We have a 2001 GC 3.8L with towing package. We are going to tow our sailboat about 1100 miles from Chicago to Maine. From Chicago to Buffalo, it is mostly flat but from there east, it can get fairly hilly. With the boat, trailer and other assorted things, there will be about 11-1200 pounds behind the van.
If you go by the owner's manual, it says not to use overdrive which I can certainly understand at the maximum listed capacity of 3500 pounds. However, at about 1/3 maximum capacity, do you think that would still apply?
StandOnCliff
06-17-2008, 06:03 PM
This post should give you your answer and then some http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=209462
vipergg
06-17-2008, 06:46 PM
On flat terain and it is not hunting gears it will be fine , I think you will find as you get into the hilly areas it will start hunting and you should keep it in 3rd when this starts happening as this creates a lot of heat .
mfahey
06-17-2008, 08:57 PM
On flat terain and it is not hunting gears it will be fine , I think you will find as you get into the hilly areas it will start hunting and you should keep it in 3rd when this starts happening as this creates a lot of heat .
That's what I was thinking and hoping to hear. While the van has 118k on it, I have been guilty, if that's possible with a Chrysler, of overmaintaining the transmission, having changed fluid and filter 4 times during its lifetime.
mfahey
07-07-2008, 07:01 PM
Well, we made it with no issues. I figured that when we were all packed, there were at least 1500 pounds of boat, trailer and other stuff that we were hauling. If it even looked like a pimple in the road, I would shift out of overdrive to take the strain off of the transmission. I even passed a couple of cars on 2 lane roads and I was surprised at how well it handled it.
