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Topic Closedgrand caravan - Event Date: 06 Feb 2017 - 02 Dec 2017
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Joined: 03 Oct 2016
Location: Olympia WA
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Posts: 62 		Direct Link To This Post Calendar Event: grand caravan
    Posted: 09 Feb 2017 at 6:50pm
You may also want to check actual wet and dry weights of your rig.

Life is good.
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Joined: 31 Jan 2017
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Posts: 80 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Feb 2017 at 10:59pm
Leo , wonder if you would be so kind as to express your learned opinion as a grand caravan podder to a few questions. I bought a 178 rpod and towing with a 2016 dodge caravan 283 hp.

Is it best to tow in the 'manual shift" mode or fully automatic?

It runs in 5th gear at about 2000 rpm on more or less flat highway at 55 - 60 mph.. I can not get the trans to shift to 6th while towing.  Is this ok? Is this to be expected?

Back of van pitches down about 1 1/4 inch with trailer attached. I do not have the tow package. I use a 4" rise ball mount which rides the trailer near level and very slightly pitched down at the tongue. Is this ok?

I feel and see a little trailer sway when trucks pass, do you get that too? (I have no sway control or WD).

When you are towing the 179 in mountains how fast do you go , in what gear? at what rpm?

Thanks a ton
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posts: 4508 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Feb 2017 at 7:17am
We do not Manuel shift, we just put it in drive and go. We do not put it in the economy mode while towing. When cruising down the interstate/ highway ours is running around 1500-1800. Yes our does the same, has never seemed to be a problem. I very rarely feel any sway, sometimes over a long bridge on a windy day, but usually nothing. We do usually travel with roughly 5 galls of water in the potable tank.
When in the mountains here and in New Hampshire we usually are driving 50 on the state roads and 55-65 on the interstates. usually around 2000 rpm

Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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Joined: 31 Jan 2017
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Posts: 80 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Feb 2017 at 7:58am
You just put it in drive and go.Sounds like the 2013 caravan might shift into 6th gear or overdrive when cruising at 1500-1800 rpm. 

When you say yours does the same, are you referring to the 1 1/4 lowering of the caravan back bumper?

 
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Leo B View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posts: 4508 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Feb 2017 at 10:05pm
Yes it will go down a little bit. We have towed it like that since we got it.
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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Joined: 31 Jan 2017
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Posts: 80 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Feb 2017 at 6:18am
ok Thanks again
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Leo B View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posts: 4508 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Feb 2017 at 7:13am
any time.
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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