Dodge Magnum R/T

[sieve]

My wife Pat and I have owned a 2002 31ft Classic for the past two years and have been towing it from time to time (we both still work) with our 2000 Honda Odyssey.

We have the opportunity to purchase a 2006 Dodge Magnum R/T with the 5.7-liter Hemi engine and 5-speed automatic transmission.

Any thoughts on it as a tow vehile for our unit would be appreciated. Thanks.


Duncan McCallum
Caledon, ON

[3Ms75Argosy]

Uh oh....
You know, I was just thinking about the 'ol Magnum as T.V. question last night....
Please do it! I'd like SOMEONE out there to give us some real world opinions of it....
That being said, nobody here is going to recommend that you do it.

Call Andy at Can Am and try it out there.
Good luck!
P.s. can you post pics of your current hook up being used?
Marc

[Silvertwinkie]

Neiteher vehicles should tow a trailer that large IMHO, others may disagree, but that RV is at least 8000lbs. The Ridgeline, that uses the V6 only has a rating of 5000lbs, so the Odyssey can't be more than that.

The Magnum has too short of a wheelbase for that size RV. Has a good engine, but you are not towing a 22' RV, yer towing a 31' RV. I don't know how you haven't wrecked, hurt yourself or those around you yet towing that rig with the Odyssey. That trailer has got to weigh nearly 2x what that Honda weighs. Magnum would have more power, but it's just not where you should be. You are in truck range and moreover 3/4 ton truck range. You're not even in the ballpark of 1/2 ton with a 31' unit. Tow rating on the Dodge site says the Magnum has a 1000lb to capacity maximum!

...and with Unibody, trailer that big and heavy...you are one brave soul!

[Kevbo10]

i know someone who drags a 25 foot AS no problem with that combo. rallyed with them many times. combo works and looks great.

kevin

[Silvertwinkie]

Anyone who suggests this person tow a 31' Airstream, widebody trailer, loaded or even dry, with any Honda or a Magnum is just being reckless and not responsible. Neither of these vehicles come even remotely close to towing that size Airstream safely, regardless of who's hitch you use. I would suggest you call Honda and Dodge and ask them, they would tell you no way in a second, and I don't mean call a dealer, I'm talking calling the company directly. They will clearly tell you it shouldn't be done. If you came here and said you have a 1/2 ton truck, I'd say not a good idea, but you are light years away from what a 1/2 truck can do with both vehicles we are talking about. In any emerg situation, that RV is going OWN either setup and it's gonna take you wherever it wants to go and not the other way around, not by a longshot.

I don't mean to sound too harsh, but c'mon guys, what would you do if this person took your advice, bought a Magnum with a 1000 tow capacity, towing an 8000 plus pound RV, and injured or killed him and his wife and folks around him if he gets cut off and looses control due to that setup or blown by high wind and looses it, etc...that's just irresponsible.

[Kevbo10]

well;

that's just your opinion man.

Lebowski 9:30

[Silvertwinkie]

Originally Posted by Kevbo10

well;

that's just your opinion man.

Lebowski 9:30

....and "The Dude" is stickin' to it too!

...and by the way, it's no opinion, it's a fact, run the numbers, there is no faking it even.....

[Kevbo10]

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

....and "The Dude" is stickin' to it too!

...and by the way, it's no opinion, it's a fact.

LOL,

mr winkie, you not only post alota, you have a sense of humor too. must i remind you of the "-------" toe sceen?

PLEASE...

don't talk down Hemi's or i call walter, even on a saturday...

kevin

[Silvertwinkie]

Originally Posted by Kevbo10

LOL,

mr winkie, you not only post alota, you have a sense of humor too. must i remind you of the "-------" toe sceen?

