Towing boat with Chrysler mini van?

[Whoaru99]

My GF has a Chrysler mini van, V6 model, don't know the year but a newer one. Not new, new, but newer. Also, don't know if it's the factory towing package or not, but it has a receiver hitch on it and the trailer light harness. The receiver hitch is one of the small tube (1-1/4"?) jobbies.

Am I going to wreck this van or send my boat careening into the ditch (or traffic) if I were to use it to pull my boat on an occasional short haul? Boat is a Sylvan 16 Pro Select with a 90hp Merc. Don't know how much it weighs.

Don't know much on this one, do I.

[Scott K]

The trannies are pretty weak on them, and I wouldnt consider pulling your boat long distances with it. When you say short distance, are you talking 15 minute ride? or an hour? Like most tow questions, this has the power to pull it, the tranny should be able to handle short distances, but if you needed to make a quick stop with the boat on back, and no trailer brakes, you may be sliding into what you were slowing down for.

Would I pull short distances with it? Yup. I have towed a 16 foot fith a 40 on it with a Taurus, but no more then 20 miles, and I would drive slow, and give good distance to the vehicles in front of me.

[SpecialK]

Do not use overdrive if you tow even short distances.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Is an 11/4" receiver big enough to handle that boat?

It's not factory if it's an 1 1/4“

[Whoaru99]

Short distance as in roughly 25 miles one way. State rural highway so keeping it 55-ish isn't too much of a problem.

[Whoaru99]

Is an 11/4" receiver big enough to handle that boat?

It's not factory if it's an 1 1/4“

That's a good question since I don't know how much the boat weighs nor the class of the hitch.

Looks like the 1-1/4" box comes either as Class I or Class II. Class I is 200/2000 rated, Class II appears to be 300/3500 rated.

From the hitch perspective if it's the Class II then should be no problem, but if Class I then I think the boat setup would still be under but not sure how much under. Looking at some number online, I'd estimate 1750 lbs, give or take, for boat, motor, trailer, gas, etc.

[Whoaru99]

FWIW, it's a Class II hitch. Goin' for it.