Parts Needed To Tow A Trailer With 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan

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Question:

I have a 2017 dodge grand caravan and want to buy an escape travel trailer. Some say it cant be done because of the weight of the trailer. It weighs 3500 lbs. I can not find in the owner manual how much I can pull. I also want to know what I would need to make this happen. I will be the only passenger in the vehicle. My van has the auto shift to manual, whatever it is called. Thank you for your help.

asked by: Brenda S

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Expert Reply:

According to the owner's manual for the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan with a 3.6L Automatic the maximum trailer tongue weight of the van with 1-2 people in it is 360 lbs so if your trailer tongue weight stayed under 360 lbs you shouldn't have an issue as long as you are not exceeding the gross combined weight rating, gross axle weight rating and the hitch capacity on your van.

You want to make sure you are not exceeding the gross combined weight rating of your van which is 8,750 lbs that is the combined weight of the trailer, plus the weight of all the cargo in the vehicle and trailer, and the passengers. You also want to make sure not to exceed the gross axle weight rating. That information is on the vehicle loading/vehicle certification label on to the driver's side B-pillar.

The hitch on your vehicle must be rated for the tongue weight of the trailer you are trying to tow. I recommend The etrailer.com Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish part # e98854 which has a tongue weight rating of 400 lbs. I have attached a video for your reference.

You will also need wiring to power the lights in the trailer. I recommend Curt Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector part # C56331 for the 4-way. A trailer that weighs 3500 lbs will have brakes so you will most likely need an electric brake controller.

For electric brakes you will need a 7-way on the back of the van, part # ETBC7L comes with the components needed to install a 7-way. You will plug the 4-way I mentioned earlier into the pigtail from the 7-way plug and extend the black power wire the van's battery. The 7-way plug will need to be grounded to a clean bare metal surface on the frame. The rest of the wires can be tucked away.

Now that you have the 7-way installed you can use Curt Echo Mobile Trailer Brake Controller - Wireless part # C51180 that plugs in line with the 7-way and activates the trailer brakes with your Grand Caravan's brakes. It also can be adjusted and monitored via a smart phone app. It only requires power from the vehicle's battery so you will not need any additional wiring.

Finally, you will need a ball mount and ball to tow the trailer. If you are not sure what size ball the coupler on the trailer takes or how much rise or drop you may need, I recommend etrailer ball mount kit # 989900. It comes with 2 ball mounts; one with a 3/4 inch rise or 2 inch drop and one with a 2-3/4 inch rise or 4 inch drop. It also includes a 1-7/8 inch ball, 2 inch ball, hitch pin with clip, and a storage bag. I have attached a helpful article that explains how to figure out the rise or drop you may need.

expert reply by: Heather A

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Answer 1

What you have pictured is a 4-way to 7-way adapter similar to part #C57672. The male side 4-way connector plugs into a vehicle side (female) 4-way to convert the vehicle's connector to a 7-way. The existing 4-way on the vehicle only has the…

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Answer 2

In the USA a tandem axle utility trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 7500-lbs should have brakes installed. Any trailer over 3000-lbs must have brakes on all wheels in most states, but laws do vary. Some states require braked axles…

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Answer 3

For your 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan what you'd first want is a 7-way trailer connector so that you can use your Curt Echo Mobile Brake Controller #C51180. For that you'd just need the part #22121 and you'd be set as this is the custom fit…

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Answer 4

To tow with your 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan you need a trailer hitch, trailer wiring, and a ball mount kit. The trailer hitch that I recommend for your application is the etrailer.com #E98854. This features a 2" receiver and gives you the best…

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Answer 5

Yes, it will! The etrailer Hitch item #e98854 has a 4,000 lbs towing capacity and is confirmed to fit your 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan SE. This hitch is custom fit and bolts to your Dodge with included hardware. I have linked an installation video below…

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Answer 6

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 7

The etrailer hitch #e98854 that you referenced fits all models of the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan which includes the GT models with stow away seats. I attached an install video for this for you to check out as well.

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Answer 8

Since your Winnebago Solis 59P has a pop top, instead of using the Dodge ProMaster Van Adapter for Thule HideAway Awning #TH301650 with the Thule HideAway Awning for ProMaster or Sprinter #TH620001, I recommend using the: -Thule HideAway Awning…

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Answer 9

Looks like your 2014 Chrysler Town and Country has a towing capacity of 3,600 lbs which means you could tow your trailer that has a dry weight of 3,000 lbs as long as you don't load it with more than 600 lbs. If you were looking for a hitch for…

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Answer 10

The Saris Swing Away Hitch Extender #SAR36VR weighs a total of 43 pounds.

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Answer 11

I'm sorry to hear that your installation was not easy peasy, but I may have one tip to help you remove the bolt so you can finish installing the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver #e98854. Since you have just the stud portion of the bolt left and…

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Answer 12

The receiver with the best clearance is the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver #13364 which has a hitch pin hole to rear bumper length of 4". The height to the top of the receiver tube is 12-1/4" The etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver #e98854 is a…

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