New / Old Tow Vehicle

[Andrew T]

From the fall of 2004 until 2008 we ran a Chrysler 300 with the Hemi engine and since 2007 one of our workhorses has been a 2007 3.5 litre Charger that we picked up used with 10,000 miles on it and it now has about 90,000 so we are pretty familure with this platform.

Recently we added a 2012 300S to the fleet with the direct injection 3.6 Litre engine with 292 horse power mated to an 8 speed automatic. This week we returned from a trip to DC and Cape Hatteras. On the way south we took the 2 lane route south out of Buffalo which has lots of hills. On the way north we crossed the Chesapeak Bay bridge and came north up 476 & 81.

I was extremely impressed with this drivetrain. Friends traveling with us have a R Class Mercedes Diesel and I was within a gallon of it on each fuel up. The 5.3 suburban in our group with a narrow body Airstream was running around 40% more fuel than I was. More important when not towing it knoks off 35 mpg on the highway.

The large hills on 81 it walked up at 65 MPH in 4th gear at 3200 RPM. The great thing about 8 gears is that the next one is always just a small jump so 3rd gear is only 3900 RPM.

The ride is nice a smooth. The handling though still excellent is not quiet as precise as the Taurus SHO we were running before. The seats are comfortable and the interior is very quiet.

For the price and cost of operation it is a great tow vehicle.

Andrew T

[jump]

You have two Airstreams in your whatever its called there on the left ... The AS hooked up to your 300 is neither of those, so, what is that AS attached to your tv?

28', 30', or 31' ?

[Andrew T]

I still have the 61 Pacer but the 08 34 was sold. The one in the pictre is a 30' International Serenity, we did not have any 34's when I was leaving.

Andrew T

[Stefrobrts]

Did you have to build a custom hitch for the Charger?

[moparjohn]

Where was this picture taken? Nice site/campground

[Andrew T]

We start with an off the shelf hitch for the 300 and then add a section forward to the rear suspension.

The campground is Lakeside Statepark in New York, about 40 miles east of Niagara Falls. It is a very nice spot "A" Loop has the view of the water.

Andrew T

[MartinF]

Hi Andrew T, nice setup, but you are exceeding by far the max towing capacity of your car. If anything happens, Chrysler might void the waranty and your insurances might not pay.

[andreasduess]

Originally Posted by MartinF

Hi Andrew T, nice setup, but you are exceeding by far the max towing capacity of your car. If anything happens, Chrysler might void the waranty and your insurances might not pay.

You have no idea who Andrew T is, right?

Exceeding the published tow capacity of a vehicle does neither invalidate your warrantees nor cancel your insurance. Keep below your total payload capacity and axle rating and all should be well.

[aceflys]

Hey Andy

I just got a 08 BMW 530xi. What do think about using it to tow our 66 Caravel. I have been using a 09 Grand Caravan for the past 2 years with no problems. But the Dodge is working pretty hard on hill pulls. I'm still planning on using the van. But think I would like to use the BMW some trips too.

Thanks for your input.

Ace in PA.

WBCCI 2169
TAC PA-1

[MartinF]

Originally Posted by andreasduess

You have no idea who Andrew T is, right?

Exceeding the published tow capacity of a vehicle does neither invalidate your warrantees nor cancel your insurance. Keep below your total payload capacity and axle rating and all should be well.

There's a notice on any manufacturer's webpage that states the warranty will be void on some parts (i.e suspension) if you exceed the rated payload.

For the insurance, that's what my insurance company told me.

[andreasduess]

Originally Posted by MartinF

There's a notice on any manufacturer's webpage that states the warranty will be void on some parts (i.e suspension) if you exceed the rated payload.

For the insurance, that's what my insurance company told me.

Published tow capacity and payload are two very different things.

There are many discussions on this forum covering the different philosophies when it comes to towing.

There are some people, myself included, who believe that the published tow capacity of a vehicle is pretty meaningless and that the numbers that really count are axle rating and total payload.

Andrew T's company, CanAm RV in London Ontario is at the forefront of this way of thinking and Andrew himself is an authority on towing.

There are others who disagree vehemently, who believe that a larger tow vehicle is almost always the better and safer choice and that the published tow capacity should not be exceeded.

[MartinF]

Andreasduess, thanks for the clarification.

I guess I'm on the other side!

[Andrew T]

Hi Ace

We have set up a few BMW sedans over the years, all have been excellent tow vehicles and the 530 would play with your trailer. I would need to look under one to make sure we put a hitch on it before you drove all the way up here.

Which engine do you have in the Caravan?

Out of all the thousands of Sedans front drive vans and cross overs we have set up so far I have never had a customer have their warranty refused. I guess in theory it could happen. However if I am saving 10-20,000 on the purchase price of the vehicle and one to two thousand a year in operating costs then worst case I can afford to pay a warranty claim. Out of all our customers the most common warranty problem is rear axles on trucks and lately the HD deisels are having trouble with injectors turbo's etc.
Andrew T

[aceflys]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

Hi Ace

We have set up a few BMW sedans over the years, all have been excellent tow vehicles and the 530 would play with your trailer. I would need to look under one to make sure we put a hitch on it before you drove all the way up here.

Which engine do you have in the Caravan?

Out of all the thousands of Sedans front drive vans and cross overs we have set up so far I have never had a customer have their warranty refused. I guess in theory it could happen. However if I am saving 10-20,000 on the purchase price of the vehicle and one to two thousand a year in operating costs then worst case I can afford to pay a warranty claim. Out of all our customers the most common warranty problem is rear axles on trucks and lately the HD deisels are having trouble with injectors turbo's etc.
Andrew T

Hey Andy

Thanks for your input. I met you in FLA a few years ago at a gas station. You where tow a triple with a 4 door Dodge. I knew you would call me out on my Caravan. It has the small 3.3 engine and the base tranny. I know it's not the one you like. But I'm living with it. My brother is a car dealer. He had about ten of same vans come off lease. I got to pick the cleanest one and got a killer deal. I have been thinking about putting 17 inch wheels on it and better tires also.
When you have some time to look at a BMW. Let me know what you can do.
I'm one of the hosts of the Bash rally on the 4th of July in PA. just north of Pittsburgh. I'd like to invite you if want to come. I sure you would enjoy yourself.

Ace in PA

[Andrew T]

The 16" Wheels are fine just change the tires to P225/55R x 16" XL (extra load). You will be amazed at the difference this tire makes to the van. Over the years the 3.3 drivetrain kept getting bigger tires but they never changed the final drive ratio to compensate. Even the van alone will be much more driveable and it will handle much better as well. You might want to put on a light weight distribution such as a 600 pound Eaz-Lift.

It sounds like a great Rally, it is a rough time of year for me to break loose but you never know.

Your Caravel looks very nice!

Andrew T

[aceflys]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

The 16" Wheels are fine just change the tires to P225/55R x 16" XL (extra load). You will be amazed at the difference this tire makes to the van. Over the years the 3.3 drivetrain kept getting bigger tires but they never changed the final drive ratio to compensate. Even the van alone will be much more driveable and it will handle much better as well. You might want to put on a light weight distribution such as a 600 pound Eaz-Lift.

It sounds like a great Rally, it is a rough time of year for me to break loose but you never know.

Your Caravel looks very nice!

Andrew T

Hey Andy

Thanks for the tire tip. What brand of tires do you suggest I get?

Ace in PA.

[Andrew T]

I have run Yokohama Avid's and Pirrelli P7's. I like the Pirrelli a little better but the tread life is better on Yokohama.

Andrew T