[5th Gen : 08+]: GCWR on 2015 or 2016 gran caravan
#1
02-09-2016, 07:26 PM
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#2
02-09-2016, 07:50 PM
http://www.dodge.com/en/towing_payload/2015/
#3
02-09-2016, 10:05 PM
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#4
02-10-2016, 09:19 AM
Professional
Google is your friend. GCWR is 8,750 lbs for the 2015 and 2016 models regardless of trim. Trim level means SE, SXT, R/T, etc. The manual does not mention a tow package having an impact on GCWR. http://www.dodge.com/download/pdf/ma...van-OM-3rd.pdf
For comparison's sake my 2008 manual lists a GCWR of 7,000 lbs for all engines without tow package, and 9,000 lbs with a tow package and the 3.8L or 4.0L engine. This tells me that sometime between 2008 and 2015 whatever mod was in the tow package in 2008 to increase the GCWR (probably weight distribution and/or strengthened rear suspension) became standard.
For comparison's sake my 2008 manual lists a GCWR of 7,000 lbs for all engines without tow package, and 9,000 lbs with a tow package and the 3.8L or 4.0L engine. This tells me that sometime between 2008 and 2015 whatever mod was in the tow package in 2008 to increase the GCWR (probably weight distribution and/or strengthened rear suspension) became standard.
#6
02-10-2016, 11:24 AM
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Google is your friend. GCWR is 8,750 lbs for the 2015 and 2016 models regardless of trim. Trim level means SE, SXT, R/T, etc. The manual does not mention a tow package having an impact on GCWR. www.dodge.com/download/pdf/manuals/2015-Grand_Caravan-OM-3rd.pdf
For comparison's sake my 2008 manual lists a GCWR of 7,000 lbs for all engines without tow package, and 9,000 lbs with a tow package and the 3.8L or 4.0L engine. This tells me that sometime between 2008 and 2015 whatever mod was in the tow package in 2008 to increase the GCWR (probably weight distribution and/or strengthened rear suspension) became standard.
For comparison's sake my 2008 manual lists a GCWR of 7,000 lbs for all engines without tow package, and 9,000 lbs with a tow package and the 3.8L or 4.0L engine. This tells me that sometime between 2008 and 2015 whatever mod was in the tow package in 2008 to increase the GCWR (probably weight distribution and/or strengthened rear suspension) became standard.
Awesome !( my internet patience is very limited but i will keep the link handy).
Thats is exactly what i needed. I have a 2009 GC and I am tring to find out what in the tow package of that year makes the 2000 pounds difference in the GCWR. Since the R/T 2015 is the only GC that can have a tow package, and since that tow package only consists of load leveling and weight, we can say that it is not that that makes the difference in GCWR since the GCWR is the same for all 2015 model.
Now for the 2009 models (like mine), without being certain, i would say that the 2000pounds difference in GCWR from different trim levels comes mostly from engine and maybe suspension and cooling transmission, as i do not think the frame, nor the brakes were changed with tow package (i wish i was certain though) .
All of that reasoning is to find that if a was to pull a camper and that it would exceed the 7000 pounds GCWR, the only ''danger'' to my GC would be to the motor (the 3.3L 175hp not the 3.8 283hp) and that i can live with by going slower and not using Drive but 3rd gear cause I have already ''pimped'' my GC with a tranny cooler and changed the shocks also.
fiouf... thank you for reading if you went all the way...
Last edited by tweeter205; 02-10-2016 at 06:47 PM.
#7
02-10-2016, 12:12 PM
Professional
Now for the 2009 models (like mine), without being certain, i would say that the 2000pounds difference in GCWR from different trim levels comes in the engine only, as i do not think the suspension is changed, nor the transmission, nor the frame, nor the brakes (i wish i was certain though) .
All on that reasonning is to know that if a was to pull a camper and that would exeed the 7000 pounds GCWR, the only ''danger'' to my GC would be to the motor (the 3.3L 175hp GVWR 7000p vs the 3.8 283hp 9000p) and that i can live with this by going slower and not using Drive but 3rd gear. I have added a tranny cooler and changed the shocks also.
fiouf... thank you for reading if you went all the way...
All on that reasonning is to know that if a was to pull a camper and that would exeed the 7000 pounds GCWR, the only ''danger'' to my GC would be to the motor (the 3.3L 175hp GVWR 7000p vs the 3.8 283hp 9000p) and that i can live with this by going slower and not using Drive but 3rd gear. I have added a tranny cooler and changed the shocks also.
fiouf... thank you for reading if you went all the way...
You also need to consider that a trailer that exceeds the van's MTW can put excessive load on the rear suspension and brakes, especially if you have passengers and/or cargo in the rear of the van. This can affect the van's handling and stopping distance especially if the van is noticeably "nose up" when the trailer is attached. Also braking performance is affected - not just stopping distance but also pad wear and heat on the rotors.
I have only ever towed small U-Haul trailers with my van, but a small camper is the most I would ever dare to tow behind it.