3124kb... Whatcha towing with

[gonzo628]

I know that there are numerous threads about tow vehicles and tow capacities. I am not seeking to stoke the flames of opinion on whether or not the manufacturer or that make's marketing department got it right or played it safe. What I am trying to know is, and I apologize for exclusion here, what owners of 3124kb's are using to tow.

Currently, I've towed (on mostly flat land) my 3124kb with my 06 Toyota Sienna. A couple things first:

- My Sienna LE had the factory tow "prep" package. To that, I added the following: Curt class III tow hitch (350/3500 or 500/5000 with WDH) https://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2006_Toyota_Sienna.htm, Prodigy 2 Brake Controller, AirLift 1000 Airbags, HaulMaster WDH.

- While "mostly" flat, we did ascend a couple mild "bunny hills": mainly freeway overpasses, a bridge and mild foothills (people who have been to Parker, AZ / Earp, CA know what I am talking about).

- For lack of better challenges, the Sienna did alright.

Having said all this, I also know a couple things

- I've not really put the van through the paces that would establish it as equal to the task of towing the TM.

- While it did "alright" I don't know that I would really want to "put it through the paces". I've been careful and cautious while towing (mirroring how I towed my old popup).

- Before we even venture down the MFG tow guidelines, or even that of the hitch, I know that I should pick something else to tow with. That is why I started this thread.

TLDR: For all you 3214kb owners, what do you / what have you towed with? What did you / what don't you like about your current / former tow vehicle? What tips might you have about selection?

My current thoughts:

1) Dodge Durango (late model) w/ ClassIV tow package. Probably the 3.6l PentaStar V6 (with IV tow package the 2016 is capable of 6500lb). Must have IV tow package and 2nd row captains chairs.

2) Chevy Traverse / GMC Acadia / Buick Enclave. it has 5200lb tow capability (w/tow package). Must have would be tow package and captain's chairs (2nd row). the only advantage over the durango (in my mind) is the 7th seat (layout has 3 across third row).

3) Ram 1500 with Hemi / Tow package (6-seat) and 3.92 rear-end. *this is less likely as the wife does not want a truck.

4) Ford / Chevy / GMC / NIssan (6-seat). *those, same as RAM, are less likely because the wife does not want a full size truck.

Sorry for the long post. Looking forward for input.

[ChefLamont]

The answer is obvious. Get a new truck AND a new wife. LOL



I traded my truck a couple of years ago for an SUV and the withdrawal is strong.

[gonzo628]

Chef,

What truck did you have and what SUV do you have? (this is valuable info).

[Craigrrr]

Bill, you made me think of Mingus Mountain. I did not read the signs to well, we had a 32' class A and a chevy S10 toad . Climbing the mountain was not bad coming from Jerome. We were just over the 40' max length . Not bad when no other cars coming when going around the mountain. The bad came when coming down, they were doing road construction and it was stop and go all the way down. By the time we got to the bottom the brake fluid was too hot and we had no brakes had to down shift into first and pull over asap. Boiled the fluid or vapor lock not sure but it needed to be bleed . luckily I had a couple cans had to bleed the brakes on the spot.

But to keep with the thread. You need to have a vehicle that can do mountains out here.

[FujiPedaler]

We have a 3326 King and have used our Toyota 4Runner V8 to pull across the Rockies three times and to both coasts plus the Gulf and have great confidence in what it can do and has done. Our 2006 with 125,000 miles is good for another 125,000. We use a weight distribution hitch that came with the trailer when we bought it used in Grand Junction, CO and they had a 2007 V8 4Runner so just plugged it in and away we went. By the way, we have our trailer and 4Runner for sale and if you are interested, look under the "for sale" section on our forum under Central region.

You do need more power for when that bad thing happens that you have no control over, so it is good that you are stepping up for safty.

God luck, and enjoy what ever you move up to.

Norman

ps We also carried 2 kayaks and 2 bicycles on the roof and averaged about 12 mpg.

