Need help in deciding if my vehicle could tow my trailer!

[mom4scrapbooking]

So we own a Pontiac Montana and a Rvision Bantom Flier TT. The trailer is light around 2700 pds. dry weight. We are now at a point that we need to haul it with my van. We took it to the dealer and they said no prob. It would cost around $1500 to add hitch, transmission cooler, weight distribution bars. My van already has air shocks. So me and DH wonder are they pulling the rug over our eyes or will it indeed be safe to tow. Or do we take that money and put it down on a bigger vehicle that could tow it easier. I just don't want a bigger car payment. Please help as this is our first trailer and have no clue!

Thanks so much!

 

[seabee]

What is your towing weight capabilities with the van? How long is the TT? I don't know, that doesn't sound right to me. I could be wrong though. You have to think what the TT is going to weigh when it is loaded too. Propane tanks, food, clothes, accessories, etc. It adds up quick.

 

[mom4scrapbooking]

DUH! I guess I was so needing help I forgot some inportant details. Trailer is 18 ft long. My van can tow 3500 pounds.

 

[seabee]

DH says that is borderline. You have 800 lbs to play with. So if you have 2 propane tanks that adds weight, then if you ever want to travel with your water tank full you need to account for that,plus whatever you pack. DH said don't pack shoes like me(he's funny). Also take into account what the gross weight is for your vehicle. Thats the total of the TV(including you) and the TT loaded. I'd try it and see how it goes before doing all the upgrading to your vehicle. We are in the process of upgrading our towvehicle because we are right on the line with weight. Our TV tows fine, but a higher tow rating I think will provide a better ride.

 

[bradisgoofy]

Boy, I think you are right at the limit. What size engine do you have? Unless it is a big six cylinder you will have trouble with long hills and mountains.

 

[seabee]

Thats what I was thinking too.

 

[chief19spixi]

I think that may be pushing it!

 

[2goofycampers]

What is your towing weight capabilities with the van? How long is the TT? I don't know, that doesn't sound right to me. I could be wrong though. You have to think what the TT is going to weigh when it is loaded too. Propane tanks, food, clothes, accessories, etc. It adds up quick.

You should also keep in mind how much weight is in the tow vehicle, people and the xtra stuff carried inthe vehicle.....Frank

 

[YellowXterra]

The tow rating is with a driver only in the van and no cargo. Subtract all that extra weight from the tow rating. I had a Nissan Xterra V6 rated at 5000 tow rating. When towing a 3500 pop up its was ALL it wanted. I don't think it smart to max out your rating.

Don't forget a brake controler!

 

[PanFanAL]

We have a Pontiac Aztek. Even though it is a SUV instead of a van, I beleive they have the same engine. It is a 3.4 V6. I have used ours to move our pop-up, and it would probably do ok towing it. But we just got an 18 ft TT, and i wouldn't even think about hitching to it. The tongue weight alone would be more than the Aztek could handle. Now our TT weighs 3500 dry, now yours appears to weigh much less than ours, but I still wouldn't try it. Something I noticed this weekend when towing with my Ext cab F150(a large truck) was the way the wind pushed the TT around. Your van is much lighter than my truck, I would be afraid to try to tow it with much wind, it would be very easy to push around.

 

[2goofycampers]

we had a truck with a 8000lb tow limit we had a 5000lb camper plus all the extra weight of people and stuff. the truck now needs a new rear end. IMHO I wouldn't take the chance of ruining your Montana, and wasting the money for the hitch. >Denise

 

[seabee]

Good advice Denise. Like I said, we are borderline with our TV and we are upgrading. There wasn't much we could do this past season, but before this season starts we want to have it all set. I'd rather pay a little extra on a car payment and be safe, then experience what COULD happen. When we were going to the fort last year we saw an Explorer flipped over with a larger TT attached. It was not pretty. That vehicle should not have been towing that size TT and I am pretty positive that contributed to the accident. Just be smart and trust yourself. The dealers are great and all, but most are looking to sell the trailer, remember that.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

My guess - you will be over the limit when your trailer is loaded. Even with the added equipment on you tow vehicle, it will put too much of a strain on the engine and tranny. I would go for a bigger tow vehicle. Figure out how much of a tow vehicle you will need, then buy a bigger one so you are set if you upgrade your trailer.

 

[LONE-STAR]

My guess - you will be over the limit when your trailer is loaded. Even with the added equipment on you tow vehicle, it will put too much of a strain on the engine and tranny. I would go for a bigger tow vehicle. Figure out how much of a tow vehicle you will need, then buy a bigger one so you are set if you upgrade your trailer.

