Towing - R-pod Owners Forum

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Thinker

Senior Member

Joined: 25 Feb 2013
Location: S. Mississippi
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 171

Topic: Towing
Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 9:28pm

The question may not be if you can get over the hill or 200 miles down the road. Towing puts a tremendous load on the transmission which generates heat. This heat shortenens the life of the transmission.

The question to ask may not be "can I do it?" But rather ask, "Should I do it?"

Tow Vehicle: 2013 Pathfinder 4WD R-POD Model 171

Leo B

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4518

Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 7:57pm

Hi I also have a 2013 grand caravan and tow a 171 . We have the 6 liter pen star engine that puts out 283 horse power. We have plenty of power. We have towed in northern Vermont and northern New Hampshire, along with the Pocono's in Pennsylvania and have had plenty of power. We have also gotten between 13.5 and 14.5 mpg in Vermont and as good as 17 mpg on our trip[ to Cape Hatteras in NC. Great vehicle!!

Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171

Burt

Groupie

Joined: 04 May 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 62

Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 11:05am

He's right. We have a Ford Ranger 4.0L 4X4 and here in the West, we have some hills that are big. We call them mountains. Solution for us is to always fill with non ethanol fuel when towing. Non ethanol fuel gives you more power.

We do have the load equalizer and anti sway. That makes a big difference.

Consider this: When the load equalizer was invented, in order to publicize it, they used an Oldsmobile front wheel drive towing a trailer across the entire U.S. WITH THE REAR WHEELS REMOVED!!! That's real world testing. That's the difference it makes.

To accommodate us in the future, we also added a performance chip to the Ranger, beefed the tranny and put a cooler on it.

You'll be OK without big mountains to climb or major wind gusts.

Burt, Laura the White Tornado and Buddy the Wonder Dog

Goose

Senior Member

Joined: 24 Sep 2010
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 672

Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 10:57am

Wecome. If the terraine that you travel in is fairly flat the Caravan will do fine for you, it's when you start to get into grades of any steepness that you maybe disappointed in the Caravan. We towed for the first year with our 04 Caravan that had the 3.3 Liter engine and found it to be light on power when we got out west or hit strong headwinds. I have never used a WDH or anti sway hitch even with the Caravan. Goose

Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee

Rugby8

Newbie

Joined: 15 Feb 2013
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 32

Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 7:29am

Hello everybody, have not towed my new rpod yet and am having concerns. I have a 2013 Dodge grand caravan that has a tow capacity of 3600 lbs. My rv dealer said that I can tow 5000 with an equalizer. Do we have enough TV? Tks, very excited, warm day here yesterday......spring cometh

2013 grand caravan
2010 176t pod
Wife, 2 boys, and golden retriever. Can life get any better

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Thinker Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 Feb 2013 Location: S. Mississippi Online Status: Offline Posts: 171	Topic: Towing Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 9:28pm
	The question may not be if you can get over the hill or 200 miles down the road. Towing puts a tremendous load on the transmission which generates heat. This heat shortenens the life of the transmission. The question to ask may not be "can I do it?" But rather ask, "Should I do it?"
	Tow Vehicle: 2013 Pathfinder 4WD R-POD Model 171

Leo B Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4518	Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 7:57pm
	Hi I also have a 2013 grand caravan and tow a 171 . We have the 6 liter pen star engine that puts out 283 horse power. We have plenty of power. We have towed in northern Vermont and northern New Hampshire, along with the Pocono's in Pennsylvania and have had plenty of power. We have also gotten between 13.5 and 14.5 mpg in Vermont and as good as 17 mpg on our trip[ to Cape Hatteras in NC. Great vehicle!!
	Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171

Burt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 04 May 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 62	Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 11:05am
	He's right. We have a Ford Ranger 4.0L 4X4 and here in the West, we have some hills that are big. We call them mountains. Solution for us is to always fill with non ethanol fuel when towing. Non ethanol fuel gives you more power. We do have the load equalizer and anti sway. That makes a big difference. Consider this: When the load equalizer was invented, in order to publicize it, they used an Oldsmobile front wheel drive towing a trailer across the entire U.S. WITH THE REAR WHEELS REMOVED!!! That's real world testing. That's the difference it makes. To accommodate us in the future, we also added a performance chip to the Ranger, beefed the tranny and put a cooler on it. You'll be OK without big mountains to climb or major wind gusts. Burt, Laura the White Tornado and Buddy the Wonder Dog

Goose Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 24 Sep 2010 Location: Arizona Online Status: Offline Posts: 672	Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 10:57am
	Wecome. If the terraine that you travel in is fairly flat the Caravan will do fine for you, it's when you start to get into grades of any steepness that you maybe disappointed in the Caravan. We towed for the first year with our 04 Caravan that had the 3.3 Liter engine and found it to be light on power when we got out west or hit strong headwinds. I have never used a WDH or anti sway hitch even with the Caravan. Goose
	Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee

Rugby8 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 15 Feb 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 32	Posted: 10 Mar 2013 at 7:29am
	Hello everybody, have not towed my new rpod yet and am having concerns. I have a 2013 Dodge grand caravan that has a tow capacity of 3600 lbs. My rv dealer said that I can tow 5000 with an equalizer. Do we have enough TV? Tks, very excited, warm day here yesterday......spring cometh
	2013 grand caravan 2010 176t pod Wife, 2 boys, and golden retriever. Can life get any better