop" into a "rise," and mount the ball on that side. That will help you bring the trailer to a height so there is not too much weight on either side of the suspension. Again, not sure if this will happen with the van and your trailer, but i have seen this before with some vans and thought i would share. If it heppens then you will not have to post and wait for a relpy! Good luck and congrats with the boat and new car!
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Post by freezerfiller on Jun 16, 2014 18:31:09 GMT -6
Being FWD, I'd keep the tongue weight under 100# and you should be golden.
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Post by CaptWoody on Jun 16, 2014 19:06:58 GMT -6
That rig will most likely be more like 2000 lbs. 100 lb tongue weight could be a little light. 10% is the usual recommend.
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yolo
Ensign
Posts: 626
Location: Back to Manasquan Inlet, NJ
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Post by yolo on Jun 16, 2014 23:09:09 GMT -6
Whoever puts that hitch on for you should have a tongue scale if you want to make sure you are 100% right on the weight and put your worries at rest, they are small and most guys will let you borrow them. They will also be the ones to ask about the specific weight you should run. But the towing capacity given by the manufacture is how much weight that truck can pull; this assumes correct tongue weights (anywhere from the usual 10% like captwoody said, but anywhere between 9% and 15% is the range you will find on trailers of all kinds).
You can also use a bathroom scale, throw a few blocks down, scale on top, then a 2x4 between the trailer and scale so you are about at your trailer height. Just make sure, if the tongue is heavy and you get this far, when your lowering the jack and might be getting anywhere near the max for the scale that you don't go to far and break it!
If you don't feel like doing anything that any of us suggested, because you are too excited to go boating, and just hook the boat up to the trailer then here are two tips; considering that you own this boat and the weight is most likely on point.
If you get on the road loaded and the handling on the van is terrible, you are too heavy. The tongue weight on the back of the van is heavy that your loosing weight on the front wheels. If you get to this point you will be looking at your truck and saying "wow that looks heavy"
If you get on the road loaded and the trailer is swaying back and forth behind you, you are too light. The trailer needs enough downward force on the ball so the trailer is constantly being pulled, when the trailer looses pull that's when you get the swaying motion.
Be safe, call the dealer and confirm the 3,600lbs, confirm the weighs of the receiver/tongue with the person who installs!!!
Hope this helps!
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Post by moneyboat on Jun 17, 2014 5:04:55 GMT -6
Thanks for all the info. Does it make any difference it is a front wheel drive ?
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yolo
Ensign
Posts: 626
Location: Back to Manasquan Inlet, NJ
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Post by yolo on Jun 17, 2014 8:17:16 GMT -6
Agian if the towing capacity is 3,600 then no matter you should be fine. If your experienced then you will feel the difference between pushing with the rear wheelse and pulling everything with the front. Your best bet, give a quick call to your dealer and and quick call to the people you are going to have mount the hitch, they will give you all the info you need.
Now, I dont know how the van will react when your pulling the boat out of the water, but i would make sure the ramp is DRY DRY if you dont have four wheen drive.
Off the record here LOL, and in line with freezerfiller, the tongue weight on my trailer would be considered light to most. I am literally pulling my trailer!
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Post by acdaddy0 on Jun 21, 2014 9:31:04 GMT -6
I agree with Yolo on the boat ramp issue. Front wheel drives don't have a lot of traction pulling Riggs up a steep landing or a wet one. Too much tongue weight with a soft rear suspension will also lift the front wheel weight further decreasing traction. Pulling the boat on a flat highway will be fine but pick your landings carefully. U essentially have a one wheel drive vehicle with the differential.
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Post by moneyboat on Jun 22, 2014 15:31:59 GMT -6
Took it to the cat scale and with a 1/2 tank of gas it was 3,280 pounds.
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Post by CaptWoody on Jun 22, 2014 19:57:36 GMT -6
That sounds a bit heavy.