I agree and in time you will want to upgrade.

 

[Us3]

My guess - you will be over the limit when your trailer is loaded. Even with the added equipment on you tow vehicle, it will put too much of a strain on the engine and tranny. I would go for a bigger tow vehicle. Figure out how much of a tow vehicle you will need, then buy a bigger one so you are set if you upgrade your trailer.

Very very good advice! It's a big expense upfront...but you'll be so much happier in the long run...and save yourself from an even more costly mistake...messing up your current vehicle. You could probably get away with short trips around the house...but I wouldn't think you'd want to tow it any substantial distance. If you're able to do so...get WAY more truck than trailer.

 

[Disney Campers]

You have 800 lbs to play with

that 800 lbs go quick, tow ratings don't usually take into account additional passengers and lots of other "stuff"

Go with the bigger tow vehicle, I'm guessing your trailer only has one axle, so sway and stability will be more of an issue as well.

Lot of good answers above, if you ask this question on an RV forum such as RV.net the weight police will be out in full force, the weight police all pull their rigs with MDT's

 

[Christine9125]

Our role of thumb is to try and keep the camper/trailer at 1/2 of your weight cap for the tow vehicle. That way you have a little room to play with your luggage and such.

 

[candied]

I must agree with evrything that has been said and especially with the ones I quoted. A couple of my thoughts:

If the vehicle you wish to use as a TV was not equipped with the trailering package when you purchased it, I would guess that it is probably not "designed" (for lack of better word) to be used in towing a travel trailer. I would be leering of even a pop up type set up as well.

Not from my own experience, but our friends purchased a trailer using their Durango and flipped over on the highway coming home from their first trip out. We are not sure of what exactly was the problem, but are pretty sure the size of the vehicle was a factor in the accident.

I would strongly suggest going for a new (or newer) TV. Research what you are want the TV to do and research what kind of trailer (or pop up) you want and then pad the tow weight to upgrade in the future. When we bought my Tahoe in 2002, we knew we wanted to eventually purchase a trailer so we made sure it had the tow package already equipped. Unfortunately we didn't know how much trailers actually weighed, so we unfortunately are maxed on our tow weight. My next TV will be a Chevrolet Suburban 2500 - oh baby

Candace

Good advice Denise. Like I said, we are borderline with our TV and we are upgrading. There wasn't much we could do this past season, but before this season starts we want to have it all set. I'd rather pay a little extra on a car payment and be safe, then experience what COULD happen. When we were going to the fort last year we saw an Explorer flipped over with a larger TT attached. It was not pretty. That vehicle should not have been towing that size TT and I am pretty positive that contributed to the accident. Just be smart and trust yourself. The dealers are great and all, but most are looking to sell the trailer, remember that.

My guess - you will be over the limit when your trailer is loaded. Even with the added equipment on you tow vehicle, it will put too much of a strain on the engine and tranny. I would go for a bigger tow vehicle. Figure out how much of a tow vehicle you will need, then buy a bigger one so you are set if you upgrade your trailer.

 

[DaveInTN]

You have already received good advice, so I will just give you my personal experience towing with a Montana. We had a Montana with the 3.4L engine, and the same tow rating as yours. I had a popup that we pulled for one and a half seasons. The popup was not a huge one...had a dry weight in the 1650 lb range and we packed an average amount of stuff. The van did ok pulling, but nothing great. At 39,000 miles, the intake manifold developed some serious leaks that required major work and the transmission started acting up. We did have a transmission cooler, but I have always suspected that the strain of pulling was too much for the van. Now, the intake manifold issue likely was unrelated, as there is a class action lawsuit covering that problem on many GM vehicles...but just the same I don't think towing helped matters any. So, all in all my opinion is that you don't want to push the limits of the vehicle.

 

[lisa8200]

Good advice Denise. Like I said, we are borderline with our TV and we are upgrading. There wasn't much we could do this past season, but before this season starts we want to have it all set. I'd rather pay a little extra on a car payment and be safe, then experience what COULD happen. When we were going to the fort last year we saw an Explorer flipped over with a larger TT attached. It was not pretty. That vehicle should not have been towing that size TT and I am pretty positive that contributed to the accident. Just be smart and trust yourself. The dealers are great and all, but most are looking to sell the trailer, remember that.

Not to diminish the very real point, Explorers don't seem to make good Tow Vehicles. I base this on the fact that uhaul ( At least here ) will not rent you a trailer if you are going to tow it with an Explorer. Expedition or higher is required. I just figure that there has to be a reason if they will refuse to rent you a trailer with one. I know nothing else about them so this is a very limited opinion with no research.