Looking for a Caravan, with a factory installed rear tow package, hitch, oil cooler, etc. Was this a standard item on certain models, or was it a customer order.

 

The 2010 G.Caravan factory mounting bolts are sheet metal bolts !!!!!!!!!!!!! There is very little meat to hold the hitch to the body .
I have never been so shocked !! When I removed the bolts to find I had wasted my money on a class 3 hitch .
I went ahead an installed the hitch ,but I only use it to hawl a light weight basket to hawl wet or stick stuff or light amounts of fertilizer .
I'm just glad I didn't buy the wiring harness !
Before you buy remove one of the bolts to see for yourself !!!! O'Yes Don't over tighten the bolt about 20 lbs I guess .
The caravan were made to hawl only people inside !
The muffler side will make the Pope cus on a install !
Just my thoughts . Lovvorn

 

What year or generation van are we talking?

 

Lovvorn unfortunately seems to not understand how these vans are built and must not have any experience using a Caravan to towl/haul. My 2002 has pulled 7K lbs, tows 4K lbs 8-10 times a year and tows 1-3K lbs another few dozen times a year. You just have to outfit it properly and drive intelligently.

 

I agree. If you go by what Chrysler [and some people] say, we would never put a tow hitch on our vans. I have a 09 with overload springs and a 5K tow bolt on hitch, electric brake control with a 4 wheel brake tandem trailer. Oh, and a V E R Y careful driver. I feel I'm good for a 4K GVW load once a year.

 

I have airbags with an onboard compressor, Curt class III hide-a-hitch, electric brakes, etc... We have a camper we haul that has brakes as does the car trailer I used one in a blue moon. Utility trailer used most does not have brakes.

It's all about careful driving.

 

[QUOTE=b1lk1;2984867]I have airbags with an onboard compressor, Curt class III hide-a-hitch, electric brakes, etc... We have a camper we haul that has brakes as does the car trailer I used one in a blue moon. Utility trailer used most does not have brakes.

It's all about careful driving.

 

I agree, it is about safe driving. So how much do these various things, you pull around with your Caravan weigh?

 

So when you guys are towing with a four speed automatic, how much of the time are you keeping it out of overdrive? [manually shifting back to 3rd]

 

lovron might be right looks like sheet metal but Chrysler never would make it that it could not exceed there rated tow recommendations. it does not need to be 1" steel all around. its how they re inforce the rear to manage the weight spreed out across the vehicle.