[gonzo628]

All these replies have been helpful. Anyone out there with a 2124kb that would like to chime in about what they do / have towed it with?

[ChefLamont]

I drove a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 with the extended cab (super not crew), an 8-foot bed, and the 5.2L V-8. I had it for 16 years. It was a monster. Since it took roughly a football field sized area to do a u-turn, it had its challenges in that respect towing things, but other than that, it was a breeze to tow things. The super long wheelbase bade it ride like a limo. I was also fortunate enough to have ordered it with a manual transmission and avoided the horrible transmission issues that plagued that era of Ram truck.

A couple of years ago I traded it in on a 2012 Toyota Highlander Limited with the tow package. It has a 5,000# tow rating, so it is decent. Now that I am looking into TM trailers, I think the move to the SUV is coming into play. I would not feel comfortable pulling a 3124 with it even if I was really judicious with cargo weight. For me I think a 3023 would be the biggest I would look at, and everything else being equal, I would probably go with a 2720. The Dodge would have pulled any TM made and not cracked a sweat.


Couple that with just being able to go to Home Depot and chuck whatever in the back, and I really miss the big hunk of metal. The Toyota is a much MUCH nicer car though with all of the little features and comforts.

[davlin]

We had a 3124 KS. Not sure if the difference between having a bed versus a slide out (sofa) changes much of the weight dynamics, but our 3124 KS came in right at 600 lbs. of tongue weight. The added weight on the tongue made it a dream to pull, but required us to use a WDH. We towed with an F150 with the 5.0 V8. Interestingly, we have always preferred the supercab as opposed to the the crew cab configuration. We like having the extra foot of space in the bed versus in the cab. Since the wheel base is the same for both trucks, I'm not sure what Bill's objection is.

[[email protected]]

I have a 3124KS and a 2013 Chevy Silverado with the 5.3 V8 extended cab. I don't have kids and elected for more cargo space in the bed as it is a bit longer than the crew cab bed.
One thing I would suggest is that whatever you decide on ditch the factory tranny cooler (if it comes with one) and cram in the biggest and baddest cooler you can find that will fit. With a truck you will have more room for this between the grill and the ac condenser. I did this to my truck last summer and before we took our trip out to CA. On the way back from San Francisco (via The Car Show in Colorado Springs) we crossed both mountain ranges and my trany hardly got past the "normal" operating temp (190°). Most of the time it runs about 125° or less depending on the outside temp. I think a cool trany is a happy trany!
Another thing I did was to get an oversized finned trany pan. Not only does this help with the temp, but with the extra tranny fluid of it (and the tranny cooler),will make the fluid last longer and hold it's viscosity better. Th very last thing we all want is a transmission failure out in the middle of nowhere!
With me the rule is keep it cool! : So all in all...my Chevy performed flawlessly on out trip getting 13.5 average MPG! There are a few other things that I have done to the truck, but I won't go into that here. It's all on my website. Good luck and remember, just like firearms....It's better to have it and not need it...than need it and not have it! As for the TV...MO IS BETTA!
Tom

[Padgett]

Your selections are good with some exceptions.
1) The issue with TMs is usually not actual weight but the tongue weight. My 2720SL has a 460 lb tongue weight (measured). I suspect a 3124 is more.
2) Dodge Durango. To get the higher rating (2011-2013 is 5,000 lbs) you must have a 2014 or later with the eight speed transmission and the factory tow package.
3) Am biased but think the Grand Cherokee makes a better TV than the Durango because the wheelbase vs the axle to hitch distance is 3.27 vs 3.0. Under 3.0 is good. It is also lighter. Do you need the 3rd seat ?
4) While the Hemi makes more power it is also a less efficient & older design than the V-6. It requires midrange gas rather than regular and has 2 spark plugs for each cylinder that require frequent replacement.
5) For the RAM (or any pickup) get the shortest bed available with the crew cab.
6) If a truck I would suggest you look at the Ford F-150 with 3.5 (not 2.7) Ecoboost. That is the most modern system available.