PLEASE...

not talk down Hemi's or i call walter, even on a saturday...

kevin

Hemi is a great engine, no argument there, but no way in H.E. double hockey sticks is the Magnum a TV for that RV, not now, not ever, ok, maybe if they make it longer, give it a better trans, better hubs, better cooling, a body on frame suitable for those weights and counterweights of movement, but then they already did, it's called the Dodge Ram and if you or he are a rabbid Dodge fan, it's what I'd suggest for a beast his size, me personally, I think their trannys are fairly poor, but who knows with some Damlier DNA, anything is possible. Either way the Ram has the numbers per the manufac to tow that size RV, not the Honda, not the Magnum.

[richinny]

my opinion:

could you, yes

should you, no.

[moosetags]

Neither of those combos are anywhere close to my towing comfort zone, but to each their own.

[Kevbo10]

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

Hemi is a great engine, no argument there, but no way in H.E. double hockey sticks is the Magnum a TV for that RV, not now, not ever

// MASSIVE SNIP //

Either way the Ram has the numbers per the manufac to tow that size RV, not the Honda, not the Magnum.

mr winkie,

please... your puffing up. i was just kidding. let some air out, better yet go for a walk, and you know how i feel about those smiley thingies...

8000 more and i'll be there...

kevin

[Silvertwinkie]

I'll take yer word on that.....I didn't feel a rush of testosterone when I typed it, if that's the way it came across, wasn't my intention...and I do know how you love the smilies..about as much as I love towing with a go-kart.

-- and it's only about 7400 and you'll be there.

[85MH325]

Duncan, your Odyssey has a tow capacity of 3500 lbs, tops, with the towing package. That puts it in the range of a Casita 17', a Scamp Custom Deluxe 16', or a Bigfoot 15B17CB all with dry curb weights of about 2800 lbs. A 19' Bambi has a GVWR 0f 4500 lbs, 25% higher than what the Odyssey is rated to tow.

A quick Google search shows the Dodge Magnum R/T 5.7L V8 has a 2,000 lb tow rating; unless it's the AWD version that can be upped to 3,800 lbs. According to the Airstream weights chart your '02 Classic 31' has a dry curb weight of 7150 lbs, a tongue weight of 690 lbs, and a GVWR of 8700 lbs.

Now, this is exactly the kind of post that a troll makes just to get a rise out of folks, because towing a 31' Classic with an Odyssey seems all but impossible to begin with. But, presuming you're not a troll, and you really have towed a 31' Airstream with an Odyssey, my advice would be to call your insurance agent on Monday morning and tell him you're overloading your tow vehicle by over double it's rated capacity now, and you're planning on buying a car that has 50% less towing capacity than your current tow vehicle and that you plan to tow the same 8500 lb GVWR trailer with it. And then ask him what kind of coverage your policy will actually give you under those circumstances.

His answer might surprise you. And... heaven forbid, should you ever be involved in a crash with such an incompetent tow vehicle knowingly overloaded to that extent, you can bet that there will be criminal charges pending for you, even should you not actually be the party found most at fault.

Michelle found out how quickly things can go wrong this past winter while towing her trailer with a full-size F250, a competent tow vehicle. I can't imagine trying to tow a 31' trailer with something like you're suggesting.

Good luck!

Roger

[sieve]

Thanks for all the advice folks. I really appreciate it. I must admit I'm feeling a little queasy now about currently towing with the Odyssey after reading some of the comments. The good news is I have about 4 months before I head for a trip to Florida. That gives me time to do more research and get the proper vehicle. My first step is getting the trailor weighed next week since we've had some interior work done and I want to know exactly what I'm dealing with.

[Silvertwinkie]

Originally Posted by sieve

Thanks for all the advice folks. I really appreciate it. I must admit I'm feeling a little queasy now about currently towing with the Odyssey after reading some of the comments. The good news is I have about 4 months before I head for a trip to Florida. That gives me time to do more research and get the proper vehicle. My first step is getting the trailor weighed next week since we've had some interior work done and I want to know exactly what I'm dealing with.

Good for you. I'm beyond pleased that you've considered whats been said. I think you'll be far better off in the long run.

[85MH325]

Happy travels, Duncan. None of us want to sound harsh, but we want you to tow successfully and we want to share the roads safely with you.

Best of luck in your search for a competent tow vehicle!

Roger