We are looking at replacing our current minivan, and my wife wants one that we can tow our boat with, so we can replace our 4Runner with something more gas efficient. My boat is an Alumacraft Tournament Pro 175, so my best guess is the towing weight for boat, trailer, motor, gear, etc. would run about 3200 – 3700 pounds. Does anyone have any thoughts as to if this is a good or bad idea, or suggestions on minivans to look at?
Thanks
You may need a semi trailer to pull 32,000 – 37,000 pounds 
32,000-37,000 a bit of an overestimate 
regardless, I’d not recommend it. Wifey’s Town & Country is NOT real happy about pulling a single atv on a small trailer. Gas mileage empty is in the 20’s loaded, maybe if we’re lucky,12-16. Just my 2c 
jerr
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You may need a semi trailer to pull 32,000 – 37,000 pounds
Trailers don’t pull………smarty pants! 
I have a Dodge Grand Caravan that’s has a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs with which I make relatively short towing trips pulling a Lund Explorer 1700. I’m guessing boat, motor, and trailer weighs about 2,500 – 3,000 lbs. The van tows the boat okay but is not ideal. When pulling up the big hills between Everts and Prescott I’ll slow down to about 40-45 mph. And steep or icy ramps are a problem. I can pull the boat out of the Lion’s Levee ramp in St. Paul Park which is moderately steep ramp.
Towing is one thing but stopping is another. I’ve got disc surge brakes on the trailer which is an absolute must-have when towing this much weight with a minivan (or even most if not all SUVs). I’ve never felt that the boat was pushing the van while stopping. I think the maximum towing weight for the van is only about 1,300 lbs if the trailer does not have brakes. I’m guessing the maximum towing weight of your 4Runner is only about 1,500 lbs without the use of trailer brakes so I suppose your trailer already has them.
Boone
I have a 21′ Sea-Pro bay boat(3,000 lbs)and I tow it with a GMC Safari van with no problems. It has the 4.3 V-6 in it.
If you are having trouble with your Town & Country pulling a single atv on a small trailer,,,something is wrong.
It must have a VERY LITTLE four cylinder in it.
I just bought a Town & Country with the tow package. Without the tow package they are rated for 1600 lbs. with it they are rated at 3600. I haven’t pulled anything with it yet but am only planning on pulling my wheeler around, the big stuff the truck gets use for.
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You may need a semi trailer to pull 32,000 – 37,000 pounds
Trailers don’t pull………smarty pants!
Good point Dan you got me there 
Opps – I meant 3,200 – 3,700 pounds. I changed my original post to reflect reality.
Dry weight of boat = 1550 lb
Motor = 500 lb
Trailer = 700 lb
Gear (including 4 batteries) = 160 lb
Full gas tank = 150 lb
Those are my best guesses at least.
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I think the maximum towing weight for the van is only about 1,300 lbs if the trailer does not have brakes. I’m guessing the maximum towing weight of your 4Runner is only about 1,500 lbs without the use of trailer brakes so I suppose your trailer already has them.
Nope, no breaks on the trailer. When I bought the 4Runner, the Toyota folks said I didn’t need them unless I was going to hit 4000 lbs. Never felt the 4Runner being pushed by the boat & trailer yet, even with a couple fairly hard breaking events. But I haven’t had to slam on the breaks yet either.
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We are looking at replacing our current minivan, and my wife wants one that we can tow our boat with, so we can replace our 4Runner with something more gas efficient. My boat is an Alumacraft Tournament Pro 175, so my best guess is the towing weight for boat, trailer, motor, gear, etc. would run about 3200 – 3700 pounds. Does anyone have any thoughts as to if this is a good or bad idea, or suggestions on minivans to look at?
Thanks
No first hand experience, but maybe an AWD Sienna will make your wife happy and pull the boat.
FDR
Toyota offers AWD in their van.
I’d urge you to take a hard look at the Honda Odyssey as well. Properly equipped (tranny cooler and class III), they can tow 5,000 (with 500# tounge weight). We’re on our second one (had a 2000 and now have a 2006) and couldn’t be happier.
I’ve pulled my 1650 Lund Explorer w/ a 50HP Honda with it and it does fine. Gotta be careful at some landings though – use your judgement there.
Setting aside any macho BS, minivans are about the smarted vehicles out there. Still need the mighty 4×4 for ice fishing/hunting – there’s no doubt about that.
Good luck in your search.
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Nope, no breaks on the trailer. When I bought the 4Runner, the Toyota folks said I didn’t need them unless I was going to hit 4000 lbs. Never felt the 4Runner being pushed by the boat & trailer yet, even with a couple fairly hard breaking events. But I haven’t had to slam on the breaks yet either.