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Post by moneyboat on Jun 23, 2014 1:38:07 GMT -6
It was on a certified scale at a Love's truck stop It has a 52 gal. tank how much weight is 25 gal ?
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Post by flintlock on Jun 23, 2014 4:58:18 GMT -6
Gasoline is around 7 pounds per gallon so 175 lbs.
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Warpig
Master Chief
Posts: 312
Location: Northeast Ohio
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Post by Warpig on Jun 23, 2014 9:49:24 GMT -6
Is the trailer galvanized or aluminum? If it's galvanized, the trailer probably weighs a thousand pounds or so. So boat, trailer, gear, and fuel at 3200 lbs or so would be about right.
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yolo
Ensign
Posts: 626
Location: Back to Manasquan Inlet, NJ
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Post by yolo on Jun 23, 2014 10:07:24 GMT -6
How much does the trailer weight?
There is a capacity plate near tongue.
Or check your title. It will have GVW and then maximum load (not sure the exat term). Trailer weight = GVW - Max Load.
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yolo
Ensign
Posts: 626
Location: Back to Manasquan Inlet, NJ
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Post by yolo on Jun 23, 2014 10:10:38 GMT -6
Also, thinking about where more weight can come from andnot sure if i am right in saying this, but after looking it up I beleive the 1900cc was manufactured without a t-top?
If so then the dry weight in specs would not account for weight of t-top. Do you have one?
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Post by moneyboat on Jun 23, 2014 14:38:11 GMT -6
No T-Top But do have a 24v great white 2 batteries
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Post by freezerfiller on Jun 23, 2014 16:10:56 GMT -6
Trust the truck scale. It's right. My point of low tongue weight was to have weight or traction on the front tires when pulling out of the water. I think you'll be fine, but I would help by putting weight in the back of the boat and the front of the van when pulling it out of the water. If you want to do the opposite for tongue weight while trailering, it wouldn't hurt.
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yolo
Ensign
Posts: 626
Location: Back to Manasquan Inlet, NJ
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Post by yolo on Jun 23, 2014 20:17:11 GMT -6
I would agree 10000% with freezerfiller on all points. Trust the scale, low tongue weight and weight shifts on the boat to keep the front tires down (ill add make sure that ramp is dry), and so long as your not overweight then you are fine.
p.s. take good note to what he is saying about the weight distributions that you can control. A very good tip to have in your back pocket.
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985crabs
Captain
2000 V1900 Bay Series, Yamaha 150 Carb. 2
Posts: 1,311
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Post by 985crabs on Jun 24, 2014 20:05:54 GMT -6
I've hesitated to weigh in here because I'm sure my comments may be controversial, but I can't hold back. Scotch will do that for you. Alright, here it is, you can't be more than 6% manly dragging your boat around with a minivan. I can say this because I towed my beloved Montauk with a Dodge Caravan for the first 6 months I owned it. I assure you I demonstrated 0 coolness showing up at the ramp with that tow rig. I'm not terribly self-concious about things like that, but I knew that I would eventually graduate to a larger, heavier boat so I did what any man (with limited means) would do, I bought an aging V-8 SUV so I could be confident in my towing capabilities and not telegraph "dork-squad" to everyone around me. It was bad enough I had no idea how to find or catch a fish. I didn't need the minivan stigma too.
Now don't get me wrong, that minivan was an awesome vehicle and my wife and I got a quarter million miles out of it before we sold it. It was tremendous for travel, but it was not appropriate for towing a boat.
Okay, I've said my piece. Y'all can skewer me for my shallowness now.
Crabs
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Post by moneyboat on Jun 25, 2014 1:48:22 GMT -6
Thanks for all the help guys found the plate it weighs 1423lb. Crabs. Have been towing it with my 2006 trailblazer was thinking of going to try and go down to one car my wife does not drive any more. The weight is to close with all the gear to tow with the new grand caravan to take the chance any trouble. Will stay with two rides.
Moneyboat
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