factory tow package vs. installing a hitch on van

[3caninekids]

hello! I am planning on buying a van and towing a small travel trailer. I've been thinking about this for months and think this is the best set up for me. What I'm wondering is if I should try to find a van with a factory tow package already installed, or if installing a hitch would be good enough? I suppose it depends on the weight of what I tow? So maybe if I have a small enough camper, I wouldn't need the factory tow package?? Anyone have any knowledge in this area?
Thanks!!
Kristin

 

[66788]

If the van has an automatic transmission, a cooler is highly recommended so you don't fry the expensive transmission.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

In addition to a transmission cooler, you may have to add a set of helper springs to the rear end.

Regards
John

 

[Zil]

A factory tow package will not add that much, if any, more $$ to the cost of a used van.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

A factory tow package will not add that much, if any, more $$ to the cost of a used van.

Quite true.

If you find a really nice van without the tow package, I'd guess it would cost somewhere between $500 to $1,000 to have a mechanic put a hitch, trailer wiring, a transmission cooler and helper springs on it.

Oh, and either way, you'll have to add a trailer brake controller. They don't come with the factory package. But pretty much all newer trucks and vans come pre-wired for them, so they're pretty much plug n play.

Regards
John

 

[wagoneer]

What I did was buy a 2001 E350 extended high top with a diesel motor. Towing my 20 foot is a breeze. Hitch and wiring came to 450 dollars the trailer came with a load equalizer system. Those are about 350 brake controller Katonka? another 150. done

 

[Patrick46]

either way, you'll have to add a trailer brake controller.

what would be the point of that if the trailer you buy doesn't HAVE trailer brakes??

Half of the TT's I've owned never had 'em. (of course, they were small one's too.)


I don't think I'd worry too much about the hitch until AFTER you get your van & the trailer.
the van may very well already have a hitch on it, (seems most of my vans already had 'em on when I bought them)
and the trailer may not have brakes on it anyways.

Aren't we putting the cart before the horse here???? :huh:

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

what would be the point of that if the trailer you buy doesn't HAVE trailer brakes??

Half of the TT's I've owned never had 'em. (of course, they were small one's too.)


I don't think I'd worry too much about the hitch until AFTER you get your van & the trailer.
the van may very well already have a hitch on it, (seems most of my vans already had 'em on when I bought them)
and the trailer may not have brakes on it anyways.

Aren't we putting the cart before the horse here???? :huh:

I guess I'm projecting myself here. I wouldn't own a trailer without brakes.

The thought of trying to drive down mountain roads with the weight of the trailer trying to push me on and only the vehicle brakes to stop . . . <shudder>

Can you tell that I'm a native born flatlander?

Regards
John

 

[akrvbob]

My Chevy 3500 Express came without a hitch which is kind of a plus because I know it never towed. I had U-Haul install the hitch, do the wiring and put on a trans-cooler for $450. I thought that was a great deal. The are the largest Hitch installer in the country so they buy in such huge quantities that they get the parts for very cheap which lets them undercut everybody else which lets them charge less and which then makes them the largest--which means even better deals!

After that I took it to Aamco to have all the fluids changed (I had a coupon for a very good deal) and the Aamco guy asked about the trans cooler. He said they did a very good job-high quality cooler and well done.

If you are going to tow, buy a 3/4 ton or 1 ton. It's a 1000 times better to have a vehicle designed to do more than you are asking of it than to have a vehicle you are asking too much of.

My 3500 laughs at my little cargo trailer. In fact I could put the cargo trailer on the roof and still be under GVWR!
Sometimes I swear I can can hear it snickering at me when I hitch it up "Is that aaalllll yoov gooot!?" in an Arnold Schwarzennager voice.
Bob

 

[highdesertranger]

when I had my auto repair business, we did a lot of work for used car dealers. they would have us pull all the trailer towing equipment off the vehicles, so it would appear that they never towed. it worked good for us because we would charge to remove the equipment and then turn around sell it and sometime install it. that's good advice about a 3/4 ton or 1 ton to tow with, ditto on trailer brakes. there is no such thing as to much braking. highdesertranger

 

[3caninekids]

thank you to everyone for taking the time to reply to my post! Having to learn all this stuff is a little overwhelming, but I'm slowly getting there!
Kristin

 

[Patrick46]

I AM gonna add that I too am a fan of having too much braking, over not having enough!

I was riding in a pack of motorcycles blasting down the freeway not too long ago, and we got PASSED by a guy in a big diesel pick-up, towing a huge cabin-cruiser behind it!!! I couldn't believe my eyes!!! (it's not like we were idleing along either, thats for sure!)

I thought "whadda frikken idiot!!! Sure, you've got the power to pull that monstrosity....but can you STOP IT?????!!!!") :s :huh:

 

[Vic.]

The owner's manual outta have some precise numbers for you in terms of how much your van can tow.

The hitch is pretty cheap, especially from a salvage yard.

 

[Canine]

My Chevy 3500 Express came without a hitch which is kind of a plus because I know it never towed. I had U-Haul install the hitch, do the wiring and put on a trans-cooler for $450.  I thought that was a great deal. The are the largest Hitch installer in the country so they buy in such huge quantities that they get the parts for very cheap which lets them undercut everybody else which lets them charge less and which then makes them the largest--which means even better deals!

After that I took it to Aamco to have all the fluids changed (I had a coupon for a very good deal)  and the Aamco guy asked about the trans cooler. He said they did a very good job-high quality cooler and well done.

If you are going to tow, buy a 3/4 ton or 1 ton. It's a 1000 times better to have a vehicle designed to do more than you are asking of it than to have a vehicle you are asking too much of.

My 3500 laughs at my little cargo trailer. In fact I could put the cargo trailer on the roof and still be under GVWR!
Sometimes I swear I can can hear it snickering at me when I hitch it up "Is that aaalllll yoov gooot!?" in an Arnold Schwarzennager voice.
Bob

Of course, there's nearly no one with Bobs experience around here so OP hopefully listened.
I agree with "no hitch means didn't tow"... ( course maybe look underneath to see if there was one) as that's some peace of mind. And to have a 250/2500 or better yet a 350/3500 is best for brakes and tongue weight issues. Having a diesel is a towing plus as well. (For mountains you can't beat it.). If you are more of a flatlander then gassers do fine, as long as it's a 6.0 GM or preferably a V10 Ford. Almost all 350/3500's are either 3.73 or 4.10 geared so that's good. Many already have a trans cooler installed. The long wheelbase GM beats the body extended Ford in towing due to less hitch overhang. You aren't going to be worried about the turning radius when towing, if you are just driving it by itself then the long wheelbase does turn wider... Extended vans get the same mileage so might as well have the extra room.

Have fun!

 

[highdesertranger]

as far as not having a hitch, read my post #10. highdesertranger

 

[MikeRuth]

Just a note and research is best, but as I mentioned in another thread here the Ford E-150 2007 and later is equipped with the stronger 8 lug wheels and axles. Oil and trans cooler, disc brakes all round etc. It's really like a E-250 now. I need to verify but I think GVW etc was increased as well.