Could you check your owner’s manual and report back? My wife has a Honda Pilot that has a towing capacity of 4,500 lbs but the owners manual states that trailer brakes are needed for any trailer over 1,100 lbs. I know that’s a conservative number but towing things that exceed the recommended weight by 3X might be pushing it.
You may want to check the specs. on your odyssey. Honda rates them for 3500 if the trailer has brakes. You can’t go by what the hitch is rated for. That’s also the new ones, maybe the older ones could tow more. A friend of ours has one and it’s a nice van but they don’t offer a tow package with an upgraded suspension when we were looking.
gees.. just buy a Tahoe and be done with it.. My best friend wore out, I mean FLAT WORE OUT, small truck after small truck.. Toyotas and what not.. and then got a Suburban and never looked back.. within 10 seconds he was happier , and Safer.. and in a Suburban.. or a Tahoe, YOU WIN.. I know that this is contrary to the original post, but I have seen this too many times.
sorry just one man’s opinion.
I truly wish you well in your search and I hope that what ever you buy fills your needs ..
Before you buy, discuss your towing needs with a qualified service adviser and not the salesperson who wants to make the sale and isn’t concerned about the after-sale fallout when what he told you was dead wrong. I own a minivan with a 3.8liter engine and would not consider pulling my Alumacraft Navigator 165 with it and especially without trailer brakes. I am not a speed demon, but I would guess that a 3.5 liter (Toyota and Honda) engine with a car transaxel would struggle to tow a boat near its maximum towing capacity at the 65-75 mph seen on the highway. More than weight , you are fighting greater frontal area in a head and crosswind condition. Is that acceptable to you?
Ask the service advisor if you will need brakes, a weight distributing hitch, and sway control bars. Both Honda and Toyota require trailer brakes with the towing package. If you chose to go without, is your families safety worth the risk of someone else cutting you off or requiring you to make a sudden avoidance maneuver? I know that you want someone to tell you that you will be fine towing that size boat, but that would be irresponsible. Ask qualified people who have a stake in the answer and trust them.
A Chrysler or Dodge mini-van, with a 3.8 or bigger, will pull your boat no problem. When I say this, this is during what I call boat towing season… May to October. Icey roads are not good for towing anything heavy without brakes, if you have to stop quick. I think some are missing the point for the minivan, instead of the 4 Runner… something that gets good mileage (22-26 with a minivan) for all the time it is not towing. I assume most of the time the vehicle is not towing, but if it needs to, it can. Good advice above, talk to a service advisor, not a salesman about towing….
big G
Bob and G have good points. Something I take for granted is that I never beleive a salesman (sorry salesman) I ask others and do research for myself, maybe it’s just the skeptic in me but they never seem to have the technical information that I am looking for.
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We are looking at replacing our current minivan, and my wife wants one that we can tow our boat with, so we can replace our 4Runner with something more gas efficient. My boat is an Alumacraft Tournament Pro 175, so my best guess is the towing weight for boat, trailer, motor, gear, etc. would run about 3200 – 3700 pounds. Does anyone have any thoughts as to if this is a good or bad idea, or suggestions on minivans to look at?
Thanks
No first hand experience, but maybe an AWD Sienna will make your wife happy and pull the boat.
FDR
We have a AWD Toyota Sienna. I have never pulled with it but I am sure it would do the job. Lots of power and the wife loves it. I don’t like to admit it but I really like driveing it as well.
Had a 77 F150 and lost the tranny at 45K miles. Had a 92 Ford Aerostar 4.0L that was rated for towing. I put a tranny in it around 75K miles and when it went out the 2nd time I junked it. Got a 03 Suburban with 5.3L Just put a tranny in it at 85K miles. I’m thinking with my luck I need a semi tractor. 
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Before you buy, discuss your towing needs with a qualified service adviser and not the salesperson who wants to make the sale and isn’t concerned about the after-sale fallout when what he told you was dead wrong. I own a minivan with a 3.8liter engine and would not consider pulling my Alumacraft Navigator 165 with it and especially without trailer brakes. I am not a speed demon, but I would guess that a 3.5 liter (Toyota and Honda) engine with a car transaxel would struggle to tow a boat near its maximum towing capacity at the 65-75 mph seen on the highway. More than weight , you are fighting greater frontal area in a head and crosswind condition. Is that acceptable to you?
Ask the service advisor if you will need brakes, a weight distributing hitch, and sway control bars. Both Honda and Toyota require trailer brakes with the towing package. If you chose to go without, is your families safety worth the risk of someone else cutting you off or requiring you to make a sudden avoidance maneuver? I know that you want someone to tell you that you will be fine towing that size boat, but that would be irresponsible. Ask qualified people who have a stake in the answer and trust them.
X2 This is the best piece of advice in this whole thread. 
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