How Much Can 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan Tow?

Question

Question:

Thank you Kyle for your reply. I am still in the dark as to why it can tow 3600 lbs without the Trailer Tow Group which includes Class II hitch you suggest Class III, a load-leveling and height-control suspension, and the four-pin connector wiring harness. I will be towing a trailer with dry weight 2837 lbs and full max weight will be 3518. I will of course keep the weight below 3500 lbs because of the trailer hitch and I have to subtract 100 lbs because I have the folding in floor seats which instructs me to take off 100 lbs from my max towing. So with the Class II hitch and have them install a break system can I tow this trailer. Will I need to install Weight distribution/Sway bars and transmission cooler. The max tongue weight is 360 lbs which would be 10 of a 3600 lb trailer and mine will never max out at the full weight of 3518 lbs of the trailer. So in summary: My trailer dry weight is 2837 and I can keep it lets say below 3400 lbs, the Class II hitch is 3500 lbs and if I stay below 3500 lbs would I be good to go or would I still need the sway bars and transmission cooler. I know I will need the round 7 prong trailer harness. Sorry for being long winded. You would think Dodge would explain that it can tow 3600 lbs without the Trailer Tow Group and if this is the case why purchase the Tow Group if you remain at the same towing capacity.

asked by: Rex T

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

I took a look at the owner's manual for your 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan and it states, as you said, the maximum gross trailer weight is 3,600 lbs, and this is taking into account two people and luggage.

The ONLY specifics given were that your Grand Caravan have a 3.6L automatic so that's what I can confirm - a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan with a 3.6L automatic can tow 3,600 lbs if the van has two passengers and luggage, and more weight would lessen the capacity; you can find this on page 558 of the manual. This is something your Dodge dealer should have been able to tell you without looking.

To tow you are going to need a trailer hitch, the best option for your Dodge is the Draw-Tite # 75579, which is a Class III, 2" hitch that will be a complete bolt-on installation. For wiring which will give you a 4-way connector and allow you to power your trailer's lights you need Wiring Harness # 118534.

I also recommend checking out Ball Mount Kit # 989900, which is for 2” hitches and may fulfill your towing needs in one tidy package; two ball mounts - one with a 3/4” rise or 2” drop and the other with a 2-3/4” rise or 4” drop - a 1-7/8” hitch ball, a 2” hitch ball, and a pin and clip.

expert reply by: Kyle S

1

Rex

8/10/2018

Thank you Kyle for your reply. I am still in the dark as to why it can tow 3600 lbs without the Trailer Tow Group which includes Class II hitch you suggest Class III, a load-leveling and height-control suspension, and the four-pin connector wiring harness. I will be towing a trailer with dry weight 2837 lbs and full max weight will be 3518. I will of course keep the weight below 3500 lbs because of the trailer hitch and I have to subtract 100 lbs because I have the folding in floor seats which instructs me to take off 100 lbs from my max towing. So with the Class II hitch and have them install a break system can I tow this trailer. Will I need to install Weight distribution/Sway bars and transmission cooler. The max tongue weight is 360 lbs which would be 10 of a 3600 lb trailer and mine will never max out at the full weight of 3518 lbs of the trailer. So in summary: My trailer dry weight is 2837 and I can keep it lets say below 3400 lbs, the Class II hitch is 3500 lbs and if I stay below 3500 lbs would I be good to go or would I still need the sway bars and transmission cooler. I know I will need the round 7 prong trailer harness. Sorry for being long winded. You would think Dodge would explain that it can tow 3600 lbs without the Trailer Tow Group and if this is the case why purchase the Tow Group if you remain at the same towing capacity.

Reply

Kyle S.

8/10/2018

You can use a Class II hitch such as the Curt # C12264 with a 3,500 lb towing capacity and 350 lb tongue weight capacity on your '16 Grand Caravan if you are certain you will remain under the respective capacities. Please keep in mind the combined weight of the occupants and your luggage will lessen the available trailer tongue weight as outlined on page 516 of your owners manual. That is something you would need to calculate before potentially towing. In regards to the hitch, Curt does state the correct ball mount is part # C45016; you will also need either 2" hitch ball # A-82 or 1-7/8" hitch ball # A-80 (depending on your trailer's coupler) as well as Pin and Clip # F-4. A transmission cooler and weight distribution are not required, though I do recommend using a cooler. The Derale # D13503 will be a big help in keeping your Grand Caravan's automatic transmission from overheating; keeping your fluid temp cooler will be highly beneficial to both the performance of your transmission and extending its life. In terms of brakes you will need to add wiring and a brake controller to your Grand Caravan. To do that you need the 4-pin connector # 118534 as well as the Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller # ETBC7, which will give you a 7- and 4-way trailer connector, circuit breakers and the rest of the hardware needed to install a brake controller. As for the brake controller itself, I strongly recommend the Prodigy P3 # 90195; it is the most popular model we carry due to its effectiveness and ease of use. It will activate your trailer's brakes immediately in proportion to your Grand Caravan's brakes and offers three different boost levels so you can adjust your braking power. The P3 levels automatically, has constant diagnostic checks, contains safeguards which defend your controller against shorts, and features an LCD display which is much easier to read than that of other controllers. This controller has been met with nearly universal praise; it has been reviewed by our customers more than 2,000 times and is averaging close to 5 out of 5 stars.

Reply