Towing a GW Adventure 208 One Mile 4x/Year with Chrysler Minivan?

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DonW

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Hi-
I actually posted this on my minivan owner's group, with differing answers.
Looking here to see if anyone has done this.
2015 Chrysler Town and Country minivan (tow capability 3600#), towing my GW Adventure 208 (4200#) to/from the boat ramp `1/2 mile away, maybe 4x year.
Would get a heavy -duty tow hitch put on.
Doing this would free up a vehicle for better gas mileage and commuting, than my truck.
Any thoughts appreciated!
 
No. Well you will probably make it. I’d expect more than 4200# with the trailer but perhaps you have weighed already. Definitely don’t add 500lbs of fuel. I would be concerned with damaging the minivan unibody or suspension. FWD will have a hard time pulling the boat out if the ramp is slick. Wouldn’t trust that Chrysler transaxle to take any heavy load.
 
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I say its not a good idea in general but I do understand that the run is short. If the trip is not hilly and not at highway speeds, it may be OK. That said, just changing the hitch does not insure that the frame is strong enough for a studier hitch.
I also wonder if the minivan would have enough traction to haul out the boat and trailer..
The risk to the minivan is primarily overloading the transmission and/or brakes.
 
I've done worse. That's not to say it's right, but you're within the margin of error for this type of thing.

Just take it easy and slow.

And, as noted, the ramp may be the toughest part. Have a couple guys stand on your front bumper
 
I think you’re going to be over 5,000 lbs when you include the trailer weight. For comparison purposes… Grady White has a performance data sheet for a 208 Adventure test boat with a Yamaha F200 on it and the test weight was 4,200 lbs. That weight does include persons, so I imagine they would be probably around 300-400 lbs total. That being said, that number doesn’t include the trailer weight, gear, and I imagine it’s probably a minimal amount of fuel onboard. I’m not sure what kind of trailer you have, but the aluminum trailer for my 228 Seafarer says it weighs 975 lbs on the title/registration.

So again, I imagine you’re going to be considerably more than just the 4,200 lbs figure you’re quoting/expecting. Of which that’s pushing almost 2k lbs more than the tow capacity for the vehicle. No way would I personally do that, especially just to save a few bucks on fuel and not having to commute with your pickup truck. Spend the extra $100 a year or whatever it’ll be for the extra fuel costs, use your truck instead, play it safe, have better peace of mind and like you said… it’s only 4 times a year that you’re doing this. I’d much rather spend a few extra bucks and be slightly inconvenienced with the commute as opposed to potentially having a very serious issue that could costs thousands of dollars. But that’s just me.
 
You may get to the ramp but you are not going to get out with front wheel drive. At least not with a boat on the trailer.

Problem is the weight of the boat/trailer will be on the rear axel - taking weight off the front wheels and reducing traction.

Years ago I had a different problem with a Dodge Ram truck. Bad rear brakes. I would back down the ramp and boat/trailer would slide down the ramp. Could not stop it until the boat hit the water. Front wheels on the truck were doing all the braking but tires couldn't grip. Getting out wasn't a problem with rear wheel drive.
 
Just as an additional caution, if anything happens in that little quarter mile you are at risk. Somebody backs out of a driveway, kid or dog chases a ball or whatever you will be at high risk. Just sayin’, there are a lot of ambulance chasers out there even if you are super cautious.

On the ramp thing, maybe your van is AWD? That would help although with no “low” range transfer case that’s a lot of a stress . If you get stuck on the ramp my guess is there will be no good place on a minivan to attach a tow line without risking serious damage.

Good luck!
 
You can rent a U haul for $20 with mileage maybe $25 why would you want to risk your vehicle.
Good luck and have fun
 
Peter A said:
Just as an additional caution, if anything happens in that little quarter mile you are at risk. Somebody backs out of a driveway, kid or dog chases a ball or whatever you will be at high risk. Just sayin’, there are a lot of ambulance chasers out there even if you are super cautious.

On the ramp thing, maybe your van is AWD? That would help although with no “low” range transfer case that’s a lot of a stress . If you get stuck on the ramp my guess is there will be no good place on a minivan to attach a tow line without risking serious damage.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
The OP may not realize that the load rating includes the trailer also. Average trailer weights for that size hull are approx 800 to 1100 or so pounds
 
My Adventure 208 with full gas, gear and galvanized trailer is 5600 on a scale. I would not tow my boat with a minivan. As mentioned above, I think you may have serious issues with slipping on the ramp.
 
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My 205 is 5400 on the trailer. That being said I also have a 1 mile tow each way, I would tow it with a Tucson. It’s all flat, you don’t have to go over 25, and front wheel drive will be fine at high tide. You have an 8 speed tranny in it you’ll have a plenty low 1st gear. Or as stated above, it’s like $25 for the first 75 minutes to rent a Lowe’s truck. Or a case of beer to ask a neighbor to help with that short trip. If the minivan is rated to 4200, that’s 4200 on the highway with bad bumps, you’re not going to bend the frame going 25mph with 300lb tongue weight.
 
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Gosh darnitt, Don, did you NOT check your math before posting? :)

With that in mind... did you also account for batteries, fuel, gear that is in the boat?

Do you know that (typically) a vehicles towing capacity is a "gross" load... meaning it may also include weight in the vehicle?

With all that in mind... you are EASILY over your limit by AT LEAST a ton, if not more.
 
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