I must be the exception to the rule with the Caravans and towing.? I bought the van used with about 50K miles on it and I took it to my mechanic to go over prior to purchasing.? He had seen a lot of Caravans with transmission problems but few that had the overdrive transmission.? The engine is the 3.3L.? I did change out the transmission fluid and filter a while back.? If you do so, just make sure to use the recommended ATF fluid despite what anyone else may tell you.? These dodge trannys are very picky about the fluild.
I bought a popup camper this summer and have been towing it with my Grand Caravan after making the following modifications.
1.? External tranny cooler mounted in front of the radiator and A/C condensor to supplement the stock cooler that is part of the radiator.
2.? Replaced stock rear shocks with some good quality heavy duty shocks.
3.? Installed leaf helper springs in the rear.
4.? Class III Reese hitch (Class II would also work fine), 5" rise ball mount & trailer wiring.
The only thing I would change about this setup is to get a different hitch that doesn't ride so low.? If the hitch receiver bar is welded to the cross bar such that they are in the same plane rather than the recever being below the cross bar, you would have a couple inches of additional clearance.? As it is, I have to be careful not to pull into any gas stations where there is a significant dip in the pavement when towing.
The popup is 2000 empty and the GVW is up to 3000 lb.? I've never weighed it loaded so I'm not sure where we're at but I would guess it is about 2400 lb.
Took it on a couple short trips to get the bugs worked prior to a big 1200 mile trip (each way) to Oklahoma for 10 days.? Mostly interstate driving.
The van did great and I drove it in overdrive on the flat sections and shifted into 3rd in hilly areas.? Avg MPG was a little over 18.? I didn't feel any need for additional sway control but electric brakes on the trailer would give me a little more piece of mind.
I now have about 145K miles on this vehicle and it is still going with its original tranny.?
My wife thought that the long trip would be the death of this vehicle but even she was very surprised as to how well it towed.? I think she thought that this would be her oppertunity to get a new(er) vehicle but I keep telling her I expect to get another 100K out of it.