Towing a car with a Mini Van?

JonBoy

Active Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Hampstead NC
Thinking about buying a wrecked 2000 toyota echo and my truck has intake gasket issues so kinda worried about the trip using it. Plus it has 150,000 miles on it so you never know whats going to happen. Anyway found a 2000 echo that hit a deer and had a basketball goal fall on it busting out the glass roof is slightly pushed down. Anyway I have seen one weight listed of 2100lbs for the car but not sure that is right. Plan is to pull behind 2006 Sienna. Tow rating of 3500 lbs I believe. It does have a hitch on it. Its about a 120 mile trip. Pretty much all Hwy Have towed a 17ft Carolina skiff with 60hp and 20 gallons of gas and full passenger load up front so thinking towing the car would not be bad at all with me alone in the van.
 
wow! i think i saw you one day at carolina beach, i remember laughing at the guy pulling his boat with a minivan:lol:.

Ok back to your thread, if the vehicle is rated to tow it i would say you are fine. BUT my one concern is to have that much stress on the drive-train for that long of a run. My other concern is, how well will your vehicle stop with the extra weight. But like i say if it's rated for it, then you should be good.
 
I have not taken it to Carolina Beach but I have used the van before putting in at Surf City and it worked fine. Vans will surprise you now days.
 
I have seen pics I am not sure Im going to get it or not. Looks kinda bad but they hit a deer the hood took the most of it but one lights cracked. Then sitting in there yard a wind storm blew over basketball goal bounced off roof of car onto the windshield and busted it. I need a good cheap DD with decent MPG. Its $1500 for a 2000 toyota that gets 40MPG. Figure for under $1000 I can get it looking pretty decent and could drive with screwed up hood for awhile if I had to keep cost down for awhile.
 
Leave the minivan out of O/D.

Don't tow faster than 55.

Stay way behind the car in front of you to leave room for stopping.

Probably possible that way, just no guarantees. :beer:
 
My dad tows his 21ft mako everywhere with his 98 caravan. It does fine, i wouldn't leave it out of overdrive unless it is shifting in and out lot
 
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