Trailer towing question Dodge caravan 3.3.....

[dbvettez06]

Was wondering about towing with this vehicle...New vehicle last year with 22000 miles on it..It does NOT have the trailer towing packag..We are looking at buying a pop up camper which should weigh about 1200-1300 pounds...Would it be wise to use a synthetic transmission fluid in the vehicle??

 

[-Clayton-]

Your trans has synthetic(ATF+4) right from the factory. It should easily tow a pop up camper, Although you might want to consider a transmission cooler if you tow or not.

 

[blupupher]

I thought ATF+4 was synthetic? Or is is a blend?
Either way, use only ATF+4 in that transmission. Change it a little more often and get a transmission cooler and it should be fine.

 

[XB70]

Quote:

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Either way, use only ATF+4 in that transmission. Change it a little more often and get a transmission cooler and it should be fine.

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Ditto, plus, make it a BIG cooler of the stacked plate design utilizing the low pressure drop feature as incorporated in these B&M SuperCoolers .

For more information regarding your minivan, go to Allpar's minivan forum .

 

[deven]

I personally have changed my T-IV ATF for the Redline ATF D4 and my transmission loves it. Time will tell if i made the correct decision.

 

[Mach5]

The newer Chrysler vans all have separate external transmission coolers, although the ones with the towing package have larger ones. When I tow with our van, I don't use overdrive, either.

 

[Gary Allan]

You may consider having one of the coolantil coolers that are designed for your engine installed. I didn't tow ..but I climbed enough grades at WOT this weekend without the temp guage twitching. It's hard to figure ..but both the oil and coolant temp are buffered. I feel that the lowering of the oil temp has a greater impact on the heat absorbed through the cooling jackets. The flow differential does the rest, imo.

FWIW

 

[blupupher]

Quote:

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The newer Chrysler vans all have separate external transmission coolers, although the ones with the towing package have larger ones...

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My '05 GC SXT has only the in radiator transmission cooler, no external one.

 

[otis24]

I have an 05 Grand Caravan with the 3.8 V6. I added a transmission cooler. As a note, I have a newer pop-up that is a little heavier than my other one. The 3.8 seems to make a big difference in towing.