Towing Setup Recommendations for a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

Question

Question:

Rental company says my van will tow 4000 lbs brochure says 3600 lbs when properly equipped ????? or 5000 pounds with weight distribution, what does that mean ? Bottom line, I need to tow an aluminum trailer weighing 1200 pounds, and on it, a car that weighs 3200 pounds, what do I need to set up my 2014 caravan to do this ? Rear coil spring air bags, trans cooler, etc......

asked by: Mike W

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

The final authority on the tow capacity is the owner's manual. If your owners manual says 3,600 weight carrying and 5,000 lbs weight distribution then that is the actual capacity your vehicle has.

The Draw-Tite part # 75579 that you referenced would be an excellent hitch that has similar capacities. I attached an install video for this hitch for you to check out as well.

Now a weight distribution system is a hitch that distributes some of the tongue weight on the hitch to the front axle of the vehicle. That is why when you use one you end up having additional capacity.

The best way to pick out a weight distribution system is to base it off of the loaded tongue weight of the setup when it is loaded and ready to tow, this figure also includes the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. I attached an FAQ on determining tongue weight for you to check out as well.

The max tongue weight your setup will allow is 500 lbs, hopefully your setup will not exceed this figure when loaded. For a system rated for 500 lbs of tongue weight I would recommend the Reese Weight Distribution System # RP66540. For a 2 inch ball you would want the part # A-90, for a 2-5/16 ball you would want the # 19286. Typically aluminum trailer manufacturers will not recommend using weight distribution on them, so you will want to contact them and verify. If you cannot use a WD system you would not be able to tow this trailer with your Grand Caravan as you would not have the capacity.

If you do not have a factory 7-way you will need to start with a 4-way (if you do not have one). For that you would want the Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness # C56331.

From there you would need to convert the 4-way to a 7-way so that you can install the brake controller. For that you will want the Brake Controller Install Kit and 7-Way Adapter part # ETBC7. I attached installation instructions and an install video for this product as well.

For a brake controller I would recommend the Prodigy P2 Brake Controller part # 90885. This is our best selling brake controller because of how well it works and how easy it is to setup.

For a transmission cooler I would recommend the Derale # D13503. I attached an FAQ on transmission coolers for you to check out as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C

1

Answer 1

With a new vehicle you are doing the right thing in setting up everything to safely tow your boat. I can help you out with that. First I recommend the Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch, part #75579. This is a Class lll hitch and it has a 2-inch…

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Answer 2

The 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan has a fairly high towing capacity of 3,600 lbs so you should not have any issues towing most small boat or U-Haul trailers. However, the 3,600 lbs towing capacity of your Grand Caravan will decrease if you have 3 or more…

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Answer 3

You'd want to leave your 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan transmission in overdrive for the most part. If you found yourself towing in a hilly area with a lot of upshifting and downshifting you might select a lower gear just to prevent some of that but…

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Answer 4

Absolutely we can help you find a really good weight distribution system so you can safely tow your 2021 Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro E15TB. This trailer has a GVWR of nearly 3,900 lbs, so a good estimate for your loaded tongue weight is going to be…

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Answer 5

I pulled up the owners manual for your 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan and it looks like the trailer towing capacity is 3,600 lbs if you have only 2 passengers, 3,350 lbs for if you have 3 to 5 passengers, and 3,000 lbs if you have 6 to 7 passengers. For a…

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Answer 6

Curt requires the Support Strap #18050 with a number of their hitch receivers like #C11407. The strap isn't required when towing a trailer but only when carrying something like a bike rack or cargo carrier. It's required in order to be…

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Answer 7

Your best option is going to be an electric heater. The other options are heaters that use heated vehicle coolant which means you would have to have your 2016 Dodge Caravan running to maintain the heat. To avoid draining the battery down as fast I…

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Answer 8

It's always a good idea to think ahead. The Flex-a-lite Mojave Vehicle Heater #FLX640 is more of a permanent installation so if you plan on moving the heater frequently we'll want to look at something else like part #RA3501 that uses a…

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Answer 9

I took a look at the online version of the owner's manual for your 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan. The van's actual towing capacity will depend on how many passengers (including the driver) you have in the vehicle. The manual lists the following…

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Answer 10

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 11

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Answer 12

For sag from towing a trailer the best recommendation I can make is actually a weight distribution system. Suspension enhancement will help level your truck while towing. But the advantage to a weight distribution system is that it levels the vehicle…

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Towing Setup Recommendations for a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

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