Is this an acceptable tow vehicle We recently purchased a Macgregor S26. The entire rig weighs about 2900 pounds with the motor. We own a Chrysler Town and Country LXI with a 3.8L V6 with traction control and a 4-speed automatic 41TE/41AE transmission. We plan to tow the rig from St. Louis to the Chicago area approximately 275 miles (flat terrain). The car is equipped with a class 2 hitch. What are your thought about towing with this vehicle. We will be close to the max recomended total car plus trailer weight of 6000 lbs listed in the owners manual. We have no transmission cooler or heavy duty springs or shocks. Thank you, Jerry
Is this an acceptable tow vehicle
- Thread starter Jerry21707
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Probably not
the tow vehicle must weight more than what you are towing add a couple hundred pounds to the rig for "stuff" you will have in the boat Don't leave home without a transmission cooler does the engine give at least 200 ft pounds torque? good luck with the front wheel drive The coast guard may have a brochure on boat towing that is helpful.
the tow vehicle must weight more than what you are towing add a couple hundred pounds to the rig for "stuff" you will have in the boat Don't leave home without a transmission cooler does the engine give at least 200 ft pounds torque? good luck with the front wheel drive The coast guard may have a brochure on boat towing that is helpful.
It Will Work for a While
It is going to be very hard on it. You should definitely add the largest transmission cooler that will physically fit and air shocks. If it is an occasional tow it will be fine but if you’re going to be towing with any frequency you’ll be looking for a new vehicle before too very long.
It is going to be very hard on it. You should definitely add the largest transmission cooler that will physically fit and air shocks. If it is an occasional tow it will be fine but if you’re going to be towing with any frequency you’ll be looking for a new vehicle before too very long.
You'll be overloaded! *yks
If your vehicle's Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is 6000 lbs. you minus the vehicle's Curb Weight (empty weight, no driver, passengers and cargo), Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) and the weight of the passengers and cargo in the towing vehicle to make use you're not overloaded. If the Chrysler Town and Country LXI has a curb weight of 3,951 lbs. and your Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) 2,900 lbs. GCWR - CW - GTW = Weight of the driver, passengers and cargo allowed. 6,000 - 3,951 - 2,900 = -851 lbs. You are already overloaded before you add the weight of the driver, passengers and cargo! Cars and trucks are designed to safely tow a vehicle's GCWR. The brakes, tires, shocks, cooling, and steering has been designed for his maximum GCWR. Towing an overloaded vehicle will cause cooling, braking, and steering problems, which could cause an accident. A lot of tow vehicles that crashed were due to being overloaded. Most auto makers will only allow the driver in the towing vehicle when towing the maximum Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) allowed. The weight of the driver varies with different auto makers. Fair Winds, Clyde
If your vehicle's Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is 6000 lbs. you minus the vehicle's Curb Weight (empty weight, no driver, passengers and cargo), Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) and the weight of the passengers and cargo in the towing vehicle to make use you're not overloaded. If the Chrysler Town and Country LXI has a curb weight of 3,951 lbs. and your Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) 2,900 lbs. GCWR - CW - GTW = Weight of the driver, passengers and cargo allowed. 6,000 - 3,951 - 2,900 = -851 lbs. You are already overloaded before you add the weight of the driver, passengers and cargo! Cars and trucks are designed to safely tow a vehicle's GCWR. The brakes, tires, shocks, cooling, and steering has been designed for his maximum GCWR. Towing an overloaded vehicle will cause cooling, braking, and steering problems, which could cause an accident. A lot of tow vehicles that crashed were due to being overloaded. Most auto makers will only allow the driver in the towing vehicle when towing the maximum Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) allowed. The weight of the driver varies with different auto makers. Fair Winds, Clyde
Tow Vehicle
All good advice - Also, a class II hitch (max 3500lbs tow/300lbs tongue wt. is marginal for this load. I'd run the whole rig across a certified scale to be sure of your weights. Check the tongue weight also. You did not mention how many miles you have on this vehicle. I'd also check on the price of a new transmission. Sorry about all the bad news. Been there done that - Spent all my money on the boat - could not afford a new car - Sweated bullets every time I towed it - had trouble getting in and out of launch ramps, rear end bottomed out at slightest dip in the road, etc, etc, etc. The car finally gave up the ghost...
All good advice - Also, a class II hitch (max 3500lbs tow/300lbs tongue wt. is marginal for this load. I'd run the whole rig across a certified scale to be sure of your weights. Check the tongue weight also. You did not mention how many miles you have on this vehicle. I'd also check on the price of a new transmission. Sorry about all the bad news. Been there done that - Spent all my money on the boat - could not afford a new car - Sweated bullets every time I towed it - had trouble getting in and out of launch ramps, rear end bottomed out at slightest dip in the road, etc, etc, etc. The car finally gave up the ghost...
Short answer
Your van without a towing package can tow only 2,000lbs. With a towing package:3,700 lbs. I doon't know what the the exact GCWR is for that vehicle but it is a lot more than 6,000 lbs since the GVWR is 5,700lbs.
Your van without a towing package can tow only 2,000lbs. With a towing package:3,700 lbs. I doon't know what the the exact GCWR is for that vehicle but it is a lot more than 6,000 lbs since the GVWR is 5,700lbs.
Overloaded!
Simple "rule of thumb", the safe recommended limit for towing is that the total weight of the towed vessel, including trailer and any equipment on board, be no more than 80% of the towing vehicle's tow capacity. Anything more than that and you risk overload. Example, my vehicle has a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. therefore my limit is 4,000 lbs. This is a quick way to tell if you risk overload and whether your vehicle can handle the tow. A more exact method has been given in the earlier replies. Alan
Simple "rule of thumb", the safe recommended limit for towing is that the total weight of the towed vessel, including trailer and any equipment on board, be no more than 80% of the towing vehicle's tow capacity. Anything more than that and you risk overload. Example, my vehicle has a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. therefore my limit is 4,000 lbs. This is a quick way to tell if you risk overload and whether your vehicle can handle the tow. A more exact method has been given in the earlier replies. Alan
U-Haul
It will probably be fine for putting it into and removing from teh water once or twice per year. But I would not tow that boat with a T&C for that distance. Either borrow a pickup or rent a U-Haul truck and tow it home with that.
It will probably be fine for putting it into and removing from teh water once or twice per year. But I would not tow that boat with a T&C for that distance. Either borrow a pickup or rent a U-Haul truck and tow it home with that.
80%?
If the towing capacity is #5,000 shouldn't you be able to tow #5,000? Otherwise the capacity should be stated at #4,000. Maybe it's just me after all I once drug a #4,000 trailer from Norfolk to Dayton with a '66 Mustang uphill I could go fast as I wanted downhill was a little squirrelly. I do not think I would do that again, on purpose anyway.
If the towing capacity is #5,000 shouldn't you be able to tow #5,000? Otherwise the capacity should be stated at #4,000. Maybe it's just me after all I once drug a #4,000 trailer from Norfolk to Dayton with a '66 Mustang uphill I could go fast as I wanted downhill was a little squirrelly. I do not think I would do that again, on purpose anyway.
Remember the key is stopping
Sure you want to be able to get going and not fry your transmission but you should be far more worried about braking. Does the trailer have brakes? If not and you have to slam on the brakes at highway speeds you may be in for a world of hurt. Your car isn't big enough. Rent a truck or borrow one from a friend.
Sure you want to be able to get going and not fry your transmission but you should be far more worried about braking. Does the trailer have brakes? If not and you have to slam on the brakes at highway speeds you may be in for a world of hurt. Your car isn't big enough. Rent a truck or borrow one from a friend.
What does it matter what we think. . .
It is the vehicle rating and the hitch rating that matter. Check out the ratings for yourself. However, it sounds like you are over the limit.
It is the vehicle rating and the hitch rating that matter. Check out the ratings for yourself. However, it sounds like you are over the limit.
Problem solved
Thank you all for your imput. Not the answer I wanted to hear but we bought a new Suburban today. Problem solved. I now have a $37000 Macgregor sail boat and car combo. Jerry
Thank you all for your imput. Not the answer I wanted to hear but we bought a new Suburban today. Problem solved. I now have a $37000 Macgregor sail boat and car combo. Jerry
Good decision.
Jerry: You probably made a wise decision. The Chrysler transmission are suspect anyway. You may have had to replace it from towing this type of a load. Now you have a TOW VEHICLE and a STOPPING VEHICLE.
Jerry: You probably made a wise decision. The Chrysler transmission are suspect anyway. You may have had to replace it from towing this type of a load. Now you have a TOW VEHICLE and a STOPPING VEHICLE.
You'll love the Suburban
They are great vehicles. Comfortable, powerful and great for towing. Good choice!
They are great vehicles. Comfortable, powerful and great for towing. Good choice!
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